A Mustang run to remember: 40-game jaunt was awesome
Published 9:09 am Tuesday, December 26, 2017
- Leader Photo by Mark Pachuca WO-S' Paul Ivory (55) and Mark Thibodeaux (30) hoists the state runnerup trophy in Arlington Friday after a tremendous season.
What a run it was.
For the West Orange-Stark Mustangs and their faithful fans, last Friday’s Class 4A Division II 41-21 State Championship loss to the Pleasant Grove Hawks was bittersweet.
But looking back on it, things are looking good in the neighborhood.
This year’s Mustang unit surprised many. After all, WO-S basically had to replace 18 starters off a 16-0 2016 state championship unit that arguably is one of the best Class 4A units to ever suit up in Texas football history.
What this year’s 13-1 unit accomplished was simply amazing.
First, they had to deal with Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath. Many of us across Orange County is still doing that today.
Then they dealt with a whole lot of doubters. Their mettle was tested on several occasions. The first one, a big overtime win over a Kennedale team that also ended up being a state runnerup to eventual 4A Division I champion Carthage.
Unlike the previous two years in which the Mustangs wore out every playoff opponent, this year’s version always bowed up, strapped it on and willed their way to victories over some tough customers like Madisonville, Salado and Wimberley.
Though this year’s senior group was not high number-wise, what a run they saw.
Their entire four-year stint playing high school football saw the varsity reach the State Championship Game every single year.
With that, the numbers certainly do not lie.
They entered last week’s state title tilt with the longest winning streak in the state. 40.
The numbers are astounding when you look at it.
They outscored opponents 1,781-259 with the average score being 44.5-6.5. In the playoffs, not much changed as WO-S outpointed the opposition 717-151 with the average tune being 42.2-8.9.
What they did to their District 12-4A Division II counterparts was rough as well. In 12 district games they outscored Hamshire-Fannett, Hardin-Jefferson, Liberty and Orangefield 560-30.
There are plenty of more numbers to chew on as well.
The state championship game marked the Mustangs 94th playoff game in school history and they own a 69-25 mark for a .734 winning percentage.
The other four Orange County schools have a combined postseason mark of 28-44 for a .388 mark.
In head coach Cornel Thompson’s seven years at the helm, the Mustangs have went 92-11 (883), won two state titles, were runnerups twice and made the Region III Finals every single year.
At WO-S, there is always something to play for and 2018 will be no exception.
The Mustang program is just seven games away from reaching another milestone.
Texas football historians rank the all-time winning programs in the state’s history, and for many, to make it official, a school has to have at least played 500 games to be on the list.
Well, WO-S has played 493. The school’s overall record is 397-93-3 for a .808 winning percentage. So by Game Seven of next year, something tells me there will be another celebration as West Orange-Stark will have the best winning percentage in the history of Texas high school football.
Perhaps the most impressive stat of all, is that in 41 years of playing the sports, WO-S has averaged 9.7 wins per season and eight state title appearances and just one losing season. Plus, the program has more shutouts than it has losses.
Let’s keep it rolling Mustangs and Mustang faithful.
What a ride it has been!
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- WO-S 48, Newton 6
- WO-S 49, Liberty 0
- WO-S 37, Orangefield 3
- WO-S 35, Hamshire-Fannett 0
- WO-S 48, Hardin-Jefferson 0
- WO-S 63, Scarborough 0
- WO-S 47, Wharton 15
- WO-S 69, Caldwell 13
- WO-S 42, Bellville 3
- WO-S 41, Cuero 28
- WO-S 22, Celina 3
- WO-S 42, Nederland 0
- WO-S 45, LC-M 0
- WO-S 55, Bridge City 0
- WO-S 61, KIPP Northeast 0
- WO-S 51, Silsbee 2
- WO-S 45, Kennedale 21
- WO-S 68, Hamshire-Fannett 0
- WO-S 62, Hardin-Jefferson 0
- WO-S 32, Liberty 7
- WO-S 60, Orangefield 0
- WO-S 73, Tarkington 0
- WO-S 47, Robinson 14
- WO-S 49, Bellville 7
- WO-S 48, Giddings 5
- WO-S 49, Navarro 7
- WO-S 24, Sweetwater 6
- WO-S 39, Bridge City 6
- WO-S 61, KIPP Northeast 6
- WO-S 34, Silsbee 17
- WO-S 23, Kennedale 20
- WO-S 57, Hamshire-Fannett 7
- WO-S 26, Hardin-Jefferson 13
- WO-S 32, Liberty 0
- WO-S 54, Orangefield 0
- WO-S 54, Brookshire-Royal 0
- WO-S 17, Mexia 3
- WO-S 28, Madisonville 26
- WO-S 14, Salado 0
- WO-S 30, Wimberley 21
Totals :Points for 1,781
Totals: Points against 259
Average score WO-S 44.5, Opponents 6.5
Shutouts: 16
Playoffs: Points for 717
Playoffs: Points against 151
Average Score: WO-S 42.2, Opponents 8.9
