H Kaz’s Fearless
FOOTBALL FORECAST • NEDERLAND over LITTLE CYPRESS-MAURICEVILLE It seems like every time we pick the Battlin’ Bears to lose, they pull off a big upset victory. So we’re using reverse psychology and saying the Bulldogs will win this game Friday. • SILSBEE over BRIDGE CITY The Cards need to pull of a big upset of their own against these Tigers who are picked to be one of the three teams to make the state playoffs next month. • ORANGEFIELD over HARDIN-JEFFERSON The Bobcats are coming off a huge District 21-3A win and would love to stay tied at the top of the league standings after this difficult Friday night encounter in front of the hometown fans. • VIDOR over LUMBERTON The Pirates got back on the winning track last week and need to KAZ’S FOOTBALL FORECAST
B Cardinals and Bobcats regroup ‘THE RECORD’ HOMETOWN HIGHLIGHTS
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CHRIS MENARD SPORTS COLUMNIST FOR THE RECORD
Coming into week seven, the playoff picture gets a little murkier after several of our local area schools posted district wins a week ago. Had some of these same football squads taken those losses, it would have been really difficult to regain traction in time to save their respective post-season hopes. Hoping other teams lose doesn’t count. The Orangefield Bobcats (2-4, 1-1) had a huge district victory 5428, on the road, against HamshireFannett last Friday. Bobcat nation either heard about, or saw an offensive explosion as Coach Josh Smalley orchestrated an impressive Orangefield rushing attack that resulted in over 600 yards of total offense. “We got healthy. We were missing
Orangefield Bobcat quarterback Eric Truncale. RECORD PHOTO: Mark Dunn
our quarterback who was out with a concussion. When we’re healthy, we move the ball.” No kidding. It was the usual suspects leading the way, and they did not disappoint as Coach Smalley and the crew had three runners over the 100 yard mark. Tyran Como racked up 116 yards and two touchdowns while quarterback Eric Truncale piled on another 109 yards with a score. The workhorse was Carl Wiley, who eluded defenders with ease, all game long. Wiley had 259 yards on the ground and found the end zone three different times. “It was a good win for us, but now were focusing on next week. It’ll be Homecoming and we know it’s a must-win every week, one week at a time.” This Friday at 7 p.m., Orangefield will host Hardin-Jefferson in HOMETOWN FOOTBALL PAGE 2B
Mustangs take break, 6-0 MUSTANG INSIDER MERI ELEN JACOBS FOR THE RECORD
LCM runningback Alex Sezer rushes for 217 yards and two touchdowns in the 35-6 victory over the PNG Indians. RECORD PHOTO: Chris Gunn
It may have appeared on Friday night that the Mustangs were getting a slow start, but it was hard for quarterback Jimmy Salter to decide which “weapon” he was going to use first. However, once he chose John Scott to get the scoring started, there was no looking back in the 49-0 romp over the Hardin Jefferson Hawks. “Give Hardin Jefferson credit. They played well and they played hard,” Head Coach Cornel Thompson said. “They had two weeks to prepare for us and we definitely got their A game.” The defense worked hard all night long, only giving up one big play early in the contest when HJ quarterback Jared Gieseke hit receiver Andrew Martel down the sidelines for a 52-yard gain. However, the Hawks had to settle for a field goal attempt and the ball sailed wide right as HJ walked away with no points on the board. The Mustangs quickly went to
Colin Janice and Jhayllien Monette were in the back field all night torturing whatever Hawk had the ball. RECORD PHOTO: Meri Elen Jacobs
work, and Scott was able to put points on the board with 11 seconds on the clock to finish the first quarter. Kicker Rodikson Cano, who was
seven for seven on PATs, put WO-S up, 7-0. The next weapon Salter chose was MUSTANGS PAGE 5B