The emblem on the side of their helmets says WOS which could stand for Winners of State because the West Orange-Stark Mustangs are the defending champions in Class 4A, Division II. Coach Cornel Thompson knows the Mustangs will also be wearing a target on their backs this season.
Thompson concedes during the course of the spring and into the early summer the Mustangs were resting on their laurels. In July and August the coach saw the players coming in and working out harder. “We’ve got to take care of our business one week at a time. We’re going to get everybody’s A-game once again and that’s a big deal right now,” predicts Thompson.
West Orange-Stark returns many of the starters from last year’s champions, and Coach Thompson says on offense its starts with the offensive line. Ryan Ragsdale returns at center. Te’ron Brown and Morris Joseph are back at the two tackle positions. Thompson and the coaches will be trying to separate the suspects from the prospects to fill the two guard positions.
Slot receiver K. J. Miller had a great year in 2015 and more of the same is expected from him this season. Thompson confirms, “We’ve got a little bit of talent on the offensive side of the ball.”
That talent includes Jack Dallas who has quarterbacked the Mustangs to the state finals two years in a row. Thompson is glad Jack is back. “Jack makes good decisions and runs the ball club, and the players around him believe in him,” Thompson professes.
Defense has been a hallmark for past West Orange-Stark championship teams. Coach Thompson believes the “Chain Gang D-Fence” will once again be a strong point for the Mustangs this season.
Anchoring the defense is senior noseguard Mandel Turner-King who has started for the Mustangs since he was a freshman. Justin Brown at the “Sam” linebacker position serves as the quarterback on the defensive side of the ball. Also back is Jalen Powdrill at defensive tackle. Thompson admits with the forcing unit of the Mustangs they have a chance to be pretty fair on defense.
West Orange-Stark will scrimmage the Port Neches-Groves Indians and the Vidor Pirates in preparation for the season opener. The Mustangs open against the Nederland Bulldogs at Dan R. Hooks Stadium on August 26 in a game you can hear on KOGT.
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