The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

In true fashion, the Mustangs showed up Friday night at Battlin’ Bear Stadium and did exactly what they had planned to do…Add another plaque to the Mustang side of the Orange Bowl trophy with a 29-12 win.

The Mustangs, behind sophomore quarterback Jack Dallas, scored all of their points in the first 24 minutes of the game, with Dallas being a part of all four touchdowns.

“We won and got out of our first game injury-free,” Head Coach Cornel Thompson said. “Our positive that night was Jack. He had very little time to prepare for the game but the football team rallied around him and we came out with a win.”

The Mustangs racked up 363 yards of total offense while holding the Bears to just 195. Grant LaPointe-Teate was the "go to" man for the Mustangs, carrying the ball 118 yards on 19 carries.

“The win was a total team effort,” Thompson said. “We got out there and busted our tails for that win. We made a lot of mistakes but I’ve never been in a first game where we didn’t make mistakes.”

Dallas’s first touchdown of the season capped off the first drive when he connected with Deionte’ Thompson on a short nine yard pass right across the goal line. Thompson finished the night with six catches for 69 yards.

The Bears answered back with a score of their own, but that only seemed to fuel the fire for the Mustangs. Dallas moved the ball down the field using a huge 42 yard pass to receiver Will Johnson to set up on the 26 yard line. Then Thompson had a nice catch over two LCM defenders that put WO-S on the one. Dallas did the honors to add six more points to the score with a quarterback sneak. The two point conversion was good and the Mustangs were on top, 14-6.

WO-S’ defensive back Dee Wolfford got in on the scoring when he tackled LCM’s Jake Sonnier in the end zone for a two point safety. The Mustangs scored twice more during the second period on a Dallas to Johnson six yard pass and then on an 11-yard run up the middle by Dallas.

Next up for the Mustangs are a familiar foe in the Port Neches-Groves Indians, who beat Clear Lake last Friday, 38-13.

“Port Neches-Groves is a tradition rich team that is well coached on both sides of the ball,” Thompson said. “They will play for the full 48 minutes and will definitely bring a crowd. It’ll be packed here Friday night.”

This will be the first home game for the Mustangs. Tickets will go on sale Thursday in the WO-S Athletic office 9-12 and 1-3 and will also be on sale Friday 9-12 only. Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $2 for students. All tickets are $5 at the gate.

Both sub varsity teams won at home last Thursday with the freshman team winning, 19-0 and JV, 30-7. For the freshmen, Jarron Gilbert had a 45 yard run for the first touchdown. DeMorris Thibodeaux had a 3 yard run for six points and Gilbert scored the last touchdown from 14 yards out. Devien Teate kicked an extra point. Outstanding offensive players were Gilbert, Jordan Charles, Thibodeaux, Bobby Rash, Kedrick Mims and Dameon Morris. Defensive standouts were Teate, Mark Thibodeaux, DeMorris Thibodeaux, Paul Ivory, Jerrick Spencer and Tyshon Watkins.

For the JV, David Webb scored on a 2-yard touchdown run. Keion Hancock scored on the 2 pt conversion. Jaylen Matthews had a 37 yard TD reception from KJ Miller and Hancock converted his second 2 pt. conversion. Miller hit Thomas Wallace down the sideline on a 53 yard pass to score the Mustangs third touchdown and Miller scored the last touchdown of the night on a 1 yard run. Malacci Hodge scored the last 2 point conversion. JV offensive standouts were Miller, Wallace, Matthews, Ryan Ragsdale and Chris Griffin. On the defensive side of the ball, standouts were Webb, JaQuaris Garrett, Payton Robertson, Ryan Heisser and Thomas Nobles.

Both sub varsity teams will play at Port Neches-Groves Thursday with the freshmen team starting at 5pm and the JV to follow.