(Jay’len Mathews catches touchdown pass against Cuero)
The West Orange-Stark Mustangs are in the state championship game for the second year in a row after beating the Cuero Gobblers last week. Coach Cornel Thompson says the Mustangs are pretty healthy heading into the big game Friday, and his young Mustangs that started workouts in the summer have matured during the long season. Thompson advises they have the normal bumps and bruises that come from 15 football games, but the team is in good shape. As far as maturity, he comments that most of those young Mustangs that began the season 16 weeks ago have graduated and have played half a season now in the playoffs as they head to the state championship game.
The Celina Bobcats are the opponent for West Orange-Stark on Friday. The Bobcats are undefeated on the season. Coach Thompson analyzes the Celina offense. Thompson informs that the Bobcats have switched the last few seasons to the Spread after being a Slot-T or a Wing-T team for much of their storied years of championships, but they will still use buck sweeps and some of the other plays from that old offense. Thompson said Celina’s QB is Conner Pingleton who has thrown for 45 touchdowns and over 3500 yards. Two of his primary receivers are Trace Young and Braydon Watson. Thompson believes the Bobcats are a pretty good offensive football team.
Defense wins championships is the saying, and Thompson echoes that sentiment as he compares the defenses of the Bobcats and West Orange-Stark. Thompson states Celina runs the same defense as the Newton Eagles with one linebacker and man-to-man coverage in the secondary. Shane Gerths is the Bobcats’ middle linebacker and is a big strong lad. The Bobcats are where they are because they are strong on defense and that goes the same for the Mustangs according to Thompson.
Speaking of defense, Thompson provides the key for the Mustangs’ Chain Gang to controlling Celina’s offense. Thompson feels the Mustangs’ defense must contain the Bobcats’ Pingleton who is a threat to pass and run the ball much like the Sinton quarterback that West Orange-Stark faced in the semi-final game last season. Thompson says the Mustangs cannot afford to get burned by long pass plays or by big runs from the quarterback.
On offense the Mustangs’ coach wants to run the football. Thompson hopes West Orange-Stark can do a better job moving the ball on the ground than it did last week against Cuero. Celina like the Gobblers has a big defensive line, so Thompson knows it will be a challenge for his Mustangs’ offensive line to open some holes for West Orange-Stark to establish a running game.
The championship game will be the sixth for West Orange-Stark. Celina has won eight state titles in football. Coach Thompson predicts it will be a battle Friday when these two great programs play in Houston. Thompson says both schools have reasons for the stellar programs, as well as getting to the big game again this year. Both are very good teams. The coach philosophies that whichever team is the better one for 48 minutes will be the winner on Friday, concluding it ought to be a great football game.
Friday afternoon the West Orange-Stark Mustangs play the Celina Bobcats at NRG Stadium in Houston with the kickoff at 4:00 for the Class 4A, Division II state championship. The game will be carried live Friday afternoon on KOGT. The broadcast will be replayed at 7:00 Saturday morning.
Celina Schedule Liberty Christ. 35-20 Adams 59-28 Argyle 46-36 B. Lynch 51-14 Melissa 53-13 Anna 52-0 Bridgeport 40-0 Bonham 62-7 Aubrey 63-19 Krum 69-14 Venus 63-0 Monahans 49-21 Perryton 46-0 Krum 42-13 Gilmer 49-44 |
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