Shoe's on the other foot

It's not exactly the Dallas Cowboys against the Washington Redskins, or the New York Yankees taking on the Boston Red Sox.

In fact, West Rusk High School and Overton High School haven't met in football but on a couple of occasions. But Raiders versus Mustangs is becoming quite the battle in Rusk County.

The two face off again Friday night, as the Raiders - that would be the 1-0 West Rusk Raiders - host coach Steven Dubose's Overton Mustangs (0-1). Game time is, of course, 7:30 p.m., with bragging rights on the line the second the game ends.

West Rusk coach Mike Bolling, in his second season, is very respectful of the job that Dubose and his staff have done in Overton, getting the Mustangs all the way back with a 9-2 record last year.

"It was tight last year," said Bolling, referring to the OvertonWR contest. "I think they beat us 20-12, but it was 14-12 with a minute and a half left. It's a rivalry, no question about it. We hope we can give them a good game."

Last week, West Rusk - winners of just one game the last two seasons - fought for all it had on the road against Cushing. They watched as Cushing went up by two touchdowns, and probably thought the snowball was about to roll again.

But this time, it rolled for Cushing. West Rusk beat Cushing in overtime, 20-14.

"Our kids really played hard," Bolling said. "We had a lot of bad things happen early. I guess their second possession we returned an interception for a touchdown, but had a block in the back call that called it back.

"...On the very next play, our running back (Brad Rollins) fumbled. They kind of played keepaway from us for a while after that. If it was third and 8, they'd get 8 yards and a foot."

Then, things began changing. The defense stiffened. West Rusk put points on the board. And three magical runs by WRHS running back Brandon Williams

school song. It was kind of funny

knotted the game at 14 all. When

- but I don't blame them a bit

overtime began, WR quarterback

for being excited."

Matt Morton scored from 4 yards

Bolling knows, though, that his

out. The extra point was missed,

team will have its hands full with

but the Raiders' defense stood tall,

a good Overton team that maybe

shutting Cushing out of the end

should be 1-0.

zone and winning the game.

"Union Hill's pretty good,"

In the process, WR allowed

Bolling said. "If you look at the

Cushing to just 65 yards of offense

tape, Overton probably should

in the second half and in

have beaten them. (Overton has)

overtime.

a ton of speed. They've got me

Morton, who plays linebacker

worried a little bit. For a 1A

on defense, had 21 tackles. Skyler

school, they've got so much speed.

Loveall had 12 tackles, two sacks,

They're quite a bit faster than we

a caused fumble and a pass deflection.

are. Their line is big, too - coach

Dubose is doing a fantastic job

"We're still trying to get the kids

over there."

to keep things in perspective,"

The Mustangs, who return four

Bolling said, with a laugh. "They

or five players from a state powerlifting

didn't know how to act when the

championship a year ago,

game was over and they had won

still figure to be a major player in

in overtime. I had to remind them

the District 20-A race. But Overton

to go to the stands and do the

likely needs to get something going in non-district play - the Mustangs play in a very tough district, with the likes of Tenaha, Mount Enterprise and near-stateranked Joaquin.

Last weekend at Union Hill, the Mustangs did a lot of things right. They led 22-14 at the half, and for most of the game before seeing Union Hill go in front near the end - UHHS running back Dessmen Wayne scored with 5:12 left on a 51-yard run - for a 3228 victory.

Overton fumbled on the opening kickoff, and soon trailed the Bulldogs after quarterback Brady Helton found Andre Thomas for a 14-yard score. Union Hill's twopoint conversion attempt missed, but the 'Dogs led, 6-0.

As fast as Union Hill took the lead, Overton demonstrated methodical offense works, too, going 63 yards in 13 plays and tying the game on a 5-yard run by speedy Teray Smith.

Senior Todd LeBrun put the Mustangs on the scoreboard again when he returned a Union Hill fumble for a touchdown - Xavier Gardner scored the twopoint conversion for OHS and then did something even better, making a 46-yard pass play from quarterback Adam Dubose go for a touchdown.

Overton's Jamal Thompson gave the Mustangs a cushion, a 28-20 lead, with most of the fourth quarter to play, but Union Hill's late heroics gave the Bulldogs the win.