CROSBY – After getting off to a great start, jumping out to a 17-7 lead over Class 5A power Crosby, the West Orange-Stark Mustangs saw the Cougars score 28 unanswered points as the Cougars held on for a 35-24 non-district victory at Cougar Stadium Friday night.

The Mustangs (1-3) played as good of football as they had all year in the first half as they grabbed a quick 10-0 lead in the first quarter and led 17-7 at intermission against a loaded Crosby (3-0) team that defeated last year’s Class 5A Division I state runnerup Manvel 49-47 in a thriller two weeks ago.

Mustang kicker Angel Ibarra put the Mustangs on the board first with a 33-yard field goal with about five minutes left in the first quarter. It was Ibarra’s third field goal of the season.
just a little more than two minutes later Mustang quarterback Jerren Terrell teamed up with receiver Brettlin Wiley on a 47-yard touchdown strike and all of a sudden the Mustangs were up on Crosby 10-0 on the Cougars’ home turf. It was Wiley’s third big touchdown reception for the season.

The Cougars got on the scoreboard with a little less than eight minutes to go when Zack Simon scored into the end zone from four yards out to trim it to 10-7.

The Mustangs would snag back the momentum again with two minutes left in the half when back Justin Sibley capped off a nice drive with a two-yard touchdown run.

Halfway through the third quarter, Cougar back Noel Wright trimmed it to 17-14 with a seven-yard score.

Crosby went ahead to stay when Chris Cole scored from a yard out halfway through the third quarter.

Isaiah Hart pushed the Crosby lead to 28-17 with nine minutes remaining when he broke loose for a 34-yard touchdown scamper.

Cougar dynamic quarterback Jaiden Howard upped the margin to 35-17 when he kept it for a 30-yard touchdown gallop.

The Mustangs put together a solid drive late with a couple big pass plays and quarterback Tyrone Wilson scored from a yard out with about three minutes remaining.

The Mustangs will welcome in the Bridge City Cardinals for their fifth non-district game next week and will wrap up their non-district slate on the road in Jasper Oct. 5. The Cardinals fell to the Silsbee Tigers 48-14 Friday. Crosby, meanwhile, will start District 12-5A Division II play on the road at Vidor next week. Vidor toppled LC-M 44-7 Friday.