Despite starting the season with three losses, Sweeny Bulldogs head coach Jay Seibert could point to positives in each defeat.
Back-to-back 300-plus yard rushing performances against Van Vleck and state-ranked Bay City were followed by significant growth from the defense, which allowed just 10 points to Stafford in Week 3.
Sweeny regained its footing with back-to-back wins, including an 80-6 rout of Katy Harmony in last week’s District 10-4A, Division 2 opener. It also set the school record for the most points scored in a game.
“A lot of people didn’t realize we only had six returners and had a bunch of guys from the JV and didn’t even play football, so we went through some rough spells, but the team stuck together strong, and I’m excited about the district and about what they’re capable of doing,” Seibert said.
The results in the next three weeks will determine the level of improvement.
This period includes meetings with Brookshire Royal and Columbia, beginning with a trip to Falcon Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Friday.
“We’ve approached it all week that this is the biggest game of the year to this point,” Seibert said. “In the next three weeks, we have two big games, and to win district, you have to beat Royal and West Columbia.”
La Marque and Wharton remain threats and play each other Friday.
With a win, La Marque would improve to 2-0, but there’s a feeling that the District 10-4A, Division 2 champion, will come from the trio of Columbia, Royal and Sweeny.
There’s extra ammunition for Sweeny based on how last year’s trip to Falcon Stadium ended.
They say losses are what you remember most, and if that’s the case, Royal’s 36-31 come-from-behind win is a reel stuck in a loop in the mind of Sweeny’s staff and players.
“It’s been circled on my calendar because last year we didn’t travel over there very well, we weren’t focused, and we didn’t play great,” Seibert said. “Last year, we went over there and led for 47 of the 48 minutes and lost the game in the last minute.”
The loss began a three-game slide to close the season — which reached six games before Sweeny beat Brazosport in Week 4 — eventually serving as the turning point in Sweeny’s playoff chase.
“If we win that game and hold on, we get second place and make the playoffs, and losing that game pushed us all the out, so it was a devastating loss for us,” Seibert said.
Royal further hurt the Dogs by losing to La Marque the next week, which triggered the rare scenario of Sweeny missing the playoffs.
Columbia benefitted from both results and then beat Royal in the regular-season finale to finish runner-up to Bellville.
Now that there are no Brahmas in the district, the crown will likely go to the team that best navigates the next three weeks.
“We want to put everything together to have a great game and get off to a 2-0 start in district,” Seibert said.
Neither team looks much like the ones that took the field a year ago.
Royal returns more starters but had to replace the sport’s most important position after the transfer of quarterback Ashton Robinson, who accounted for 2,700 yards and 30 touchdowns last season.
“They have a young sophomore quarterback (Mason Hartwell) that is very good, and I know losing the other kid hurts their offense, but this guy has filled in well,” Seibert said.
Royal scored 60 points in its 2-2 start to the season, averaging 15 per game.
The Falcons were on a bye last week, which it likely used to clean up some of the mistakes that have plagued them.
“Their offense is better than what I think people think,” Seibert said. “At times, their offense is extremely explosive and makes some big plays, but they hurt themselves a lot and get in their own way. When they execute and do well, I think they can put some points on the board.”
Royal returns most of its skill players, including utility player Noah Lasker and running back Zakai Anderson, who rushed for more than 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns.
“Their No. 7 (Lasker) is a very explosive kid, and we want to know where he is at all times. They hand him the ball, pitch him the ball, throw him screens and throw it to him downfield,” Seibert said. “They have two or three other skill kids capable of making big plays as well.”
However, the Falcons lack experience up front, and they have had to replace four offensive linemen to protect the young quarterback.
“They do have a young quarterback and offensive line, so the plan is to see if we can create something to make him uncomfortable,” Seibert said.
Sweeny’s defense has settled in after allowing 105 points in the first two games.
It has altered its personnel by playing more players both ways, including running backs Cayden Jones, Rooke Samford and Seth Jammer.
With multiple players rarely leaving the field, last week’s blowout allowed for rest ahead of the meeting with Royal.
“The good thing was we had that game last week, where we were able to give them some rest, and we didn’t quite practice as physical last week, but we’ve amped it back up this week,” Seibert said.
Sweeny’s offense has scored 129 points in its last two games, averaging 38.6 per game for the season.
After failing to establish a complementary option behind Jones, the running back rotation has been settled with the emergence of Samford and Jammer.
Jammer plays tailback, Samford is the halfback and Jones can reach 1,000 yards Friday at fullback.
Royal returned just four starters on defense, but the ones it brought back are in key positions.
“They have two studs on our guards, and we pull our guards, so there’s a thing we have to do to make sure they can get out,” Seibert said. “You’re having to push pretty big guys and still create holes for our running backs to get through.”
Tyler Lavallier and Broderick Burr anchor the Falcons defensive line and can be disruptors in the interior of the 4-3 front.
“They both look like they could play college football next year,” Seibert said. “Those two are a challenge for our interior offensive line, and we must be able to hand them.”
Middle linebacker Malik Hooker is back, and he’s a sideline-to-sideline defender that reads the field well, Seibert said. Royal is inexperienced in the backend but has substantial athleticism in its secondary.
“As a group, they run to the ball well,” Seibert said. “They haven’t scored much, but they haven’t gotten blown out either, but the defense plays well, and you have to earn your touchdowns.”
Royal allows an average of 22 points per game and has held opponents to 15 or fewer points in three of its four games.
The Falcons play Columbia next week. The Roughnecks then travel Oct. 18 to Bulldog Stadium for a meeting with Sweeny.
Soon, a district with plenty of question marks will have clarity or chaos, depending on the next three weeks.
