West Orange-Stark has started its season with two convincing victories. The Mustangs have outscored their first two opponents 100 to 12. Their next three games will be on the road.
The bar will be raised this week for West Orange-Stark as the Mustangs travel to Silsbee to play the always tough Tigers. Mustangs’ Coach Cornel Thompson said Silsbee’s offense will test the “Chain Gang” defense with the Tiger’s outstanding speed. Silsbee bases out of the I Formation. The coach indicated the Tigers are faster than the Mustangs. Thompson expressed his concern for the Tigers, “I am really concerned about their ability to go deep to big play you.”
Three returning starters lead the Tigers when they have the football. Kalon Barnes at wide receiver is a headliner for them with eight touchdowns last season. At a flanker position is Tre’ Lowe who is another talented receiver. Adonis Thomas at tailback has played three years on the varsity and will be joined in the backfield by Aaron Sells and Josh Buse.
West Orange-Stark is averaging 50 points a game, but Thompson indicates the Mustangs will face a stiffer defense this week in the Silsbee Tigers. They use a four-man front and 4-2-5 formation. The Tigers do play some 50 Defense according to Thompson.
Lining up at noseguard is Johnathan Hageon for Silsbee. He is disruptive anchoring the Tigers’ front line. Possibly their best defensive player is defensive tackle Marquell Hale. They also have two very good inside linebackers with Adam Carrell and Spencer Uribe. Both read opposing offenses and run to the ball well. The coach predicts it will be a good football game. “It’s Silsbee’s homecoming and they’ll be ready to go,” Thompson believes.
The Mustangs will put their long winning streak on the line Friday night. Thompson points out this will be the toughest opponent thus far this season for the Mustangs. The two teams match up speed wise very closely.
Coach Thompson provides the keys for West Orange-Stark to put up another win on the board. Offensively he wants the Mustangs to run the football and control the clock to keep the explosive Silsbee offense on the sidelines. He admits the ‘Stangs have done that in the first two games, but they will face a better defense in Silsbee.
Defensively the “Chain Gang” needs to stop giving up big plays. The coach stated they have surrendered at least four big plays in their first two games and that is four too many.
The kicking game has been real erratic and needs improvement after a couple more missed kicks in the game last week. “We’ve got to put those pieces of the puzzle together a little bit better than what we’ve been doing,” Thompson concluded.
The West Orange-Stark Mustangs play at Silsbee Friday night with the kickoff at 7:00pm on KOGT.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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