’Stangs take first step of 2007

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’Stangs take first step of 2007

Van Wade

The Orange Leader

WEST ORANGE — So what, if Monday was a typical steamy, hot day in Southeast Texas, West Orange-Stark senior offensive lineman Tim Matherne was thrilled about the Mustangs’ first workout of the 2007 season.

The balmy weather usually isn’t a lineman’s best friend but Matherne dealt with it just fine.

“It’s hot, of course, but that’s expected in this part of the country,†Matherne said. “You just have to suck it up and move on to what you have to do. This football team has a lot of goals and weather isn’t going to do anything to slow that down.â€

Matherne feels the sultry heat won’t have much or any affect on the Mustangs.

“We’ve had a tremendous turnout all summer long and that’s what this program takes a lot of pride in,†Matherne said. “We work so hard as far as going that extra step to prepare and to get in shape. Things like that have helped put this program on top for a long time.â€

So what did the Mustangs do in their first workout Monday?

“We hit the weightroom first to show the coaches what we have and let them kinda know who has worked hard and who maybe hadn’t during the summer,†Matherne said. “Then we hit the stands at the stadium. Those first few days are always tough as far as conditioning goes.â€

Matherne is certainly waiting on one day for sure.

“I can’t wait for Friday, we all can’t hardly wait, with it being the first day in pads and all,†Matherne said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve lined up and hit people. Friday is going to be fun, but a friendly kind of fun. What I’m really waiting for is that first scrimmage.â€

Matherne has had the pleasure of blocking for two excellent quarterbacks in his stint at WO-S in Kenneth Beasley and Andre Bevil. This year, Ortavious Hypolite will be the newcomer at quarterback. Then there is the return of all-district tailback DePauldrick Garrett.

“With our style of offense, we’re always capable of moving the ball down the field,†said Matherne. “We have so many interchangeable parts with all of our skill positions, we always keep people second-guessing.â€

Matherne, Brandon Allensworth and Eric Arnold are three of the valuable contributors who will return to lead the offense in the trenches.

Long-time Mustang head coach Dan Hooks has seen many kids go through that first-week ordeal for 31 years at WO-S as he heads into his 27th year as the head man. He feels some things rarely change.

“It has been a typical first morning,†Hooks said. “You see guys in shape and you see guys not in shape. We had a tremendous turnout this summer and you can always tell who the guys are that were up here in June and July and who wasn’t. For the most part, our varsity kids came in being in excellent shape. For the most part, it’s the younger guys like the freshmen and sophomores that you are concerned about the most. They’ll get in shape pretty quick though. That first wek and a half and especially those first three days, is all about conditioning.â€

Monday was the only morning practice that the Mustangs are going to have with the exception of the intersquad scrimmage this coming Saturday. The Mustangs plan a 4 p.m.-6:15 p.m. and a 6:45 p.m.-8:15 p.m. practice schedule for the first couple weeks before the scrimmages at Barbers Hill (Aug.18) and at home against Vidor (Aug, 25).

“We’ve done it like that the last several years and I think we’ve gained a lot from doing it that way,†Hooks said. “It’s hard getting everything in line with a morning practice and an evening practice and making sure we can get the kids all here consistently. We still have a good break in the middle of the two sessions and it can get a little cooler up here at night.â€

The Mustangs lost a gifted group of seniors off last year’s 11-1 District 21-3A champion unit. However, the cupboard is far from bare. Seven starters return from that excellent team and then there are members off a JV team that went a perfect 10-0 and a freshamn unit that was 7-2.

“We’re always excited this time of year,†Hooks said. “As usual, the expectations are high around here. We’ve got some key kids coming back but we’re also looking at a bunch of young ones to step in and fill key roles. We’ll start to know more when the kids put on the pads Friday and then the two scrimmages. We’ve got tough non-district schedule ahead of us with Dayton, LC-M and Bay City, so will get plenty of tests early to see where we’re at before district starts.â€

[WOS92]

Ohhhhhh yes.

[KFDM COOP]

kogt

[kicker]

Coach Pierce sure looks like he belongs back in the ole, blue and silver. Welcome back coach! 8)

[Cardfan]

Good luck WOS yall look good