Guest GoStangs Posted September 9, 2006 Report Posted September 9, 2006 From The Orange Leader Mustangs turn back feisty Bears Van Wade The Orange Leader WEST ORANGE — Defense was certainly the theme in the first half in The "Orange Bowl" as West Orange-Stark and Little Cypress-Mauriceville duked it out for the 23rd time with WO-S going in at halftime with a 7-0 lead. But it was WO-S thaty had the offensive answers in the final 24 minutes. The Mustangs, ranked No. 3 in the latest Class 3A state poll, knocked off the Bears for the 21st time with a big second-half offensive explosion, downing LC-M 35-14 at Dan R. Hooks Stadium Friday night. The Mustangs piled up 387 yards of total offense to turn back the Bears. Junior Mustang tailback DePauldrick Garrett ran for 131 yards and scored a touchdown on 17 carries. Senior quarterback Andre Bevil completed 10-of-14 passes for 139 yards and two TDs while senior running back Earl Thomas scored on the ground and hauled in a TD pass and had 114 total yards as WO-S improved to 2-0 on the young season. “We struggled executing in the first half,†said Mustang head coach Dan Hooks. “The Bears played excellent defense in the first half. I think our speed was the difference in the second half. Garrett ran so darn hard. He’s got a burst but he’s also stronger than you think. Of course, Earl made some big plays there in the third quarter. Bevil, he was ‘Cool Hand Luke’ again back there. It was a hard-fought game all the way through. It’s definitely bittersweet though after what happen to the Driver kid. He’s a fine young man and we’re certainly all praying for him.†The game was certainly bittersweet for both teams when LC-M junior quarterback President Driver went down with a severe injury on the first play of the fourth quarter. Driver was rolling left and looked to convert a screen pass to the right when he got hit. Driver was down on the field for close to 20 minutes. He was eventually taken away by ambulance and was later taken away by air ambulance. “President is a battler and we’re certainly all saying prayers for him,†said LC-M head coach Todd Moody. “The last word that we received was that he was able to have a little movement in his arms on the helicopter and that’s a good sign. We’ll leave it in God’s hands and hopefully we’ll have super news in the morning.†The Bears finished with 154 total yards. Tailback Kendrex Salter led the way, rumbling for 60 yards on 14 carries. Taylor Frillou had 33 yards on 13 totes and scored a touchdown. Backup quarterback Kamron Vaughn performed well down the stretch, passing for 35 yards and running for 17 more, including a 1-yard TD run late. Thomas had 67 yards on six carries and caught four passes for 47 yards for the Mustangs while WO-S receiver Dominique Rhodes had four catches for 62 yards. After a failed onside kick attempt to start the second half by the Bears (0-2), WO-S pulled away from its 7-0 halftime edge with a seven-play, 51-yard scoring march. After a bevy of penalties, including a Bear personal foul and a holding call on the Mustang , WO-S faced a fourth-and-18 from the Bear 24. The Mustangs elected to go for it and Bevil hung a nice floater along the left side of the end zone and Rhodes out leaped Bear defensive back Vaughn for a 24-yard touchdown strike to give the Mustangs a 14-0 edge with 10:01 left in the third. The Battlin' Bears certainly didn't back down, responding with a superb eight-play, 59-yard scoring jaunt of their own. Tailback Salter had 41 of the yards on four carries, including a 25-yarder that got to the Mustang 34 and a 13-yarder that got the leather to the WO-S 3. Taylor Frillou capped it with a 2-yard touchdown blast off left tackle as the Bears trimmed the margin to 14-7 with 7:03 left in the third. The Mustangs quickly answered the call as they navigated 62 yards in five plays on their next possession to go up 21-7 behind the speed of senior Thomas. Thomas, who has committed to The University of Texas, had a 44-yard sweep down the right sideline that went all the way down to the Bear 11. Four plays later, Thomas capped things off with a 3-yard gallop around the right end to push the Mustang lead up to 21-7 with 4:32 remaining in the third period. WO-S scored again on its next series, motoring 54 yards in four plays behind the crafty legs of Garrett. Garrett had a 27-yard dart across the middle to the LC-M 21. After a nine-yard run by Thomas to the 12, Garrett finished off the drive with a 12-yard burst up the middle to push the WO-S cushion to 28-7 with 1:40 still in the third. The Mustangs upped the margin to 35-7 with an eight-play, 59-yard scoring drive early in the fourth period. Receiver Ronnie Dennis hauled in a big 30-yard pass from Bevil that went down to the LC-M 26. After hard running by backup running back Kendrick LeBlanc got the ball all the way down to the 1, Bevil hit Thomas with a 2-yard strike across the right side of the end zone with 7:28 left in the game. “I thought we wore them (LC-M) down a little in the second half with some big plays,†said Hooks. “It’s tough to defend our speed. Our defense was outstanding all night until there late. I’m just glad we’re playing this game again. It’s tremendous for both communities. We had a great crowd tonight and you can count on another at their (LC-M) place next year.†The Bears, behind a superb-led drive by Vaughn, battled back with a long 13-play, 69-yard scoring drive. Vaughn hit receiver Josh Thomas on a nice 23-yard pass that went to the Mustang 17. Vaughn had a swift 16-yard scramble to the 2 and three plays later scored on a sneak up the middle with 1:49 remaining. “I don’t like what the scoreboard reads but I’m so proud of the way our kids battled,†said Moody. “It was emotional for them after President got hurt but they kept battling. They battled all night and I think the Bears earned a little respect tonight.†After an early defensive stalemate, the Mustangs broke through late in the first quarter, mounting a six-play, 51-yard scoring drive. Garrett rattled off the first 47 yards on five carries, including a 25-yard burst up the middle. Bevil capped it with a beautiful fake and then boot-legged his away around the left side for a 4-yard touchdown gallop. Bevil's extra-point kick was good as the Mustangs grabbed a 7-0 edge with 1:14 left in the first period. The Bears mounted a solid nine-play drive behind hard running by backs Taylor Frillou and Kendrex Salter, moving from their own 36 to the Mustang 41 but the Mustang defense held firm late in the first half. The Mustangs, behind the arm of Bevil, took over at their own 16 with 2:15 left in the half and marched all the way down to the one-inch line of the Bears' end zone before time ran out. Bevil hit Earl Thomas on a 32-yard strike and a 15-yard personal foul call on the Bears moved the ball to the Bear 36. After a WO-S holding call that moved the ball back to the Bear 46, Garrett, who had 70 yards on 10 carries in the first half, broke off a 12-yard dash to the 34. A defensive holding call on the Bears moved the ball to the 24. Bevil then hit receiver Dominique Rhodes on a quick slant along the right side that went 14 yards to the Bear 10. The clock, however, kept on ticking and on the last play of the half Bevil hit Rhodes along the left side of the Bear end zone. Two Bear players were right on the spot. Rhodes made a great stabbing catch. However, his body was in the end zone and the ball was not as the gain went for nine yards and the Bears held. The Mustangs held LC-M to two first downs and outgained the Bears 138-53 in the first 24 minutes but the LC-M defense came up with crucial stops at the most opportune times. Bevil was 5-of-8 for 74 yards in the first half with Rhodes hauling in three passes for 37 yards and Thomas two catches for 37 yards. Frillou and Salter combined for 45 yards on 14 carries for the Bears. The Bears will have their first home game next Friday night by welcoming Houston Kashmere while WO-S will take on Class 4A Bay City at Pearland High School on Saturday at Pearland High School.
Hupernikomen Posted September 9, 2006 Report Posted September 9, 2006 Good write up. Coaches both seemed upbeat and gave due respect to the other team.
WOS95 Posted September 9, 2006 Report Posted September 9, 2006 Best wishes and hopefully a speedy recovery for lc-m quarterback, President Driver.
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