Mustangs head to 'Alamo' to face rested Bulldogs

[Bobcatfan4life]

Mustangs head to 'Alamo' to face rested Bulldogs

Van Wade

The Orange Leader

JASPER — It’s time to make that “Alamo†trip for the West Orange-Stark Mustangs.

WO-S and Jasper have had some knock-down dragouts in years past and tonight should be no different.

The Mustangs, ranked No. 3 in the Class 3A state poll, checks in with a 3-0 record after surviving in a 21-20 overtime win against Kirbyville last week.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs (1-1) will be quite rested after having a bye week last week.

Jasper fell to No. 1 Gilmer 42-14 in their season opener but bounced back the next week with a second-half rally to defeat a stubborn Kirbyville unit 31-22.

“Jasper is going to be a strong test for our kids, especially at their place,†said Mustang head coach Dan Hooks. “They’ve played two tough customers early and are battle-tested.â€

Quarterback Sam Alvis leads first-year Jasper head coach Mike Bickham’s wishbone and sometimes three-back attack.

Alvis has 186 yards and four touchdowns on 26 carries and came up huge in the win over Kirbyville with 179 yards and four TDs on 24 carries in the win over Kirbyville.

Running back Ben Armstrong has 178 yards and a TD on 40 totes. Karrion Morrisey has 121 yards and a Td off 34 carries and Jarrod Adams has 76 yards on seven carries. Adams leads the squad with four receptions for 52 yards. Alvis has completed just 6-of-15 passes for 72 yards.

The Bulldog running game will be a challenge for Mustang DaJewel Nelson, who had 13 tackles and a sack against Kirbyville, and his defensive teammates.

“Coach Bickham has installed an offense like Ron Dupree had at LC-M when he was there,†said Hooks. “They like to come right at you. You better be able to find who has the ball pretty quick. They’re a team that’s going to move the sticks on anybody. Our defense just has to be patient, like it was against Kirbyville last week.â€

Hooks is hoping for more consistency out of the Mustang offense. Penalties has hampered the unit quite a bit this season.

“You just can’t go out and start every series with a first-and-15 or first-and-20,†said Hooks. “You get in that situation and defenses know what you have to do. The kids have been working hard this week in correcting that. They know we have an offense that can move the ball and without penalties, we can do a lot more things to open it up.â€

Mustang quarterback Reggie Garrett has completed 22-of-50 passes for 423 yards and six TDs.

His favorite target thus far is receiver Mark ROberts, who has eight catches for 245 yards and two TDs.

Sophomore tailback Britton Lindsey leads the ground arsenal with 327 yards and three TDs on 58 carries.

Tonight’s tilt will be the first of three straight road games for the Mustangs. WO-S has a bye week next week and then visits Brookshire-Royal Oct. 2 and travels to Silsbee Oct. 9 to start District 21-3A play.

“This little stretch here will help us build some more character,†said Hooks. “Our kids have always played on the road pretty well and our non-district schedule really gets us prepared for district. You just want to stay healthy and try to execute better each and every week.â€