MWC RB James Flanders should be fine for Friday
Midwest City sophomore running back James Flanders is expected to be back on the field this week after suffering a bruise below his knee in last weekend’s win over Edmond Memorial.
Flanders practiced Monday in individual drills but was held out of the team portion.
The Bombers’ rotation of Flanders, J.R. Head, Emmanuel Maxwell, Dillione Johnson and others at running back will continue, Midwest City coach Steve Huff said.
“We’re sticking with that,” Huff said. “They all bring something different back there. We’re kind of doing what we thought we’d do there.”
OKC FB POW: Josh Turner, Millwood
The OKC Player of the Week is Millwood’s Josh Turner. Yeah, it’s starting to sound like the same thing every week but Turner keeps doing nothing but impressing. He returned a kick and an interception for a touchdown in Millwood’s 41-7 win over Little Axe. Turner also had two catches for 43 yards.
Others
Marcus Caddell, Douglass: Caddell had a 64-yard touchdown reception and a two-point conversion run in the Trojans’ 24-9 win over Elk City.
Kevonte Richardson, Millwood: Richardson finished 10 of 16 passing for 186 yards and two touchdowns
Mid-Del FB Player of the Week: Trevon Lewis, MWC
The Mid-Del Player of the Week is Midwest City’s Trevon Lewis. Lewis had a 16-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Bombers’ 22-7 win over Edmond Memorial. Emmanuel Maxwell and Dominique Jones get a lot of attention on the Bombers’ defense but Lewis is quickly becoming one of the Bombers’ defensive leaders.
Others
James Flanders, Midwest City: Flanders ran for a 43-yard touchdown in the Bombers’ 22-7 win over Edmond Memorial and finished with 110 yards.
Adrian Fletcher, Del City: Fletcher is turning into the Eagles’ go-to back. Fletcher scored two touchdowns in the Eagles’ 47-21 loss to Southmoore.
Darvonta Knight, Carl Albert: Knight had 9 carries for 134 yards and 3 TDs in Carl Albert’s win over Capitol Hill.
Softball: Down the stretch we come…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Sad, final softball roundup today. Next week will be a big state preview. Tough to contain the excitement of watching the Class 4A state tournament shake out.
Speaking of 4A, no team in the state might be hotter than Little Axe. With wins over Washington and Carl Albert in the last week, Mike Bread’s girls are rounding into form at just the right time.
Tuttle continues to have me scratching my head. You know this team is uber-talented. But so far against the best of the best, Jerry Bates’ club is 2-6 against top 5 teams. Granted, all six losses are vs. top 5 teams, but the Tigers are missing that signature win right now.
I wrote it in the Edmond POW post, but I don’t think any team had a better week than Rhonda Lawson and her Santa Fe squad. Emotional victories against Edlam rivals on back-to-back days, followed by an impressive outing at the Yukon Tournament. Big wins included Jenks and Lawton MacArthur.
Yukon is still staying the course without Dani Fox. Millerettes are showing just how much heart they have with the way they’ve performed in the last 10 days.
Not much rankings news, of course, as we’re now squarely set in district and regional play. Here are the final top 5 rankings for each class.
6A: 1. Mustang; 2. Yukon; 3. Broken Arrow; 4. Moore; 5. Union.
5A: 1. McAlester; 2. Lawton Mac; 3. Coweta; 4. Collinsville; 5. Carl Albert
4A: 1. Catoosa; 2. Tuttle; 3. Sequoyah-Claremore; 4. Little Axe; 5. Blanchard
3A: 1. Purcell; 2. Caney Valley; 3. Morris; 4. Sequoyah-Tahlequah; 5. Henryetta
2A: 1. Washington; 2. Ringling; 3. Healdton; 4. Apache; 5. Colbert
A: 1. Fletcher; 2. Davenport; 3. Fort Cobb-Broxton; 4. Keota; 5. Depew
B: 1. Moss; 2. Red Oak; 3. Leedey; 4. Roff; 5. Chattanooga
Irish: WRs adapting crucial to success…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
First there was Quinn Shanbour at quarterback for Bishop McGuinness. A broken ankle late in a 10-9 loss at Bishop Kelley has put him out.
So Camden Tharp took over. After a dazzling performance against Millwood, Tharp was out on the first play against Piedmont.
Enter David Krahl, and all he does is throw for five touchdowns in his first start and lead McGuinness to 54 points.
So while this definitely adds ammo to coach Kenny Young when he said all three were about equal, I’ve been more impressed about what this says about the Irish wide receivers.
Said Sam Crabtree:
As a receiver, it is kinda difficult to get that rhythm and chemistry. For Krahl to come in like he did last week, I was extremely impressed by it.
Crabtree said the key is to try to work on the chemistry during the week, and that’s something him and Kyle Ahmad have been working on. As of Monday night, it looks like Tharp will get the call as he was back out with the first string and Krahl was the JV quarterback.
Either way, making the trip to McGuinness on Wednesday for more insight. And then joining the Irish (3-1, 1-0) on the trip to Weatherford (4-0, 1-0) on Friday night.
Santa Fe: Keeping the momentum key…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Making the rounds this week. Was at Santa Fe on Monday, heading out to Heritage Hall later today and Bishop McGuinness on Wednesday.
First thought from Santa Fe: Will Long is in control of this team now. He’s more assertive, more confident and all those other good things.
His struggles in those first two games had me wondering if a change was right around the corner, but he’s proven his grit.
Also had a chance for a real nice talk with senior Brian Mills (and video, too). After an 0-2 start, I asked if there was a senior-only meeting.
Said Mills:
There kinda was. Bascially, all the seniors came together, and we realized we needed to get the younger kids up to play. We can’t do it by ourselves.
That’s been one of the differences as sophomores and juniors have started to make some big plays for the Wolves.
Mills has been a man possessed since the second half of the Memorial game, and he said it’s all because of Damon Johnson.
Johnson tore his ACL in the first half of that game, and it’s inspired Mills like you wouldn’t believe.
I have to play for two of us out there. He’s one of my best friends, and we’ve been playing together on the same team ever since I moved to Edmond in eighth grade.
Santa Fe lost a tough 38-31 overtime game to Mustang but has scored 86 points in its last two games.
The Wolves (1-3, 0-1) take on Del City (3-1, 0-1) on Thursday night at UCO’s Wantland Stadium (I’ll be there as will Ryan Aber).
BOTR: Players of the Week
Football
Brayle Brown, Shawnee, QB: Brown scored on runs of 55 and 14 yards and also threw a 14-yard touchdown pass as the No. 4 Wolves remained unbeaten with a 48-0 win over Harrah. Brown entered the game with almost 1,000 total yards of offense for the season. He’s clearly got Shawnee playing at a very high level.
Other contenders: Jacob Smart, Minco (44 carries for 172 yards); Corbin Nelson, Watonga (10 catches 158 yards)
Softball
Kayla Wyatt, P, Purcell
It’s been tough to get games in the last few weeks, but that hasn’t slowed down Wyatt. Purcell has given up three runs in its last nine games and is showing why it is the No. 1 team in Class 3A. The Dragons beat No. 2 Tuttle of 4A and No. 1 Fletcher of Class A this weekend.
Private schools POW: Barry Sanders Jr., Heritage Hall…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Rushing for 265 yards, 4 TDs and having an interception makes Barry Sanders Jr. a no-brainer for POW.
One of these weeks it’s going to be a nail-biting decision. But not here lately. Just like there was no way you could discredit LaRone Richardson of Bishop McGuinness last week, can’t deny Barry Sanders Jr. this week.
This was a gut-check for all the talented sophomores for the Chargers, and they came through in spades.
Sanders led the way with 265 yards on a mere 12 carries and four touchdowns. He also had an interception to help shut down Alva’s passing game.
Not bad.
Sanders came in with a lot of hype, and he hasn’t disappointed. While this was his first huge game, he’s been consistent on both sides all season for Heritage.
Heritage has a huge test with Kingfisher on Friday. Fellow chum Scott Wright will be there.
Other contenders
David Krahl, QB, McGuinness: You could argue he deserves the honor, too. Only completed 12 passes but five of them were touchdowns. Threw three to Sam Crabtree and two to Kyle Ahmad in a trouncing of Piedmont.
Bentley Williams, RB, Casady: Provided the game-clinching touchdown and had two touchdowns on the night in the Cyclones’ 22-12 road win against Tulsa NOAH.
Sam Crabtree and Kyle Ahmad, McGuinness: Can’t have one without the other in this case. Ahmad got it started with his two scores and then Crabtree took over the rest of the way.
Other winners
Mary Kate Roy, McGuinness, Cross Country: She placed seventh at the Holland Hall Invitational last week. Maddie Bisson and Lizzy Whitbeck were also in the top 10 to pave Irish to victory.
I did not receive any volleyball or softball nominations this week. If you’d like to make one, send me an e-mail.
Heritage has a big battle with Edmond Memorial tonight in volleyball while the Irish volleyball team has a couple of tough ones with Booker T. and Clinton on Tuesday.
Edmond POW: Colten Sander, Deer Creek…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
After scoring three points in six quarters, Deer Creek was hoping for an offensive explosion against Northwest Classen.
It happened, thanks in large part to junior running back Colten Sander. Ironically, Sander had a huge game against the Knights last year, too.
Sander rushed for 153 yards and three touchdowns for the Antlers in a 42-10 victory.
A healthy Sander was finally able to produce the way he is capable of. Sander is one of the most dangerous threats in 5A, and this should be a sign of even better things.
With Sander, QB Alex Christensen can relax. The Antlers, of course, lost a lot of weapons, but there is still a lot to worry about for opposing defenses.
Deer Creek has a chance to put up some more gaudy numbers this week against Western Heights.
Other contenders
Brian Mills, RB, Santa Fe: Rushed for 174 yards and two touchdowns in a heartbreaking 38-31 overtime loss at Mustang.
Joe Aska Jr., RB, North: Scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and as coach Jeremy Dombek said: “Decided he wasn’t going to be stopped.”
Other winners
Sierra Bronkey, Santa Fe, Softball: A HUGE week for Rhonda Lawson’s team. Bronkey was crucial in victories against Edlam rivals. At the Yukon Tournament, Wolves were also able to defeat Lawton MacArthur.
Memorial, Volleyball: Someone sent me an attachment, but I couldn’t read it from the Stillwater Tournament. Didn’t drop a game and beat four of the top 8 teams in 6A (Union, Santa Fe, North and Stillwater). Wow.
Adam Godwin, North, Cross Country: Godwin won the 5K run at Mustang last week and helped Huskies hold off Memorial for the victory. Godwin won by eight seconds.
Want to make a nomination? Drop me a line.
Norman North’s Whitaker will have MRI on knee
Norman North wide receiver and defensive back Scott Whitaker left Friday’s game at Putnam City North after tweaking his knee on the Putnam City Stadium turf. However, Norman North coach Lance Manning said the injury doesn’t appear to be serious.
“We think it was a hyperextension of his knee,” Manning said. “But the doctor looked at it and said everything looked stable. Just to make sure, we’ll have an MRI done. But it looks like everything is probably OK.”
Whitaker is North’s leading receiver with nine receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown.
North is 3-0 after whipping Putnam North 38-17. The T-Wolves host Moore Friday at Harve Collins Field.
