WO-S hoping to cage Wildcats

[Bobcatfan4life]

WO-S hoping to cage Wildcats

Van Wade

The Orange Leader

WEST ORANGE — Now that they’re done with playing Class 4A teams for the season, it doesn’t get any easier tonight for the third-ranked West Orange-Stark Mustangs when 2009 Class 2A State Finalist Kirbyville visits Hooks Stadium tonight in a non-district affair.

Kirbyville, which lost all 11 defensive starters from last years’s 13-1 squad that lost to Muleshoe in the state title tilt, is still vastly talented as head coach Jack Alvarez has built a program that has been on a steady rise ever since he’s been there.

“Jack (Alvarez) and his staff do a wonderful job,†said Hooks. “They were a darn good football team when they were in 3A. When they dropped down to 2A last year, I knew 2A was going to be in for some trouble with the Wildcats.â€

Kirbyville has always played tough against the Mustangs.

“It seems like each time we’ve played them before, Kirbyville jumped on top of us early,†said Hooks. “They’re always dynamic on offense. We’ve been able to prevail each time, but there kids really get after it.â€

The Mustangs are coming off a 28-14 victory over Little Cypress-Mauriceville in The Orange Bowl.

WO-S, as usual, has been stingy on defense, limiting Nederland and LC-M while allowing just 183 yards a contest.

Junior linebacker Brenson Lindsey leads the Mustangs with 19 tackles for the season, including 11 against LC-M last week.

WO-S is pumping out 386.5 yards a game on offense.

Sophomore tailback Britton Lindsey has bowled his way through opposing defenses for 284 yards and two TDs on 44 carries.

Junior quarterback Reggie Garrett has completed 17-of-35 passes for 343 yards and five touchdowns with his favorite target being junior receiver Mark Roberts, who has six grabs for 205 yards and a TD.

“We’re pretty pleased with the way we’ve moved the ball and Reggie (Garrett) has played really well for us early on and he has a lot of confidence now with two games under his belt,†said Hooks. “Lindsey has been super running with the ball and Roberts has been getting it done at receiver. Our offensive line is starting to gel better with (center) Van Jordan leading the way there.â€

The Wildcats check in averaging 500 yards a game on offense while allowing 312.5 on defense.

In their 62-20 win over Diboll, the Wildcats rushed for 481 yards and in their 31-22 loss to Jasper last week, 356 of their 484 yards came via the ground.

The Wildcats led Jasper 22-13 at halftime before watching the Bulldogs go on an 18-0 second-half spurt.

Kirbyville has two impact backs that also played big roles in the march to the state title game.

LeFrederick Ford has 301 yards and five touchdowns on just 26 carries while Fred Rhodes has 247 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.

Caleb Cucancic is the new quarterback this season and has passed for 128 yards and a TD and has rushed for 52 yards on five carries.

“Kirbyville doesn’t make any bones about it, they like coming right at you and they have two excellent backs that can do it too,†said Hooks. “They’re really going to challenge our defense, especially that front seven.â€

The Kirbyville defense gave up 347 yards on the ground in the loss to Jasper as Bulldog quarterback Sam Alvis rushed for 179 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries.

“It’s should be an excellent game, another non-district game that’s really going to be great for our kids,†said Hooks. “We load up our non-district schedule for a reason. Kirbyville this week and at Jasper the next, that’s a pretty good little schedule by itself right there.â€