Mustangs to face Caldwell in Regional contest, Bobcats season ends

Orangefield running back Tristen McGee rambles for yardage against the Giddings Buffaloes in area round playoff action Friday. The feisty Bobcats fell to the Buffaloes 45-13. RECORD PHOTO: Darren Hoyland

The Mustangs continue on their quest for another state title, but the season has come to an end for the Bobcats.

The West Orange-Stark Mustangs and Orangefield Bobcats had mixed results in the Area round of the Class 4A Division 2 playoffs this past Friday, as the Mustangs won and the Bobcats fell.

West Orange-Stark traveled to Channelview this past Friday and faced off against the Tigers, where they made quick work of Wharton and cruised to a 47-15 victory.

The Mustangs, led by junior quarterback Jack Dallas, used a balance attack to dismantle Wharton, which was the second place team representing District 12-4A. Dallas completed 16 of 20 passes for 220 yards, while the running game churned out more than 200 yards as well. Dallas also had four touchdown passes on the night, all in the first half, to help pave the way to a 40-2 lead at half-time.

The Mustangs vaunted "Chain Gang" defense continues to flex its collective muscle as the unit limited the Tigers offense to 208 total yards, most of which came in the second-half after the game was out of reach. The defense kept Wharton from reaching the end zone until the fourth quarter.

West Orange-Stark (11-1) advances to the Regional round of the playoffs for the fourth straight season. The team will take on the Caldwell Hornets at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 27, at Texan Drive Stadium at 21360 Valley Ranch Parkway in Porter, Texas.

Caldwell (8-4) is the second place team from District 11-4A and finished behind the Giddings Buffaloes, which defeated Orangefield this past weekend. Caldwell has advanced to the Regional round after defeating Columbus, 28-21, in the Bi-district round and then defeating District 10-4A champion La Marque, 42-39, on a late score.

In the victory, Caldwell maintained a balanced offensive attack as well. The running game was led by Keyshawn Chambers, who gained 232 yards on 17 carries, while quarterback Joseph Crnkovic completed 18 of 26 passes for 278 yards.

On paper, the Hornets match the Mustangs in scoring firepower. Caldwell has outscored opponents 500-398 this season and averages 41.6 points a game, while giving up 33.1 points per game. The Mustangs have outscored opponents 497-121 and average 41.4 points per game, while the "Chain Gang" defense gives up just 10 points per game. The defense also has five shutouts to its credit.

The winner of the game between West Orange-Stark and Caldwell will play against the winner of the game between Giddings and Bellville in the Class 4A Division Quarterfinals the following weekend.

The Orangefield Bobcats, which advanced to the Area round for the second consecutive season, traveled to Pearland to battle the Giddings Buffaloes. The undefeated Buffaloes proved too much to handle for the Bobcats and ended Orangefield's season, 45-13.

Orangefield (6-6) found itself in a hole quickly and was unable to overcome the Buffaloes defense, which kept the Bobcats ground game in check all night as the team managed 213 total yards of offense.

The Bobcats trailed 31-7 at the half and scored its lone first-half touchdown on a four-yard pass from Matthew Kress to Wesley Frillou. Kress added a 10 yard touchdown toss to Zach Dischler late in the fourth quarter for the final score.