Mustangs down Cats, ready to take on the Cougars

The two-headed quarterback monster of Dillon Sterling-Cole and Chase Rutledge showed up at the Orangefield game, and helped lead the WO-S Mustangs to a 38-14 victory. Although the score might be deceiving WO-S had to battle the stubborn Bobcats all night long.

“Early on, we played like a football team who had had an open week,” Head Coach Cornel Thompson said. “It took us a little while to get up to the speed of the game and we were also victimized by some calls-some that were legitimate and some that were unwarranted but I thought we played good and really played hard in the second half.”

The Mustangs seemed to be off to a great start, moving the ball down the field but the first series was hampered by penalties and then, on fourth and two, the Bobcats stopped Rutledge short of the first down. When the Mustangs got the ball back, Orangefield’s defense held in the red zone and WO-S turned to kicker Rodikson Cano to put the first points on the board with a 26-yard field goal.

Midway through the second quarter Sterling-Cole went to the passing game, hitting Will Johnson for two passes for 28 yards setting up a Deionte Thompson pass touchdown from 38-yards out. A Cano PAT put the Mustangs up, 10-0.

The Bobcats were able to get on the board right before the half, when they downed Chris James in the endzone for a safety.

After the half, the Mustangs came out firing on all cylinders, scoring on all possessions and holding the Bobcats to just twelve points and the district’s leading rusher, Carmichael Wiley, to less than 100 yards.

“We really did a good job with the Wylie kid,” Thompson said. “We had one series late in the third quarter where we let down a little and gave up that trick play but we got out with the victory and that’s what we needed to do.”

On the Mustangs’ first scoring drive after the half, Sterling-Cole hooked up with Rutledge in the end zone from 18 yards out to put the Mustangs up, 17-2, after Cano’s PAT was good. WO-S wasted no time getting on the board again when Sterling-Cole hit the end zone from just six yards out.

Rutledge came in during the fourth to navigate the Mustangs and was able to use a nice 45 yard pass to Tre Spencer to move the ball down the field before Rutledge did the honors, scoring on an 11 yard run up the middle.

The last touchdown came after Rutledge moved the ball down the field, eating up the clock before hitting receiver Will Johnson in the end zone on nine yard pass. Cano was perfect on the night, making his field goal and all extra points.

The Mustangs took the night to celebrate before putting the focus on this weeks’ opponent, the Buna Cougars.

“At the beginning of the season, I picked Buna as the big sleeper,” Thompson said. “They run the Slot T like Orangefield and Hardin Jefferson, but there’s not a lot of misdirection. Those big strong boys use a power game and they will be ready to play.”

Buna enters the game, 5-3, 2-2 in district. The Cougars beat Hardin Jefferson last Friday, 14-0 and also beat Bridge City, 36-7 in district play. Losses in district were to Silsbee, 21-49 and Hamshire-Fannett, 36-42. Running back Matthew Biddle, who was the district’s leading rusher last season is definitely the one to contain. And although the Cougars run the Slot T offense, they throw the ball more than the other two Slot T teams we have faced.

“Buna is still in the race for a play-off spot and you can believe that they will show up ready to play,” Thompson said. “I told the kids that after our open date we had to have four good games and improve weekly. We will have to execute offensively, defensively and with our kicking game.”

This week’s game will be the Mustangs’ Pink Out game and everyone is encouraged to wear pink for Breast Cancer Awareness. The future Fillies and future Mustang cheerleaders will perform during the game that will be at home with a 7 pm start time. Tickets will be on sale Wednesday 1-3, Thursday 9-12 and 1-3 and Friday 9-12. Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $2 for students with all tickets $5 at the gate.

The 9/JV combined team beat Orangefield, 64-0 on Thursday. Malick Phillips started off the scoring on an 18 yard TD run around the end and also ran in the two point conversion. The next two points came off of a bad snap from the OF punt team. Jermaine Mitchell scored on a 1 yard QB sneak and then Jack Dallas scored on a 5 yard run around the end. The two point conversion was caught and run in by Payton Robertson. K.J. Miller scored on a 10 yard catch and run thrown by Dallas and Dallas scored the two point conversion. Malick Phillips hit the end zone again on a 3 yard TD run around the end

and Jeremiah Shaw scored the two point conversion. Phillips then scored on a 5 yard run up the middle and Shaw did the two point honors before scoring six of his own on a 30 yard run. JD Thompson put the icing on the cake with a 30 yard run on a fumble recovery. Justin Brown ran in the two point conversion. Other Offensive Standouts were OL - Josh King, OL - Ahmaud Baldwin, OL - La’darian Carter and WR - Dominic Tezeno while defensive standouts were LB - J.D. Thompson, DB - Chris Brown, DE - Jeron Preston and DL - Demaric Judge.

The 9JV combined team will play one game in Buna Thursday, starting at 5 pm.

Remember to wear pink to Friday night’s game and come ready to cheer on the Mustangs while watching the future Fillies ad cheerleaders entertain the crowd.