There are great high school defenses, and then there’s West Orange-Stark’s defense in 2016 that was over-the-top freakish.
In an unscathed run to the Class 4A Division II state championship — their second-consecutive title — the Mustangs allowed just 69 points through 16 games. WO-S shutout its first four opponents before thumping Silsbee 51-2. Kennedale scored 21 the next game, but Kennedale was a team that made it to the 4A Div. I state semifinal.
The Mustangs pitched eight shutouts on the season, and the only score against them in their 24-6 state championship win was a 95-yard fumble return by the Sweetwater defense.
The WO-S offense probably could’ve been mediocre and won a state title, but the Mustangs, guided by Lamar-bound Jackson Dallas, scored 811 points — that’s 50.1 points a game for anyone keeping count.
West Orange-Stark has won 27-consecutive games going back to a 2015 non-district loss to 5A’s Richmond Foster. In fact, the Mustangs probably would’ve already won three in a row had they not squandered an 18-point lead in the second half against Gilmer in the 2014 state title game. West Orange-Stark led until the fourth quarter.
Lots of talent leaves the mighty school in the Golden Triangle, but talent grows on trees down there, and head coach Cornel Thompson always has a solid defense. West Orange-Stark should be an early-season favorite to run the table again in 2017.
Key Losses
QB Jackson Dallas, DT Morris Joseph, OLB Mandel Turner-King
Dallas expertly guided the Mustangs to another state title and will take his signal calling abilities to Lamar University. Joseph, a UTSA signee, was the District 12-4A DII MVP last year. He was the leader of that tenacious defense.
King (6-2, 220) was the district’s defensive player of the year.
Key Returners
OL Paul Ivory, RB Kavyn Cooper, WR Blake Robinson
Paul Ivory and JaCorry Brady were named all-district offensive linemen last season. Brady will only be a junior in 2017. It’s nice to have weapons like Cooper and Robinson returning at the skill positions, which alleviates pressure on the new quarterback.
Jarron Morris and DeMorris Thibodeaux are reliable defensive backs returning this year.
Verdict
It’s hard to win a state championship for any sport in Texas, especially football. And wining back-to-back titles like West Orange-Stark did in 2016 is harder than most people think.
Now the task is trying to do what most teams never accomplish — three-peat. Sure, it’s been done, but not very often.
The Mustangs’ journey to three begins Sept. 1 at Class 5A Nederland. The next four games include three playoff teams from 9-4A DI a year ago — Little Cypress-Mauriceville, Bridge City and Silsbee. Oh, that game will be Silsbee’s homecoming.
WO-S plays Kennedale again at a neutral site in Nacogdoches and District 12-4A DII starts Friday, Oct. 13 at Hampshire-Fannett. The Mustangs should sail into the playoffs again, perhaps on a 37-game win streak. And then, anything can happen.
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