Follow the Stampede
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@Oklahoman.com
There’s no denying how great Chandler quarterback Jack Gray has the potential to be. Weird thing is we may never get to see just how good he is. If the Lions can keep doing what they’re doing, well, Gray’s never going to have to test that arm.
Through four games, Chandler is averaging 308 yards per contest on the ground and has rushed for 1,232 yards.
Gray is leading the way on the ground with 261 yards and four touchdowns. But he’s just one of five formidable runners for the second-ranked team in 2A.
T.J. Tillis, someone who coach Neal Bacon said he likes seeing out in space, has garnered 224 yards with one touchdown.
To go along with Tillis, Bacon said he’s happy when he sees Marcus Thrash in the open field. Thrash has only had 11 attempts, but he’s netted 112 yards so far.
On a 3rd down and short, Bacon calls another name: Johnny Morton.
Morton has sat out the last couple of games, but Bacon said Morton should be ready to go for Friday night’s tussle with Okemah.
Morton has accumulated 101 yards and a score.
And that doesn’t even include Austin Major. With three touchdowns and 288 yards, Major has proven to be the most potent.
So as a defense, what are you supposed to do?
Key in on the run, and Gray can throw for 5 TDs (like he did two weeks ago). Hmm, guess that’s why they’re one of the top teams in 2A.
Ironically enough, it’s the Okemah back that Bacon is worried about. Okemah back Lorenzo Stalin was the only back besides Gerald Jones last year to rush for more than 100 yards against the Lions.
Looking for revenge…well, a win
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@Oklahoman.com
I was at the Tecumseh at McLoud battle last year. The Redskins were a slight favorite and seemed to control the game. But the final was 21-14 Savages. It was a tough loss. Not only is Tecumseh a district rival, the schools are less than 10 miles away. You know what means…that’s bragging rights, baby.
After a devastating loss to Harrah, the Savages rebounded with a 28-14 win over Cushing, sending Cushing out of the 4A rankings.
Last year’s loss remains fresh in the minds of McLoud coach Eric Cardin and his players and is a reminder that you can never take anything for granted.
One shining bright spot for the sixth-ranked Redskins is the return of Cody Phipps. The junior running back rolled his ankle two weeks ago. He attempted to play last week, but the ankle was giving him too much trouble.
It’s still up in the air how much he’ll play, but Cardin said Phipps has looked better and is feeling better than last week.
One component of the Redskins that has improved is the aerial attack under Wayland Moore. Taking nothing away from Jason Bowen who was fun to watch, Moore has learned the ins and outs of the position.
Need evidence? Moore has thrown for three touchdowns in each of the last two contests, a stirring upset win at Seminole followed by a gutty 35-21 victory to open district play against Deer Creek.
Billy Compau, regarded by his coach as having the best hands he’s ever seen, is starting to get the opportunity to prove his coach prophet.
The McLoud hybrid WR/TE has caught 20 balls for 331 yards and six touchdowns, including three in the Deer Creek win.
Now one question is will I learn? I’ve foolishly picked against the Redskins the last two weeks. Have I learned my lesson?
Blackmon helps Plainview in other ways this week
By Jason Kersey
jkersey@oklahoman.com
Justin Blackmon, Plainview’s superstar receiver, didn’t catch a touchdown in the team’s 35-21 win over Sulphur yesterday. It was his first game this season to go without a touchdown, but Plainview coach Corey Cole said he was a big distraction to the Sulphur defense.
“They had Robert Thomas trailing him, and usually had two or three guys on him,” Cole said. “He didn’t have any touchdowns, but his presence was known. It opened up some running lanes for us.”
And running right through those lanes was no problem for the Indians.
Plainview running back Logan Russell ran for four touchdowns, and quarterback Brandon Allen ran for over 100 yards and a score.
* With the win, Plainview has conquered its toughest road test of the year. The other top three teams in the district (Purcell, Marlow and Pauls Valley) all must come to Plainview.
Cole wouldn’t say that Sulphur is the team’s biggest hurdle of the year.
“I still think we’ve got some big games coming up,” Cole said. “I think Marlow and Purcell are going to be very tough. One thing I learned from Coach (Jim) Dixon (of Sulphur) is that anything can happen so you have to stay focused.”
Rush Springs not perfect … but not far away, either
By Zach West
zwest@oklahoman.com
Through four games this year, Class A’s No. 4-ranked Rush Springs has given up a total of one touchdown and outscored its opponents 119-7, notching three shutouts. While that may appear to be about as close to perfection as a team can get, head coach Barry Foster disagrees.
“We’re a good team, and we’re playing pretty well, but we’re not anywhere near where we want to be yet,” Foster said.
Oddly enough, the Redskins have struggled mightily at extra points, and have also had problems forcing turnovers, Foster said.
“It would be easier to count how many we’ve made,” Foster said when asked how many extra points his team has missed. “We’ve just been horrible at that.”
Even that problem appears to be close to fixed, however. After trying several guys as the extra-point kicker, Foster has settled on junior Jeremy Sweat, who hit three out of five attempts Friday night. The other weakness may be in the past, as well. Friday night, Rush Springs notched its first interception of the season, running a pick back for a touchdown.
So while he knows his senior-loaded team can get better, even Foster has to admit that his squad is on a roll.
“We knew we had a chance (to be good),” Foster said. “We take a lot of pride in our defense – we have for years – and we’re just playing pretty well.”
Anadarko back on the winning track
By Zach West
zwest@oklahoman.com
The last decade or so hasn’t been kind to the Anadarko football team. The Warriors haven’t finished above .500 since 1994. In head coach Kent Jackson’s first three years after hiring on in 2004, the Warriors won only five games total.
The 2007 Warriors, however, look well on their way to bucking that trend. In Week 3, Anadarko beat Chickasha for the first time since 1994. Friday in a 33-14 road win, the Warriors defeated Elk City for the first time since 1992 and moved to 3-1.
“It was a huge road win for us against a ranked opponent,” Jackson said. “It was a game that we had to win if we want to get into the playoffs.”
Even the Warriors lone defeat was nearly a victory. Anadarko hung tough until the end against Cache in Week 1, losing 21-18 in a hard-fought battle.
So what spurred the sudden resurgence? Well, with 18 returning starters, the Warriors are experienced and confident … and showing that their No. 7 preseason district ranking may have been just a bit off.
“Our confidence is way up,” Jackson said. “The thing that sets us apart from the previous years is that we play through adversity. In the past we used to roll over and let the bad things keep coming. This year we play through the tough times and keep improving.”
The quick-learning of Isreal Williams hasn’t hurt, either. Despite all of the returning starters, the Warriors were lacking at one key area coming into the season – quarterback. Enter Williams, who switched over from running back to take the reigns.
In only his third game as the signal caller, Williams rushed for 230 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, and was 7-of-14 passing for 107 yards and two touchdowns Friday night.
“He is getting better every week,” Jackson said. “He is making great cuts and helping us win ball games.”
If the Warriors want to finish at .500 or above for the first time in 13 years, they’ll need two more wins. If they want to make the playoffs (also for the first time in 13 years), they’ll likely need more than that. Glancing ahead at their schedule, Anadarko definitely has a shot. Although they will have to face tough opponents in Bishop McGuinness, Douglass and Weatherford, the Warriors also have contests remaining against Piedmont, Northeast and Guymon. While the latter three games are definitely winnable (and Anadarko could be the favorite in all of them), they’re still going to have to keep overcoming history to do so. Friday, the Warriors will start with Piedmont – a team they’ve never beaten in school history. Anadarko is 0-3 all-time against the Wildcats.
“It will take a big effort on our part,” Jackson said. “Piedmont has been a good football program and they really know how to win.”
- Ray Martin contributed to this blog
Nolan and Ross: The keys to Keys’ success
By Ray Martin
rmartin@oklahoman.com
Keys football coach Gary Willis said quarterback Ryan Nolan and receiver Chance Ross are playing with “great chemistry right now”.
What an understatement.
Friday night, the two connected for five touchdowns and 271-yards on nine completions. Nolan completed five more passes, and finished with 410-yards in a 51-12 rout of Adair.
Maybe you’re thinking, “Its Adair, big deal, they had a good game against a bad team. But they haven’t been doing that all season have they?”
They have. And if it continues, it will be bad news for the rest of class 2A.
Nolan has already surpassed the 1000-yard mark (1032 to be exact). He has completed 65-of-140 passes (46 percent) and thrown 13 touchdowns.
Last season, Nolan racked up 2300 yards.
“He is already on track to break that,” Willis said.
With Ross’s help, 2300 yards should be no problem.
The senior has hauled in 30 receptions for 586-yards and eight scores in his first four games.
“He doesn’t drop anything,” Willis said. “Ross has been a playmaker since he was in sixth grade. When he walks onto the field he thinks he is the best player out there.”
Most of the time he probably is the best player on the field, if not then he’s likely the second best, right behind Nolan.
“They just play great together,” Willis said.
Keep an eye on these two as the season progresses. Class 2A coaches and players sure will.
Best cross country has to offer
By Justin Harper
jharper@oklahoman.com
The Edmond Dog Pack is always one of the top cross country meets of the year, but this year it’s huge. Since the large-school state championships have been moved from their usual place at Oral Roberts in Tulsa to Mitch Park in Edmond, every school that even thinks it has a chance at winning state or an individual who has a shot will be at the Dog Pack.
That’s because the Dog Pack is held at Mitch Park (a course that is ranked sixth in the nation by one cross country website), so it gives runners a chance to test it out before state. But because of who will be competing, the field will be state-meet quality as well. Actually, it will be better because all classes (A-5A) can compete.
The the Class 3A, 4A and 5A state meets will be held Oct. 27.
The girls field will steal the show as it is expected to have the returning state champion in every class except A (Kristan Radcliffe of Forgan graduated). However, the 2A champ (Amber Harper of Plainview), the 3A champ (Jori Davis of Piedmont), the 4A champ (Molly Ferguson of McGuinness) and the 5A champ (Sara Vaughn of Tulsa Union) are all expected to compete. Add to that 5A stars Katelin Cherry of Westmoore and Erin Watson of Edmond North and you have a field nonpareil.
Best kept secret in 6A??
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@oklahoman.com
After watching Mustang/Putnam North in person, I think I may have found one of the best kept secrets in the state.
PC North running back Josh Booker is one of the best players I’ve seen in person this season. He has exceptional balance, agility and quickness. There were several times he had defenders one-on-one and simply embarrassed them, not allowing them to even get a hand on him. He’s NICE!!
He reminded me a lot of Cadillac Williams from Tampa Bay. He’s just a junior and I think if he continues to play like he did on Friday night he should be one of top recruits in the state last year. It reminds me of Mossis Madu when he was at Norman– he didn’t get a lot of attention but he was making moves and making plays few people can make– Josh is like that.
So if you have the chance go see him play, it’s worth the $$$
What a difference a year makes
By Ray Martin
rmartin@oklahoman.com
A year makes a big difference.
Just ask Tulsa Washington coach Antwain Jimmerson.
“Our team is completely different than last year’s team,” he said.
No kidding.
Last year, Washington became a 6A contender after a triple overtime upset of then second-ranked Jenks (43-37).
This year was a different story.
Jenks pounded the Hornets, 69-0 Thursday night, avenging last year’s upset.
What happened in a year? Washington isn’t quite sure.
“You’ll have to ask Jenks,” Jimmerson said. “We aren’t sure what happened. They just totally dominated us.”
Washington has been injury struck thus far this season. Division-1 prospect John Williams was injured in week two, and will remain sidelined for at least two more weeks.
“Anytime you lose a Division-1 player it hurts you,” Jimmerson said.
But it doesn’t hurt you that bad. Not 69 points bad.
It was the worst loss in Washington’s history. The previous worst was a 41-0 loss at the hands of Douglass in 1957. They hadn’t been shutout since 2001, since Tulsa Kelley blanked the Hornet’s 26-0.
The Hornets still have plenty of time to bounce back. If they dont, things could be drastically better next year.
Week 4 State Area Picks…
By Robert Przybylo, Jason Kersey and Zach West
None of our upsets panned out last week, but Bethany played Tuttle close and Carl Albert has said Duncan is the best team it has played yet. That has to count for something, right? No team made the three of us look more stupid than McLoud. The Redskins trounced the Chieftains at Seminole when conventional wisdom said Seminole. Moving on to district action, several key games have caught our intrigue, so without further ado…
Week 4
Altus at Chickasha
Robert – Altus; Jason – Chickasha; Zach – Altus
Hobart at Bridge Creek
Robert – Bridge Creek; Jason – Bridge Creek; Zach – Bridge Creek
Plainview at Sulphur
Robert – Sulphur; Jason – Plainview; Zach – Sulphur
Anadarko at Elk City
Robert – Anadarko; Jason – Anadarko; Zach – Elk City
Newcastle at Clinton
Robert – Clinton; Jason – Clinton; Zach – Clinton (LOCK)
Blanchard at Elgin
Robert – Blanchard; Jason – Blanchard; Zach – Elgin
Durant at Shawnee
Robert – Durant; Jason – Shawnee; Zach – Shawnee
Cache at Kingfisher
Robert – Kingfisher (LOCK); Jason – Kingfisher; Zach – Cache (upset)
Deer Creek at McLoud
Robert – Deer Creek; Jason – Deer Creek; Zach – McLoud
Bethel at OCS
Robert – Bethel; Jason – OCS; Zach – OCS
Ponca City at Del City
Robert – Ponca City; Jason – Ponca City; Zach – Del City
Blackwell at Sequoyah-Claremore
Robert – Seq.-Claremore; Jason – Seq.-Claremore (LOCK); Zach – Seq.-Claremore
Last week’s totals – Robert (15-5, 1-0 LOCK); Jason (15-5, 1-0 LOCK); Zach (14-6, 1-0 LOCK)
Overall – Robert (28-12, 1-1 LOCK); Jason (26-14, 2-0 LOCK); Zach (25-15, 2-0 LOCK)
