The West Orange-Stark Mustangs have gone to the state championship game four straight seasons They are picked as one of the top teams in Class 4A, Division 2 again this season.
Head Coach Cornel Thompson evaluated the Mustangs’ preparation leading up to the first game. In the two scrimmages West Orange-Stark faced two Class 5A teams in Port Neches-Groves and Vidor. The first scrimmage was like most first scrimmages in which the Mustangs were still mostly suspects instead of prospects Thompson said.
The coach was very disturbed after the second scrimmage because of the lack toughness exhibited by the Mustangs when Vidor began to get physical. Thompson advised, “Right now I don’t know exactly where we’re at, you know, bottom line.”
The Mustangs play a familiar opponent with Nederland in the first game. Thompson looked at the Bulldogs on offense. They use a Spread offense and will work in some Cobra with two running backs.
The offensive line for Nederland is very good. They are big and effective blockers. The center Caden Crocker greatly impressed Thompson in the scrimmages. Kade Scott should be the leading ball carrier for the Bulldogs. Adam Roccaforte is a stellar wide receiver that can run. “Offensively they’re going to be well coached and it’ll be a 48-minute game,” Thompson summarized.
Nederland is usually very tough on defense and will challenge the Mustangs’ offense according to Coach Thompson. The Bulldogs use a multiple four-man front and some 3-3 alignment. They do have a new defensive coordinator in Coach Theriot, but Thompson does not see much difference from when they were coached on defense by Coach Spell. It’s a bend, but don’t break defense.
The Bulldog secondary is led by two returners Noah Lewis who had eight interceptions last season and Landon Hiltz who matched Lewis with eight picks. Nederland is young in the forcing unit up front defensively. Thompson stated, “Their defense will point out your weaknesses that you have, I know we have some and they will confirm them for me.”
First games often set the trend for a whole season. Thompson analyzed what the West Orange-Stark Mustangs need to do in this first game against Nederland if they are to be a championship caliber team later. On offense he is looking for more consistency and more development from the Mustangs’ new quarterback Tyrone Wilson.
Defensively the Mustangs were not physical enough in the scrimmage with Vidor and that must change. Coach Thompson and his staff are still looking for the best set of players to be starters on the defensive side of the ball. “Right now, we’re still kind of feeling around in a dark room and trying to find the right combination on both sides of the ball,” Thompson concluded.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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