WS Chronicle

The Parkland Mustangs came into last week’s game against Ben L. Smith with a two game losing streak.  Looking to climb back into the win column the Mustangs held off a tough Golden Eagle team to win 12-8.

With the season halfway over, Parkland head coach Curtis Clark says he is happy to see his team buying in to the philosophy the staff is wishing to implement.

“The game went well and I am glad the game went in our favor,” said Clark.  “I am very glad to see that the kids are buying in to what we have been trying to tell them.”

Earlier this season Clark says he knows it was going to take a few weeks to get all the kids on the same page.  He says after the resilience his team displayed Thursday night, he feels they may be closer to that mark.

“The team has come a long way and they are working together as a cohesive unit,” he said.  “They are realizing what we need from them and I like what I see.  They are working hard and playing the game as a brotherhood.”

Clark says they went into the game wanting to pound the football with the running game but Smith’s defense held tough and did not allow them to stick to their game plan.

“They took away our running game and even though that was our plan coming in we found a way to win,” Clark continued.  “Defensively we stood tall and I told them if we score we win and they bought into that concept.  I keep telling them before the game that they will face adversity but it’s what you do when adversity hits that matters.”

For Smith, they are coming off of their second straight defeat to a Forsyth County team.  Two weeks prior they were narrowly defeated by Mt. Tabor.  Varsity head coach, Brandon Wiggins, says the JV team continues to make strides in the right direction.  With an 8-6 lead at halftime, the Golden Eagles were unable to hold on to the victory.

“It was a close game and I thought the guys played well,” said Wiggins.  “Going into the game we felt good and we started off well we just have to learn to close out games.  They just have to continue to get better and learn to win those close ones.”

Wiggins said his team has come leaps and bounds from where they were at the beginning of the season.  He says it’s great that the guys are learning these lessons while they are young so when they move to the varsity level they will be better prepared.

“It is just one of those things because we are an up an coming program that is limited in numbers,” he went on to say.  “At the end of the day we are fighters and if the kids stay with the program, lift in the summer and do the things in the off season they will reap the benefits in the end.”

Wiggins says his team has to learn to play every quarter of every game with no let downs in intensity.  He says once the guys learn this valuable lesson they will be better for it.

Clark says his team just has to stay focused and worry about themselves.  He thinks even though they came away with the victory there are a few things they still need to iron out going forward.  He says the little things matter most on offense and defense.