Published: October 31, 2009 05:19 pm      

Wildcats have to wait for playoffs

Athens foils Palestine’s attempt to clinch postseason berth

By SCOTT TYLER

Sports Editor



The Palestine Wildcats went into Bruce Field at Athens Friday night hoping to snap a two-year playoff drought.

After a 48-minute battle, the Wildcats are going to have to wait another week to make the playoffs.

Athens won its third straight game, defeating Palestine 29-14 Friday night, giving the Hornets a playoff spot and forcing the Wildcats to have to win next week against Westwood.

“The good thing about it is that we still control our own destiny,” Palestine head coach Booker Bowie said Saturday morning. “We don’t have to rely on anyone else.”

The win moved Palestine (5-4) into a three-way tie for first place with Athens (4-5) and Brownsboro (7-1) at 3-1 in district. Westwood sits behind the three teams at 2-2 in district. Athens and Brownsboro clinched playoff spots because both own the tiebreaker over Palestine and Westwood.

A win Friday night at home against Westwood will clinch a playoff spot for the Wildcats. A loss to Westwood could force a points tiebreaker depending on the outcome of the Athens-Brownsboro game Friday night.

Bowie hopes the schedule his team has played this season and the resiliency of the Wildcats after tough losses will help going into the final week of the regular season.

“We have been through some tough games and we have done a good job responding after those losses,” Bowie said. “Hopefully the past will help because of experience.

“Attitude wise, I expect it will be up once we come to practice on Monday.”

Against Athens, Palestine was never able to find the same rhythm that the Wildcats had the last two weeks in wins over Crockett and Brownsboro.

“We had some distractions during the week and we were not totally focused,” Bowie said. “But we are going to bounce back.”

Athens held Palestine to its lowest point total of the season. Before Friday night, Palestine had scored 20 points or more in each game. Palestine also was held to a season-low 298 yards — the first time the Wildcats did not have 300 yards of offense.

But despite the offensive struggles, Palestine cut the lead to 22-14 when quarterback Olin Terry found E.J. Spurlock for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 9:20 left in the game. Spurlock had two touchdown catches for both of Palestine’s scores.

Palestine got the ball back with a chance to tie the game with six minutes left, but Athens forced a fumble and then turned it into a touchdown to put the game away.

Turnovers were a problem for Palestine Friday night. The Wildcats committed four turnovers — two interceptions and two fumbles — which tied a season high. Palestine only had three turnovers in its first three district games.