By Caleb Adams

Leader Correspondent

 

SILSBEE — The West Orange-Stark Mustangs beat the Silsbee Tigers 34-17 in a close fought game in Silsbee Friday night as the two-time defending Class 4A Division II state champion Mustangs ran their state-best winning streak to a whopping 30 games in front of Silsbee’s Homecoming crowd.

The Mustangs (3-0) took care of business on the defensive and offensive sides of the ball against the talented Tigers (1-2)

Mustang tailback Kaavyn Cooper would rush for 208 yards on 15 rushes on the night. He was a big reason the Mustangs were able to eat the clock and secure their victory.

The Mustangs racked up 441 yards of total offense. Quarterback Chaka Watson rushed for 95 yards and a couple scores.

The Mustangs forced a fumble as Silsbee had a promising drive to begin the game, setting up WO-S for the first points of the game. Cooper broke open on the first offensive play for the Mustangs for 62 yards and a touchdown. The Mustangs missed the point-after kick, but were up early 6-0.

Silsbee responded quick with a Kalon Barnes, state 4A champion in both the 200 and 100 meters last May, returned the ensuing kickoff for 88 yards and a touchdown. Silsbee made the PAT and went up 7-6 in the first quarter. Barnes also finished with five catches for 75 yards as Silsbee quarterback Jacob Collins ended up throwing for 172 yards. Silsbee finished with 258 total yards.

The Mustangs took the lead back with a Chaka Watson touchdown pass to Jarron Morris that went for 20 yards. The WO-S running game opened up the long passing game and the Mustangs took advantage. Watson would punch in the two-point conversion making it 14-7 Mustangs in the first quarter.

The Tigers converted on an interception from Jadon Bass, off the back of that pick the kicker Eric Martin put up a long 46-yard field goal to trim the margin to 14-10.

The Mustangs would try to return the following kickoff but would fall four yards short with a last chance tackle. The air-tight went into half with the Mustangs maintaining a four-point edge.

The Tigers found themselves starting their drive on the opposing 23-yard line needing a score to take the lead. The Tigers bell cow running back Adonis Thomas took over and eventually found the end zone from seven yards out. The Tigers booted the extra-point to snag a 17-14, making it the first time that the Mustangs have trailed all season. Thomas finished with 65 yards on 15 carries.

After Silsbee tried for an onside kick, the Mustangs settled in and took the drive to the house on the back of Cooper, who the Tigers simply could not contain.

Watson would take it in with a QB sneak from the one-yard line. The point-after kick failed but the Mustangs regained the lead at 20-17 and never lost it again.

Watson would show off his elusiveness with a long 26-yard scramble out of the pocket for a score as the Mustangs would take a 27-17 lead at the start of the fourth quarter.

The Mustangs would put together a long 12-play drive to eat the clock and pile on more points. Watson would run another touchdown in on the ground, this time from seven yards out, after the PAT was made the score was 34-17 as the Mustangs continued their recent domination of the Tigers.

The Mustangs will now head to Nacogdoches High School to face Kennedale in quite a showdown in one of the state’s top matchups next week. The Mustangs defeated Kennedale last season and Kennedale ended up advancing to the 4A Division I state semifinals.

WO-S 34,

Silsbee 17

 

WOS               14                    0                      13                    14                    34

SLB                 7                      3                      7                      0                      17

 

 

 

WOS               SLB

First downs        23                              13

Rushes-yards    40-396                 31-86

Passing                  45                           172

Comp-Att-Int     3-6-1                       11-15-0

Fumbles-Lost       1-1       1-1

Penalties-yards   8-67              5-50

 

Individual Statistics

Rushing: WOS Kayven Cooper 15-208, Chaka Watson 14-95, Justin Sibley 9-46, Jarron Morris 2-12; Silsbee Adonis Thomas 15-65, Tre’darius Lowe 3- -4, Jacob Collins 11-27

 

Passing: WOS Chaka Watson 3-6-1 45; Silsbee Jacob Collins 11-15-0 172

 

Receiving: WOS Kaleb Ramsey 2-16, Jarron Morris 1-20, Mark Thibodeaux 1-9; Silsbee Tre’darius Lowe 3-75, Adonis White 2-23, Kalon Barnes 5-75

 

 

 

1^st                    2^nd                   3^rd                    4^th                    Final

WOS               14                    0                      13                    14                    34

SLB                 7                      3                      7                      0                      17