No. 3 Mustangs now face Hornets' rushing attack

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No. 3 Mustangs now face Hornets' rushing attack

Van Wade

The Orange Leader

After rolling to a 36-8 win over the Coldspring in the Class 3A Region III Division II bidistrict playoffs, the third-ranked West Orange-Stark Mustangs are gearing up to face Caldwell in the area round Friday night.

The Mustangs (9-0) will face the Caldwell Hornets (6-3), runner-ups out of District 24-3A, at 7:30 p.m. at The Woodlands Woodforest Stadium. Ticket prices are $6 for adults and $4 for students. All tickets at the gate are $7. Tickets will be on sale in the WOS Athletic Department on the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, 1 to 3 p.m.

• Thursday, 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.

• Friday, 10 a.m. to noon

Caldwell had a bye in the bi-district round because no one in District 23-3A plays football.

The Mustangs broke away from Coldspring with a big second half last Saturday.

Leading 14-8 at intermission, WO-S scored 22 unanswered points in the second half.

The Mustang defense allowed Coldspring just 184 yards in the contest, including just 39 in the second half. WO-S piled up 328 offensive yards. Tailback Quintavious Garrett rushed for 152 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Ortavious Hypolite rushed for 72 yards and passed for 91 yards and two TDs in the decisive win.

The Mustangs have outscored their opponents 403-41 for the season and are allowing just 116.7 yards a game on defense. Meanwhile, a balanced WO-S offense is putting up 370 yards a game.

The Hornets have put up strong numbers as well, outscoring their opposition 390-205. The Hornets’ three losses came at the hands of Bellville (44-14), Navasota (28-27) and Rockdale (28-14), three teams that still remain alive in the postseason.

Something will have to give when the Hornets have the ball on offense. Caldwell checks in averaging 464.8 yards a game, a whopping 405.9 yards of it coming on the ground in the run-oriented offense.

Running back Kyson Woolverton has rumbled for 1,352 yards and 13 TDs on 185 carries. Fellow back Nelson Scott has 1,032 yards and 18 TDs on 115 carries. Fellow backs Randall Lester (44-533-8) and Kendrin Shephers (64-443-4) also have nice running numbers. Hornet quarterback Trenton Sims has completed 21-of-55 passes for 475 yards and seven TDs to go along with five interceptions.

The Hornets have had three games this season in which they have rushed for more than 500 yards. In contrast, the Mustang “Chain Gang†defense has allowed only 440 yards on the ground the entire season. Defensively, the Hornets are allowing 293.7 yards per outing,163.1 rushing and 130.6 passing.

The WO-S-Caldwell winner will face the Gilmer-Mexia winner in the Region III semifinals next week.

In other 3A Region III Division II bid strict action last week Gilmer crushed Diboll 54-0. Mexia downed Crockett 20-18. Carthage spanked Tatum 62-14. Lorena downed Palestine Westwood 24-14 and Clevelnd crushed Hardin-Jefferson 46-14.

In area round action this week Carthage will face Lorena and Cleveland will take on Rockdale.

In other 3A area round action, the Silsbee Tigers, a 20-16 winner over Huffman in bid strict, will meet Navasota Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Sam Houston State University’s Bower Stadium in the 3A Region III Division I bracket..

The Hornets have put up strong numbers as well, outscoring their opposition 390-205. The Hornets’ three losses came at the hands of Bellville (44-14), Navasota (28-27) and Rockdale (28-14), three teams that still remain alive in the postseason.

In Class 5A action, the Beaumont West Brook Bruins, who downed Pasadena Memorial 51-35 in bidistrict, will tangle with Dickinson Saturday at 1 p.m. at Baytown’s Stallworth Stadium.

In the Class 4A area round the Beaumont Central Jaguars, who blanked North Forest 21-0, will face Lockhart Saturday at 7 p.m. at Katy’s Jack Rhodes Memorial Stadium. The Nederland Bulldogs, who held off C.E. King 35-34, will meet Magnolia Saturday at 1 p.m. at Conroe’s Buddy Moorhead Stadium.

In Class 2A, Little Cypress-Mauriceville’s Battlin’ Bear Stadium will be a busy venue this week for the Class 2A playoffs.

On Thursday at Battlin’ Bear Stadium the second-ranked Kirbyville Wildcats will tangle with District 23-2A champion Anahuac Panthers at 7 p.m.

Kirbyville throttled Corrigan-Camden 34-15 in bid strict while Anahuac wrapped up the 23-2A title with a 38-13 win against Deweyville.

On Friday at LC-M the Newton Eagles will face the East Chambers Buccaneers at 7:30 p.m. Newton pounded Buffalo 49-0 in the first round while East Chambers clinched the third-place spot out of 23-2A with a 27-13 victory against Buna.

The District 23-2A runnerup Hardin Hornets will battle New Waverly Saturday at 1 p.m. at Humble’s Turner Stadium.

In Class 1A playoff action Evadale will take on Normangee Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Jacksonville’s Tomato Bowl Stadium. West Hardin will face Bremond Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Groveton’s Indians Stadium and Hull-Daisetta will battle Mart Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Navasota’s Rattler Stadium.

[Guest wos grad]

This will be a very good test before we face the all mighty Gilmer.

[Gabe]

The Mustang defense allowed Coldspring just 184 yards in the contest, including just 39 in the second half. WO-S piled up 328 offensive yards. Tailback Quintavious Garrett rushed for 152 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Ortavious Hypolite rushed for 72 yards and passed for 91 yards and two TDs in the decisive win.

The Mustangs have outscored their opponents 403-41 for the season and are allowing just 116.7 yards a game on defense. Meanwhile, a balanced WO-S offense is putting up 370 yards a game.

In contrast, the Mustang “Chain Gang†defense has allowed only 440 yards on the ground the entire season. Defensively, the Hornets are allowing 293.7 yards per outing,163.1 rushing and 130.6 passing.

I look at it like Caldwell is the one being challenged by probably the best defense they have faced all season.

[marshman]

No one WOS has face this year has put up those kind of rushing numbers.

[Guest wos grad]

They haven't faced a Defense like WOS either.

[adminbaberuth]

Caldwell has some gaudy numbers, who have they played ?

This is only the second round, WOS team is too good to leave this early.

[KFDM COOP]

Caldwell results

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[marshman]

After reading this article, I'm getting a little more nervous than before. I have confidence in the "chain gang" though.

[adminbaberuth]

They have 540 kids in school, a few more than Orangefield who has the least in 21-3A of 521.

[skipper]

now we all will see if the mustangs  are truly the #1 defense in the state in 3A .as i said how much presser can these kids take.to me it looks like the wo-s offence  BETTER play the best game thay have ever played all this year . man oh man this could be one if not the best in the state friday. i saw the mustangs last friday stop one of the best and hardest runners in the state coldspings had he was a power runner with tons of speed but he found out what  it was like to be hit big time.the mustangs are very blessed to have a coach like thompson on there side he will not let his kids end it now he will see to it

[Gasilla]

I look at it this way... they were held to 14 points by Rockdale and Bellville, both good teams, but teams that give up more than 14 points per game for the season. If they can hold them to 14 I feel like our defense can at least match that. Caldwell is giving up more than 23 points per game. If we just have an average night offensively, we should still be able to put up 24 points. I could be completely wrong, but I truly feel that, if we come out and play Mustang football for 4 qtrs, we win this game.

If you go back and look at Coldsprings stats, they were putting up some pretty gaudy offensive numbers as well to go along with about the same defensive numbers as Caldwell. Also, Caldwell does not have big old #9 and the overall team speed that CS has/had.

[Majestyk]

I don't know how long it will take WO-S to adjust to this Slot-T or whatever but it won't be long before the Caldwell players go back the sideline asking their coaches  "Who are these people?"  Fingernails get shorter early but the 'Stangs do what the 'Stangs do and take care of business.  WO-S rolls.

[skipper]

this is going to be a (WAR).

[Guest wos grad]

Hopefully the Defense can adjust.

[KFDM COOP]

Mustangs look to slow down Hornets

Van Wade

The Orange Leader

WEST ORANGE — The beat goes on for the third-ranked West Orange-Stark Mustangs as they’re getting prepared for the Caldwell Hornets in the Class 3A Region III Division II area round of the playoffs.

The two will tangle Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at The Woodlands Woodforest Stadium.

The Mustangs (9-0) throttled Coldspring 36-8 in the bidistrict round while the Hornets (6-3) had a bye.

It will certainly be a matchup of contrasting styles, especially when Caldwell has the ball.

The Hornets are averaging 464.8 yards a game, 405.9 of it coming on the ground in their Slot-T formation.

The Hornets have put up strong numbers, outscoring their opposition 390-205. The Hornets’ three losses came at the hands of Bellville (44-14), Navasota (28-27) and Rockdale (28-14), three teams that still remain alive in the postseason.

On the other side of the Hornet offense will be the Mustang “Chain Gang†defense. A defense that has allowed just 116.7 yards a game and 49 total points. WO-S has allowed just 440 yards on the ground all season while the Hornets have had three games this season in which they’ve gained over 500 yards rushing.

“It’s going to be a battle of wills,†said Mustang head coach Dan Hooks. “Coach (Cornel) Thompson has studied so much film already this week and he’s getting our defense prepared. This is an offense you don’t see very often. It’s close to the wishbone. We saw a little of it last week against Coldspring and we saw it in our scrimmage against Vidor way back when.â€

Caldwell running back Kyson Woolverton has rumbled for 1,352 yards and 13 TDs on 185 carries. Fellow back Nelson Scott has 1,032 yards and 18 TDs on 115 carries. Other backs include Randall Lester (44-533-8) and Kendrin Shephers (64-443-4) also have nice running numbers.

Hornet quarterback Trenton Sims has completed 21-of-55 passes for 475 yards and seven TDs to go along with five interceptions.

“They execute their offense well,†said Hooks. “There isn’t anything fancy to them, they line up and go right at you. They do a lot of things to disguise what they’re doing with their running game so you have to be on your toes. One thing we do know, they don’t put the ball in the air much. They have a pretty nice line up front, we’re going to have to do our best to win the physical battle in the trenches.â€

While the Hornets like to slug it out at the line of scrimmage, the Mustang offense will attack the Caldwell defense with their balanced spread formation.

WO-S enters the game pumping out 371.1 yards a contest, led by senior quarterback Ortavious Hypolite.

Hypolite has completed 77-of-122 passes for 1,201 yards and 13 TDs and has tossed just two interceptions. He’s also collected 615 yards and 10 TDs on 94 carries on the ground.

Tailback Quintavious cut up Coldspring for 153 yards and three TDs last week and now has 900 yards and 17 TDs off of 129 totes.

Receiver Trey Franks continues to lead the way with 31 receptions for 578 yards and five TDs.

They will face a Hornet defensive unit that is allowing 293.7 yards per game.

“Defensively, Caldwell has bent a little bit but they’ve been strong when they’ve had too,†said Hooks. “Hopefully we’ll be able to get a few big plays on them. The key for us is hanging on to the football. With their offense, they’re going to try to ball-control us some, which means we’ll probably have fewer possessions than normal.â€

This time of year, anything can happen.

“You almost have to perfect in all phases of the game,†said Hooks. “If you lose, there is no tomorrow as far as practice and a game. It’s the best time of the year. The kids have a sense of urgency and have had excellent practices and they’re having fun, that’s what it is all about.â€

The WO-S-Caldwell winner will face the Gilmer-Mexia winner in the regional semifinals next week.

[Indian Fan]

Man I wish this one was on Saturday, sounds like it will be one good ballgame! But we will be way over at A&M supporting our Indians!

Good luck to all of you!

[skipper]

its going to be a war and the best to you also get there safe come home safe

[skipper]

OK ITS TIME FOR ME TO SAY THIS #1 wo-s dose have the defense to stay with caldwells very good offense we know it thay know it. #2 this is the part that upsets me the most, what offense will we see friday ,the GOOD are the BAD.from what i have been told from friends in austin, caldwell has a fair defense, but if wo-s can play some offence and get caldwell  out of there game plan it will be a long night for them if this should happen.in closeing i do belive its going to be on the shoulders of the mustangs OC  he and his spotters (MUST PLAY SMART FOOTBALL)

[HORNSFAN86]

This will be a very good test before we face the all mighty Gilmer.

The Stangs will beat Caldwell, not so sure about Gilmer jury is still out on this one.

GoodLuck Stangs Rep. 21-3A well.