Published: October 17, 2009 10:00 pm      

Panthers stumble against Athens

Hornets’ defense gives Westwood trouble all night

By SCOTT TYLER

Sports Editor



Throughout the season, Westwood quarterback Tevin Watson has had the ability to escape pressure and find a way to make big plays.

But Friday night, that evading maneuvers were nullified by an Athens defense that put the clamps on the Panthers in a 27-10 Hornets win at Panther Stadium.

Athens put tremendous pressure on Watson and the Westwood offense, getting seven sacks and two interceptions and putting the Panthers in a hole in District 20-3A.

“Athens had a good defensive scheme and we did not protect very well,” Westwood head coach Kevin Anderson said.

With the loss, Westwood (3-4) drops 0-2 in district, tied with Fairfield at the bottom of the standings. With three games left, the Panthers most likely will have to win out to stay in the playoff picture. Westwood travels to Crockett next week.

“There is no doubt our backs are against the wall,” Anderson said. “For us, we have to win out to make the playoffs.”

The Westwood prolific passing attack never seemed to be able to get going against Athens. The Panthers had passed for over 200 yards in five of their six games this season but were held to 126 passing yards and no touchdowns through the air against the Hornets.

The Panthers also were without starting running back Cameron Shead, who was hurt the week before against Brownsboro. Without Shead, Westwood rushed for only 68 yards, its fourth straight game under 100 yards rushing.

“I don’t think not having Cameron affected us that much,” Anderson said. “We still have to go out and play without him.”

Westwood struck first as the Panthers 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, Watson, on 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.

The 20-points in the first half was more points than Athens had scored in all but one of its games this season (the Hornets had 22 points in a lopsided loss to Mexia).

On each scoring drive in the first half, Athens had a play of over 20 yards as Westwood struggled to make a tackle in critical situations.

After the game, Anderson had difficulty finding words in regards to what the defense needs to do to get better.

“We have to come out and work on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,” Anderson said.