Published: November 07, 2009 12:13 am      

Palestine clinches playoffs with win over Westwood

By SCOTT TYLER

Sports Editor



Palestine quarterback Olin Terry was nearly speechless.

The Wildcat senior could not find the words after Palestine defeated Westwood 49-7 Friday night at Wildcat Stadium, clinching a playoff spot for the first time since Terry has been on the varsity team.

“It is just a great feeling,” Terry said after throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for two scores against Westwood. “I have never been to the playoffs, so to be able to make it on the final game at home is great.”

With the win, Palestine takes the No. 1 seed in the small school division of the Class 3A playoff bracket. Palestine is scheduled to play Mexia at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Cedar Hill in the bi-district round.

On top of making the playoffs, with Brownsboro defeating Athens Friday night, the Wildcats finish as District 20-3A champions according to Palestine head coach Booker Bowie.

“This is just awesome,” Bowie said as he had tears in his eyes after the game. “Our players stepped up and played like champs tonight.”

Westwood (2-3, 5-5) needed a win Friday night to make the playoffs, but never looked to get into any kind of rhythm. The Panthers were held 179 yards including a season-low 56 passing yards as the Wildcat defense continuously found its way into the Westwood back field.

“We just did not play well all night,” Westwood head coach Kevin Anderson said. “For some reason, when we play Palestine, we just don’t bring our best game.”

Palestine rushed for 329 yards, averaging 9.4 yards a carry, against Westwood. Terrance Simon rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns, DeCory Chivers had 101 yards and one touchdown and Terry added 99 yards and two scores.

“The offensive line stepped up tonight and gave us a boost,” Terry said.

Westwood had a chance to take an early lead in the first quarter as a face mask penalty on fourth down gave the Panthers new life. A third-down pass from Tevin Watson to Nick Morrow for 18 yards and runs by Domanick Turner and Cameron Shead moved the ball to the Palestine 2-yard line.

But that is when the wheels started falling off for Westwood. On the first down play, Watson lost control of the ball trying to hand it off and the Panthers recovered the fumble but back on their 21-yard line.

After two false start penalties, Palestine sacked Watson on consecutive plays for to bring up fourth and goal from the 45. Westwood went to punt the ball, but was not able to get the kick off and on the tackle, the ball came loose and the Wildcats returned it to the Westwood 5-yard line.

On the first play, Simon took it in for the score and Palestine went ahead 7-0.

Westwood again drove the ball into Palestine territory getting to the 23-yard line on a 31-yard run by Watson. But Westwood would not be able to convert on a fourth and three as Watson was stopped in the back field.

Palestine moved the ball quickly down the field on a 22-yard run by Terry and a 12-yard pass to E.J. Spurlock. On the next play, Terry rolled to the left and found Eric Robertson over the top for a 31-yard touchdown pass and Palestine led 14-0.

It was the same later in the second quarter as Palestine stopped a fake punt on the Panther 48-yard line. A 19-yard pass to Spurlock and a 10-yard run by Simon put Palestine at the 5-yard line. On third down, Terry threw a fade pass to Spurlock, who out jumped the defender for the 4-yard touchdown and Palestine led 21-0 going into the half.

The second half was much the same as the first half for the Palestine offense. The Wildcats again marched the ball down the field. Simon converted on a third and eight with a 10-yard run and two plays later, on a quarterback keeper, Terry went around the left side for the 7-yard touchdown to give Palestine a 28-0 lead.

Westwood finally found some offensive production when Shead broke free for a 58-yard run to get Westwood to the 5-yard line. Shead’s run was only one of three Panther plays that went for 20 yards or more in the game.

Two plays later, Turner took the end around and made it to the corner of the end zone for the 5-yard score to get Westwood on the board 28-7.

However, Palestine’s run attack was too much. On the next series, Chivers got into the act, carrying the ball twice for 36 yards to move into Panther territory. Three plays later, Terry kept the ball on the option and had an open lane for a 34-yard score and Palestine led 35-7 with 55 seconds left in the third quarter.

In the first minute of the fourth quarter, Simon broke free down the sideline for a 63-yard touchdown run and Chivers put the finishing touches on the running display, carrying the ball six times for 77 yards, ending with a 2-yard touchdown run.

Notes: Palestine has not lost to Westwood and is 6-0 in the overall series. ...Westwood’s Nick Morrow had an interception in the second quarter. It was the only series in which Palestine did not score.



Westwood (2-3, 5-5) 0 0 7 0 7

Palestine (4-1, 6-4) 7 14 14 14 49



PALESTINE — Terrance Simon 5 run (Travis Atkinson kick)

PALESTINE — Eric Robertson 31 pass from Olin Terry (Atkinson kick)

PALESTINE — E.J. Spurlock 4 pass from Terry (Atkinson kick)

PALESTINE — Terry 7 run (Atkinson kick)

WESTWOOD — Domanick Turner 5 run (Tyler Dillon kick)

PALESTINE — Terry 34 run (Atkinson kick)

PALESTINE — Simon 63 run (Atkinson kick)

PALESTINE — DeCory Chivers 2 run (Atkinson kick)



Westwood Palestine

First Downs 8 19

Rushes-Yards 29-123 35-329

Passing Yards 56 94

Total Yards 179 423

Comp-Att-Int 4-12-0 7-10-1

Punts-Avg 3-42.3 0

Fumbles-Lost 5-2 0

Penalties-Yards 9-65 3-30



Rushing — Westwood: Cameron Shead 9-82; Turner, 11-29; Tevin Watson, 9-12; P: Simon, 13-125; Chivers, 9-101; Terry 12-99; Kenneth Green, 1-4

Passing — Westwood: Watson, 4-11-0-56; Bryce Lyman 0-1-0-0. P: Terry, 7-10-1-94

Receiving — Westwood: Des’Mone Williams, 1-23; Nick Morrow, 1-18; Turner, 2-12. Palestine: Spurlock, 4-68; Robertson, 2-38; Green, 1-9