Published: October 17, 2009 01:16 am      

Westwood's back against wall after loss to Athens

By SCOTT TYLER

Sports Editor



The Westwood Panthers put their backs squarely against the wall Friday night after falling to Athens 27-10 at Panther Stadium.

The loss drops Westwood (3-4) to 0-2 in district and most likely puts the Panthers in a must-win situation for the final three games of the season, starting at Crockett next week.

Westwood’s offense was never able to find an answer to Athens’ pressuring defense, which had seven sacks and two interceptions. The Panthers were held to 194 yards of offense including only 68 rushing yards. The Panthers, who were without starting running back Cameron Shead Friday night, have not rushed over 100 yards for four straight games.

Westwood took advantage of a fumble — Athens’ only turnover of the game — in the first quarter, giving the Panthers the ball on the Hornets’ 32-yard line.

Two plays later, Tevin Watson, a quarterback sweep, got to the left corner, slipped a tackle, then put a move on a defender to get by and go into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.

But the lead would not last for long as Athens used five plays including a 24-yard pass from Jack Barkley to Courtney Whitehead to get into Westwood territory and another 24-yard pass from the same duo for a touchdown. On the slant pass, Whitehead caught the ball, bounced off the defender and then headed to the end zone to tie the game at 7-7.

Athens did not take much time to take the lead. After a three-and-out by Westwood, the Hornets’ Justin Hofstetter broke free right through the middle on the first play for a 49-yard touchdown run and Athens led 13-7 with two seconds left in the first quarter.

Hofstetter scored another touchdown on a 9-yard run in the second quarter and the Hornets led 20-7 at halftime.

Westwood started the second half by putting together a 14-play drive that lasted over six minutes. Watson converted on two third downs and then had a 29-yard run to get to the 9-yard line.

But a busted play in the back field and a penalty forced the Panthers back and Westwood ultimately had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Dillon to cut the lead to 20-10.

Athens put together its own long drive, going for five minutes on 10 plays, finishing off with another touchdown pass from Barkley to Whitehead, this time for 9 yards and the Hornets led 27-10.

Westwood moved the ball to the Athens 46-yard line early in the fourth quarter, but on fourth and 1, Watson was stopped in the back field for a 3-yard loss.



Athens (1-1, 2-5) 13 7 0 7 27

Westwood (0-2, 3-4) 7 0 3 0 10



WESTWOOD — Tevin Watson 32 run (Tyler Dillon kick)

ATHENS — Courtney Whitehead 24 pass from Jack Barkley (Felipe Robles kick)

ATHENS — Justin Hofstetter 49 run (kick fail)

ATHENS — Hofstetter 9 run (Robles kick)

WESTWOOD — Dillon 23 field goal

ATHENS — Whitehead 9 pass from Barkley (Zabdiel Mota kick)



Athens Westwood

First Downs 12 14

Rushes-Yards 30-171 30-68

Passing Yards 142 126

Total Yards 313 194

Comp-Att-Int 10-13-0 12-23-2

Punts-Avg. 4-37.2 4-32.75

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 4-0

Penalties-Yards 7-61 4-44



Rushing — Athens: Hofstetter 15-116; Jonathon Dora, 3-46; Randall Gamble, 10-7; Barkley, 2-2. W: T. Watson, 21-60; Domanick Turner, 5-7; Rodney Watson, 4-1.

Passing — Athens: Barkley, 10-13-0-142; W: T. Watson, 12-23-2-126

Receiving — Athens: Whitehead, 7-97; Kendall Sanders, 1-27; Matt Jordan, 1-15; Dora, 1-3. W: Turner, 6-60; Nick Morrow, 3-40; R. Watson, 2-18; Des’Mone Williams, 1-8