Holliday looks to clean up act in battle with Abernathy

Holliday didn't chalk up a lot of style points last week, but the Eagles did figure out the key to the playoffs, which is survive and advance.

The Eagles (9-2) will try to copy that result and play a little cleaner game today when they battle Abernathy (10-1) at 2 p.m. at the Mustang Bowl in Sweetwater.

Holliday had 11 penalties and fumbled three times in last week's 23-20 win over Spearman.

Eagles coach Terry Wolf felt there was some effect from the bye week Holliday had in the first round of the playoffs.

"We didn't play our best last week — the off week set us back — and it took us a while to get going," Wolf said. "But we got that past us now. The guys are excited about playing over the Thanksgiving holiday."

And the positive to a tough victory was seeing his team come through in the clutch, and no play was bigger than Hunter McCain's 51-yard field goal in overtime to beat Spearman, 23-20.

"We've been fortunate to have been in a lot of those games," Wolf said. "We knew how to compete in that type of game. We were still playing hard to the end. And the momentum we get from that win.

"It wasn't pretty, but it was darn sure exciting. Any win in the playoffs is a good win."

Abernathy defeated Holliday's district foe, Nocona, 41-6, last week. The Antelopes, like the Eagles, beat Spearman in overtime this season.

"They've got a fast and talented quarterback (Austin Lewis)," Wolf said. "He is fast and agile, a good ballplayer who makes their offense go."

Wolf said the Antelopes run some under center, but primarily are a shotgun spread offense. That makes keeping gaps closed and containment on the quarterback something "we gotta be aware of at all times."

Abernathy has a 4-3 defense that is "pretty quick with linebackers and in the secondary."

The Eagles are led by Jacob Cole with 1,007 yards and 10 touchdowns. Austin Twilligear has 956 yards and nine touchdowns. Sam Shirley (526 yards) scored his seventh TD of the year to tie the game in the fourth quarter last week.

Cole passed for 128 yards — 97 of it to Cameron Englishbee — last week. Cole has thrown for 1,071 yards on the year with nine TDs.

Holliday is the visiting team at the Mustangs Bowl. Tickets are $6 (adults) and $4 (students).

HOW THEY GOT HERE

HOLLIDAY (9-2)

Beat Windthorst, 35-28

Lost to Breckenridge, 28-21

Beat Iowa Park, 14-12

Lost to Stamford, 35-28

Beat Hirschi, 36-6

Beat Nocona, 28-0

Beat Henrietta, 29-0

Beat Alvord, 28-0

Beat City View, 30-0

Beat Jacksboro, 35-0

Beat Spearman, 23-20 (OT)

ABERNATHY (10-1)

Beat Friona, 32-29

Beat Slaton, 42-13

Lost to Sundown, 14-7

Beat Olton, 36-21

Beat Highland Park, 70-12

Beat Dimmitt, 41-18

Beat Spearman, 21-14 (OT)

Beat Sanford-Fritch, 28-13

Beat Tulia, 31-21

Beat Floydada, 49-25

Beat Nocona, 41-6