The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

The West Orange-Stark Mustangs ended the season for the Lorena Leopards in the Region III semifinal round of the Texas high school football playoffs. The Mustangs chalked their ninth shut-out win of the season, 28-0, to advance to take on Navasota in the Region III finals on Friday.

The WOS Mustangs remain undefeated 13-0 after defeating Lorena (10-3) in the semifinal round. The Navasota Rattlers defeated Lamarque 31-20 to also remain undefeated 13-0.

Two big plays in the first half gave the Mustangs a hard earned 14-0 second quarter lead at Waller ISD in Waller, Texas.

Chain Gang defensive back Diante Thompson snatch a Lorena pass and scampered 75 yards for a touchdown 7:09 in the period. It would be the first of two pass interceptions by Thompson against Lorena quarterback Harris Coleman.

A fake punt and pass by J’Marcus Rhodes on fourth and four from the five yard-line would later stun Lorena. Rhode’s pass brought the ‘Stangs out to the 20 yard line. The first down would cumulate in a 80-yard march to the goal line with the Mustangs scoring with just 27 seconds left in the half. On second and 12 from the 21 yard-line quarterback Jimmy Salter passed to Rhodes for a 10 yard gain with 38 seconds on the clock. Salter would score on a keeper from the 11 yard-line.

The first quarter had ended in a stalemate with both teams moving the ball but failing to put points on the board.

The Leopards came into the contest averaging 35 points per game. Most of that on the talent of Coleman, quarterback. He faced the ‘Chain Gang’ defense with eight shutouts this season and considered the best in Texas. Before the night was over Lorena would turn the ball over to the ‘Chain Gang’ four times with three interceptions and a forced fumble by linebacker Joe Lynch.

The ‘Chain Gang’ shutdown four Lorena fourth down attempts. The Leopards were robbed of a fourth and one on the Mustang 47 yard-line half way into the third quarter.

Defensively, Lorena blocked a 37 yard field goal attempt by Rodikson Cano with 1:34 left in the third quarter. In PATs Cano was perfect on the night, 4 for 4.

The fourth quarter opened with Rhodes intercepting a Coleman pass at the 20 yard-line. Mustang running back Abear Simien chipped away at the clock on a drive that ended with a fumble recovery by the Leopards. Three downs with the ball and Lynch would force Coleman to fumble to turn the ball back over setting up the final touchdown drive for WOS.

On a fourth and two from the 20 yard-line with 6:43 left in the game Simien picked up a first down. On the next play Quentin Tezeno would carry the ball over for a Mustang touchdown.

The Mustangs had 317 total yards offensively, 190 yards rushing and 127 yards in the air. Salter was 8 for 14 for 102 yards and a touchdown. The Mustang offense picked up 14 first down against Lorena.

The ‘Chain Gang’ defense held Lorena to 168 total yards.

See the upcoming issue of The Record newspapers for 'Mustang Insider' by sports columnist Meri Elen Jacobs.

2012 Texas High School Playoff Football Scores:

Friday, Nov. 30, 2012

CLASS 5A Division II

Region IV

Regional

SA Northside Brandeis 63, Del Rio 7

CLASS 4A Division I

Region III

Regional

Nederland 22, Pearland Dawson 19, OT

CLASS 4A Division II

Region IV

Regional

Cedar Park 36, Alice 7

SA Northside Brennan 42, Edcouch-Elsa 0

CLASS 3A Division I

Region I

Regional

Stephenville 59, Abilene Wylie 28

CLASS 3A Division II

Region I

Regional

Graham 41, Midland Greenwood 23

Region II

Regional

Gilmer 42, Argyle 21

Region III

Regional

Navasota 31, La Marque 20

West Orange-Stark 28, Lorena 0

CLASS 2A Division I

Region I

Regional

Eastland 23, Bangs 14

Wall 42, Merkel 14

Region II

Regional

Daingerfield 47, Winnsboro 14

New Boston 20, Pottsboro 14

Region III

Regional

Franklin 49, Tatum 30

CLASS 2A Division II

Region II

Regional

Nocona 15, Gunter 13

Region IV

Regional

East Bernard 16, Blanco 0

Refugio 49, Lexington 21

CLASS 1A Division I

Region II

Regional

Goldthwaite 21, Lindsay 14

Italy 33, Honey Grove 20

Region III

Regional

Alto 35, Bosqueville 14

Mart 49, San Augustine 21

Region IV

Regional

Shiner 27, Weimar 6

CLASS 1A Division II

Region I

Regional

Wellington 47, Springlake-Earth 13

Region II

Regional

Albany 31, Muenster 14

Region III

Regional

Frost 38, Mount Enterprise 14

Region IV

Regional

Burton 19, D’Hanis 0

SIX-MAN Division I

State Quarterfinal

Abbott 78, Oakwood 33

Gordon 70, Santa Anna 35

Turkey Valley 46, Petersburg 0

SIX-MAN Division II

State Quarterfinal

Follett 54, Matador Motley County 8

Grandfalls-Royalty 82, Balmorhea 40

Richland Springs 78, Milford 42

Strawn 52, Newcastle 42

TAPPS 11 Man

Division III

State Semi-Finals

Frisco Legacy Christian 21, Colleyville Covenant 16