HS football week 1: The game I’m most interested in and why
By Matt Patterson
Week 1 has finally arrived. No more preview stories. No more rankings. The real stuff is here. While some week 1 games are predictable, I get the feeling the Moore War may be more worth the price of admission for several reasons.
1. Moore coach Bill Bays — Bays is a terrific and innovative coach. He led Edmond North to its first-ever playoff appearance in 2000. He consistently got the most out of the talent he was given during his stint with the Huskies. It will show up again here.
2. General improvement — This group of players, including quarterback Billy Balak and running back Jared Jackson have been together for awhile. Balak showed signed of being a good 6A starter and Jackson had nearly 1,000 yards. Reciever Phillip Hershel could also blossom this season.
Westmoore has to be the favorite, but Moore hanging in there, losing by a touchdown or less, shouldn’t be a surprise.
Jenks vs. Union — The movie
By Matt Patterson
It appears this year’s Jenks-Union game will be the subect of a one-hour documentary produced by NFL films. Union’s board has already agreed to the project. Approval at Jenks is pending. It should be an interesting look at high school sports in our state, even from a west-side perspective. Check out tomorrow’s Oklahoman to find out when and on what channel the film will air.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first film project involving the two schools. “King of the Mountain” made by Tulsans Paul Ross and Rick Shadle has been in production for several years, but hasn’t ever been released.
The Brothers White set the tone
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@Oklahoman.com
Durant is in a very unusual position as its top two quarterbacks also happen to be brothers.
When starting QB Bo White went out with a broken leg midway through last season, younger brother Max stepped up and filled in admirably.
The Lions are helping the elder White can stay healthy for a full season as Bo White was on his way to extremely impressive numbers before his season was halted. He had already thrown for 700 yards, rushed for 600 and totaled 17 TDs.
“I don’t know, you just don’t see that all that often,” Durant coach Byron Cordell said about the brothers being one and two on the depth chart. “We don’t expect to keep Max that long as he’s awesome at baseball.”
Max White hit .480 as a sophomore last year.
Starting all over: The Poteau Pirates had a magical year last season, going 9-4 and advancing far into the playoffs.
This year is a new year and boy, do the Pirates know that. Poteau is only returning five starters from their memorable squad.
It’s basically a re-start for Poteau, and coach Jeff Broyles is using this opportunity to shake things up. Broyles said he has worked with quarterback Charles Taylor on running the option more.
The Pirates will go as far as the legs of running back Tim Branch can take them. The senior rushed for more than 1,200 yards last year and scored 12 touchdowns. He purposely did not see much scrimmage action as Broyles said he wants to keep Branch rested and healthy.
New management, new attitude: Atoka has gone through some serious changes after a disappointing 1-9 2006 campaign.
And it starts at the top with new head coach Forrest Mazey.
Mazey was an assistant at NWOSU last year but graduated from Coalgate High School. He said it feels great to be coming back home.
“These kids are a lot faster and a lot more determined than their 1-9 record last year showed,” Mazey said.
One big change is the offense. Long gone is the I-formation replaced by the spread offense.
Atoka faced a serious test against Idabel in its second scrimmage, and Mazey said he was pleased with the effort his boys gave.
“It’s just a different attitude this year – never say die,” he said.
He also said the roster has enjoyed a positive spike, getting nearly 45 kids for this year’s squad.
Harrison back in practice for Ponca City
By Jason Kersey
jkersey@oklahoman.com
Ben Harrison, a linebacker and receiver for Ponca City, has been cleared and is back in practice this week after missing the entire preseason with a foot injury.
Coach Bo Hannaford is a little reluctant to discuss injuries, but he said he hopes the team has Harrison back for Friday night’s season opener at Sand Springs.
Harrison has started since he was a sophomore, and Hannaford said he is one of the top defensive players on the team.
“He’s doing everything possible to get ready for (Friday),” Hannaford said. “It was a freak deal over the summer. I think he’ll tough it out, but there is still some soreness and stiffness.”
Sand Springs stadium is ready
By Jason Kersey
jkersey@oklahoman.com
Week 1′s Ponca City at Sand Springs game, which was in question as to where it would be played, is now all set.
Sand Springs just built a new football stadium, and it was unclear if the Sandites’ new digs would be ready in time for the first game of the season. It was thought that the game might be moved to Ponca City.
But Ponca City coach Bo Hannaford and the athletic secretary at Sand Springs have confirmed to me that the stadium is ready for Friday’s game.
I’m still waiting to speak more extensively with Sand Springs athletic director Ed Garrett about the new stadium and what the specific problems were. When I get more information, I’ll be sure to pass it your way.
UPDATE: I spoke with Ed Garrett earlier this afternoon. He told me that the main things left to do with the stadium are the restrooms and concession stands. He said the administration hopes that the stadium will be completely finished by Sept. 21, when Sand Springs hosts its second home game against Bartlesville.
Garrett said the main concern of Sand Springs officials was safety. But, he said, after meeting with all the architect, the project manager and the contractors, the administration feels good about the safety of the stadium for Friday night.
The new stadium, by the way, is a 6,400-seat one with a screen and artificial turf. Sand Springs bulldozed down its old stadium, which was 50 years old.
McGuinness adds seasoned PG
by Brandon Chatmon
Bishop McGuinness was a dominating force in the Class 4A state tournament last year winning a second-straight state title.
Now the Irish have added a point guard who has already won two state titles in Class 2A. Former Oklahoma Christian School PG Nick Johnson will play at McGuinness in 2007-08. Johnson played with Daniel Orton and Ryan Randolph this summer for Athletes First and considers both good friends.
Bishop McGuinness was already the favorite in Class 4A, now with Johnson, it’s hard to imagine them losing even though their are some outstanding teams in the class. Much like last year (when he had to get protect the ball and get it to Blake Griffin, Tucker Phillips and Wilson Holloway), Johnson’s job will be to protect the ball and use his weapons to perfection.
“Daniel is as high profile as Blake was last year,” Johnson said. “Then you have Jeffery Merritt and Ryan Randolph who are going to need the ball. It’s going to be a lot like last year.”
Star Spencer, Douglass, Victory Christian and Southeast are just a few of the teams who could provide tough obstacles for the Irish. But my $$ is still on McGuinness… (um, not literally people, come on…)
Mills vs. Rivers: An NFL roster battle
Two ex-Oklahoma high school football stars are battling it out for a roster spot on the New England Patriots. Former Jenks standout Garrett Mills was a fourth round pick out of Tulsa by the Patriots in the 2006 draft, spending last season on injured reserve.
Rivers, who also played at OKC Douglass and Oklahoma State, was signed during training camp. He played most recently for New Orleans in 2006.
It appears Rivers has the upper hand because the 6-foot-5, 280 pounder is viewed as a much stronger blocker, something the Pats covet out of their tight ends. Mills has been used more as an H-Back in his time in New England and at 6-foot-1, 230 pounds is much smaller.
Ben Watson, Kyle Brady and David Thomas (currently on PUP) are New England’s other tight ends.
Shattuck may be without Helfenbein
By Jason Kersey
jkersey@oklahoman.com
Class C power Shattuck may be without star fullback and linebacker Tyler Helfenbein for its Week 1 game against Laverne.
Helfenbein, a junior, dislocated his shoulder in the team’s first scrimmage at Waynoka, and coach Troy Bullard said he isn’t sure if he will be able to play Friday.
Helfenbein hasn’t seen a doctor, but Bullard said he went to the local physical therapist and has been doing exercises.
“He’s going to try to practice this week,” Bullard said.
Bullard said Helfenbein (6-foot, 200 pounds) is one of his key players and would be sorely missed.
“I would lose one of my best defensive players and my power back,” Bullard said.
Bullard said that he is confident Helfenbein will be able to play Friday.
Helfenbein rushed for 900 yards last season.
I’d say, even without Helfenbein, Shattuck doesn’t have anything to worry about. The Indians have dominated Class C for several years now, and I don’t suspect losing one player will affect that very much.
Evans named starter at Newcastle
By Jason Kersey
jkersey@oklahoman.com
I spoke with Newcastle coach Keith Bolles this afternoon, and he told me that senior Trevor Evans will be his starting quarterback for the Racers’ Week 1 game at Pauls Valley.
Evans backed up Travis Corbin at quarterback last season.
Bolles said that Evans is a “calming force” for an offense that returns little in the backfield.
“He did a good job in the scrimmages,” Bolles said. “That’s not to say the others won’t see some action.”
Evans said he is confident in his abilities, and that the other players are confident in him as well.
“I feel pretty good about (being the starter),” Evans said. “I know for a fact that we’re all pretty confident about it. I’ve been playing quarterback a long time.”
Evans will have lots of good, skilled receivers around him. Jeremy Hey and Brandon Buie return experience, and junior tight end Ryan Corbin is a budding star.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a very hard job,” Evans said.
Evans started at free safety last season, where he picked off four passes.
All-City Preview: What a week for Alexander
By Zach West
After the All-City Preview Friday night, I was beat. Chasing down four different coaches, teams and players moving rapidly in and out of Taft Stadium in the afternoon heat added up to a rather exhausting day. Or, at least I thought I was exhausted, until I talked with Douglass head coach Willis Alexander after his team’s title game victory over Star Spencer.
I knew something was up when the first-year coach asked if he could sit down for our interview … on the forty-yard line. While at first I thought he was just worn out from a long day in the heat, I quickly learned it was much more. On top of starting his first season as Douglass’ head coach and starting a new year of teaching - plenty of stress in and of itself – Alexander also has a one-week old baby to help take care of. That’s right, in the middle of two-a-days, Alexander was with his wife in the hospital, bringing a new life into the world.
Add in the fact that Alexander is also trying to be there for his son Pierre Alexander, who just started his senior season at Carl Albert, and you have a recipe for true exhaustion. Suddenly, I didn’t feel so tired.
One thing’s for sure. All of the hours of hard work Alexander and his players have put in over the summer appear to have payed off. While they didn’t dominate the All-City Preview – and probably should have lost to Millwood – they still won, and that’s all that counts. Especially for a squad that finished 1-9 last year – a low-point for a once-proud program. And with such a young team, the future is looking brighter and brighter for Douglass. Of course, with so many youngsters, somebody has to lead them, and Alexander emphasized the role his three captains - seniors Da’Sor Horton, Sheldon Smith and Leonard Friday – have played in his team’s development.
“They’ve been very instrumental in leading our team,” Alexander said. “Everyone has bought in – the young ones and the old ones … what few we have.”
(On an interesting side note, while it’s Alexander’s first year as a head coach at Douglass, he has coached this senior trio before – as eighth graders.)
Alexander and his seniors insist that while the championship was nice, the team has a long ways to go to restore the program to where it once was.
“We’ve got to keep working hard,” Alexander said. “We’ve got to build on this city championship and keep getting better. This only lasts through tomorrow.”
Watch out for Horton:
He didn’t reach 1,000 yards last year, but you’d never know it from watching Douglass running back Da’Sor Horton tear through opposing defenses at the All-City Preview. While you can read more about the senior’s dominant performance in the article I wrote for Saturday’s paper, I’ll add this for the blog: Horton could push 2,000 yards this season. Obviously, it’s quite early to be predicting such high numbers, but barring injury, Horton is sure to improve drastically on his 909 yards from last season.
“I was mad,” Horton said of falling just short of 1,000. “I think I’m one of the top backs in the state, and I’ve got one of the best lines in the state.”
While that’s quite a claim, I don’t believe Horton is that far off. At 6-1, 190 pounds, Horton has both the speed to break away from defenders, and the strength and quick legs to break through plenty of tackles. With a new coach, more focused offseason workouts, and the fact that he will called upon to carry the bulk of the Trojan offense, I can’t blame Horton for being extremely excited about his chances in the upcoming season.
Now if I can just figure out how to pronounce his name.
North by Northwest Classen:
While Douglass won the All-City Preview, it was traditionally downtrodden Northwest Classen who provided the best story, finishing on the winner’s side of the bracket for the first time in school history. The Knights played tough in both of their games Friday, losing 6-0 to Star Spencer in the first game, and shocking Millwood 6-0 in the second contest, earning the consolation prize.
“Our guys worked really hard all the off-season,” head coach Anthony Robinson said. “We had tremendous numbers in our summer-pride program. We had about 80 percent of our players show up.”
The increased participation in the summer program apparently worked, because the Knights were stout defensively, rarely giving up ground. The only score they allowed on the day was on a great play from Star Spencer quarterback Franky Jamison, who was nearly corraled on an option but still managed to sidearm pitch the ball to running back Terrance Olds, who ran for a 55-yard touchdown.
What’s even more ironic about the Knights upset over Millwood, however, is that some of the biggest plays came from two players who transfered from Millwood – James Billbury and Michael Hassell. Northwest’s only touchdown of the night came on a 61-yard fumble recovery by Billbury, and much of the hard-nosed running was done by Hassell.
Unfortunately for the improved Knights, a difficult district 5A-1 lies ahead, with five traditional powers – Altus, Ardmore, Chickasha, Duncan and Lawton MacArthur – to go through and fellow upstart Western Heights also in the mix. Not exactly the best recipe for an underdog season.
Now you see him, now you don’t:
Standing at 5-7 and weighing 150 pounds, Star Spencer quarterback Franky Jamison is hard enough to see when he’s just standing behind the line of scrimmage. So you can only imagine how difficult it is to find him when he crouches nearly all the way to the ground to take the snap from the center. Despite his size, the little sophomore proved more than capable of leading an offense by confusing defenses all night long and proving that, well, size doesn’t mean much of anything if you can run. In fact, it was Jamison who provided the aformentioned best play of the night when he managed to dodge tacklers long enough to sidearm pitch an option to fellow sophomore Terrance Olds for a 55-yard touchdown run in the Bobcats 6-0 win over Northwest Classen.
Jamison proved to be elusive all night, as he helped lead the Bobcats inside Douglass’ 20-yard line twice in the championship game. Star Spencer could never find a way to stick it in the endzone, however, and lost to the Trojans despite tallying 100 more rushing yards – 63 provided by Jamison.
Seniors
