Published: September 05, 2008 10:17 pm      

Bears excited to face 'Stangs challenge

LITTLE CYPRESS — Now that there will be football at Dan R. Hooks Stadium at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Todd Moody and the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Battlin’ Bears are doing all they can to be prepared.

The Bears (0-0) will tangle with the Mustangs (1-0) for the 25th time tonight in the Orange Bowl. The Mustangs lead the series 22-2.

LC-M comes into the came as fresh as any team can be in Southeast Texas having its bye week in Week 0.

While the Bears had the week off, the Mustangs were busy trouncing the Nederland Bulldogs 33-13.

LC-M Coach Moody knows the Mustangs are a tough team for anybody to face.

The Bears may be the underdogs, but the Bears are excited to take the trip to Dan R. Hooks Stadium.

“We are real excited,” Moody said. “We are happy to be back to normal life after the storm and the kids have been real focused over the last two days.”

Players usually always get excited when the first game of the season rolls around, especially when the first game is a rivalry game.

“That usually always happens when you go out and meet your first opponent, especially a rival,” Moody said.

The Mustangs had an almost easy night over in Nederland, well as easy as they come.

Senior running back Quintavious Garrett rolled up 317 yards and four touchdowns against the Bulldogs, a school-rushing record.

Throw in the fact senior quarterback Ortavious Hypolite can hook up with his group of speedy receivers at any time and the Mustangs can be dangerous.

“There is a reason they are in the Top 10 in the state every year,” Moody said. “They are a very well coached team. We are going to have play very smart on defense and tackle the best of our abilities. Then on offense we are going to have to hold on to the football and try to sustain some drives.”

The Bears will have a lot of new faces tonight as sophomore Hunter Gonzales steps in at quarterback in his first varsity game.

Sophomore Tevvin Jones will also see his first varsity action at running back as well.

In all the Bears have eight sophomores, one freshman and 12 juniors on the roster. There are 14 spots for seniors to round out the list.

The odds may be stacked against the Bears but Moody knows anything can happen on a football field.

Just look at last year’s 6-0 WO-S win in which the Mustangs scored the winning touchdown with 54 seconds remaining in the game.

“Anytime there is a rivarly, even the kids knows anything can happen to either team,” Moody said. “I am very excited about seeing these kids on the field and I’m excited to see how this group of Bears responds when matched up against a team like West Orange.”



WADE’S PICK: WO-S 35, LC-M 14

PRUETT’S PICK: WO-S 45, LC-M 17

MANN’S PICK: WO-S 48, LC-M 12