There is always room for improvement especially if you are the defending state champions and you want to make a return trip to the state title game. The West Orange-Stark Mustangs spanked the Nederland Bulldogs in their opening game of the 2016 season.
Coach Cornel Thompson is pleased with the result especially the improvement in the West Orange-Stark kicking game, but sees areas that need his and the coaches’ attention. Offensively the Mustangs need to cut down on the large number of penalties in the opener. Tackling was not as crisp as is expected of the Mustangs, and Thompson advises, “If our tackling is not better this week and we don’t cut down on our penalties this week and improve as a football team I’ll be really concerned.”
The Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears play the Mustangs this week. Thompson says the Bears have an old school offense and our well coached in it. LC-M uses the Slot-T or Wing-T, and Coach Randy Crouch will have them ready to run it against the Mustangs. Thompson identifies Chris Winters, J’Lon Douglas at running backs, and Kayne Williams at H-back as the Bears that carry the ball most effectively.
On defense LC-M uses the 4-3. Coach Thompson believes the middle linebacker is the key to the Bears’ defense. Thompson has starred J’Lon Douglas as LC-M’s number one defensive player who the Mustangs must block if they expect to run the ball between the tackles.
The contest is the Orange Bowl and represents bragging rights for the winner during the next 12 months. Thompson knows it will be a battle with the Bears because every year LC-M brings its A-Game to the contest. “Those kids will play their best football game, and teams improve the most between the first week and the second week than any other week during the course of the year. So, there’s no doubt in my mind we’ve got to be on top of our A-Game too because the Bears are going to come a running in their yard,” Thompson predicts.
The West Orange-Stark Mustangs play the LC-M Bears Friday night at 7:00. The game will be carried live on KOGT. A rebroadcast of the Orange Bowl will be aired on KOGT Saturday morning at 7:00.
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