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St. John’s closing out memorable season vs. Kinkaid
By MIKE TENNEY
The St. John’s football team will not be in the Southwest Preparatory Conference championship game.
Friday night’s 28-13 loss to Holland Hall on a cold Tulsa night put the kibosh on that.
But as the team closes out the season Friday night at Rice Stadium in its annual clash with Kinkaid, no one can deny the Mavericks’ resurrection this year after barely winning one game in 2008.
They have won six games this season, and can make it seven against the Falcons. And they did with a lot of underclassmen and smaller players, because there are only 10 seniors and no one on the roster appears to be more than 250 pounds.
Head coach Steve Gleaves said the team wants to win Friday night. Obviously, the players were disappointed in the loss to Holland Hall, but Gleaves is proud of the turnaround.
“We talk a lot about the way we’ve played this year and how much better we’ve played this year,” said Gleaves. “I’m very proud of the kids for what we’ve been able to accomplish this year. It’s good to be in contention for the championship game this late, and still have something to play for.
“We felt like coming we had a chance to be a good team, because we thought we had some very good players. But, after last year, you’re just never sure how the kids are going to respond, but they’ve just done a great job and worked hard and improved. Sure, we’ve ran into a couple of bumps in the road the last couple of weeks, but we’re still very pleased with how we’ve played this season.”
All season long, the Mavs have worn teams down with a swift ground attack that features quarterback Josh Winslow, fullback Rush Moody and tailback Jett Williams. But in Tulsa, Holland Hall had its own punishing back in senior Kwame Sexton, who rushed 33 times for 255 yards and three touchdowns in the Dutchmen’s win.
In all, they had 302 yards rushing on 41 carries.
Both teams combined to throw the ball only 13 times. St. John’s had six attempts, but Holland Hall picked off three of them to stymie any comeback hopes.
St. John’s showed it was ready to play when it stepped off the bus, scoring just 90 seconds into the game when Moody — who had 85 yards on 13 carries — completed a quick drive with a six-yard touchdown run. The team from Texas missed the PAT, but led, 6-0, with 10:33 to play in the first quarter.
The Hall scored the next three touchdowns and would take a 21-6 at halftime.
Quarterback Josh Winslow — who rushed for 122 yards on 25 carries — ended a St. John’s third-quarter drive with a one-yard run, leaving the Mavs down, 21-13, with 6:17 showing after Dan Tweardy’s point-after kick.
Sexton added a 13-yard run with 1:15 to play in the third period to put Holland Hall back up by 15. Neither team would score again.
The Mavericks take on a Kinkaid team that is 3-2, and still has SPC championship game aspirations with a win over the Mavericks.
“We know they’re a very good team,” Gleaves said of the Falcons. “They’ve got a very good quarterback. And they’ve scored a lot of points. It’s a big rivalry and the last game of the season, so both of us want to end on a positive note. They’re very well coached. It’s always a good game between us and them.”
Friday night’s 28-13 loss to Holland Hall on a cold Tulsa night put the kibosh on that.
But as the team closes out the season Friday night at Rice Stadium in its annual clash with Kinkaid, no one can deny the Mavericks’ resurrection this year after barely winning one game in 2008.
They have won six games this season, and can make it seven against the Falcons. And they did with a lot of underclassmen and smaller players, because there are only 10 seniors and no one on the roster appears to be more than 250 pounds.
Head coach Steve Gleaves said the team wants to win Friday night. Obviously, the players were disappointed in the loss to Holland Hall, but Gleaves is proud of the turnaround.
“We talk a lot about the way we’ve played this year and how much better we’ve played this year,” said Gleaves. “I’m very proud of the kids for what we’ve been able to accomplish this year. It’s good to be in contention for the championship game this late, and still have something to play for.
“We felt like coming we had a chance to be a good team, because we thought we had some very good players. But, after last year, you’re just never sure how the kids are going to respond, but they’ve just done a great job and worked hard and improved. Sure, we’ve ran into a couple of bumps in the road the last couple of weeks, but we’re still very pleased with how we’ve played this season.”
All season long, the Mavs have worn teams down with a swift ground attack that features quarterback Josh Winslow, fullback Rush Moody and tailback Jett Williams. But in Tulsa, Holland Hall had its own punishing back in senior Kwame Sexton, who rushed 33 times for 255 yards and three touchdowns in the Dutchmen’s win.
In all, they had 302 yards rushing on 41 carries.
Both teams combined to throw the ball only 13 times. St. John’s had six attempts, but Holland Hall picked off three of them to stymie any comeback hopes.
St. John’s showed it was ready to play when it stepped off the bus, scoring just 90 seconds into the game when Moody — who had 85 yards on 13 carries — completed a quick drive with a six-yard touchdown run. The team from Texas missed the PAT, but led, 6-0, with 10:33 to play in the first quarter.
The Hall scored the next three touchdowns and would take a 21-6 at halftime.
Quarterback Josh Winslow — who rushed for 122 yards on 25 carries — ended a St. John’s third-quarter drive with a one-yard run, leaving the Mavs down, 21-13, with 6:17 showing after Dan Tweardy’s point-after kick.
Sexton added a 13-yard run with 1:15 to play in the third period to put Holland Hall back up by 15. Neither team would score again.
The Mavericks take on a Kinkaid team that is 3-2, and still has SPC championship game aspirations with a win over the Mavericks.
“We know they’re a very good team,” Gleaves said of the Falcons. “They’ve got a very good quarterback. And they’ve scored a lot of points. It’s a big rivalry and the last game of the season, so both of us want to end on a positive note. They’re very well coached. It’s always a good game between us and them.”
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