Mustangs hit field to start season

[AggiesAreWe]

August 2, 2010

Mustangs hit the field to start season
Van Wade
The Orange Leader

WEST ORANGE — Football practice finally rolls around and what was waiting on the players - just one of the hottest days of the year.

Though all of the local schools kicked off their 2010 campaign in the early morning hours, temperatures had reached the mid-90s by 11 a.m.

Over at West Orange-Stark, it was business as usual for the Mustangs as they accomplished the Mustang Mile, hit the weight room and then battled the heat by running up the stands at Hooks Stadium.

It was just another day at the office for long-time Mustang coach Dan Hooks, entering his 30th season as the head man in Mustang Country.

“Thirty years, man, the years have flown by,” said Hooks, who owns a 269-68-2 mark in charge of the Mustangs. “We’ve seen a lot of faces come and go but this day, it’s always exciting. You get that little summer break but this day is always on the back of your mind for the coaches and the kids. We’re excited about kicking off another year.”

Over the years, more challenges have awaited coaching staffs on that first day.

“Years ago, you didn’t have to worry about the conditioning part of it so much because kids would always be outdoors all summer doing all kinds of stuff,” said Hooks. “The last few years, kids these days, they like to stay indoors a whole lot more, which means they come in out of shape. They know who they are and you can tell who they are in the first 30 minutes. We know we’re not the only ones in that boat and everybody will get there in the next couple weeks.”

One thing for certain, the Mustangs will be put under fire in their two scrimmages and non-district schedule before the District 20-4A campaign rolls around Oct. 8 at Hamshire-Fannett.

The Mustangs will visit Dayton Saturday, Aug. 14 with the freshmen starting at 5 p.m. followed by the JV (6 p.m.) and varsity (7 p.m.). WO-S will host Vidor Thursday, Aug. 19 at Hooks Stadium with the freshmen starting at 5 p.m. followed by the JV (6 p.m.) and varsity (7 p.m.).

“That will definitely test us early,” said Hooks. “We’ve had some great battles with Dayton over the years that have really helped both programs to get the season going. Vidor, they’re always big and physical and they got after us last year. We really couldn’t have asked for two better scrimmages.”

After that, the Mustangs dive into arguably one of the toughest non-district schedules in the state, especially on the 3A level.

WO-S opens the season on the road against old 4A rival Nederland Aug. 27. Then its off to Friendswood to face a 4A program that made it to the Region III Finals a year ago on Sept. 3. After a week break, the Mustangs welcome old nemesis Jasper to Hooks Stadium (Sept. 17). Next up will be 3A power Giddings Sept. 25 in Conroe and WO-S will wrap up their non-district slate with Kirbyville Oct 2 at home. Kirbyville has been the state runnerup in Class 2A Division I the last two seasons before moving back up to 3A this year.

“By far, this is probably the toughest schedule we’ve ever faced,” said Hooks. “The 2000 schedule (the year the Mustangs went 15-1 and were state 4A runnerups) was pretty close. But heck, we still had close to 1,000 kids in school then. Now, we have under 700, playing schools like Nederland and Friendswood. One thing about our kids though, they always like challenges. Hopefully we’ll come out of all of this healthy and with some quality winds under our belt going into district.”

Over at Little Cypress-Mauriceville, the Bears look to improve on their 4-6 mark last season in Coach Randy Crouch’s first year.

LC-M has two road scrimmages set. The Bears will face Brazoswood at Deer Park Stadium Saturday, Aug. 14 with the freshmen starting at 5 p.m. followed by the JV (6 p.m.) and the varsity (7 p.m.). LC-M will then venture to Silsbee Thursday, Aug. 19 with the freshmen starting at 5 p.m. followed by the JV (6 p.m.) and the varsity (7 p.m.). LC-M will be the first Orange County team to start the season as the Bears will take on Goose Creek Memorial Thursday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. at Baytown’s Stallworth Stadium.

The Vidor Pirates, who made the playoffs out of 20-4A last year with a 7-4 finish, scrimmage the Orangefield Bobcats at 9 a.m. August 14 and then face the WO-S Mustangs at 6 p.m. Aug. 19.

The Bridge City Cardinals, who made the playoffs as the third-place squad out of District 21-3A last year with a 7-4 mark, will scrimmage at home against Lumberton Aug. 14 with the freshmen and JV starting at 9 a.m. followed by the varsity at 10 a.m.  Bridge City will then venture to Jasper for a scrimmage Aug. 19 with the time yet to be determined. Bridge City will open its 2010 campaign at home Aug. 27 against Shepherd.

The Orangefield Bobcats, 4-6 a year ago in Coach Brian Huckabay’s first season, scrimmages Vidor at 9 a.m. Aug. 14 and Huffman Aug. 19 with the location and time to be determined.

The Deweyville Pirates will look to improve on their 1-9 season a year ago.

The Pirates will scrimmage at Hamshire-Fannett Aug. 14 at 11 a.m. and will host Buna in a scrimmage Aug. 20. Deweyville will open its season Aug. 27 at home against Sabine Pass.