KFDM COOP

Ranger linemen lead the way to postseason By Dave Rogers Published November 14, 2008 - Updated 32 minutes ago Consistency and continuity are two things the Sterling coaches have preached to their football players throughout the program’s winningest season this decade. Finally, three months into the 2008 season, the 6-3 Rangers have developed consistency on the offensive line. When they line up to play sixth-ranked Pearland in a Class 5A Division I bidistrict game at 7 p.m. today at Deer Park’s Abshier Stadium, they will start the same five players up front for the third week in a row. “We’ve had different guys nicked up and we’ve juggled our lineup all year long,†Sterling offensive coordinator Rich Lucero said. “But we’ve gotten by; we’ve still won.†The shuffling ceased three games ago when the Ranger coaches moved Todd Sylvester from tight end to left tackle and left tackle Ian Irby to center. “We’ve got it steady now,†said right tackle Michael Gibson, the only player to start all season in the same position. “It’s the same people back we had last week and the week before that.†Right guard Hayden Jones and left guard Fitiseula “Miki†Partsch complete the all-senior starting five after each missed about half the season with preseason foot injuries. Curtis Jenkins, Reece Parrish, Trent Padgett, McCall Lucas, Brok Boyd, William Spears and Clive Aldonza are the others who have played for offensive line coach Mike Washburn. “I’m really excited with the job coach Washburn has done with the offensive line,†Ranger head coach Herb Minyard said. “Throughout a lot of injuries and illness, he’s always managed to come to the table with a team we can win with.†Sterling, the District 21-5A third-place team, finished third in district in total offense, averaging just a tick below 300 yards per game (294.9). That was split between 203 yards per game passing and 92 rushing. The Rangers linemen all play both offense and defense, a fact of life necessitated by the loss of players to Baytown’s new high school, Goose Creek Memorial. They also cross-train at their offensive positions. “We all know what each other is doing,†Gibson said, explaining how the blockers can often switch positions without a drop in efficiency. Lucero said the players’ selflessness has been a key to the Rangers’ success, citing the recent example set by Sylvester. “Todd started the season at linebacker and he was playing tight end for us, when we told him two weeks ago that he needed to be the starting left tackle,†recalled the offensive coordinator. “He said ‘Yes sir,’ didn’t bat an eye, and that’s the way it’s been for all these guys. They’ve been a joy to work with.†Amen, Minyard said. “It’s not about ‘me,’ it’s about ‘us,’†he said. “That’s the difference. That offensive line is giving (quarterback) Keagan Kogut time to distribute the football.†Kogut is 21-5A’s No. 1 passer, having thrown for 16 touchdowns and 1,687 yards this season, adding 230 yards and seven scores on the ground. Chance Nelson (26 catches, 364 yards, three TDs), Daniel Rougely (21-295-1) and Lesroy Clarke (19-227-1) rank fourth, sixth and seventh in the district in receiving. Clarke finished fourth in rushing, with 403 yards and six TDs. Perfect-record Pearland (9-0), the 22-5A champion, has a 16-TD passer in quarterback Sam Allen (1,266 aerial yards), a 14-TD scorer (receiver Kevin Miller, whose 47 catches were good for 858 yards), and Kasey Carrier, who has rushed for 1,374 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Lee College’s Busby signs with Lamar By Dave Rogers Published November 13, 2008 It was probably the easiest recruiting job Lamar University coach Steve Roccaforte ever did. Lee College’s C.J. Busby took advantage of the first day of the early signing to ink a letter-of-intent with the Cardinals from Beaumont Wednesday afternoon. “Home,†said the 6-foot-6, 185-pound guard when asked why he wanted to attend LU. The Cardinals’ Montagne Center basketball coliseum is only a half-hour’s drive from Busby’s hometown of Kountze. And, he allowed, Lamar is where one of his best friends and former Kountze teammate, Ashton Hall, plays. “I want to play one last year with Ashton at Lamar,†Busby said of the Cardinal forward who will be a senior next year when Busby joins LU as a junior. With his mother, former Sam Houston State volleyball player Joyce Bottley, and older brother Xavion Bottley joining coach Roy Champagne and his Rebel teammates for Wednesday’s signing ceremony, it was clear Busby likes the thought of being a homebody. “That’s what I want to be,†he said. “I don’t like to be too far.†Busby led Lee College freshmen in scoring last year. His 8.9 points per game ranked fourth overall on the team. His 37.3-percent three-point shooting (57 of 153) ranked second on the team to Region XIV leader Hollis Giles, who hit 44.9 percent of his shots. So far this season, the Rebels are off to a 4-0 start and Busby is one of the team’s leading scorers, its top 3-point threat. “One of the topics in our recruiting process (of Busby) was he aspired to end up at Lamar and ‘would we support him in that?’†Champagne said. “Obviously, I think Lamar is getting a hard-working, quality-shooting individual. A lot of times some schools have to convince kids they should be playing for their institution. In this kid, here’s a kid that loves the Golden Triangle and wants to be a part of that community. “To me, that’s a perfect signee.†Only one other thing could make it more perfect, Busby allowed. He’s trying to get Roccaforte, LU’s coach, to recruit Freddie “Jackpot†Haynes, the Lee College point guard who is also a former Kountze teammate of Busby’s. “Me and Jackpot have been together since Little Dribblers,†Busby said. “They (the Cardinals) have been looking at him.â€

Crosby ready even if its top player is not By Nick Cioci The Baytown Sun Published November 14, 2008 - Updated 27 minutes ago Crosby’s best football player is questionable for tonight’s 7:30 p.m. Class 4A Division II bidistrict playoff game against Lumberton. The Cougars, 5-4 overall, take on District 20-4A co-champion and 8-1 Raiders at Humble’s Turner Stadium with Chance Casey’s availability up in the air because of a lingering hamstring injury. “Chance is day-by-day right now,†Cougar coach Kevin Flanigan said. “Hopefully, he can do more this weekend and play a few plays.†Casey only played on two kickoffs last week in the Cougars’ 39-24 loss to C.E. King, giving them a third-place finish in district play with a 5-2 district record. “Hopefully he can play four kickoffs this week,†Flanigan said. “But I hope they don’t kick it that much.†Casey is averaging 33.3 yards a return on kickoffs for the Cougars. Add 15 yards per punt return and you have the second- and third-highest averages in District 19-4A. Casey also has 112 carries for 800 yards and 12 touchdowns this year for the Cougars, which is good for the sixth-most rushing yards. To go along with that, he has 14 catches for 204 yards and a touchdown, good for the 13th-most catches in the district. Casey has only played limited minutes for the Cougars since pulling his hamstring back on Oct. 17. Flanigan said Chance’s injury has made some guys step up and play in different positions. “You go into the end of the season counting on your best football player and when you don’t have him, you have to overcome that,†Flanigan said. “It’s probably helped them step up and if we are fortunate to get by this one, maybe, in a few weeks, he can go.†Flanigan said even with a lot of rain this week, his players have been upbeat in practice and ready to go. “They understand the importance of this ball game,†he said. “It’s been a good week for them.†Flanigan said they aren’t doing anything different at practice to prepare for a big Raiders squad. “We are just still doing what we do,†he said. “We aren’t going to make a lot of big changes late in the season so we just have to get better at what we do.†Flanigan said they have emphasized the run game and playing with effort this week with their players. “They have a big and physical offense so we have to hold our ground defensively,†Flanigan said. “Along with that we just have to take care of our assignments and realize the fine line we are walking with playing with effort and trying to do too much. “They just have to take care of their responsibility and play hard and not get into a situation where they are trying to do someone else’s job.â€

Strake Jesuit 37, Mayde Creek 21

Carthage 62 to Tatum 20 Carthage may meet WOS/Gilmer in round 4.

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Bulldogs, Panthers studying numbers for playoff matchup By Tom Halliburton The Port Arthur News DAYTON -- Numbers never lie. Therefore tonight's 4A Division I bidistrict playoff outcome should be obvious between 4-4 Nederland and 7-2 C.E. King. The Harris Rating System has regarded the District 19-4A Panthers with higher rankings than Nederland, too. Yet quite a few statistics might lean in Nederland's direction, when the teams converge on the Fieldturf of Bronco Stadium at 7:30 p.m. The Panthers of ninth-year head coach Mike Malkowski graduated from an East Houston region eight-team district containing three first-year schools (Humble Kingwood Park, Goose Creek Memorial and North Forest). The combined record of King's nine opponents amounted to an ugly 32-49. Meanwhile, Larry Neumann's Bulldogs emerged from their Golden Triangle eight-team league. Toss in West Orange-Stark among Nederland's eight foes, the combined mark of Nederland's opponents stretched to 39-30. Numbers never lie... do they? Here's the knockout numbers that make it extremely hard to pick against Nederland tonight. When the Golden Triangle 4A district has confronted East Houston over the last four years, the combined GT record has reached a whopping 12-0 dating back to Nov. 2004. Toss in the Golden Triangle's 2003 bidistrict ledger in 4A against the Conroe area and that record has inflated to 15-0. Remember... numbers never lie. Attention impressive set of numbers in the Bulldogs favor are those belonging to District 20-4A rushing leader Wareall Grogram (1,250 yards, 7.6 average per carry, 15 TDs), district passing leader Kirby Bellow (1,514 yards, 16 TDs) and 20-4A receiving leader Asa Cardenas (542 yards, 16.4 average per catch, 8 TDs). Those numbers would get anybody’s attention. One number that will tell the truth will be the final scoreboard. When the Dogs step off the bus here just a block or two from Texas 146, they know the mission is to somehow, some way score at least one more point than C.E. King -- whether it's 7-6, 54-53, or 69-68. The 49-year-old Malkowski would prefer the score to be lower than higher. "I hope it's not that way (49-48)," he laughed on Thursday. "But it very well could be. "I think we're fairly evenly matched. It's probably going to come down to mistakes. And Nederland always comes at you with a great coaching staff. They made some tremendous second-half adjustments when they beat us in 2005 at Pasadena." The tone of Neumann's remarks suggest he might expect a game for the adding machines and calculators. That's fairly typical with Nederland, the 20-4A total offense champion at 365.4 yards and more than 30 points a game. "We may wind up getting in a game like that, because teams have run against us so effectively for the past four weeks," the NHS boss admitted. "It's hard on me. I'm getting tired of it." Larry's assessment of C.E. King also revealed the same tendencies. "C.E. King has four good running running backs," Neumann began. "Their quarterback (Josh Williams) is an outstanding runner (30 carries for 343 yards). They're an option team and the big fullback (Alvester Alexander, 145 carries for 1,135 yards and 16 TDs) is the focus of their offense. Defensively, they've had some points scored against them." Malkowski saw the same strong similarity. "Nederland looks similar to what we've been but they run and throw it so well and they have one of the best offensive lines we've seen," C.E. King's coach said. "I think we're playing better defense than in the last couple of years. I would classify us as a pesky defense. We saw a lot of video of Dayton and when we played them, we looked equally as bad as the rest of Dayton's opponents." C.E. King rebounded from that 46-7 loss to Dayton and captured a 39-24 triumph last week against Crosby. Whereas Nederland has rushed for 1,415 yards and passed for 1,514 yards to total 2,929 yards, CE King has gained 3,504 yards with 3,090 on the ground. The Panthers feature the same double-wing, and similar schemes to Malkowski's previous years. What's the difference? Turnovers. While Nederland's turnover ratio is zero, C.E. King is plus 11 through nine games. "That's where we've really changed," Malkowski said. "We dropped the ball about 24 times in the two previous years and we have limited that." The Panthers' defense allowed 282 yards per game, led by senior LB Ryan Layton, senior end Omar Ruiz and junior end Nathaniel Branford. Nederland's defense has yielded 350.3 yards a game (7th among 8 teams in 20-4A) and defensive coordinator Delbert Spell has aged while yearning for new leaders to step up. Two of them who may have played their best games last week were end Anthony Maddox and tackle Marcus Louvier. Two more starters rejoin the lineup after sitting out one-game suspensions last week -- end Dionte Forney and corner Asa Cardenas. NEDERLAND AT C.E. KING When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. Where: Bronco Stadium, Dayton Records: Nederland 4-4, 4-3; C.E. King 7-2, 6-1 ' At Stake: Class 4A Division I bidistrict playoffs Series: Tied 1-1 Last year: Nederland, 34-16, in 2005 Class 4A bidistrict playoffs at Pasadena TV: Port Arthur News Friday Night Experience, Cable 18, Tuesday, 7 p.m. Directions to Bronco Stadium: Travel west on I-10 to the Texas 146 exit. Travel north on Texas 146 into Dayton. Bronco Stadium is located at the intersection of West Houston Street and Texas 146. Arrows into the Bronco Stadium parking area usually are visible from Texas 146. Seating capacity is 8,500. The Bulldogs will occupy the east stands opposite from the tall west press box side. All tickets at the stadium gate cost $6. NEDERLAND OFFENSE SE -- Asa Cardenas (21) LT -- Ben Jones (62) LG -- Khoby Moore (60) C -- Trey Terracina (56) RG -- Nick Smith (53) RT -- Stefan Huber (54) FL -- Ryan Brady (7) LSLOT -- Brent Salenga (4) RSLOT -- Jude Vidrine (5) QB -- Kirby Bellow (3) RB -- Wareall Grogan (2) CE KING DEFENSE LE -- Omar Ruiz (44) NT -- Sharod Wright (70) RE -- Nathaniel Branford (54) SLB -- Sherman Moton (8) ILB -- Forrest Celestine (35) ILB -- Ryan Layton (9) BAN -- Carlton King (38) LCB -- Terrence Guy (3) RCB -- Josh Harris (20)

Titans defense faces LaPorte challenge By Cody Pastorella The Port Arthur News Just like the chore for NBA opponents of the Boston Celtics, Memorial's task will be to stop LaPorte's big three in Friday night's bidistrict round of the Class 5A state playoffs in Baytown. Also like the Celtics, LaPorte has a name most in Port Arthur are familiar with — Kendrick Perkins. Perkins is LaPorte's main piece on offense. He leads the team with 1,050 rushing yards and has scored 14 touchdowns. The Bulldogs other threats are QB Ryan Williams, who has throw for 809 yards and six touchdowns and receiver Jimmy Randall, who has 33 catches for 505 yards and three TDs. Along with stopping the LaPorte big three, Memorial will have to find ways to score, which has been quite the task for the Titans this season. Memorial has only topped 20 points just once this season. Port Arthur has also needed consecutive fourth quarter comebacks just to claim a spot in the playoffs, which is its first trip since 2006 when the Titans were dominated 56-27 by none other than LaPorte. Memorial head coach Ronnie Thompson said the Bulldogs are pretty much the same team they were two seasons ago. "They like to be patient, use the clock and run the football. They are very capable of throwing it and will when the time is right but they are going to come out running. They are very well coached on both sides of the ball but we feel like we have prepared well. “We have seen film from them against similar opponents and I think we're going to match up just fine. That remains to be seen, though. We'll know more after the game tomorrow night," Thompson said. Those similar opponents were Baytown Sterling and Baytown Lee. LaPorte, which is 5-4 overall, suffered losses to both the Rangers and Ganders this season, incluing a 21-19 decision to Sterling and a 17-14 loss to Lee. Memorial, meanwhile, went 1-1 against the Baytown schools, and posted a 13-10 victory over the Ganders last Friday night. It was a win that needed a 4th-and-16 touchdown conversion late in the fourth quarter when quarterback Jareal Alexander hit Chance Filer in the back of the endzone on a fade route. The Titans suffered a 17-10 loss at Sterling earlier in the season. Memorial bounced back from that loss, however, finishing the regular season at 3-5 overall and 2-3 in District 21-5A. LaPorte, meanwhile, went 5-2 in District 22-5A, with back-to-back lopsided victories over Pasadena and South Houston, respectively, along the way to its third place finish. Port Arthur will hope to improve its playoff record to an even 3-3 with a win over the Bulldogs. In seven seasons, the Titans have made just three visits to the postseason and have only recorded two wins in that span. Both of those victories came in the 2003 season when the Titans won close games in the first two rounds before getting knocked 34-14 by Katy in the Astrodome. Based on recent history and the statistical matchups, the Titans hopes seem to be in jeopardy. The Bulldogs are averaging 298 yards of offense per game, including 208 on the ground. While Memorial has made considerable improvements in stopping the run this season, its defense has allowed 136.5 rushing yards per contest and is allowing almost 278 yards of total offense per game. Memorial also let the Ganders pick up 181 yards on the ground in last week's matchup. On the other side of the ball, led by Alexander, who piled up 288 yards of total offense against Lee, the Titans have bettered their offensive production in recent weeks, and are now averaging 252 yards of offense. Thompson's bunch was good for 330 yards per game last season but that team did not make the playoffs. Little has really gone to plan for Memorial this season. With injuries, hurricanes and everything else, one might have to consider the late, fouth quarter, game-winning drives in back-to-back weeks before writing off the Titans another week. Two weeks ago, Alexander found Solomon Jones for a 10-yard touchdown pass with just 16 seconds left in the game against Channelview. At this point in the season, Thompson said records, standings and stats won't matter. "We've traded film with them. We know what to expect. We've played similar opponents and seen the matchups there. There aren't any secrets," Thompson said. "This should be a physical, high intensity, contest from both sides. It should be a good game. Both sides have banged up players. "They run a lot of players on offense and defense, so they are tired and will get tired. We're banged up too. That's football. That's what a season will do to you. But none of it matters, you got to show up and play to win." When: 7 p.m. Where: Stallworth Stadium in Baytown Records: LaPorte 5-4 (5-2), Memorial 3-5 (2-3) Series: 1-0 LaPorte Last meeting: 56-27 LaPorte in 2006 Bi-District playoff Directions: Take I-10 West for 53 miles. Take Exit 795 toward Sjolander Road. Take left at Sjolander Road. Follow that road for one mile. Turn right at East Archer Road. MEMORIAL OFFENSE QB -- Jareal Alexander (6) RB -- Daleon Sinette (21) WR -- Chance Filer (25) WR -- Solomon Jones (2) WR -- K'Sean Wesley (8) WR -- Nate Davis (12) LT -- Evan Gauthia (74) LG -- Dominique Henderson (51) C -- Darius Tanner (50) RG -- Eric Payne (52) RT -- Randy Williams (70) MEMORIAL DEFENSE NT -- Mark Washington (69) LE -- Radermon Scypion (5) RE -- Keenan Romar (40) SAM -- Joe Lee (44)

English, Bulldogs look to the future By Cody Pastorella The Port Arthur News Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of stories on area boys basketball teams. The Nederland Bulldogs have gotten a step closer to the playoffs every season under head coach Brian English, who is in his third year with the program. The Bulldogs posted five district wins in English's first season with Nederland. In 2007-08, the Dogs improved that mark to six, going 6-8 in league play. Nederland was right in the thick of things heading into the final three games last season but could not overcome Vidor or Central down the stretch to make the jump into the postseason, a place the Bulldogs have not been since 1993. Now, with the addition of a fourth playoff team to all Class 4A sports, Nederland has actually emerged as legitimate contender and has even been slated to place fourth by TexPrepsBasketball. Nederland was picked to finish behind District 20-4A favorite Ozen, Central and Vidor, with Livingston, Little Cypress-Mauriceville, Port Neches-Groves and Lumberton dubbed to trail the Bulldogs. English said the expectations are certainly higher. "Anytime you have key starters coming back, I think the expectations are always going to be higher. And this is the third year here. Everything we've done the last two years has us going in the right direction, so each year you have to expect a little more," English said. Perhaps the biggest reason for the increased expectations is 6-1 senior forward Chris Hammond. An unanimous first team all-district selection as well as a Port Arthur News/James Gamble Award All-Star, Hammond averaged 18.4 points in district play last season. He also led the Bulldogs with 7.1 rebounds per game. Sophomore post Dionte Forney is also a reason to be hopeful in Nederland. Forney looks to be a stronger prescence down low for the Dogs, as he now has a year of experience from his freshman season on varsity. He averaged 8.4 points per game and hauled in 6.4 rebounds as a freshman. In all, Nederland has six returners from last season's varsity squad. That list includes Evan Fitch, Francis Torres, Josh Dean and Jordan Pitts. Torres, a point guard, averaged 10.8 points per game, as well as six assists. Pitts tallied 5.1 points per contest. Nederland's newcomers include Ryan Hadnot, Devin Montgomery, Christian Stewart, Kelvin Smith, Dylan Campbell, and Jeromie Grammer. English said his new guys may not have varsity experience or great size but knows they are very capable defensively. "We have some kids who can really move and will get after the ball. I feel very comfortable with our bench going into the season," English said. As mentioned, Nederland's bench will not have great size. More importantly, Nederland will not be overly impressive with its size period. But that was something the Dogs dealt with a year ago. Forney, at 6-5, is Nederland's tallest player. Dean and Hadnot are both 6-2. Regardless of size, English feels as if the district race will be wideopen this season. "Ozen and Central will be the favorites until someone knocks them off," English said. "But I don't feel like you can really count anyone out this season. I feel like the competition is going to be really high for all four playoff spots." The key for Nederland, English said, will be learning how to win close games and having the confidence to win those close ones. English added that pulling out the tight games was something his team improved on a year ago. He said that will be a hump they will have to get over this season in order to make the playoffs. The Bulldogs first game comes Tuesday at Barbers Hill. All Nederland's games, aside from tournament play, are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. The Dogs first home game will be Nov. 24 against West Orange-Stark. Nederland will also play in three tournaments this season, including the annual NHS Bulldog Classic Dec. 4-6. Nederland will also play in the YMBL tournament as well as the Gulf Coast Invitational. The Dogs first district contest will be Dec .19 at Ozen. English said he feels his team's non-district schedule will be competitive. "We've tried to make it a little tougher every year. I like our schedule this season. I think there will be plenty to build on leading up to district," English said.

Lorena

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Are you serious, deon and dustin, thats the best you've EVER seen? you need to watch more h.s. football gabe, theyre ok but the best...NO SIR. Jay Mcgwire from silsbee was one of the best h.s. athletes ive ever seen play. Deon Was more than OK.

Carthage 62 Tatum 14 3 sec left in half

Carthage 55 Tatum 14 2:53 to go in half

Carthage 48 Tatum 14 5:58 to go in the half

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48-0 Evadale Half.

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35-0 Evadale 2nd Q.

Mustangs face familiar foe in Coldspring Van Wade The Orange Leader WEST ORANGE — Win or go home. That’s the theme this week as Texas high school football teams hit the playoff fields. That’s certainly the case at West Orange-Stark where the third-ranked District 21-3A champion Mustangs (8-0) are preparing for the Coldspring Trojans (6-3), District 22-3A runnerups. The two squads will duke it out Saturday at 6 p.m. at Deer Park’s Clyde Abshire Stadium in the 3A Region III Division II bidistrict playoffs. “It’s that part of the year where everyone you face is pretty ‘dad-gum’ good,†said long-time Mustang head coach Dan Hooks. “From here on out, your level of play has to reach its peak or you’ll find yourself back at home in a hurry.†This will mark the second straight season that the Mustangs and Trojans have hooked up in the same round. Coldspring coach Bryan Barbay, son of Newton legend Curtis Barbay, has done an excellent job of turning the Trojans’ fortune around, leading them to the playoffs two straight years and improving on last year’s 5-6 mark. The Mustangs downed the Trojans 51-14 in last season’s encounter, outgaining the Trojans 427-218. However, don’t let that score fool you. “That final score, it was very deceptive,†said Hooks. “They got after our tails that first half. It was 12-7 at the half. They turned the ball over three quick times in that third quarter, giving us good field position and we took things over from there.†The Trojans have outscored opponents 280-189 this season. They fell to 22-3A champion Cleveland (9-0) 42-18 for the district title. That game was tied 12-12 at the half. The Trojans’ other two losses came in non-district at the hands of Crockett (21-6) and Diboll (40-36). who are both in the playoffs as well. Coldspring beat their other four 22-3A counterparts by a margin of 168-52, including a 47-20 win over Liberty last week. Coach Hooks doesn’t expect anything fancy from the Trojans, just hard-nosed football. “They’re going to line up and come right at us offensively,†said Hooks. “They have a big old back, a fast back and a quarterback that likes to run more this time around. This year, they’re also not afraid to throw it a little bit.†The Trojans feature running back James Scott. Scott isn’t the “speed back†like Coldspring had in Zavious Johnson last year. Johnson rumbled for 139 yards on 21 carries in the loss to WO-S. However, he’s a 200-pound-plus back that runs with a bowling ball style. Then there is tailback Andrew Leigh, who was the 22-3A 100-meter champion last spring. Quarterback Chad Allen has also been explosive on bootlegs and such. The Trojans will face perhaps the hottest defense around these days. The Mustangs have allowed just 107.8 yards a game this season, just 35.5 on the ground. They’ve given up just 41 points all season and have yet to allow a point in the third period. In the span of the last two 21-3A games, WO-S has given up a total of just three first downs. “Coach (Cornel) Thompson has our defenses’ ears pinned back and getting after it,†Hooks said. “I couldn't be prouder of those kids. They’re not the biggest unit you’ll see but they’ll get after you. You’re not going to run around us, you have to go through us. We’ve been able to stuff the run all season, whether you try to go north and south or east and west.†Hooks and staff have no qualms on how games will get tougher after going through a relative easy 21-3A. “The kids understand that the competition is fixing to get a lot steeper,†Hooks said. “You’re facing teams that are physically stronger and faster than what you usually see in the regular season. Playoff games, they always speed up and you have to be prepared for that. We’ve had excellent practices this weeks and the kids know what to expect.†The Mustang offense is pumping out 376.5 yards a game. Not bad at all, considering all the times the Mustangs found the end zone in 21-3A play via special teams, interception returns and fumble returns for scores. WO-S put together a school-record 617 yards in the 67-0 win over Orangefield last week. Senior quarterback Ortavious Hypolite leads the way with not only his skills but his tremendous leadership as well. Hypolite has completed 71-of-112 passes for 1,110 yards and 11 touchdowns and has been picked off just once. He’s also rushed for 542 yards and 10 TDs on 82 carries. Senior tailback Quintavious Garrett has bulled his way to 748 yards and 14 TDs on 110 totes while receiver Trey Franks leads the way with 28 receptions for 524 yards and four TDs. “Offensively, we’ve been moving the ball well, scoring on big plays but also sustaining some nice, long drives,†said Hooks. “Coldspring will come at us defensively, similar to what Newton and Kirbyville does. Coach Barbay didn’t fall far from the tree. He thinks a lot like Curtis (Barbay). They’ve got some outstanding athletes that can do things on defense and they’ll mix it up. The key for us is not turning the ball over. We’ve been good at not putting the ball on the ground for the most part. Turnovers will get you this time of the year. That’s what helped us win the game against Coldspring last year.†The WO-S-Coldspring winner will face Caldwell (6-3) in the area round next week.â€

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40's with North wind decreasing Sat. Night. 50's Friday Night with N wind at 15.

40's

This game will be Broadcasted here on the site!!!