SWEETWATER-Turnovers and a tough McMinn Central rushing attack were too much for Sweetwater to overcome Friday night. It was a big night at Sweetwater High School. Not only was it Senior Night, but it was also the high school's 100 Year Celebration.

There was a large crowd in attendance to watch the Wildcats take on dis­trict foe McMinn Central. This game had big play­off implications for the Wildcats, but Sweetwater just had no answer for the 2nd half rushing game from McMinn Central. Sweetwater led 6-0 midway through the second quarter and had the advantage over McMinn Central when a switch turned on for Central on both sides of the football.

With five minutes left in the half the Chargers drove the football down to the Sweetwater 15 yard line and set themselves up for a 32 yard field goal to make the score 6-3.

On the next drive Sweetwater was on the move when a holding pen­alty flipped field position and pushed Sweetwater back to the Central 29 yard line. On the next play McMinn Central intercept­ed an Andrew Barr pass and returned it to the 20. The Chargers took advan­tage of the Sweetwater mistake and put the ball in the end zone and led at the half 10-6.

McMinn central got the ball to start the second half and picked up right where they left off in the first half. They drove the football 64 yards and scored on a Levi Holley 1 yard run. McMinn Central led at that point 17-6.

With the Charger offense giving Sweetwater fits, their defense turned up the pres­sure on Sweetwater and never gave QB Andrew Barr time to set his feet and throw. Nor did they allow the Sweetwater rushing game any breathing room.

The Wildcat offense could never get going due to the play of the Central defense as well as the turnover bug. Sweetwater fumbled three times on the night losing it once, and they also threw two inter­ceptions.

Everything seemed to be clicking for McMinn Central as they added two more rushing touchdowns. While Sweetwater did score one more time in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard Jordan McGaughey run, it proved to be too little too late.

The final was a McMinn Central win 30-13. With this loss Sweetwater is now on the outside look­ing in for one of those two automatic playoff berths in district 5-AA and needing some help to get in.

With the loss the last game of the regular season could once again decide the playoff destinies of two teams. The last few seasons the Wildcats have made it into the playoffs, but it looks as though now there will be a must win game against the Chiefs soon.