Dec. 8, 2004, 12:58AM
Special interest paying off for Westfield, Clear Lake
By EMILY DAVIS
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
For many high school programs, special teams is anything but special.
In fact, with some opting to throw up an interception on fourth down rather than have a punter come out and humiliate himself, it's clear that special-teams play is sometimes simply an afterthought for area schools.
Unless, of course, you watched Westfield's Keenyn Crier nail a 60-yard punt in the Class 5A Division I semifinals against Converse Judson. Or you caught a glimpse of DeMarcus Conner as he zipped downfield, returning a punt 50 yards to set up a second-quarter touchdown en route to a 28-14 win and the Mustangs' first state-final berth.
Then something entirely different is clear. For teams with a legitimate shot at winning a state championship, there really is something special about special teams.
"At Westfield, kids are honored to play special teams," said Chris Morgan, one of Westfield's special teams coordinators. "It's not a punishment to be on special teams or something to be embarrassed about. We stress to them how important it is, and they believe it's important, too. So they put their all into it."
The same can be said for Clear Lake, which sent its Region III-5A Division II title game into overtime after senior Jeff Wheeler blocked Katy's 24-yard field goal.
The Falcons eked out a 35-34 win and will play in the Class 5A Division II semifinals for the first time in school history. They face Smithson Valley at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Alamodome.
"The first thing we focused on this year was getting our best athletes onto special teams," Clear Lake special-teams coordinator David Satcher said. "We changed our blocking for field goals from what it had been in the past. We knew we didn't exactly have the speed to get around and block them, so we decided to use some height and jumping advantage and get to the ball that way."
That game plan worked. The 6-7 Wheeler, who has a 29-inch vertical leap, leads Clear Lake with five blocked kicks this season -- his first on special teams.
"Special teams has been a big part of this year's team," Satcher said. "All of the areas of special teams have really improved. Now we have teams who just refuse to kick to us. In a way it's good because they won't kick deep and we get great field position.
"But in another way it eliminates what our really talented players are able to do. But that just goes with having weapons on special teams."
Clear Lake and Westfield share an identical philosophy about the importance of special teams. Throughout the year, special-teams players have made names for themselves by being able to perform at the drop of a hat.
This season, Crier has averaged 37.6 yards per punt -- his longest coming on Saturday -- and has nailed 56 of 63 point-after attempts and three field goals, including two from 32 yards out.
The Mustangs have scored on two blocked PATs this season -- one returned 90 yards by Chris Mitchell in Westfield's season opener against Cypress Falls and another returned 88 yards by Taylor Santos against Beaumont Westbrook. Also against Westbrook, Luther Eta returned a punt for 90 yards for a touchdown, and Conner had his longest kickoff return of the season -- also 90 yards -- to set up another score.
"We work hard to make sure we can come up with big plays at the right time," Conner said. "And that especially goes for special teams. Our coaches have really worked with us this year in making sure that we know what we need to do on special teams. That has been an important part of our game this year."
At Clear Lake, the Falcons spend 10 minutes of every practice working on special teams.
Senior Daniel McCalib, who pulled down a two-point conversion pass to give Clear Lake its final points in a 37-29 Region III-5A Division II semifinal win over Memorial, has 12 kickoff returns for 185 yards.
Senior Devin Williams averages 34 yards per kickoff return -- his longest was 86 yards. And Kyle Chism averages 38.5 yards on punts and is 7-for-10 on field goals and 56-for-61 on PATs.
"Coach Satcher always talks to us before the game about making a big play," Wheeler said. "So obviously special teams is a key part of our game."
With some of the toughest teams in the state breathing down their necks, the Mustangs and Falcons are keenly aware that being well-rounded is a big reason they have made it as far as they have this year.
And special teams makes that circle complete.
"We don't have just one coach getting the special teams in order," Morgan said. "There is a host of coaches who work with the kids and a host of kids making a difference.
"Everyone has stepped up at different times. Keenyn worked all summer to get his leg strong for the year. And the kickoff and punt return teams have been building speed. It's just all of us meshing and working as a unit to be successful."