Sweetwater dominates in win vs. Levelland

SWEETWATER, Texas — The Sweetwater Mustangs’ offense entered Friday looking to carry its momentum from last week and keep up with the Levelland Lobos.

Last week, Sweetwater was led by quarterback Caiden Ortiz. Ortiz completed 11 of 19 passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns. If the Mustangs were going to come away with a win, they would need a similar performance from their quarterback.

Ortiz did not have to do it alone last week, with Kayden McCann joining him in the backfield. McCann rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns and was also on the receiving end of one of Ortiz’s three touchdown passes.

Sweetwater also had to contend with Levelland’s rushing attack. Junior Noah Martin and seniors Ethan Salazar and Jake Potter entered the game with more than 740 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns combined.

The matchup presented a challenge for both defenses against two offenses capable of putting points on the board.

Sweetwater and Levelland also entered the nonconference game with a common opponent in the Idalou Wildcats. Both games ended with Idalou wins, but the scores were quite different.

Sweetwater fell to Idalou 31-6, while Levelland lost 59-36.

Those games, however, came at different points in the season. Sweetwater’s loss came in its season opener. Since then, the Mustangs have found a rhythm offensively, scoring 92 points over the past two weeks.

For Levelland, the loss to Idalou came last week after the Lobos opened their season with two statement wins.

That set up a homecoming matchup at the Mustang Bowl, with Sweetwater looking to turn its first win of the season into two straight and Levelland looking to respond from its first loss.

Levelland won the coin toss and elected to defer, giving Ortiz and the Mustangs the ball first.

Ortiz had trouble with a handoff to Cason Fields, who was surrounded by Levelland defenders. The Mustangs failed to score on the drive.

Levelland had the ball and quarterback Ethan Salazar tried to escape the pocket, but McCann brought him down and forced a fumble. McCann recovered the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown, giving the Mustangs the first points of the game.

Levelland got the ball back, and Salazar slipped before finding Tobias Gavina, who made a one-handed catch for a first down. The Lobos were unable to capitalize and eventually punted.

Sweetwater then took over deep in Levelland territory. Ortiz pivoted to his right and found Fields in the flat, this time completing the exchange for a touchdown that put the Mustangs ahead 14-0.

Levelland’s offense tried to respond in the second quarter. Salazar escaped pressure and picked up a first down, but the drive once again ended with a Lobos punt.

Back on offense, Ortiz fired a pass on the run to Conner Fambro for a first down.

Ortiz later tried to go deep, but Bentley Sepulbeda intercepted the pass. Sepulbeda appeared to have a lengthy return, but a facemask penalty during the return pushed the Lobos back.

Levelland came away without any points following the turnover, giving the ball back to Sweetwater.

Ortiz scrambled to his right again on the Mustangs’ next possession and tried to make a play through the air, but Sepulbeda intercepted him for the second time.

Once again, Levelland’s offense failed to turn the takeaway into points.

Sweetwater later had the ball at the Levelland 7-yard line, and Cutter Meador punched it in for a rushing touchdown. The Mustangs missed the extra point but entered halftime with a 20-0 lead.

The second half was not much different. Sweetwater was overwhelming the Lobos on all cylinders.

From blocked punts to forced fumbles to scrambling touchdowns, this was Sweetwater's win from the jump. Mustangs won against the Lobos, 44-0.

Sweetwater dominates in win vs. Levelland

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