After fourteen games only four teams remain with a chance at the Class 4A, Division II state championship going into this week’s games. West Orange-Stark is in the final four, but a sluggish first half last week almost detoured the Mustangs on their road to the championship. Coach Cornel Thompson says coaches and players made adjustments at halftime against Bellville to secure the victory. Thompson informs he was afraid before the game the players were cutting up and joking too much to be ready mentally for the contest. The coaching staff made its normal adjustments as always, but the key was the Mustangs’ defense in the first half yielding only three points after three turnovers by the offense. The biggest thing was the players made the adjustments in their own minds then they came out and played very well in the second half.
The opponent for West Orange-Stark in the semi-final game is Cuero. The Gobblers struggled earlier, but have been on a roll since late in district play according to Thompson. Cuero had as many as eight starters out because of injuries through the eighth game of the season when it was 3-5. Thompson was told by the Gobblers’ coach Travis Reeve that about the ninth game injured players started returning and Cuero has now won six straight. Two other coaches told Thompson the most physical game they have played this season was against Cuero. Coach Thompson believes Saturday’s is going to be a great match up between two physical and athletic teams.
The Gobblers use the I-Formation on offense. Coach Thompson pinpoints the biggest threats from Cuero. Thompson states the Gobbler offense starts with their quarterback Elex Martinez who is a fast dangerous runner capable of breaking big plays. Running back Zech Hopkins is a good blocker and is also a strong ball carrier. The coach indicates those are the two Gobblers the Mustangs are really going to have to deal with.
Many of Cuero’s best players are on the defensive side of the ball. Thompson analyzes the Gobblers’ 4-3 Defense. Thompson says Hopkins is the bell cow of the defense at middle linebacker. Cuero uses at least six two-way players including tight end Caeveon Patton who is a quality player at defensive end. Martinez is joined by a running back and a couple receivers that makeup the Cuero defensive secondary. Coach Thompson reiterates that Cuero is very physical and athletic defensively, and he believes the Gobblers are where they are in the state playoffs because of their defense.
The winner between the Mustangs and the Gobblers goes to the state championship game. Coach Thompson tells what West Orange-Stark must do to go back to the title game for a second year in a row. Thompson once again emphasizes the Mustangs winning two out of the three offensive, defensive, and kicking phases of the game. He is still not pleased with the West Orange-Stark kicking game although he conceded the Mustangs did make three point-after kicks in the game with Bellville and they did run back a punt for a touchdown. Coach Thompson concludes he is looking for a good hard fought contest Saturday afternoon at Tully Stadium.
The semi-final game between the West Orange-Stark Mustangs and the Cuero Gobblers is Saturday with the kickoff at 2:00 PM in Tully Stadium west of Houston. The game will be carried live on KOGT.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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