*All-Orange Leader Football Team*

[KFDM COOP]

All-Orange Leader Football Team

Leader Sports

The Orange Leader

MVP: Cory Bell, WO-S

Offensive Player of the Year: DePauldrick Garrett, WO-S

Defensive Player of the Year: Joseph Viator, LC-M

Newcomer of the Year: Ortavious Hypolite, WO-S

Coach of the Year: Dan Hooks, WO-S

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Jared Helton, Orangefield

RB: Keeton Addison, Deweyville

RB: Kendrex Salter, LC-M

WR: Ronnie Dennis, WO-S

WR: Devin Green, Orangefield

Utility: Quintavious Garrett, WO-S

TE: Luke Gunstream, Orangefield

OL: Tim Matherne, WO-S

OL: Patrick Carlton, Bridge City

OL: Brandon Allensworth, WO-S

OL: Ben Dixson, Orangefield

OL: Dalton Estes, Deweyville

K: Max Perkins, LC-M

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Jacorey Roberts, WO-S

DL: Jared Winbush, LC-M

DL: Carltives Zetar, WO-S

DL: Stephen Cook, WO-S

LB: Josh Lynch, WO-S

LB: Robert Jiles, WO-S

LB: Jacob Felts, Orangefield

DB: Phillip Richard, LC-M

DB: Seth Thomas, WO-S

DB: Caleb Worthy, Orangefield

DB: JuJuan Thompson, LC-M

P: Roman Franklin, Vidor

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Dustin Breaux, Bridge City

RB: Joe Robertson, Bridge City

RB: Jeremy Granger, OF

Utility: Stephen Gibson, Deweyville

WR: Luke Rhodes, Bridge City

WR: Jerry Landry, Bridge City

TE: James Larramore, Vidor

OL: Eric Arnold, WO-S

OL: Clint Worthy, Orangefield

OL: Jacob Boaz, LC-M

OL: Garrett Howells, Orangefield

OL: Kaleb Faul, Vidor

K: Carlos Pontheiu, Bridge City

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Shayne Seago, LC-M

DL: Heath Picou, Deweyville

DL: Chase Ferguson, Vidor

DL: Sam Dixon, WO-S

LB: Adrian Steen, WO-S

LB: Cruz Thrailkille, Deweyville

LB: Howard Griffith, LC-M

DB: Josh Gloston, WO-S

DB: Jace Statum, Orangefield

DB: Matt Manning, Deweyville

DB: Derek Worthy, Vidor

P: Brandon Powell, Deweyville

[KFDM COOP]

WO-S' Bell heads All-Orange Leader Team

Van Wade

The Orange Leader

When West Orange-Stark senior Cory Bell arrived to the campus as a junior, coming all the way to Orange from California, the young man realized that his work habits were going to change drastically.

You see, workouts are a little bit tougher at WO-S then most places around the country and even Texas. Just ask Mustang defensive coordinator Cornel Thompson.

Well, Mr. Bell persevered. Did he ever!

Bell’s leadership at linebacker was a key reason why the Mustangs (11-2) led District 21-3A in total defense again this year as WO-S held opponents to just 209.5 yards a game for the season. In 21-3A play, the Mustangs were even stingier and only allowed 7.7 points per game, increasing their district winning streak to 24 games.

So how much a factor was Bell? He was named the District 21-3A Defensive Player of the Year and has been selected as the Orange Leader Football Team’s Most Valuable Player.

Bell was involved in a team-high 130 tackles. He collected 10 tackles for losses, caused four fumbles and recovered three more.

“I feel honored, but it could’ve never been done without the help of a great group of teammates,†Bell said. “We all worked so well together as one collective unit. A lot of people thought we lacked some experience going into the season but we came together early and had everybody’s back all season long.â€

Many predictors around the area had the Mustangs picked second behind the Kirbyville Wildcats entering 21-3A play, but once again, the Mustangs proved who rules the roost by whipping the Wildcats 31-7 in Kirbyville’s backyard. In that contest Bell was able to stamp out the rest of his year.

“Going into that game I think I only had about 22 tackles in the first four games,†Bell said. “Coach T (Thompson) shifted things around a little and I played more at linebacker. I ended up with 18 tackles and the rest was history. I loved playing that position.â€

Bell enjoyed watching the defense mature throughout the season.

“When we beat Dayton in that first game, that was awesome, just look how far Dayton went in the playoffs,†Bell said. “The best thing about our defense is that we really stepped it up against teams in our district, especially against Kirbyville, Jasper and Silsbee. We may have been a small defense, but we read our assignments well and were able to step up and make big plays at big times.â€

One thing for certain, Coach Thompson was an influence on Bell.

“Coach T is such a unique individual,†Bell said. “I like to call it tough love. He’s one of those father-figure types that does his best to make you the best person you can be. His workouts, they’re unlike any other. He’s a great coach but an even better teacher as far as life goes.â€

So what’s in the Orange Leader MVP’s future? It looks really good with Bell being an A-student and all.

“My future goal is to go on and major in business,†Bell said. “I want to own my own business one day. Football is still not out of the picture. I would still love to play if the opportunity comes.â€

OFFENSIVE MVP

DePauldrick Garrett, WO-S

WO-S has had its stable of running backs over the years in its storied program but Garrett passed them all during his senior campaign.

Garrett rushed for 1,394 yards and scored 25 touchdowns on 204 carries last season. He also earned Offensive MVP honors on the All-District 21-3A Team. Garrett became the Mustangs’ all-time leading rusher in the 51-14 playoff win against Coldspring.

Garrett passed long-time rushing leader Terrance Brown. Garrett wrapped up his stint in a Mustang uniform with 3,251 yards and 52 touchdowns on 476 carries, averaging 6.8 yards per carry.

DEFENSIVE MVP

Joseph Viator, LC-M

He may have been short and stocky by nature, but the Battlin’ Bear senior linebacker came up and stuffed the run so hard at times, making some of his hits ones that would make even Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher blush with envy.

The Bears may have struggled in District 22-4A play, but opposing coaches were aware and prepared for No. 55 in green and gold and they still couldn’t contain him a great deal.

Viator, who has also been a standout on the LC-M powerlifting squad, used his stockiness to his advantage as he piled up a team-high 120 tackles.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Ortavious Hypolite, WO-S

The Mustang junior quarterback proved early on against powerful Dayton in his first game as a starter that he was going to make an impact, scoring three rushing touchdowns and going over 100 yards on the ground in the second half alone.

Hypolite led the Mustangs to yet another 21-3A title, completing 105-of-180 passes for 1,381 yards and 11 touchdowns and was picked off just seven times. He also “bruised†his way to 681 yards and 14 TDs on the ground on 137 carries.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Dan Hooks, WO-S

Coach Hooks shows no signs of slowing down after leading the Mustangs to their 15th district title in his 27 years at the helm.

The Mustangs have yet to drop a district contest since joining the Class 3A ranks prior to the 2004 season.

Perhaps the best moment came for the coach who has already been inducted in the Southeast Texas Coaching Hall of Fame came when the Mustangs whipped Coldspring 51-14 in the bidistrict round of the playoffs, giving him his 250th career victory at WO-S. Hooks now sports a career mark of 251-64-2 (a .795 winning percentage).

[DP#1FAN]

Congrats to all.