Kingwood Observer - Sports
Mustangs seek third consecutive playoff berth
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| The six players on Kingwood’s leadership council will be major contributors this season. They are, from left, standing,senior center Jacob Porter, senior guard Matt Gorey, senior tackle Travis Swanson, junior defensive back Zack Ackerman and senior defensive back Marshall Clapp. Kneeling, from left, are junior quarterback David Fitt and senior defensive back Matt McDougald. |
By STEPHEN WHITFIELD
Humble and Aldine Eisenhower. Aldine Eisenhower and Humble.
According to every reporter, radio host and armchair prognosticator, these two schools are going to run away with District 19-5A. It won’t be close.
However, Kingwood High School’s football team has a question for all of the experts.
Why not us?
The Mustangs may not be the most exciting team, nor will their 3-8 record from last season scare many opponents.
But they have made the playoffs each of the past two years and pushed football juggernaut Galena Park North Shore to the limit in their first-round game last year. That’s something neither Humble nor Aldine Eisenhower can claim.
Given that, Kingwood feels it can make a deep postseason run this year.
“I don’t think it’s a stretch to think we can’t go at least two, three, maybe four rounds into the playoffs and make a big impact,” senior guard Mike Gorey said.
If the Mustangs are to make the playoffs for the third straight year, they cannot afford another rough start like they had last season. In 2007, Kingwood started 1-3 in district.
With a new district and a tough non-district schedule, head coach Dougald McDougald said he thinks his team will need some time to adjust.
“There’s always going to be an adjustment period once you start playing other teams,” McDougald said. “The speed of the game increases dramatically, so there’s always that small timing factor.”
Still, the Mustangs feel they are good enough to improve on last season and become an elite team.
“I think we’re a lot more focused,” senior center Jacob Porter said. “We know the challenges ahead of us and we’re prepared for them. We’ve been working real hard.”
Kingwood’s 2008 schedule starts off with a bang.
This Friday, the Mustangs take on The Woodlands College Park at Reliant Stadium at 7:30 p.m. The Cavaliers posted a 9-1 record in 2007 with a senior-laden roster, but they should have enough talent to make a run at a playoff berth this season.
McDougald said the season opener will be a big game for his team.
“It’s huge to get started with a very positive experience,” McDougald said. “The first ballgame by itself is so important, and to play a great team like College Park and to be playing at Reliant Stadium is exciting.”
The Mustangs’ non-district schedule also includes two tough match-ups at Klein and against The Woodlands. Klein is young and inexperienced, but The Woodlands returns 16 starters to a playoff team with a potent passing attack that could cause trouble for Kingwood’s secondary.
The district schedule has a lot of unknowns. The Mustangs match up well against Atascocita, but the game against Humble on Oct. 17 should be an even one. Last year, the Wildcats squeaked by the Mustangs 24-21.
On top of that, Kingwood faces four new district opponents this year in the Aldine schools – Aldine, Eisenhower, MacArthur and Nimitz. Gorey said the Mustangs should have an advantage against the Aldine schools since they are not experienced at defending Kingwood’s flexbone offense.
“I think it helps us with the new district because those teams have not seen us run this offense before,” Gorey said. “So, playing the new teams is also going to help us a lot.”
The schedule may play out favorably for Kingwood. But, like almost every other coach in every other sport, McDougald said he will take things one game at a time.
“The most important opponent is the next opponent,” McDougald said. “There’s no one in general or specifically that we’re looking towards.”
KINGWOOD FOOTBALL 2008 SCHEDULE
Friday, Aug. 29: The Woodlands College Park, Reliant Stadium, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 6: Clear Creek, Turner Stadium, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 11: Klein, Klein Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 19: The Woodlands, Turner Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 26, Eisenhower*, Thorne Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 10: MacArthur*, Turner Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 17: Humble*, Turner Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 24: Nimitz*, Turner Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 1: Aldine*, Thorne Stadium, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 8: Atascocita*, Turner Stadium, 6 p.m.
Home games in bold
* denotes district game
KINGWOOD FOOTBALL 2007 RESULTS
Week 0 Bye
Week 1 at Clear Creek L 30-41
Week 2 vs. Klein L 7-17
Week 3 vs. T.W. College Park L 14-21
Week 4 at Baytown Lee L 0-38
Week 5 vs. Beaumont West Brook L 14-56
Week 6 at P.A. Memorial W 42-34
Week 7 vs. Humble L 21-24
Week 8 at Channelview W 40-30
Week 9 vs. Atascocita W 33-10
Week 10 at Baytown Sterling L 49-52 (3 OT)
Bi-district playoffs at North Shore L 7-21
According to every reporter, radio host and armchair prognosticator, these two schools are going to run away with District 19-5A. It won’t be close.
However, Kingwood High School’s football team has a question for all of the experts.
Why not us?
The Mustangs may not be the most exciting team, nor will their 3-8 record from last season scare many opponents.
But they have made the playoffs each of the past two years and pushed football juggernaut Galena Park North Shore to the limit in their first-round game last year. That’s something neither Humble nor Aldine Eisenhower can claim.
Given that, Kingwood feels it can make a deep postseason run this year.
“I don’t think it’s a stretch to think we can’t go at least two, three, maybe four rounds into the playoffs and make a big impact,” senior guard Mike Gorey said.
If the Mustangs are to make the playoffs for the third straight year, they cannot afford another rough start like they had last season. In 2007, Kingwood started 1-3 in district.
With a new district and a tough non-district schedule, head coach Dougald McDougald said he thinks his team will need some time to adjust.
“There’s always going to be an adjustment period once you start playing other teams,” McDougald said. “The speed of the game increases dramatically, so there’s always that small timing factor.”
Still, the Mustangs feel they are good enough to improve on last season and become an elite team.
“I think we’re a lot more focused,” senior center Jacob Porter said. “We know the challenges ahead of us and we’re prepared for them. We’ve been working real hard.”
Kingwood’s 2008 schedule starts off with a bang.
This Friday, the Mustangs take on The Woodlands College Park at Reliant Stadium at 7:30 p.m. The Cavaliers posted a 9-1 record in 2007 with a senior-laden roster, but they should have enough talent to make a run at a playoff berth this season.
McDougald said the season opener will be a big game for his team.
“It’s huge to get started with a very positive experience,” McDougald said. “The first ballgame by itself is so important, and to play a great team like College Park and to be playing at Reliant Stadium is exciting.”
The Mustangs’ non-district schedule also includes two tough match-ups at Klein and against The Woodlands. Klein is young and inexperienced, but The Woodlands returns 16 starters to a playoff team with a potent passing attack that could cause trouble for Kingwood’s secondary.
The district schedule has a lot of unknowns. The Mustangs match up well against Atascocita, but the game against Humble on Oct. 17 should be an even one. Last year, the Wildcats squeaked by the Mustangs 24-21.
On top of that, Kingwood faces four new district opponents this year in the Aldine schools – Aldine, Eisenhower, MacArthur and Nimitz. Gorey said the Mustangs should have an advantage against the Aldine schools since they are not experienced at defending Kingwood’s flexbone offense.
“I think it helps us with the new district because those teams have not seen us run this offense before,” Gorey said. “So, playing the new teams is also going to help us a lot.”
The schedule may play out favorably for Kingwood. But, like almost every other coach in every other sport, McDougald said he will take things one game at a time.
“The most important opponent is the next opponent,” McDougald said. “There’s no one in general or specifically that we’re looking towards.”
KINGWOOD FOOTBALL 2008 SCHEDULE
Friday, Aug. 29: The Woodlands College Park, Reliant Stadium, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 6: Clear Creek, Turner Stadium, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 11: Klein, Klein Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 19: The Woodlands, Turner Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 26, Eisenhower*, Thorne Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 10: MacArthur*, Turner Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 17: Humble*, Turner Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 24: Nimitz*, Turner Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 1: Aldine*, Thorne Stadium, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 8: Atascocita*, Turner Stadium, 6 p.m.
Home games in bold
* denotes district game
KINGWOOD FOOTBALL 2007 RESULTS
Week 0 Bye
Week 1 at Clear Creek L 30-41
Week 2 vs. Klein L 7-17
Week 3 vs. T.W. College Park L 14-21
Week 4 at Baytown Lee L 0-38
Week 5 vs. Beaumont West Brook L 14-56
Week 6 at P.A. Memorial W 42-34
Week 7 vs. Humble L 21-24
Week 8 at Channelview W 40-30
Week 9 vs. Atascocita W 33-10
Week 10 at Baytown Sterling L 49-52 (3 OT)
Bi-district playoffs at North Shore L 7-21
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