Published: November 20, 2007 11:49 pm      

Grapeland looking for a playoff win

By SCOTT TYLER

H-P Sports Editor



GRAPELAND — When the Grapeland Sandies were in must-win situations their final two games of district, head coach Curt Faigle made specific goals for his team that had nothing to do with the playoffs.

Against Cayuga, Faigle wanted his team to focus on winning at home and against Oakwood, the head coach wanted to see his team play well on road.

Grapeland reached both the goals and with wins over Cayuga and Oakwood, the Sandies made the playoffs for the second straight year.

Grapeland will face West Sabine at 6 p.m. Thursday at Lufkin’s Abe Martin Stadium in the Class A-Region III, Division II, area round of the playoffs.

“Hopefully we are peaking at the right time,” Faigle said.

With Grapeland in the playoffs, Faigle is continuing his goal for the team and this week it is to win a playoff game.

“We have not won a playoff game in a boys’ sport other than baseball since I have been here,” Faigle said.

For the football program, it has been a while since the Sandies have experienced a win in the playoffs. Grapeland has four postseason appearances since 2000 but has not recorded a win.

But Faigle believes heading back to Lufkin, where the Sandies played Lovelady last year in the playoffs, will help Grapeland in achieving its weekly goal.

“I am glad we are playing in Lufkin because we have been there before,” Faigle said. “We are the home team again, so our guys will be familiar with the locker room and the settings and have the same experiences.”

Grapeland also will be facing a familiar team as the Sandies played West Sabine in non-district action this season. West Sabine scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to defeat Grapeland 22-20.

“I thought it was a football game we started out real well in but lost the momentum in the second half,” Faigle said. “I felt like we played well for three quarters.”

Grapeland led 15-8 heading into the fourth quarter before West Sabine scored 14 points on two long scoring drives. Grapeland blocked a punt and recovered the fumble for a touchdown late in the game but the two-point conversion came up short.

Grapeland also had five turnovers in the loss including one at the beginning of the second half after the Sandies got inside West Sabine’s 25-yard line.

“We lost the momentum with the turnovers,” Faigle said. “That fumble at the beginning of the second half was big because if we come away with at least a field goal, it would have been a two-score game.

“You cannot allow good teams to hang around.”

Since the game against West Sabine, Faigle has seen an offense.

“I think we are more focused on offense and paying attention to what we are doing well,” Faigle said.

While the offense has improved, the strength of the Grapeland team has been on defense as the Sandies have allowed only 191 yards a game this season. Tony Taylor leads the Sandies with 100 tackles, Henry Faulk has 99 tackles, including 13 for a loss and four sacks and Ta’Coyus Walker has seven interceptions.

“We are better on defense and they are the reason why we are in the playoffs,” Faigle said.

Against West Sabine, Faigle said the key was going to be slowing down quarterback Calub Brown. In the first matchup, Brown rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown and he threw for another score.

“They have a lot of speed and do not make mistakes,” Faigle said. “On defense they are going to bring pressure so we are going to have to be ready for that.”

Notes: West Sabine defeated West Hardin 48-27 Thursday night in the bi-district round. ...Grapeland had a first-round bye after taking third in District 21-A. ...The Grapeland defense only has allowed 190 points on the season including 78 points against the five District 21-A teams.