Mustangs hope to end season on positive note Friday night

"People tend to remember what you do at the end more than what you do at the beginning," Coach Cameron Brooks said. "I've got a feeling with the kids I have they're going to want to finish strong."

Emotion is always critical in a football game, but it may be more important than usual Friday. Both teams are out of the playoff picture and will end the season Friday. The winner could be the squad wanting to send the seniors out on a winning note and set a positive tone for next year the most.

"We'll prepare like it's a regular game, but the kids know it's the last game," Brooks said.

Both teams are 1-4 in the Western Athletic Conference. The Mustangs are 4-6 overall while Enka is 3-6.

The Jets are led by quarterback R.D. Moody, who Brooks said is a good athlete and does a good job running the offense for Coach Jeff Conner.

"They're in the shotgun 90 percent of the time," Brooks said.

He said the Jets sometimes have no running backs and sometimes one back lines up with Moody. They use a lot of motion.

Phillip Bohanon is Moody's favorite receiver.

"We match up pretty good with Enka," the coach said. "We've got to try to get some pressure on Moody, but it's tough because of the formations they get in."

Brooks said Enka has a solid defense. They may line up in a base 43 or they may drop eight people into pass coverage. He said which scheme the Jets use will determine how much the Mustangs run and pass.

The teams have had six common opponents. The Jets defeated Owen (31-27) and Pisgah (26-14). They have lost to Brevard (25-14), Tuscola (24-21), Erwin (21-10) and Franklin (20-16).

The only team the Mustangs have beaten from that group is Pisgah (21-14). They lost to Owen (36-21), Erwin (28-14), Franklin (20-12), Tuscola (20-13) and Brevard (20-13).

The Mustangs played well for the most part in Friday's loss to Brevard, but they had no answer for D.J. Walker. He erupted for 288 yards on 20 carries.

"You can not simulate that kid's speed and elusiveness," Brooks said. "Our kids were in the right position. You've got to give him credit. He makes you miss."

SM shut down quarterback Jake Hunter, a Shrine Bowl selection. He completed just three of 11 passes for 40 yards.

"Our kids did a good job," the coach said. "We knew what they were going to do. Our kids played hard. We were bending, but we never broke. Our kids almost played to the best of their ability."

He noted that not only was Hunter a Shrine Bowl pick but defensive lineman Charles Norman also was chosen for the all-star game. Norman and his fellow defenders played havoc in the backfield sacking Justin Hawk eight times. Those losses helped to account for SM having only 41 yards rushing.

"The offensive line didn't play bad by any means," Brooks said. "They were overmatched. They were a lot bigger, stronger and faster than us."

Hawk turned in an outstanding performance by completing 15 of 20 passes for 275 yards. That's the second highest passing yards total in school history.

Brooks noted his two interceptions came on passes that were under thrown.

"He did a good job," the coach said. "I wish he was going to be here another year. He's picked up the speed of the game as far as reading coverages."

Brooks added that Justin Roper also did a good job when he came in at quarterback to run some option plays. His only pass went for a touchdown. Roper had been the starting quarterback until sustaining an ankle injury the week before the Tuscola game.

Darius Bryson caught six passes for 123 yards. Michael Ritchie had five receptions for 105 yards.

"Darius and Michael did a good job making catches and blocking down field for each other," Brooks said. "They played extremely well."

He called Ritchie one of the best possession receivers in the state.

"If you throw the ball in his vicinity, it's going to be caught," Brooks said.

Back to Sports: 11/02/00.