Here comes WO-S
Jasper to take on perennial power for share of first
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S DANTE ROLLINS applies pressure to Hamshire-Fannett quarterback Randall Courville during last Friday's victory over the Longhorns. Jasper's defense has played well all year long and has continued to play a key role in the Bulldogs 3-1 start in District 21-3A play.

Now comes the measuring stick.

After three straight District 21-3A wins, Jasper will get to see just how they compare with the Class 3A elite when the Dawgs host the West Orange-Stark Mustangs at the Bone Yard Friday, Oct. 26.

"West Orange has a lot of tradition and has a strong team so it is going to be tough," said Jasper Head Football Coach Thomas Brooks.

The game will mark the battle of the current WO-S coaching legend and the coach he brought into the profession years ago.

WO-S's Dan Hooks brings his Mustangs to Jasper this year ready to cinch up another District 21-3A title. The Mustangs are rolling once again through district play and have yet to even taste defeat at the Class 3A district level.

For Brooks, he said WO-S's mystique starts and ends with Hooks.

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S MALCOLM BRONSON breaks away from Hamshire-Fannett's Scott Meguess (30) during Friday's victory over the Horns. Jasper's William Brooks (4) comes in to help out.

"Coach Hooks is like Coach Barbay in Newton - they are both legends on the football field," Brooks said. "Coach Hooks gave me a job when I was 25 years old and I learned a lot from him. They taught me to do what it takes to be successful.

"Anytime you go against those guys and you know what they stand for, it makes you push yourself a little harder," Brooks said. "Anytime you have a chance to beat them, you know that you have accomplished something."

Brooks admitted that he is looking forward to locking horns with his former mentor.

"I've been looking forward to it since I came back here," Brooks said.

In 2000, Brooks faced off against West Orange Stark twice, one in the regular season and in the playoffs and was on the losing end both times. In 2001, they played again and Brooks was able to claim a victory over Hooks.

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S RYAN BRONSON (11) is congratulated by Jasper's Cliff Mitchell (70) after one of his three interceptions against Hamshire-Fannett.

Last year, WO-S defeated Jasper 40-0 in a road contest for the Dawgs.

"It's always exciting because of the type of program they have but Jasper has a lot of tradition also," Brooks said. "It's not like we don't know what it takes to be West Orange- Stark. Jasper has done it before."

And his Dawgs are also looking forward to the challenge to see where they stack up against the district's elite.

"The guys came in and wanted to see extra film on them," Brooks said. "They are looking forward to this game more than any other game. We will bring our best and I'm sure they will bring their best and we will see who comes out on top."

The game will feature two squads that are similar in styles and makeup. The big difference is that WO-S has been playing at a high level for years and Jasper just returned to that level three games ago.

"We are very similar," Brooks said. "We run the same type of offense and defensively, both teams are aggressive with good tacklers," Brooks said. "It will be an interesting ball game."

The game will also allow Jasper to be playing for a share of the district lead, something that was missing last year.

"We can be playing for the district championship," Brooks said. "It's a share of first place if we win this ballgame. It's good to be playing for something, this late in the season."

All year long, Brooks has sought to return "the swagger" to the Jasper Bulldogs. A swagger that was evident with Jasper teams in the past but was lost in the past couple of years.

"The guys are starting to believe in that they can win, before we even get on the field," Brooks said. "They are feeling confident and that means a lot. The head controls the body and it gives them that extra little pep and you see it even before the game starts. They are starting to believe now."

Match-up at a Glance