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Tuesday
March 16, 2010 Since 1922 |
Patriots out to prove playoff berth no fluke
By Nathan Hague
The Baytown Sun Published October 31, 2009 In 2008, the GCM Patriots, a team in its first season, experienced its first win by beating the Kingwood Park Panthers. Saturday, the two teams go head-to-head again in a 2 p.m. game at Stallworth Stadium.
This time, circumstances are different.
The Patriots are in the playoffs with a record of 6-3 overall and 4-2 in District 19-4A and Kingwood Park, 4-5 and 2-4, has missed the playoffs.
Patriot Coach Bret Boyd says his team wants the win to show that this season is not a fluke.
“We look at this as a very important game. Some of the thoughts are whether we are for real or we just got lucky and fell into this spot,” he said. “The challenge for our team is to go out and perform, and finish the regular season.
“People might say we barely won our last two games and that we beat Barbers Hill on a muddy field, but we just need to perform well on both sides of the ball.”
According to Boyd, the key to coming away with a win is stopping the run.
“I know they’re gong to come out run” he said. They have the second leading rusher (Adrian Quintero) in district. The challenge for our defense was stopping the run last week so hopefully we can step up this week.”
Boyd believes Kingwood Park will be out for revenge and that they’ll do everything in their power to finish the season strong.
“For them, ending the season on a high note, and being able to say ‘we beat a playoff team the last game’ would be a good way to go out for the off-season. They’ll be fired up. It will be a different game and a different atmosphere.”
The different atmosphere he’s referring to has to do with the fact the game is on a Saturday afternoon.
“There’s a different feel,” he said. “I definitely prefer Saturday afternoon over Saturday late because there’s a lot of waiting. We may end up playing a playoff game on a Saturday, so this could be good practice.”
The Baytown Sun Published October 31, 2009 In 2008, the GCM Patriots, a team in its first season, experienced its first win by beating the Kingwood Park Panthers. Saturday, the two teams go head-to-head again in a 2 p.m. game at Stallworth Stadium.
This time, circumstances are different.
The Patriots are in the playoffs with a record of 6-3 overall and 4-2 in District 19-4A and Kingwood Park, 4-5 and 2-4, has missed the playoffs.
Patriot Coach Bret Boyd says his team wants the win to show that this season is not a fluke.
“We look at this as a very important game. Some of the thoughts are whether we are for real or we just got lucky and fell into this spot,” he said. “The challenge for our team is to go out and perform, and finish the regular season.
“People might say we barely won our last two games and that we beat Barbers Hill on a muddy field, but we just need to perform well on both sides of the ball.”
According to Boyd, the key to coming away with a win is stopping the run.
“I know they’re gong to come out run” he said. They have the second leading rusher (Adrian Quintero) in district. The challenge for our defense was stopping the run last week so hopefully we can step up this week.”
Boyd believes Kingwood Park will be out for revenge and that they’ll do everything in their power to finish the season strong.
“For them, ending the season on a high note, and being able to say ‘we beat a playoff team the last game’ would be a good way to go out for the off-season. They’ll be fired up. It will be a different game and a different atmosphere.”
The different atmosphere he’s referring to has to do with the fact the game is on a Saturday afternoon.
“There’s a different feel,” he said. “I definitely prefer Saturday afternoon over Saturday late because there’s a lot of waiting. We may end up playing a playoff game on a Saturday, so this could be good practice.”