By Van Wade

The Orange Leader

 

Local high school football teams will look to beat the heat Monday for the first official day of practice.

Over at West Orange-Stark, the Mustangs will be looking to capture yet another district title and a quest for their fifth straight Class 4A Division II State Championship appearance.

The Mustangs have been to four straight title games, including back-to-back state crowns in 2015 and 2016.

The Mustangs went 13-1 a season ago, advancing to the state title tilt.

Coach Cornel Thompson and Co. will be looking for some young guys to rise up in early practices as they look to fill some pretty big shoes.

The Mustangs return three starters on offense and four on defense.

WO-S has made at least the 4A Division II Region III Finals in all seven seasons that Thompson has been the head coach and the Mustangs have won seven straight district titles as well.

The Mustangs will meet at the fieldhouse at 7 a.m. Monday and will be in the baseball stands at 8 a.m. in what Coach Thompson likes to call “The State of the Union Address.” They will then run the traditional Mustang Mile, hit the weight room and the stands at Hooks Stadium.

The Mustangs will have their Picture Day, Saturday Aug. 11.

The Mustangs, as usual, will scrimmage Port Neches-Groves and Vidor again. WO-S will visit PN-G Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. and will host Vidor Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.

Then it gets “real” Aug. 31 when they welcome in the Nederland Bulldogs.

The Mustangs will open defense of their district title streak when they host a potent Silsbee squad Oct. 12 at Hooks Stadium.

 

The Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears have made the postseason four times in the last five years for Coach Randy Crouch and snagged the third-place playoff berth out of their district a season ago as the Bears will be seeking their first playoff victory since 1997, when they advanced to the regional finals against La Marque.

The Bears return nine starters, four on offense and five on defense as they will look to improve on last year’s 4-5 mark.

The Bears will report at 6:30 a.m. Monday and will look to hit the field an hour after that.

LC-M will host Orangefield in a scrimmage Aug. 17 with the varsity starting around 7 p.m. and will travel to Newton Aug. 23 with a varsity start time around 7 p.m.

The Bears will open their campaign Aug. 31 on the road in Woodville and will crank up District 11-4A Division I play Oct. 12 at Bridge City.

 

The Bridge City Cardinals will look to rise up and compete with the Bears as both will be seeking the District 11-4A Division I title.

First-year head coach Allen DeShazo will look to help the Cardinals bounce back after a 1-7 season a year ago after the Cardinals flew to a 9-3 record in 2016 to win a district title.

The Cardinals, who also battled the injury bug a season ago, return nine starters, six on offense and three on defense.

Bridge City players will report Monday at 4 p.m. to get equipment and then they will take the field.

Bridge City will scrimmage Buna at Larry Ward Stadium Aug. 17 and will scrimmage at Hamshire-Fannett on Aug. 23.

The Cardinals will start their season on the road Aug. 31 at Diboll. They will open up District 11-4A Division I play Oct. 12 against LC-M.

The Orangefield Bobcats entered the postseason scene for the fifth time in six years last year in a rugged 4A district. This time out the Bobcats will battle some old rivals as they will look to make hay in Class 3A play.

Coach Josh Smalley and staff have seen a good turnout over the summer as the Bobcats look to gain some momentum with 14 starters returning, six on offense and eight on defense.

The Bobcats will report to practice Monday at 2 p.m.

Team picture and mugshot day will be Saturday, Aug. 11 starting at 8 a.m. followed by a scrimmage practice.

Orangefield has a pair of scrimmages lined up as they will visit LC-M on Aug. 17 and will host Lumberton Aug. 23.

The Bobcats will open up their season at home Aug. 31 against Houston KIPP. They will begin District 12-3A Division I play Sept. 28 with a road trip to Buna.