oldage football

I love when someone isn't afraid to step out on a limb and make a bold prediction!!  Haha

in 2014 newton kicked our butt - and we both ended up play in Jerrys world -- dont hang your hat on that classification stuff

I'm not really talking about small schools nor was I disrespecting WOS; I would have said inferior if I meant inferior. My point is valid...if school size meant nothing then WOS would have beaten Richmond Foster last year. Richmond kept running out defensive line, then backup defensive line, etc. etc. They beat WOS down. It's not apples and apples and it is not a dig at WOS; I respect that school too much for that. However, they wouldn't make three rounds of 5A ball because they would run out of gas due to lack of depth. Hard to play against a team that suits up 40 - 50 seniors. Cedar Park, 5A Div. 2 champs last year enrollment 1949. Seriously! I could merge all the Orange schools and not get that number.

People on here talking about who WOS can't beat. That's a bunch of BS! A long as you beat the team that lines up in front of you. We're saying they can't beat Katy or North Shore, but they can beat all the teams of the people posting on this site so what's the difference.
Good luck in the playoff WOS.

you need to remember some of the kids playing at LCM are there because they 0r their parents didn't like the way things were done at wos  

Liberty Hill ran the Slot T to perfection.  They were far and away the best team I have ever seen run this offense.   
If Navarro really runs this offense the right way they could give WO-S a decent game.  But you just can't stop this WO-S offense.
I have been watching WO-S for 30 years now.  This is their best offense yet.  Too many weapons.  Very much like Gilmer and Navasota of the last few years.
The defense is outstanding for sure.  Not sure I would say it was the best they have had in the years I have watched them.   I would rank this one 3rd behind 1987 and 2012.
I have to say that this offense is not as vertical as some of the awesome Gilmer or Navasota offensives, but it sure is fun to watch and see who breaks the next 50 plus yard toss and run or blast up the middle.  I have to say all 3 of these great teams' offenses are pretty much out of the same mold..it doesn't matter if it is 3 and 30 there is no guarantee you can make them punt.  
IMO, third best defense ever and best offense ever..yeah I think this is the best overall team I have seen at WO-S.
(I just hope it is Gilmer and WO-S in the finals..that will be a great game and I know WO-S is wanting some revenge!)

you need to remember some of the kids playing at LCM are there because they 0r their parents didn't like the way things were done at wos  

as every parent knows the key to success is to play then  10 best players you've got with my son

as every parent knows the key to success is to play then  10 best players you've got with my son

While I understand what you are saying and I know you so I know that you are not suggesting this, I kinda bristle at how this post is worded because it leaves open the implication that WO-S' recent success is due to playing "inferior" teams.  WO-S is playing in the class and division that it size dictates as stated by the UIL.  Neither they nor Navarro nor Gilmer nor Sweetwater should have to apologize for where they are for all they did was what every school in the State of Texas did, count the heads of students attending (well, okay Livingston didn't do that) and wait for the UIL to tell them what class, division and district to play in.  The playoff opponents have not been determined by them but again by the UIL.
I realize that I have furthered your argument and I didn't mean to dispute it.  But let's all remember, smaller schools don't always mean inferior schools.

in wos the whole community has bought into the program-and supports the disciplined contained within- the ones that dont transfer out 

Coaches had those in possession back in my day.....great motivator.

as every parent knows the key to success is to play then  10 best players you've got with my son

Unfortunately, coaches today are handcuffed by the "don't work my baby too hard" attitudes of the parents and cant really break these kids down and build that tough, aggressive, yet disciplined attitude that you see at "The WOS."  I know there have been some cases like at HF where the coaches decisions on punishment resulted in some kids being hospitalized but that is a rare occurrence.  I believe in corporal punishment and the use of the paddle....trust me IT WORKS!!! I have experienced it first hand.  Kids shouldn't relate punishment to having to do physical work.  Success and rewards should derive from physical work.  Physical pain should be the result of punishment. 
I cant say for sure but my guess is that "Ole' Woddy" still makes his presence known at WOS.  I know this may be a little off the beaten path but there is a direct correlation between the discipline of the athletes, the support of the community to trust in the coaches in the disciplining their kids, and the results of that showing on the field.  Fear is not a bad thing, it keeps you on your toes and keeps you sharp.  WOS uses that to their advantage by striking fear into their opponent. 
Those boys are tough, physical, disciplined and flat out nasty.  That doesn't happen because the coaches are walking on egg shells trying to avoid a lawsuit because lil Johnny came home crying because he got tackled too hard or he had to run until he puked.
That being said...you must have the horses, you must have leadership in the group, you must have coaches that players respect, you must have parents that trust in the system, and discipline must be instilled at a young age.   Right or wrong, its only my opinion.  If you want to figure out what it is holding your team back, take a look around.

Well, I don't know if those are all the factors in the formula, but these are at the very least some of the essential elements.
I think we need to step back and consider one thing in reviewing this subject...a deep run in the playoffs is not a birth right.  Over 700 teams started 5 weeks ago on a quest for a UIL state championship in their respective classes and divisions.  Out of those over 700 teams, only 44 (40 in 6A-2A, 4 in 1A) are still playing football this weekend.  Several great teams will not be among those suiting up this weekend.
I only mention that because some here seem to infer, and some go as far as to suggest, that a long playoff run, regardless of the sport, is a birth right and that if it doesn't occur that something or someone is to blame.  Occasionally, that might be the case.  Yes, in addition to having talent, you have to have breaks go your way to navigate this gauntlet. However, that situation is much rarer than is suggested here.  As hard as it is to accept, it is more often than not just the fact that the team that the bracket lines your team up against is simply better than yours.  I have had to accept that all but 3 times for my beloved Mustangs, may have to accept that this weekend or next and will probably have to accept it for years to come.
Don't take it for granted and don't try too hard to analyze why it doesn't occur more often.  Just enjoy it when it happens, even if it is just once, because you never know if it will ever happen again.

as every parent knows the key to success is to play then  10 best players you've got with my son

in wos the whole community has bought into the program-and supports the disciplined contained within- the ones that dont transfer out 

Strangely enough, Cornel Thompson would not be on that list.  However, I understand (I think) what you are saying with that question.  One of the factors of the success of the Mustang football program has been the continuity of the program from Steve McCarty to Dan Hooks, who was McCarty's right hand man to Thompson, who right hand man to Hooks.  And it does take this sort of continuity to establish a winning program.  This is because as sons and nephews of the original Mustangs know exactly what is expected of them when they show up to run that Mustang Mile and what it takes to earn a silver helmet.
And it is the community support for those standards which allows that continuity to remain.  Believe me there are some...you have seen some of them post here....who wish to take their shots at Coach Thompson.  Every community has their set of village idiots.  And he has not always had the golden touch.  I remember that it took 4 games for Coach Thompson to win his first game at WO-S as head coach and that he insisted on moving out of the spread to the I formation.  Even through all of those the community continued to trust Coach Thompson and believe that his decisions, his words and his action were intended for two purposes, to make the West Orange-Stark Mustangs a stronger football team and to make the individual members of that team better people.  You will never see Cornel Thompson saddled with a derogatory nickname from Mustang fans or you won't see "For Sale" signs in his yard after the next loss, which although I find unlikely, could occur as soon as this weekend.  You won't see people calling Orange County Sheriff Keith Merritt or seeking an investigation from Orange County DA John Kimbrough for practices that parents think are "a little too strenous."  You won't because even those who might not care for Coach Thompson respect him in the community.
And of course, you need stellar athletes.  Coach Thompson has acknowledged that himself that you need that. hence the now infamous statement that "You can't win the Kentucky Derby with a mule."  And yes, this band of athletes is special, on both sides of the ball, in the backfield, on the line and in the secondary and many of them have played together since they were 5 years old. They are not only talented, but they are some of the most grounded, hardest working and intelligent young men you will ever want to meet.  They don't need to be prompted by coaches to get work in during the months of January, February or March, they are already doing it on their own.  And guess what, the Mustangs that are coming behind them are preparing the same way.  Will they be able to continue what this class of Mustangs have done even if that run ends this weekend?  The answer to that question we won't know until about this time next year or the next few years after.
But it will be certainly fun to find out and those in the community will be as proud of their effort to do so as they are of these young men who have been taking Mustang fans on this fantastic ride.

off season workouts
 

Lots of good insightful thoughts on this thread. Many things go in to consistency. Hard to put your finger on one. All have been mentioned. For us, we always had the kids, we just didn't believe. Traylor brought that. Took 3 years to get it turned around. Doing things we never thought we could do. Installing the offense and getting the kids to buy in may have been the biggest challenge. We ran it from the beginning, 7th thru 12th. Don't think they even cared about won/loss records. Took some time, but he built a power. So what I would say to get things going your way, is a strong motivator for a coach, time from the school and fans to build it, and build it from the ground floor. From the littlest kids you can coach. Traylor kept his coaches too. Not many left while he was in charge and he surrounded himself with people who thought just like he did. We are 26-2 since he left. Haven't missed a beat.

You can zero on just about any rural area in the state and find just a couple powerhouses.  Those fast growing areas have sheer numbers.  These rural areas aren't growing and as a matter of fact a lot of the population continues to the houston, dallas, san antonio metro areas.    
A lot of it also depends on what you call SE Texas.   If it is just Orange, Jefferson, and Hardin county then you aren't looking at too many school.   Orange county has 5, Jefferson 8, and Hardin 8.
With there being over 1000 high schools the odds of winning just one per year is pretty low.
Harris county has 104 high schools by itself.  Throw in Jasper, Newton, Polk, Tyler, Chambers county and we still have less school than just the metro of houston.
It is not coincidence that a lot of these new schools are doing so well.  These places are attracting families, good coaches and athletes with their top notch facilities and high school programs. 
 
 

my sentiments exactly - the programs in this area with the most success are the ones with the longest tenured staffs -- Wos - Newton - Nederland - money not the key to keeping good coaches - it where they live - its home - when the community stands by em  they will give u a program that everyone is proud of - when the right group comes thru you get to look at the finals - thats not an every year thing - but the support and pride of the whole town and standing up for kids and coaches that is a everyday privilege.

I'd have to say it's the culture (Expectations/Discipline), consistency in leadership (Hooks, Thompson), the Community support and having quality athletes. 
Nice little formula

I think it also revolves around supportive parents and kids buying in . How many other schools could do the mustang mile or the bleachers-after the workout? I know when i was at SFA, we got a transfer from wos because he couldnt beat his time in the MM.his mom worked at our school. 

in wos the whole community has bought into the program-and supports the disciplined contained within- the ones that dont transfer out