KFDM COOP Posted November 27, 2007 Report Posted November 27, 2007 La Vega's Coach Williams a true PirateVan WadeThe Orange LeaderWACO — Willie Williams has spent almost his entire coaching live, no make that almost his entire life, rooting on the Waco La Vega Pirates.Williams not only played football and graduated as a Pirate, he’s been part of their coaching staff for 25 years and has been the head coach since 1991.Williams will guide his Pirates (12-0) Friday night when they take on the West Orange-Stark Mustangs (11-1) at 7:30 p.m. in the Class 3A Region III Division II semifinals at Sam Houston State’s Bowers Stadium.Williams has certainly been in it for the long haul, through good times and tough times.“To me, there’s no place like La Vega,†said Williams. “This is home for me, always will be. We had some pretty good runs in the playoffs here in the 1990s. We hit a little rough patch three and four years ago, but since then, the kids have really played good football. As a coach, you see many cycles over the years and right now, we’re in a pretty good one. I’ve also been very blessed to have a coaching staff that has stuck with me for a lot of years.â€La Vega, the District 17-3A champion, went 10-3 last year and fell to Giddings in the regional semifinals.Williams has had plenty of athletes to work with over the years and he has some very gifted ones this season.The Pirates are led by sophomore tailback Chris Parr, who has 1,399 yards and 14 touchdowns. His senior brother Kourtney Parr has 586 yards and 12 TDs and another running back in Chad Ward has 578 yards and eight TDs.Then there is quarterback Danzel Wilson. Wilson has completed 66-of-111 passes for 1,330 yards and 14 TDs and has not thrown an interception. RThe Pirates have outscored their opponents 495-122 for the season.“We‘ve been blessed to have had some good kids to work with over the years,†said Williams. “This group is one of those very special ones though. A lot of them got a lot of experience last year when we were a much younger team. They dedicated themselves hard in the offseason and it’s really paid off for them this year.â€Having one of the biggest offensive lines in the state hasn’t hurt things a bit either.“You know, you have those years where sometimes you can barely find a lineman that weighs over 200 pounds,†said Williams. “Then you can have a string of years where size comes in. We’re definitely in that phase right now.â€Without question, Coach Williams and staff have a tremendous amount of respect for the Mustangs and long-time head coach Dan Hooks and staff.“Coach Hooks, he seems like a great guy and a funny guy,†said Williams. “He seems to be the kind of coach you’d love to just hang out with. But, I’ve seen their team on film and he’s not someone you’d like to play every Friday night, that’s for sure. There is a program that’s already won two state championships and have been in two more. They have a tremendous coaching staff.â€Williams has seen plenty of the Mustangs on film and saw so many positives, especially in WO-S’ big playoff wins over Coldspring (51-14) and top-ranked Giddings (28-19).“West Orange looks so darn sound in everything that they try to do,†said Williams. “It doesn’t look like they turn the ball over hardly at all and that can sometimes be half the battle. They’re so darn athletic too.â€La Vega may have the size advantage going into the big showdown but Williams says don’t let that fool you.“Just looking at them (WO-S), they all seem to be in such great condition,†said Williams. “They have kids that remind you of the Energizer Bunny, they just keep going and going. You can’t measure things with size, you have to consider desire and heart and the shape you’re in. West Orange has those gifts, you can just tell. Those kids, especially on defense, are always around the ball. There may be 11 out there at one time, but man, watching them on film, it seems like they have 20 out there at times.â€Williams and Co. understands the magnitude of the contest.“One team is going to win and one is going to lose,†Williams said. “The sad thing will be that a pretty good football team will be playing their last game of the year. I hate to say it because it’s such an old saying, but the team that protects the ball the best and doesn’t beat itself, will be the team that will move on.â€
NedDog Posted November 27, 2007 Report Posted November 27, 2007 [move][glow=BLUE,2,300]GO MUSTANGS!! [/glow] [/move]
silly365 Posted November 28, 2007 Report Posted November 28, 2007 continue to play with the same intensity and you will win the battle !! play like all wos teams with heart and desire and all good things will come goodluck mustangs !!
td Posted November 28, 2007 Report Posted November 28, 2007 continue to play with the same intensity and you will win the battle !! play like all wos teams with heart and desire and all good things will come goodluck mustangs !!At least the guy is well spoken and speaks highly of our team and coaches. Too bad we are going to have to send them packing.
grizzly62 Posted November 28, 2007 Report Posted November 28, 2007 At least the guy is well spoken and speaks highly of our team and coaches. Too bad we are going to have to send them packing. this is true
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