Mustang defenders Colin Janice and teammates kept pressure on Silsbee quarterback Patrict Reed, but the talented junior managed to pass for 107 yards and carry the ball 15 times for 72 yards.

The District 21-3A race came to a climax Friday at Tiger Stadium when the two best teams brought unbeaten district records to the field for the championship game on the final evening of the season.

Overall West Orange-Stark entered the game with a 9-0 record and the Mustangs had not allowed a point during district play.

Silsbee came into the game with eight straight wins and an 8-1 record.

Coach Bobby McGallion was proud of the way the Tigers competed in the game. He stated that the kids competed real well but things did not fall right for Silsbee.

Neither team scored in the first period but WOS put together a good drive on their final possession of the first quarter. They took over at their own 40 and quickly drove the ball to the Tiger two.

Abear Simien then scored on the first play of the second quarter. The kick  put the Mustangs ahead 7-0.Two series later Silsbee got its high powered offense untracked. They started at their own 32 after a fumble by Jimmy Salter.

Patrick Reed found an opening, down the Tiger sideline and ran all the way to the WOS 32. Reed was tackled near the sideline. After he was forced out of bounds a personal foul flag moved the ball all the way to the WOS 19. Three plays later after an illegal procedure call the Tigers picked up a first down at the WOS eight and Reed scored with 7:07 left to narrow the margin to 7-6. The PAT kick was no good.

The Mustangs string of shutouts was broken and the Tigers were back in the game.

At this point in the game the Tigers were clicking on all cylinders. They forced WOS to go to the aid and Chris Elam picked off a pass at the Silsbee 36.

Silsbee quickly moved the ball into Mustang territory when Reed hit Jordon Holmes with a pass for 15 that set the Tigers up at the Mustang 45.

Two plays later Reed saw Elam behind the Mustang defense and hit him with a TD pass that covered 43 yards.

This time the Tigers attempted a two point conversion. Karl Elers was tackled behind the line of scrimmage.

With 3:48 left in the half the Mustangs were behind for the first time during the year. After the Mustangs defense had allowed just 20 points all season…. Silsbee had scored 12 in less than a half.

The 12-7 lead did not last long. WOS returned the kick to the 32.

Quintin Tezeno immediately rambled to the mid field stripe.

Simien pounded his way forward for 15 yards to the 29 and then with 1:24 left in the half Simien bulled into the endzone from one yard out. The kick was no good but WOS was back ahead 13-12.

The second half opened with WOS getting the kick. They took over at the 40 and drove the ball into Tiger territory. The Mustang pushed their lead to 19-12  with 6:34 left in the third quarter when a Mustang scored on a three yard run.

This time the Mustangs attempted a kick for a PAT which was no good.

During the third quarter Silsbee drove the ball into Mustang territory twice but each time the Mustang defense rose to the occasion.

At the end of the quarter Silsbee was still in the game. They trailed 19-12 but the Tigers had the ball at the Mustang 26 with a third and third and two.

On the first play of the fourth period a pass fell incomplete and then Silsbee went for it on fourth down.

WOS sacked Reed for a four yard loss. For Silsbee this was the turning point in the game. The Tigers were right in the fight until they failed to convert on the second play in the fourth quarter.

After the failed fourth down attempt the air came out of the Tigers sails. WOS put together a 10-play 68 yard drive for the clinching touchdown. The key play in the drive was a fourth and five at the Tiger 23 where quarterback Salter ran for a first down and eight yards. Chase Rutledge scored the clinching TD on an eight yard run with 8:15 left in the game.

Patrick Reed completed seven of 13 passes for 107 yards and one touchdown. He had one interception. Johnathan Rodgers threw one pass on a fake punt that was good for 19 yards and a first down.
Reed led the Tigers in rushing with 15 carries for 72 yards.

Floyd Spearman had eleven carries for 18 yards. He did not play in the fourth period and part of the third because of a migraine headache. Coaches held him out of the game so that they could check to make sure he had not suffered a concussion. The tests were negative.

Yancy Brydson and Kendrick Scott each carried the ball twice for ten years.

Jordan Holmes was the leading receiver with three catches for 46 yards. Chris Elam had one for 43 and a touchdown.

Ladavian Barnes snagged two for 30 and Montana Garcia had two receptions for even.

West Orange depended largely on its ground attack. They muscled their way through the Tiger defenses for 254 yards. They picked up 55 yards on the ground. The Mustangs had 309 yards in total offense to 230 for Silsbee.

Seth Adams and Karl Elers led the Tigers defensively.with nine tackles. Adams had five unassisted and four assisted tackles. He also had a caused fumble, a quarterback pressure and a sack. Elers sat out the first quarter but came into the game to pick up six unassisted and three assisted tackles.

Adam Valencia had and outstanding game with seven unassisted and one assisted tackles.

Dusty Thibodeaux was in on eight tackles and Jack Gore was in on seven.

Elijah Miller who also did not start participated in six tackles.

The WOS JV team defeated Silsbee by a 38-0 score. The Tigers JV team ended the season with a record of 5-4.

The Tigers freshman team finished its year with a record of 6-4.