Bulldogs win thriller over Mustangs

The West Orange-Stark Mustangs took an early lead but could not hang on as the Bulldogs scored a touchdown as time expired and left West Orange with a 14-13 victory this past Friday at Dan R. Hooks Stadium.

The Mustangs scored on their first possession of the first quarter when quarterback Marcus Turner Jr. found receiver Ja'mikael Davis open on the left side for a 16-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead.

Both teams traded possessions, but it was Nederland threatened a short time later. However a 32-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left and gave WO-S possession once again.

The Mustangs threatened to extend the lead at halftime, but a Turner pass was intercepted near the goal line as WO-S maintained its 7-0 lead at intermission.

West Orange-Stark (1-1) took the opening possession of the second-half and marched downfield for another touchdown as Turner rambled in from 10 yards and a 13-0 lead over Nederland following the blocked extra point.

Nederland (2-0) answered the Mustangs with a touchdown of their own as quarterback Ayden Sunday ran into the end zone on a 3-yard keeper around the left side to narrow the score, 13-7 late in the third quarter.

The Mustangs threatened once again late in the fourth quarter but were forced to punt and and trapped the Bulldogs deep in their own territory at the 3-yard line. However, the Bulldogs found their groove when they needed it most and methodically moved the ball 97-yard down the field.

With three seconds remaining on the clock and the ball on the 1-yard line, Sunday rolled to his right and zipped a pass into heavy traffic but found receiver Jabneel Serrano open for the touchdown as time expired to tie the score, 13-13. Kicker Lance Resch successfully converted the extra point kick to give the Bulldogs a 14-13 victory.

The Mustangs will take a road trip to Madisonville this Friday for a neutral site game against the Waco La Vega Pirates (1-1).