WOS Mustangs
Another impressive win for the West Orange-Stark Mustangs last week has Coach Cornel Thompson feeling positive about his team. The Mustangs went into the game against Little Cypress-Mauriceville trying to reduce the penalties on offense, execute the offense better, defensively tackle better, and improve the kicking game with their kick returns. Thompson praised, “We did that, we did it in all three phases of the game this last week.”
The Mustangs faceoff with an undefeated team this week, the Bridge City Cardinals. Thompson is familiar with Bridge City’s Slot-T offense and adds the Cardinals have some good backs that carry the ball for them. The hub of the Bridge City running game is fullback Cayce Draper running the quick trap and off tackle plays. He is the number one Cardinal the Mustangs must stop according to Thompson.
New quarterback Byron Trahan is doing a great job directing the offense. The Cardinals have speed in the backfield with Patrick Morris, Max Baker, and Hunter Denton. “You’re not going to stop that offense, hopefully we can slow it down and get the football back to our offense,” Thompson confesses.
Thompson states the Cardinals’ best defense is their offense. He points out though that Bridge City does have a number of quality players on the other side of the ball. In the secondary the Cardinals have two good cover cornerbacks in Hunter Denton and Zach Honeycutt which could cause trouble for the Mustangs’ passing attack. Thompson believes Seth Green in the defensive line is a good football player and will warrant double teaming by the WO-S blockers.
With two undefeated teams one of them will be a loser after Friday night. Coach Thompson supplies the keys for the Mustangs to keep their winning streak alive. First West Orange-Stark cannot allow Bridge City to go on 14 to 15 play drives and control the game. The Mustangs must put the Cardinals in punting situations even though Bridge City likes to go for it on fourth down. The Mustangs must take advantage of any scoring opportunities when they have the ball. The kicking game needs to continue to improve in all phases Thompson states for the Mustangs to claim a victory.
BC Cardinals
For the second straight game the Bridge City Cardinals tacked up 56 points while grinding out almost 500 yards, and they did it without Cayce Draper their leading ball carrier from Week 1. Draper is over the virus that kept him out last week, and he will be in the lineup as the Cardinals take on the West Orange-Stark Mustangs Friday night.
Coach Dwayne DuBois makes it clear the Mustangs are led on offense by their quarterback. The straw that stirs the drink is Jack Dallas for the West Orange-Stark offense DuBois reminds. The coach has a lot of respect for Dallas. He is the catalyst, but the Mustangs have a number of playmakers with him including Jeremiah Shaw in the backfield and receivers led by K. J. Miller.
The overlooked yet most important group for West Orange-Stark may be its offensive line. DuBois points out they are a bunch of tough kids that do not get the recognition of the quarterback, runners, and receivers, but they come off the ball excellently and are a very talented bunch.
Defenses do not get much tougher than West Orange-Stark’s according to Coach DuBois. The Chain Gang Defense of the Mustangs is legendary and is composed of veterans from last year’s state championship team. DuBois believes they have some great players starting with noseguard Mandel Turner-King who has started since he was freshman, maybe the best noseguard the coach has seen play. Linebackers Cory Skinner and Justin Brown are top flight. “I could go on and on about their defense,” DuBois confesses.
Coming into Friday’s game both the Cardinals and Mustangs are undefeated. DuBois believes controlling the line of scrimmage will be the key to the contest. Bridge City must be able to move the football with its running game and keep the West Orange-Stark offense off the field. Obviously turnovers will also be a key as the team with the fewest turnovers usually is the winner. Coach DuBois admits it is going to be a good hard fought game and a challenge, but they are looking forward to it.
The Bridge City Cardinals battle the West Orange-Stark Mustangs Friday night in Bridge City. The game will be carried live on KOGT with the kickoff at 7:30 and a rebroadcast of the game at 7:00 AM on Saturday.
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