WO-S trots past Dawgs 41-21
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S AARON BROOKS (4) holds on tight to West Orange-Stark's Octavious Hypolite during first-half action.WO-S ralled from a 14-13 deficit to defeat Jasper at the Bone Yard. Pictured below, a key player in WOS's comeback in the second half was DePauldrick Garrett (24) as he scampers away from Jasper's Kaddarroe Rawls. Garrett rushed for 118 yards and three touchdowns against Jasper.

For two quarters Friday, Oct. 26, the Jasper Bulldogs were showing the West Orange-Stark Mustangs just how far they have grown during this 2007 season.

For the final two quarters of Friday's contest, WO-S showed Jasper why they are still the best team in District 21-3A as they overcame a 14-13 halftime deficit to roar to a convincing 41-21 victory at the Bone Yard.

"The first half the guys played with a lot of energy and came out to play," said Jasper Head Football Coach Thomas Brooks. "I knew that West Orange wasn't going to roll over for us because they have a lot of tradition and pride and they wanted to keep their state ranking.

"Our kids played until the end," Brooks said. "Defensively, we were getting them where we wanted them but we couldn't take advantage."

One area that WO-S shined was in their tackling techniques displayed during the contest.

"They don't miss tackles," Brooks said. "They teach that from junior high all the way to varsity. Every day they tackle so when you get to varsity, you know how to tackle."

West Orange-Stark outscored Jasper 28-7 in the second half as the Mustangs again showed off their second-half scoring capabilities.

Jasper led 14-13 at the half, but WOS made sure the lead was short lived as the Mustangs came out and scored on their first possession of the second half to take the lead away for good. Using the powerful running of DePauldrick Garrett, the Mustangs moved down the field. WO-S changed their offense from a spread to Garrett in the I, and the change gave Jasper fits.

"We had not seen that," Brooks said. "They wanted to change it up and put Garrett in the I and he runs hard. They just came straight at us and took advantage of us. It got them going and got them excited and they really came off the football in the second half."

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S DOMINIQUE BAILEY heads to the end zone on a first-quarter score to tie the game at 7-all against West Orange-Stark. Bailey was limited to just 63 yards and a touchdown against the Mustangs.

Garrett carried the ball five times on the drive as he churned his way down the field. The senior finished off the drive when he scored from 27 yards out with 10:06 left in the third quarter. When quarterback Octavious Hypolite converted a two-point run, the Mustangs held a 21-14 lead over Jasper.

Jasper looked liked they might make it a second-half scoring shootout on the ensuing drive. After an AJ Bronson 32-yard return, Jasper set up shop at the midfield stripe. A holding penalty on WO-S gave Jasper a first down at the Mustang 33 to keep the drive going.

But West Orange-Stark's defense stiffened and stopped two straight running plays and then forced an incompletion pass by Jasper's Dominique Bailey. Faced with a fourth-and-14 from the West Orange-Stark 38, Jasper elected to punt the ball back over the Mustangs.

Twelve plays later, WO-S padded their lead.

This time, the Mustangs mixed the run and pass to move down the field against the Dawgs. Garrett again capped off the drive when he scored from seven yards out to give the visiting Mustangs a 28-14 lead with 2:02 left in the third quarter.

Jasper again moved the ball against WO-S on their next drive but again the drive stalled just inside the Mustangs' territory. Faced with a fourth-and-one call from the West Orange-Stark 49, Jasper elected to punt the ball away early in the fourth quarter.

West Orange-Stark's Ronnie Davis made Jasper pay as Davis collected Derrick Day's punt at the Mustang 14 and took off down the left sideline. Day collared Davis for a short time but the WO-S senior broke free and scampered the rest of the way for the touchdown.

The score, with 10:12 left in the fourth quarter, gave WO-S a 35-14 lead over Jasper.

Faced with a 21-point deficit, it would interesting to see how Jasper would respond.

The Dogs did just what they had done all night long. Jasper moved right down the field against WOS. Bailey, who was held to only 63 yards rushing, held move the Dawgs down to the West Orange-Stark 17- yard line but again Jasper's drive ended without any points on the second-half scoreboard.

Two plays later, though, Jasper would capitalize on a Mustang miscue to get on the board. Ryan Bronson recovered a fumble by WOS's Hypolite at the Mustang 31 with 4:37 left in the game.

Bailey connected with Malcolm Bronson on a 29- yard pass play and then capped off the drive a play later with 4:27 left on the clock. With David Beck's PAT, WO-S's lead was cut down to 35-21.

In the first half, both teams struggled getting any offense going early before a special teams miscue gave the Mustangs an early scoring opportunity. A bobbled snap by Day on a punt, gave WO-S the ball at the Jasper 11 late in the first quarter.

Three plays later, Garrett scored from two yard out to give the Mustangs a quick 7- 0 lead with 4:23 left in the first quarter.

Jasper came right back to tie the game taking advantage of a misplay by WO-S. Punting from his own end zone, Jasper's Malcolm Bronson returned the short punt by James Haynes back to the West Orange-Stark 12. Two plays later, Bailey scored from 10 yards out to tie the game at 7-all after Beck's PAT.

The Mustangs came right back on their next drive to reclaim the lead as they drove 63 yards on nine plays. Garrett again did the honors as he scored from two yards out. After Haynes misfired on the PAT, the Mustangs lead stood a 13-7.

The lead appeared to be all but safe as the time ticked away on the first half. West Orange-Stark held the ball at their own 35 and were forced to punt the ball away with nine seconds left in the second quarter. Jasper's William Brooks, though, had other plans for the halftime lead.

Brooks broke through the line and blocked Haynes' punt giving Jasper the ball at the Mustang 25.

Jasper had time for one pass play and picked the perfect one. Bailey hit Brooks with a pass and the senior broke through a pair of Mustang tacklers to score.

"We knew that if we threw it in the middle, we had to score," Brooks said. "When I saw the two guys coming, I thought "Oh no, they are going to tackle him,' but he broke away and scored."

With Beck's PAT, Jasper had claimed a 14-13 lead and sent the Jasper faithful into a halftime frenzy.

"Our kids have nothing to be ashamed about," Brooks said. "West Orange had to come and play to beat us. Our goal is still to make the playoffs."

DAWG NOTES: Jasper played the West Orange- Stark contest with starting offensive lineman Cliff Mitchell, who was injured an ankle last week during practice.