Published: October 15, 2007 10:50 pm      

Panthers hurt by starting off slow

By SALLY SEXTON

H-P Sports Writer



The much anticipated matchup between Palestine and Westwood didn’t quite play out the way the Panthers would have hoped.

Despite a rally of 32 points in the second half to get within three of Palestine, Westwood dropped the District 19-3A opener 41-38.

“We finished strong but we started slow. I thought our defense started off kind of tentative,” Westwood head coach Kevin Anderson said. “After halftime, they decided that they were going to play. But you can’t start slow against any formidable opponent.”

The Westwood defense gave up 28 points in the first half of the game along with 346 yards.

“We let them get 28 points early in the game and I think we were getting caught up in the atmosphere and not reading our keys,” assistant coach David Reed said. “We can’t get so caught up in the game. We’ve got to start reading our keys.”

The Panthers showed up in the second half, holding the Wildcats to 14 points.

“Their first score was just a good play from (Olin) Terry,” Reed said. “On the second score, we were around the ball, we just didn’t make the play.

“A lot of it was more mental mistakes than physical.”

A bright spot on defense for the Panthers was Alan Thompson, who had two interceptions.

The senior, who is also a receiver on offense, leads the Panthers with four on the year.

“Thompson did a pretty good job of defending the pass,” Anderson said. “That’s something we didn’t do well in the first half.”

D.J. Morrow also added an interception for Westwood.

The Panthers struggled early on the offensive end, scoring only once in the first half on Morrow’s 1-yard run.

Westwood had only 148 yards of offense at halftime.

“We had a fumble on a first-and-goal situation, and overthrew the receiver on fourth-and-long,” offensive coordinator Steven Skinner said. “The opportunities were there, we just missed them. There were also some key penalties that I think hurt us.”

Quarterback Gralyn Crawford had his second straight game of over 100 yards rushing with 16 carries for 170 yards, 134 of them coming in the second half.

“That was probably the best game Gralyn has ever played,” Skinner said. “He didn’t have any spectacular runs, but he was accurate and protected the ball and did a good job of looking down the field.”

Crawford finished 17-of-32 for 244 yards with three touchdowns.

Junior receiver George White also stepped up for Westwood, catching six passes for 122 yards to led the Panthers in receiving.

He had a 25-yard reception from Crawford late in the game, his first touchdown catch of the season.

“George stepped up big and I’m proud of him,” Skinner said. “He did a really good job of blocking. This was by far his best game.”

The loss puts Westwood at 0-1 in district, and on Friday the Panthers will face Madisonville, who only has one loss this season.

“We’ve still got a shot at winning the district championship,” Anderson said. “And it starts with a win in Madisonville Friday night.”

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Sally Sexton can be reached via e-mail at sports2@palestineherald.com