The first round of the state playoffs was another blowout win as it has been the last six years for West Orange-Stark. The Mustangs defeated the Huntington Red Devils 56-7 using a running clock from the second quarter to the conclusion of the game.
Coach Cornel Thompson did consider it fortunate to get the opportunity to see a large number of Mustangs on the field during the game. The coach does not apologize for the one-sided nature of the score in the game, he puts that responsibility on the University Interscholastic League who allow four teams from each district to make the playoffs. “They’re responsible for that,” he said. “It’s a money maker for them.”
Despite Huntington have eight and nine starters back on either side of the ball, the Red Devils were never in the contest. Thompson reminded, “We took control of the contest pretty handily early.”
West Orange-Stark will have a tougher opponent this week against La Grange. Thompson reviewed the Leopards on offense. They do a little bit of everything when they have the football. La Grange will line up with no backs, one back, or two backs. The Leopards will use motion to shift into different formations.
A key for the Mustangs against La Grange will be lining up correctly with the formation the Leopards are showing. Thompson restated the Leopards will not show his players anything they have not already seen. If the Mustangs do not lineup correctly it could be a long night for West Orange-Stark.
The Leopards won their bi-district game somewhat short-handed. Several players were kept out of the lineup on suspension. Quarterback Matthew Johnson is the normal starter, but did not play last week. Johnson can throw the football and run with it as he did last year for over five hundred yards while scoring seven touchdowns.
Wide receiver Dayton Jarvis and left guard Philip Matocha were also suspended for the game with La Marque last week. “They’ll be back full force this week,” Thompson informed.
La Grange won a defensive battle in its first round game. Coach Thompson analyzed the defense played by the Leopards. They line up in a 50 Defense just like West Orange-Stark. The Leopards have a number of players that are two-way and were missing two starters on defense last week because of the same suspensions.
The “Bell Cow” as Thompson likes to call the defensive star of a team is linebacker Coltin Whitaker for La Grange. He led the Leopards in their 12-7 win last week. Thompson emphasized, “We’ve got to do something about him because he’s going to be all over the field, he’s their best football player on the defensive side of the ball.”
The secondary is another strength for the Leopards. Jacob Brandt, Brock Gardiner, Dayton Jarvis, and Marcus Darden form a no-fly zone for opposing passing attacks. Freshman Bravion Rogers may see time at a corner back position too.
Coming out of the chute early and ready to play is an imperative for the Mustangs according to Coach Thompson. West Orange-Stark could lose a game with a slow start just like it could with poor play late in a contest.
The impressive win by the Mustangs in the first playoff game did have its moments of sloppy play early. The Red Devils completed two long pass plays that could have been pivotal in a closer game. Thompson called the plays senseless because the Mustangs’ defensive backs were not doing what they are instructed to do in the game.
Thompson believes those kind of plays must be eliminated this week and later in any upcoming playoff games. “I’m very disturbed about that because we’re like a dog chasing cars, we’re fixing to catch one and the season’s going to be over if we don’t get a little more consistent play out of some of our secondary people, so that’s bottom line with us,” Thompson concluded.
The West Orange-Stark Mustangs play the La Grange Leopards on Friday night at Moorhead Stadium in Conroe. The game will be broadcast live beginning at 7:30 PM on KOGT.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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