WEST ORANGE — After a nice bye week after celebrating the program’s 400^th victory with a 24-21 win over Silsbee and picking up the state’s all-time best winning percentage along the way, the West Orange-Stark Mustangs will turn their attention to capturing yet another district title as they will hit the road to Sour Lake to face the Hardin-Jefferson Hawks in District 11-4A Division II action Friday night.

The Mustangs (3-4, 1-0) should certainly be fresh and healed up for the Hawks (2-6, 0-2), who have dropped their first two 11-4A games, including a 42-21 loss to Silsbee last week.

After such a rugged non-district schedule, the Mustangs certainly got their district season kicked off in fine fashion as they battled back against a tough Silsbee team, rallying from a 21-13 deficit in the fourth quarter and walked away with the win on a 28-yard field goal by kicker Angel Ibarra to seal it.

Head coach Dwayne DuBois returned to Hardin-Jefferson this year and looks to rebuild the Hawks. DuBois was 19-7 from 2013-14 at H-J, taking the Hawks to the third round of the playoffs before going to Bridge City three years in leading the Cardinals to a 17-14 record and one district title.

The Hawks made the playoffs last season despite going 2-6 and returned six starters on each side of the ball as they will be running the Slot-T offense that made them successful under DuBois four years ago.

The Hawks, however, have been outscored 213-143 on the season despite shutout wins over Tarkington (28-0) and Coldspring (32-0) in non-district play. H-J lost their district opener to a Hamshire-Fannett team 33-14 two weeks ago.

The Hawks have a solid backfield, led by quarterback Collin Pomirko along with backs Izaak Whitman, Justin Smith, Arcadian Judge and Kevin Borque as they will try to attack a WO-S defense that is allowing just 247.4 yards a game, 201.7 of it coming on the ground.

The Mustangs will check in with 11-4A’s most balanced offense that averages 311.4 yards a game, 161.4 on the ground and 150 in the air.

Quarterback Tyrone Wilson has completed 45-of-89 passes for 673 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions and has rushed for 230 yards and three TDs on 50 carries.

Senior standout tailback Kavyn Cooper has zipped for 397 yards and four TDs on 84 carries despite battling a nagging ankle injury throughout the season. Fellow back Justin Sibley has 272 yards and three TDs on 51 totes.

Jaz’yn Robinson leads WO-S receivers with 18 catches for 234 yards and a score. Brettlin Wiley has been a major deep threat for the Mustangs with 11 catches for 312 yards and three TDs.

Ibarra has become a major weapon as well and leads the Mustangs with 32 points scored, including seven field goals.

The Mustangs will host a red-hot Liberty (5-1, 1-0) team next week while the Hawks will have their bye.

In other action this Friday in 11-4A, Liberty will welcome in Silsbee (4-4, 1-1) in a nice clash.