Published: November 12, 2007 05:41 pm      

Grid playoffs start Thursday

Now that the difference between the contenders and pretenders have been decided, the 2007 high school playoffs begin in full force as early as Thursday in the bidistrict playoffs.

In Orange County, the West Orange-Stark Mustangs will be the only playoff represenative after another tremendous season.

Coach Dan Hooks’ Mustangs (9-1, 7-0) steamrolled through District 21-3A yet again, outscoring their seven 21-3A counterparts 236-54 in district play. WO-S has yet toi drop a district contest since moving down to the 3A ranks in 2004, winning 24 straight games.

The seventh-ranked Mustangs have outgained the opposition 368.1 to 185.0 yards a game this season and have rolled up more than 500 yards in each of their last two games.

WO-S will open up the Class 3A Division II Region III playoffs Saturday when they tangle with Coldspring-Oakhurst (5-5), the third-place team out of 22-3A, at 2 p.m. at Dayton’s Bronco Stadium. Coldspring has dropped its last two games, losing to both second-place Celeveland and first-place Splendora.

The winner of the WO-S-Coldspring game will face either top-ranked Giddings or Sealy in the second round. The Mustangs have played Giddings the last two seasons in the playoffs, winning in 2005 on their way to the state semifinals while falling last season.

In other 3A playoff action 21-3A runnerup Kirbyville (9-1) will take on Cleveland (4-6) Saturday at 7 p.m. at Stephen F. Austin University’s Homer Bryce Stadium with that winner facing either Caldwell or Columbus while Jasper (6-4), the 21-3A third-place squad, faces 22-3A champion Splendora (7-3) Saturday at 1 p.m. at Humb;e’s Turner Stadium with the winner taking on either Navasota or Needville.

In Class 4A, the district 22-4A tri-champions of Dayton, Port Neches-Groves and Lumberton have their dates set.

Dayton will face Crosby at Crosby High School Friday at 7 p.m. with the winner getting either Bay City or Texas City. PN-G won a home-and-home coin flip against Galena Park as the Indians will host Galena Park at The Reservation Friday at 7:30 p.m. with that winner drawing either Dickinson or Lamar Consolidated. Lumberton, making its first-ever trip to the football postseason, will face Houston Smiley at Barbers Hill High School Friday at 7:30 p.m. with the winner getting either LaMarque or El Campo.

In Class 5A, Beaumont West Brook will tangle with South Houston Saturday at 1 p.m. at Baytown’s Stallworth Stadium with the winner facing either Fort Bend Clements or Clear Creek.

In Class 2A, there should be quite a battle Thursday at 7 p.m. at Lufkin’s Abe Martin Stadium when Buna tangles with Newton. That winner will face either Teague or McGregor in the next round. Hardin will visit Hemphill Friday at 7:30 p.m. with that winner facing either Crawford or Centerville while East Chambers will battle Corrigan-Camden Friday at 7:30 p.m. with that winner facing either Mart or Hamilton.

In Class 1A Hull-Daisetta will meet Groveton Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Sam Houston State University’s Bowers Stadium with that winner facing Alto. West Hardin will take on West Sabine Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Kirbyville High School with the winner drawing Grapeland and Evadale will face Lovelady at New Caney High School Friday at 7:30 p.m. with that winner moving on to meet Cayuga.

In TAPPS action, the undefeated Beaumont Kelly Bulldogs will welcome Fort Worth Nolan for a 1 p.m. Saturday start at Bulldog Stadium.