2016 Week 9 - Westwood vs Pflugerville

My video from this adventure:

I went to Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex, often called “The Palace on Parmer” to see the game between the Westwood Warriors and the Pflugerville Panthers. Westwood is coached by Anthony Wilson.  He is in his 12^th season as coach of the Warriors and leads a team with a 4-4 record, 1-3 in district play.  They started the season winning four of their first five games, but are currently on a three game losing streak.  George Herrmann has been at the helm of the Panthers for 20 years.  Pflugerville comes into the game with a 3-5 record, 2-2 in district play. 

Despite their losing records, both teams still have a mathematical chance to reach the play-offs.  The top 4 teams in each district qualify for the “second season”.  District 13-6A has been dominated this season by the unbeaten Cedar Ridge Raiders (see episode 5).  Despite their losing record, Pflugerville is in third place in the district.  Westwood is currently tied with two other teams for last place, but could move up in the district rankings if they can win their last two games of the season.  Both teams are playing for pride and a possible play-off spot.  It should be a good one.

Like I do on football game days, I had some barbecue earlier today.  As the two teams get ready for kick-off, let me show you. . .

The Barbecue

I stopped off at Styles Switch for barbecue.  They are located in the Violet Crown shopping center at 6610 North Lamar in Austin.  Violet Crown, built in 1951, was the first shopping center built in Austin and served as the production hub for the movie “Dazed and Confused”.  Their lease space was the home of the “Emporium” pool hall where David Wooderson (played by Matthew McConaughey) uttered the immortal phrase “All right all right all right”.  They have several photos from the movie displayed around the restaurant.

The moist brisket had a nice bark and was very tender, but except for the bark, it did not have much of a smoky flavor.  It wasn’t to the point where it was only “cooked meat”, but kinda close to it.  The pork ribs tasted good, but the meat was chewy.  I had to work to bite the meat off the bone.  Probably could have used higher heat or more cooking time.  Their sauce was not much more than red water and really didn’t add anything to the meat.  On top of all this, the price was rather high.  However, I will say that their peach cobbler was excellent.

The Styles Switch restaurant has a lot of history and charm.  The counter staff and guys minding the pits were all very friendly.  But I was there for the barbecue.  They served a large lunch crowd and are rated as one of the best BBQ joints in Austin, but I came away disappointed.  There are many other places in central Texas serving better barbecue for lower cost.  I have to rate Styles Switch as a shaky Hook ‘Em.

The Game

Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex

It was a beautiful night for football.  The two teams presented contrasting styles of offense.  The visiting Panthers run an “old school” offense – power running, control the game clock, play action passing.  The Warriors feature a “wide open” attack – multiple wide receivers, passes to play makers in space.  Which defense would be up to the task?

Will Jennings barks out signals for Westwood

Westwood received the kick-off to start the game and returned it to their 45 yard line.  Quarterback Will Jennings scrambled for a big gain into Pflugerville territory.  Later in the drive he passed to Trevor Smith for an 18 yard gain to the Panther 9.  Te’shon McGinnis took it from there as he ran 9 yards for the first touchdown of the game to give the Warriors a 7-0 lead.

Pflugerville was penalized on their kick-off return and started their first drive from the 13.  On third and 8, quarterback Justyn Merriweather handed the ball to Demarcus Weaver on a power sweep to the right.  He ran to the Warrior 40 for a big first down.  The Panthers pounded the defense with power runs, then Merriweather passed to Markalon Ellison for a first down on the Westwood 14.  Daveon Douglas carried the ball to the 4 on a toss sweep.  Merriweather tied the score at 7-7 with a quarterback sneak from the 1.

Demarcus Weaver picks up big yardage

After a Westwood punt, the Panthers took possession on their 24 yard line.  As the game moved into the second quarter, Pflugerville muscled their way to mid field.  Terren Williams got the ball on a reverse, outflanked the Warrior defense, and ran down the sideline for a 49 yard touchdown.  The extra point put the Panthers in the lead at 14-7.

Terren Williams scores on a reverse

The Warriors began their next drive from the 29 yard line.  Passes from Jennings to Colin Iguchi and Smith and penalties on the Panther defense moved the ball into the Pflugerville red zone.  On first and goal from the 7, Westwood reached into their playbook.  Iguchi went in motion and took a handoff from Jennings, then threw a halfback pass to McGinnis for a touchdown.  That tied the score at 14-14 with 6:10 to play before halftime.

Pflugerville took possession at midfield after the Westwood kick-off went out of bounds.  They could not pick up a first down and had to punt.  Jennings scrambled to the Warrior 35 for a first down.  On the next play, his pass was intercepted.  The Panthers were called for a penalty on the return and took control on their 46.  Pflugerville powered their way into the Westwood red zone.  The Warrior defense stiffened and forced the Panthers to settle for a 28 yard field goal.  The first half ended with Pflugerville leading 17-14.

The Panthers got the ball first to start the second half.  Once again, their power running game pounded the ball deep into the Westwood red zone.  The Warrior defense forced another field goal, but the Panther 30 yard field goal was short and no good.

Westwood took over on their own 20 and started a drive.  Jennings rolled to his right, then passed back to his left to Te’shon McGinnis for a big gain.  McGinnis carried the ball several times for good yardage.  On fourth and 5, Jennings passed to Dylan Frazier for a first down on the Pflugerville 21.  It was the Panthers defense’s turn to stiffen and force the Warriors to try a field goal.  Westwood turned to another section of their playbook – the trick play section.  Jennings lined up as the field goal kicker.  He took a direct snap from center, then passed to Beau Brown who had sneaked behind the Panther defense.  Westwood regained the lead at 21-17.

Fake field goal leads to TD pass from Jennings to Beau Brown

The third quarter ended with a punt by Pflugerville that was downed on the Warrior 16 yard line.  Two quick passes from Will Jennings to Colin Iguchi picked up a first down.  Then Jennings gave the ball to Miles Webber on a draw.  He burst through a huge hole in the Panther defense and would have scored easily on a 74 yard run, but he did something really stupid – he taunted the Panther defenders.  Webber was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and the touchdown was negated.  Westwood retained possession inside Pflugerville territory.  Jennings threw to Iguchi for a first down on the 12.  Two plays later, the Warriors again opened up the playbook.  Jennings tossed an inside shuffle pass to McGinnis who scored from the 9.  With 9:23 left in the game, Westwood was up 28-17.

Miles Webber taunts the Panther defense

Down by 11, Pflugerville needed to move.  Michael Salais went in motion, then Merriweather found him open behind the linebackers for a big gain to the Westwood 44.  After a false start penalty, Merriweather handed the ball to Corey Coles who broke through the defense and was tackled from behind on the 2.  Merriweather pushed his way into the end zone for the touchdown.  The extra point cut the lead to 28-24 with 6:48 to play.

Corey Coles carries down to the 2

The Panther defense needed to make a stop to get the ball back to their offense, but it was not to be.  Jennings drove Westwood downfield and into Pflugerville territory with a series of sideline passes.  On second and 11 from the panther 19, Jennings rolled to his left then threw to Trevor Smith in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown.  The extra point extended the lead to 35-24 with 4:55 to play.

The Panthers were unable to score again as the two teams traded possessions late in the game.  The Warriors claimed the victory and moved into a tie with the Panthers for third place at 2-3 in district play.