Mustangs need ‘clean’ game

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NIXON — Last week, there were too many times the Nixon-Smiley Mustangs (2-4, 0-1) “shot themselves in the foot,” so to speak, hence their district-opening loss against a tough Karnes City team. Now they take on an even tougher opponent in Natalia (5-1, 0-1), a team that’s lone loss was against Poth (5-1, 1-0).

“We can’t blow assignments this week,” Nixon-Smiley Head Coach Carlton McKinney said. “They’re a good football team. Coach [Chad] Graves has done a great job for them.”

“If we make the same mental mistakes [as last week], we are going to be in trouble.”

Penalties, blown assignments, turnovers — the Nixon-Smiley Mustangs have had a multitude of issues early in the district season. With a loss in what was described as a “winnable” game, the Mustangs are now “behind the 8-ball,” according to McKinney.

Friday night, the Mustangs take on a Natalia offense that is fairly similar to Karnes City’s.

“They’re going to be in spread, but they like to run outside the tackle,” McKinney scouted. “They’re big enough up front so they can single block defenders.”

McKinney pointed out athletes such as Ray Rizo and Julian Martinez as senior running backs who have played well this season.

“They were freshmen four years ago and they’ve improved every year,” he said. “This year, it seems like [Natalia] got it altogether.”

Defensively, Natalia is “solid.”

“Their interior is good, but their edges are extremely powerful,” McKinney noted.

One player to look out for is #5 Caden Fregia, who has played well on defensive end.

Natalia’s defensive presence will cause problems for a running team such as Nixon-Smiley’s, so the Mustangs’ coaching staff have had to schematically change their offense a bit to find ways around Natalia’s size.

Despite quarterback Colby Newman’s four passing touchdowns last week, the Mustangs will go into the game still trying to control the tempo through their run game.

“We got to figure out a way to move the football,” McKinney said.

Instead of reacting to Natalia, Nixon-Smiley will have to set the pace, in order to get the win.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Natalia.

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