Texas high school football is more than just a game — it’s a way of life. Dave Campbell's Texas Football is spotlighting a different program from across the Lone Star State, diving into their history, traditions, and legends. From powerhouse programs to hidden gems, Texas High School Football Spotlight is your deep dive into what makes each team unique. Whether it’s unforgettable seasons, iconic players, or fierce rivalries, this series celebrates the schools, communities, and stories that define Texas high school football.

Today’s Spotlight: The West Orange-Stark Mustangs

The Rundown

Synonymous with excellence in southeast Texas since 1977, West Orange-Stark is one of Texas high school football’s most iconic mid-size programs. Known far and wide for its bone-rattling “Blue Link” defense, the Mustangs own Texas high school football’s all-time highest winning percentage for programs with at least 500 games, winning 78.9% of its games and edging Southlake Carroll (78.4%) and Austin Westlake (77.1%).

By The Numbers 

Class – 4A Division II
Enrollment – 656
Location – Orange, Texas — east of Beaumont, right near the southeastern border with Louisiana

Trophy Case

State Championships – 4 (1986, 1987, 2015, 2016)
State Championship Appearances – 8 (1986, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
District Championships – 30 (most recent: 2021)
Playoff Appearances – 36 (most recent: 2024)

Glory Days 

The best West Orange-Stark team of all-time? That’s a hotly contested debate, but Texas Football leans toward the 2016 squad. Led by quarterback Jack Dallas and a ferocious defense led by Justin Brown, the Mustangs went 16-0 and won the 4A Division II state championship while outscoring its opponents by a jaw-dropping 811-69 margin.  

The GOAT

There’s a long lineage of terrific defenders to come out of West Orange-Stark, but none more notable than Earl Thomas. An all-state two-way star for the Mustangs, Thomas went off to play free safety for the University of Texas, where he earned consensus All-American honors. It was then off to the NFL as a first-round draft pick by Seattle, making first-team All-Pro three times and leading the Seahawks to a Super Bowl XLVIII championship. He’s a member of the NFL All-Decade team to boot, and a possible Pro Football Hall of Famer.

The Architect

With due respect to the inimitable Cornel Thompson, who literally wrote the book on West Orange-Stark football, even he would say that Dan Ray Hooks is the coach of record for the Mustangs. He spent 30 years as the head coach at WOS from 1981-2010, leading West Orange-Stark to back-to-back state titles in 1986 and 1987. His 277-71-2 record for the Mustangs includes 14 seasons of at least ten wins.

Battle Lines

When you’re as good as West Orange-Stark, everyone wants a piece of you. But the Mustangs’ archrival has to be Newton, themselves a Southeast Texas power. They’re in different classifications now — Newton in 3A, WOS in 4A — but they try to be sure to link up every season in non-district play to keep the fire burning. West Orange-Stark has won five of the last nine matchups with Newton since 2014.

Home Turf

Dan R. Hooks Stadium — named after the iconic coach — opened in 1964 and actually pre-dates West Orange-Stark, which was formed by the merging of West Orange High School and Orange Stark High School in 1977. The stadium seats 9,092 fans, complete with video board and a new press box.

The Year That Was

After a pair of relatively down years in 2022 and 2023, it was a return to form for West Orange-Stark in 2024, running to a 9-3 record and earning their first playoff win in three years. The strength, per usual, was the defense, which flourished under third-year coach Hiawatha Hickman.

Looking Ahead

Hopes are high in Orange that 2024 could be the running start for the Mustangs’ big leap in 2025. A strong Class of 2027 returns, led by star running back Khelvy Jefferson and bruising linebacker Anterrion Fontenot, and that could make up for losses to graduation that include a talented receiver corps. The names may change, but the formula is the same for WOS: running game and defense.

Xs and Os

Offense – Multiple
Defense – Odd front

On the Rise 

Keep an eye on junior quarterback Kwalin Dugas, who is moving from defensive back to behind center this year. Coach Hiawatha Hickman raves about his character and work ethic, and he could be in for a breakout season.

In Their Own Words

“What makes West Orange-Stark special? Our rich tradition of the Mustang Way.” – West Orange-Stark head coach Hiawatha Hickman.