From the Desk of...

Matt Burnett

Coach Burnett Talks About Week 16

December 12, 1999

Schertz Clemens Semifinal Game

     That was everything I thought it would be. Schertz was well prepared and really played hard the whole game. But I thought our kids defensively weathered the storm. What I mean was they did a good job of blocking us and scheming us and I thought our kids did a great job of not letting panic set in. We could have easily started pointing fingers at each other when someone starts moving the ball like that. Some could easily start losing a little focus on our keys. But out kids, to their credit, hung in there and played extremely hard.

     We stopped them when we had to. The interception by Cody Clark before halftime was a big play. I thought that in the second half we had them under control until we had them 3rd and 10, and we turned a receiver lose for an easy score. At that time we could have fallen apart, but instead we showed some championship courage in pulling together.

     That long drive they had right before we went down to score the final touchdown was a 59-yard drive. They ran 19 plays on that drive. I thought that on that drive our kids really hung in there. It took them 19 plays to go 59 yards, then our kids went 79 yards in 8 plays, and that was the game. That pretty much epitomized the spirit our kids had. We weathered the storm of everything they gave us, and our kids went down and punched it in. Now we're going to the Big Show.

     That last drive we made was truly a championship drive. We used a lot of what we do the best on that drive. We ran some option, some short routes, a deep route, got close and punched it in with Dustin on the option play. I was real proud of the kids.

     On another note I was very happy to see all the support we had from the fans. The weather was predicted to rain throughout the game. Some of our fans could have decided not to get wet, but in true PN-G fashion they showed up. That inspired our kids.

On Stephenville

     Stephenville is the real deal. They're another good football team that's undefeated. They have a lot of tradition and are very well coached. Offensively they throw a bunch of formations at you to try to get you disoriented. Defensively they run a lot of man coverage and really attack. They try to attack and get you to make a bad play. We're expecting another tough contest.

     We're looking forward to getting back in the Dome. It will be our fourth game there. We're looking forward to getting back where all our fans can come watch us play without worrying about the weather.

Injuries

     No injuries.

Defensive Leaders

     Defensive leaders against Schertz Clemens were: