Mustangs shut-out H-F Longhorns

Although it took the Mustangs the first quarter to get up and going, they walked away with their third shut-out of the season with a 44-0 win over the Hamshire-Fannett Longhorns.

“We started out slowly but we picked up speed after the first quarter and played better,” Head Coach Cornel Thompson said. “We were on them in pregame to not be distracted by all of the Pink Out. We just weren’t concentrating on what we were doing.”

But once the Mustangs started picking up steam, they didn’t stop until quarterback Jimmy Salter kneeled the ball with just a few seconds left in the game.

The Longhorns were the first to threaten to score. Late in the first quarter, on fourth down, Hamshire-Fannett attempted a field goal but came away with nothing when the kick sailed wide right. That was the last time that the ‘Horns would come close to scoring, even though they finished with 174 offensive yards.

“We gave up too many yards on the defensive side of the ball,” Thompson said. “We won the game, but we are looking at the future not the now. We have to get better every game.”

Mustang kicker Rodickson Cano came up with the first score of the game, booting a 34-yarder to put WO-S up, 3-0 in the second quarter. The Mustangs broke loose after that scoring two more touchdowns before the half. Salter had an 8-yard quarterback keeper after a bad Longhorn punt snap gave the Mustangs great field position. On their next possession, on fourth down, the Mustangs went for it and Salter was able to connect with receiver Quentin Tezeno for a 36-yard score. Both of Cano’s PATs were good and the Mustangs headed to the locker room, up 17-0.

Although the Longhorns got the ball first, it didn’t take long for receiver J’Marcus Rhodes to hit pay dirt for six, after having a beautiful touchdown pass called back before the half for holding. Tezeno put the game out of reach when he picked off Hamshire-Fannett’s Dante Smith and took it 25 yards for his second touchdown of the game.

“Although we made mistakes and our offensive and defensive line was inconsistent at times, we were still in much better shape than they were,” Thompson said.

Before the third quarter was over, Rhodes took another one to the house, a seven yard pass from Salter that put the score at 38-0. The Mustangs only hit the end zone one time in the fourth quarter when Salter carried the ball 13 yards for the score.

But as Thompson said, the Mustangs have to look to the future and the future is this Friday night in Sour Lake with a match-up against the 3-1 Hardin Jefferson Hawks.

“Hardin Jefferson has a new attitude and has to play the full 48 minutes in all four games they have played,” Thompson said. “Every game has been close so their conditioning should be good.”

The Hawks lost to Anahuac in the first game of the season, 19-22 but have won the last three, beating Splendora in overtime, 27-20, beating Tarkington, 16-14, and finally winning against East Chambers in a close race, 14-13.

Hardin Jefferson is lead by quarterback Jerrod Gieske, who led the team last year but according to Thompson, is much improved and likes to run the ball. Split end Andy Martel, who played as a freshman is a threat at split end while Dylan Mannoy plays at the slot receiver position. Both Martel and Mannoy also play on defense. Coy Draper is handles the running back responsibilities. The defense is a 4-3 unit, led by middle linebacker Mason McCarble and their entire secondary is returning from last year.

The game, which starts at 7 p.m. at Hawk Stadium in Sour Lake, will not have ticket pre-sales at the WO-S athletic office due to the 3A classification. All tickets have to be purchased the night of the game at their gate. Ticket prices are $4 for Adults and $2 for students.

The Mustangs were successful in beating ALL of the HF Longhorns this past week.

The freshmen team probably had the biggest win, beating a Longhorn team who hadn’t lost a game in nineteen games.

They posted a 36-16 win, but were the only team that the Longhorns scored on.

JaDarrius Thompson had a 3-yard run and a 10-yard run for scores.

Quarterback Maliki Hodge had a 40-yard TD pass to Thomas Wallace and a 30-yard pass to Wallace for scores.

He also had 3 PAT scores with passes to Peyton Robertson (two) and Colby Colbert. Jovontae Johson also scored on a five yard run.

Offensive standouts were Wallace, Hodge, Johnson, Robertson, Thompson and Tristan Scott.

Defensive standouts were David Webb, Thompson, Octaviun Rhodes and Eric Cormier.

The JV team won, 34-0.

Dillon Sterling scored on a 17-yard pass from Jermaine Mitchell.

Josh Tims returned a 10-yard interception for a touchdown and Jordan Richard scored the PAT on a run.

Richard scored again on a 35-yard pass from Mitchell and Dee Wolfford scored on a 55-yard interception.

Richard also ran that two-point conversion in.

Sterling scored the last touchdown on a one yard run and Trey Baldwin scored the two point conversion.

Outstanding offensive players were Baldwin-great blocking and running and Rashaan Wilson-great blocking.

Defensive standouts were Tims with 2 interceptions, one for a touchdown, Wolfford with one interception for a touchdown and Troy Brinson with one interception.

The ninth grade team will play Silsbee on Thursday at 5 p.m. with the JV to follow against Hardin Jefferson. Both will play at the WO-S Middle School field.

Please come out and support the teams and also remember, if you are early to the football game, the volleyball team will be playing the Lady Hawks in the gym at Hardin Jefferson High School.