Thoughts on Carter vs. Garland...

[owlfan 1]

I honestly believe the following things:

1) If GHS and Carter played 30 times, each team would win 15, and neither would win by more than a TD.

2) If they played 50 minutes instead of 48, Carter may have won this one...

3) My fellow Owl fans and me were TERRIFIED of the prospect of Crabtree getting his hands on the ball with a minute left.

4) No one better give the kid who hit our punter any crap. He was going all out to make a play for his team - he almost got the punt. I hope his teammates and the Carter fans have his back and will hold him up - he's got to feel terrible.

5) I sure hope Carter and Garland keep their regular season rivalry going - I can see these games being classics for years to come.

6) This is a special Owls team, and this has been a special season! I am SO GLAD it's still going!!!

Great season, Carter. I know it stinks to have it end like this. Know you guys have this Owl fans repect, and I am sure I speak for all of us.

[GarlandOwl06]

Well said Owlfan. Great win against an awesome football team in the Carter Cowboys. Nice season Carter, either team could have won that one. Great job Garland and let's keep it going!! Go Owls!!!

[Z3Roadstar]

I went to the game with no rooting interest between the two teams, just went to see some good football.

I would agree with the 2 teams being pretty evenly matched.

I'd also agree, I felt horrible for the Carter player who got flagged for running into the punter. It really wasn't the typical case of running into the punter even... It basically seemed like the sole of the punter's foot and his face mask shared the same exact space for just a brief moment. But enough to draw a flag, and it wouldn't have matter if it were a 5-yarder rather than a 15-yarder because of the down and distance.

And I'd agree that Garland should've been worried that Carter would get a chance to have Crabtree make a few more throws at #89 Gardner. Crabtree didn't strike me as the most accurate passer, but with Gardner's height that made a dangerous matchup for anyone in Garland's secondary. And all it was really going to take is just 1 time. But credit to Garland for not letting Crabtree get a good look downfield when it mattered on that last drive. That 4th down throw never really gave Gardner a chance to fight for it.

Carter just didn't seem to have much offense. But at halftime, I couldn't help but think Garland could be in trouble, because they really had won the first half pretty decisively in my opinion, but only had the 12-7 lead.

Also, after seeing the really bad snap by Carter on a 3rd quarter punt, it made me wonder... did Carter intentionally take the safety when it was pinned back at the end of the 1st half? ... I assumed it had at the time, then watching that snap, I wasn't sure.

And was (and how) Curtis Bailey the big Carter tackle hurt? ... I didn't notice him going off, but when the players were leaving the field it looked like he was wearing a 'boot'. Hopefully it was nothing serious. I was impressed with his mobility given his size.

I was also wondering why Brumett and Kennedy seemed to be rotating, rather than on the field at the same time? Given their size, and the lack of size on the rest of the line, having them both on the field almost constantly would've seemed like a good thing. There were a couple rotations that I didn't agree with, but that one seemed the most glaring.

[Owllover]

Great game Carter...I know we will be hearing from you again next year...looking forward to it in fact. You are a great team with a lot of talent and I hated to see your season end this way. Of course I would have hated it more if we had gone home. ;) Congrats on a great year and a good play-off run. You have a lot to be proud of.

[garlandowl08]

I went to the game with no rooting interest between the two teams, just went to see some good football.

I would agree with the 2 teams being pretty evenly matched.

I'd also agree, I felt horrible for the Carter player who got flagged for running into the punter. It really wasn't the typical case of running into the punter even... It basically seemed like the sole of the punter's foot and his face mask shared the same exact space for just a brief moment. But enough to draw a flag, and it wouldn't have matter if it were a 5-yarder rather than a 15-yarder because of the down and distance.

And I'd agree that Garland should've been worried that Carter would get a chance to have Crabtree make a few more throws at #89 Gardner. Crabtree didn't strike me as the most accurate passer, but with Gardner's height that made a dangerous matchup for anyone in Garland's secondary. And all it was really going to take is just 1 time. But credit to Garland for not letting Crabtree get a good look downfield when it mattered on that last drive. That 4th down throw never really gave Gardner a chance to fight for it.

Carter just didn't seem to have much offense. But at halftime, I couldn't help but think Garland could be in trouble, because they really had won the first half pretty decisively in my opinion, but only had the 12-7 lead.

Also, after seeing the really bad snap by Carter on a 3rd quarter punt, it made me wonder... did Carter intentionally take the safety when it was pinned back at the end of the 1st half? ... I assumed it had at the time, then watching that snap, I wasn't sure.

And was (and how) Curtis Bailey the big Carter tackle hurt? ... I didn't notice him going off, but when the players were leaving the field it looked like he was wearing a 'boot'. Hopefully it was nothing serious. I was impressed with his mobility given his size.

I was also wondering why Brumett and Kennedy seemed to be rotating, rather than on the field at the same time? Given their size, and the lack of size on the rest of the line, having them both on the field almost constantly would've seemed like a good thing. There were a couple rotations that I didn't agree with, but that one seemed the most glaring.

If I'm not mistaken #64 Matt Puckett got some playing time and that possibly was the cause for the Brumit/Kennedy rotation.

[Black&Gold06]

I dont see why Kennedy and Brumit arent out there together either - Kennedy plays LG and Brumit plays LT - but whatever - im sure they were out there a few plays. I think the real reason may be that Kennedy is actually 2nd string (he is a transfer and doesnt know the offense as well as Stubbs #69)...but I do think in goalline situations it would make sense to have them in there together.

[gtowndrumma]

the reason kennedy and buddy were rotating is because they moved stubs back to lg so they put jeremy behind buddy and rotated them out.... seemed to work pretty well, and i would back that decision 100% for the rest of the season. stubbs knows his stuff and is a great blocker, and jeremy is just a lil too slow so i think this should stay the rotation for the rest of the year.

[garlandowl08]

the reason kennedy and buddy were rotating is because they moved stubs back to lg so they put jeremy behind buddy and rotated them out.... seemed to work pretty well, and i would back that decision 100% for the rest of the season. stubbs knows his stuff and is a great blocker, and jeremy is just a lil too slow so i think this should stay the rotation for the rest of the year.

All I know is it worked and on many plays, our whole offensive front just moved the pile 3-5 yards, allowing for good short runs up the middle.