Last week Coach Cornel Thompson challenged his West Orange-Stark Mustangs to put together eight straight quarters of football especially the first half for a game on the road. Coach Thompson gives his evaluation of the Mustangs’ performance at Liberty that most everybody played pretty well and hard in accomplishing his challenge with their four quarters against the Panthers.
This week West Orange-Stark will host the Orangefield Bobcats who like the Mustangs are 1-0 in district. Thompson is impressed with the Bobcats’ Slot-T Offense. Thompson says Orangefield does a great job with its offense. He adds that although Liberty may be the most improved team in the district, the Bobcats’ staff do a great job coaching and the players are over achievers. They have big linemen opening holes for their backs including Matthew Watkins at quarterback who has rushed for 861 yards and eight touchdowns for Orangefield. The coach points out the Bobcats do a great job with their offense keeping the ball from their opponent’s offense. Thompson also observes that Orangefield is coming off a big win over Hardin-Jefferson so the Bobcats will be pumped.
Orangefield is strong on the other side of the ball as well according to Coach Thompson. Austin Moore at middle linebacker comes from good stock Thompson reminds as his dad Jody played at West Orange-Stark. At a defensive tackle is Brandon Bray whose dad likewise played for the Mustangs. Watkins also plays at cornerback and is very good. The coach thinks the key to the Bobcat defense is they all play hard for 48 minutes, and Thompson is hopeful the Mustangs do that this week.
Thompson provides the key to whether the Mustangs or the Bobcats will be 2-0 in district after Friday night. Coach Thompson thinks the Mustangs defense must not let Orangefield control the football and keep the West Orange-Stark offense off the field. The Mustangs must play some good hard-nosed defense against the Bobcats unbalanced sets and force them to punt the ball which they don’t do very often.
The West Orange-Stark Mustangs hope to celebrate homecoming when the Orangefield Bobcats come to Dan R. Hooks Stadium on Friday night.
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