FRIENDSWOOD — The University Interscholastic League called an audible on the Friendswood Mustangs football team Friday morning.
The UIL informed Friendswood head coach Steve Van Meter that the Mustangs’ opponent for today’s Region III-4A area playoff game had been changed to the Waltrip Rams. Wheatley, Friendswood’s scheduled opponent, was eliminated because of an ineligible player.
The game still is set for 7 p.m. today at Galena Park ISD Stadium.
“We just found out about it (Friday) morning, so we are kind of scrambling to get prepared,” Van Meter said. “I think it is kind of crappy to happen this late in the week. It’s not really fair to us, it’s not fair to Waltrip, and it’s probably not fair to 99 percent of the kids at Wheatley. But I’m not sure what else the UIL would do in this situation.”
Wheatley had defeated Waltrip (6-5 record) in the first round of the playoffs last Friday, 20-14. Van Meter said watching the film of the game this week, he had felt that Waltrip was the better team, it just made a few costly mistakes.
The Waltrip players had turned in all of their equipment to the school on Monday since their season appeared over. Van Meter said that Waltrip coach Anthony Zuccarini was scrambling to get that equipment back on Friday so the team could get in one practice before today’s game.
Van Meter said the change in opponent is a little cause for concern for the Mustangs.
“We are seeing a completely different team than what we have prepared for all week,” Van Meter said. “Waltrip’s defensive scheme is very unorthodox, while Wheatley had a pretty basic defense. That possibly could cause us some issues.”
Of course, Waltrip also hasn’t been preparing all week for the high-powered Friendswood passing attack.
“I do think we’ll have the advantage there,” Van Meter said. “Our kids will adapt to this, and we’ll come ready to play (tonight).”
