Capsule: Millwood at Verdigris
By Ryan Aber
raber@opubco.com
Millwood (11-1) at Verdigris (10-2)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Verdigris High School
Winner plays: Kingfisher-Sperry winner next Friday or Saturday at a neutral site to be determined.
Millwood (W, Star Spencer; W, Douglass; L, McGuinness; W, Little Axe; W, Jones*; W, Lexington; W, SeeWorth Academy; W, Bethel; W, Centennial; W, Meeker; W, Newkirk; W, Washington)
*Jones forfeited to the Falcons after winning.
Why the Falcons can win: Because Millwood has the best skill position players in Class 2A and possible the state overall. Millwood’ bend-but-not-break defense hasn’t been flashy, but they’ve been effective.
Verdigris (L, Seq. Claremore; W, Inola; W, Colcord; L, Lincoln Christian; W, Sperry; W, Chealsea; W, Nowata; W, Wyandotte; W, Pawhuska; W, Caney Valley; W, Colcord; W, Chandler)
Why the Cardinals can win: Because Kevin Stout has been extremely effective all season and now
Stat leaders
RUSHING
Millwood
Emilio Gatewood: 166 carries, 1,539 yards, 21 TDs
Kevonte Richardson: 54 carries, 501 yards, 3 TDs
Verdigris
Kevin Stout: 122 carries, 1,065 yards, 16 TDs
Daniel Burke: 78 carries, 627 yards, 7 TDs
Jay Sparkman: 106 carries, 607 yards, 5 TDs
PASSING
Millwood
Kevonte Richardson: 106-180, 1,799 yards, 21 TDs, 8 INTs
Verdigris
Kevin Stout: 41-90, 442 yards, 5 TDs, 3 INTs
RECEIVING
Millwood
Brandon Swindall: 31 catches, 637 yards, 10 TDs
Josh Turner: 29 catches, 456 yards, 3 TDs
Shevin Patton: 24 catches, 328 yards, 2 TDs
Verdigris
Kyle Parnell: 8 catches, 170 yards, 0 TDs
TACKLES
Millwood
Larry Seals: 82
Derrick Hurst: 65
Davion Pearason: 65
DionTay Washington: 61
Verdigris
Brandon Melton: 119
Seth Sandusky: 86
Drew Smith: 84
Kevin Stout: 69
Key matchup: Verdigris QB Kevin Stout vs. Millwood linebackers. Stout has been extremely elusive and Millwood has struggled at timed defensively. But the Falcons are back at full strength with Trayvon Henry back at linebacker.
The pick: Millwood 28, Verdigris 7. Millwood keeps alive its hopes of another state championship with a road win.
Capsule: Carl Albert vs. El Reno
By Ryan Aber
raber@opubco.com
Carl Albert (10-2) vs. El Reno (12-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Putnam City Stadium, Oklahoma City
Winner plays: Bixby-Guthrie winner in next week’s Class 5A state championship game.
Carl Albert (L, Tulsa Washington; W, Choctaw; W, Duncan; W, Capitol Hill; L, Shawnee; W, Noble; W, Guthrie; W, Ardmore; W, Durant; W, Harrah; W, Lawton MacArthur; W, Tulsa Kelley)
Why the Titans can win: Because J.T. Realmuto and Tre Porter give Carl Albert a 1-2 punch offensively that El Reno hasn’t seen so far this season and Carl Albert’s defense, even with giving up 31 points last week, is playing very well right now.
El Reno (W, Woodward; W, Guthrie; W, Elk City; W, Altus; W, Chickasha; W, Lawton MacArthur; W, Deer Creek; W, Western Heights; W, Northwest; W, Duncan; W, Ardmore; W, McAlester)
Why the Indians can win: Because that’s what they’ve done all season. The Indians have one of, if not the, best defenses in the class and feature an electrifying playmaker in quarterback Jakeil Everheart.
Stat leaders
RUSHING
Carl Albert
J.T. Realmuto: 173 carries, 1,153 yards, 19 TDs
Tre Porter: 70 carries, 635 yards, 9 TDs
Kenton Whittington: 53 carries, 354 yards, 5 TDs
El Reno
Jakeil Everheart: 147 carries, 724 yards, 13 TDs
Cory Dauphin: 93 carries, 553 yards, 13 TDs
PASSING
Carl Albert
J.T. Realmuto: 93-136, 1,691 yards, 20 TDs, 10 INTs
El Reno
Jakeil Everheart: 100-181, 1,416 yards, 10 TDs, 4 INTs
RECEIVING
Carl Albert
Tre Porter: 19 catches, 589 yards, 8 TDs
Sterling Wright: 30 catches, 381 yards, 4 TDs
Markell Walker: 18 catches, 334 yards, 3 TDs
El Reno
Jovia Franklin: 41 catches, 621 yards, 9 TDs
Ray Little: 22 catches, 300 yards, 2 TDs
TACKLES
Carl Albert
Jeremiah Reed: 117
Kenton Whittington: 106
Tre Porter: 96
David Lambeth: 87
Gatlin Arnold: 79
Darren Colquitt: 74
Taylor Hawkins: 66
El Reno
Tyler Palmer: 127
Tank Mulanax: 119
Cory Dauphin: 95
Matt Pruitt: 87
Cody Dauphin: 64
Key matchup: El Reno quarterback Jakeil Everheart vs. Carl Albert’s linebackers and defensive ends. Everheart is the heart and soul of the Indians’ offense and has the ability to pull up the Titans’ receivers into run support and then hit receivers on the run. Carl Albert’s defenders need to keep Everheart contained in order to be successful.
Ryan’s pick: Carl Albert 28, El Reno 14. I just think Carl Albert is playing too well in both phases of the game right now. I wouldn’t be surprised if El Reno wins, because I think Tom Cobble might be the best coach around and because Everheart is immensely talented, but the Titans are rolling.
The Stooges: Playoffs Week 3
Congratulations to Clinton’s Sean Stephens, who picked 14 of 15 games last week correctly and picked Kingfisher by a point in the tiebreaker. Ryan fell back into third place after a 10-5 week. Scott gained some ground, pulling to eight games back. Justin is a game back of Scott and eight ahead of Bob and nine up on Matt. And anyone keeping track of my picks, a few in this grid are different from the UPickEm picks right now, since I was without computer access for most of the last 36 hours and missed getting my picks in.
Playoff Week 3
Carl Albert vs. El Reno (Ryan will be there)
Ryan: Carl Albert; Bob: Carl Albert; Scott: El Reno; Justin: El Reno
Bixby vs. Guthrie (Matt will be there)
Ryan: Guthrie; Bob: Guthrie; Scott: Guthrie (lock); Justin: Guthrie
Talihina vs. Hennessey (Scott will be there)
Ryan: Hennessey; Bob: Hennessey; Scott: Hennessey; Justin: Hennessey
Cashion vs. Stroud
Ryan: Cashion; Bob: Cashion; Scott: Cashion; Justin: Stroud
Salina vs. Oklahoma Bible
Ryan: Oklahoma Bible; Bob: Oklahoma Bible; Scott: Oklahoma Bible; Justin: Oklahoma Bible
Timberlake vs. Deer Creek-Lamont
Ryan: Timberlake (lock); Bob: Timberlake; Scott: Timberlake; Justin: Timberlake
Weatherford vs. Douglass (Bob will be there)
Ryan: Douglass; Bob: Weatherford; Scott: Weatherford; Justin: Douglass
Star Spencer vs. Sallisaw (Ryan will be there)
Ryan: Star Spencer; Bob: Star Spencer; Scott: Star Spencer; Justin: STar Spencer
Jenks vs. Southmoore (Justin will be there)
Ryan: Jenks; Bob: Jenks (LOCK); Scott: Jenks; Justin: Southmoore
Tulsa Union vs. Broken Arrow
Ryan: Tulsa Union; Bob: Tulsa Union; Scott: Tulsa Union; Justin: Tulsa Union
Cascia Hall vs. Sequoyah Claremore
Ryan: Cascia Hall; Bob: Cascia Hall; Scott: Sequoyah Claremore; Justin: Cascia Hall
Berryhill vs. Dewey
Ryan: Berryhill; Bob: Berryhill; Scott: Berryhill; Justin: Berryhill
Garber vs. Laverne
Ryan: Garber; Bob: Garber; Scott: Garber; Justin: Garber
Ryan vs. Canton
Ryan: Canton; Bob: Canton; Scott: Canton; Justin: Canton
Lincoln Christian vs. Davis
Ryan: Lincoln Christian; Bob: Lincoln Christian; Scott: Lincoln Christian; Justin: Lincoln Christian
Last week: Scott (13-2, 1-0); Bob (11-4, 0-1); Ryan (10-5, 1-0); Justin (10-5, 0-1)
Overall: Ryan (129-47, 7-5); Scott (121-55, 9-3); Justin (120-56, 6-6); Bob (112-64, 6-6)
Heritage Hall vs. Pawhuska Capsule…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Heritage Hall (8-4) vs. Pawhuska (10-2)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Pawhuska HS (I’ll be there)
Heritage (L, Casady; L, Weatherford; L, Davis; W, Alva; W, Kingfisher; W, Perry; W, Fairview; W, Newkirk; L, John Marshall; W, St. Mary; W, Meeker; W, Lindsay)
Why the Chargers can win: Because I sensed a different team at practice this week. They’re no longer the young pups. There was a different intensity to this group this week. And with Sterling Shepard back to provide just as big an emotional lift as he does a physical one, Heritage feels like a sleeper.
Quote:
We’ve started to challenge each other in practice. It’s been real intense lately, and it’s brought us closer as a team. We feel we’re being overlooked right now.” – senior Logan McGrath
Heritage key stats:
Passing: Sterling Shepard 43-83, 591 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs; Cooper Cloud 37-59, 506 yds, 3 TDs, 3 INTs
Rushing: Barry Sanders 1,558 yds, 21 TDs
Receiving: 24 rec., 338 yds; Sanders 18 rec, 274 yds, 4 TDs; Tanner France 16 rec., 204 yds, 2 TDs
Defense: Marc Robinson 130 tackles, 7 sacks; Logan McGrath 122 tkls, 10 sacks; Travis Harrison 83 tkls, 2 sacks; Sanders 6 INTs
Pawhuska (10-2)
Why the Huskies can win: Because their balance on offense is incredible. It doesn’t get talked a lot because of the defensive speed the Huskies have, but to have three runners with more than 700 yards and all with at least 12 touchdowns gives them more threat on offense than people give ‘em credit for.
Pawhuska key stats:
Passing: Kyle Culver 53-114, 798 yds, 11 TDs, 8 INTs
Rushing: Hank Powell 929 yds, 13 TDs; Culver 824, 12 TDs; Justin Garrison 758, 15 TDs
Receiving: Joe Conner 14 rec., 282 yds, 3 TDs; Tino Hall 8 rec. 181 yds, 2 TDs
Defense: Justin Garrison 112 tackles, 2 sacks; Hank Powell 100 tkls, 2 INTs; Riley Javellas 3 INTs
Key matchup: Heritage running game against Pawhuska defense. The Pawhuska defense isn’t very big, but it is extremely quick. Teams that have had success against the Chargers have been able to contain the vaunted running attack. As impressive as Heritage’s defense has been in the playoffs, Pawhuska has only given up 13 points in its two playoff wins and is coming off a dominating 34-0 win against Morris.
Boneman’s pick: Heritage 28, Pawhuska 14. This team is healthy at the right time and really has overcome a lot this season that has tested just how mentally tough they are. Rematch with either Lincoln Christian (last year’s semis) or Davis (loss in Week 3) looms.
Douglass/Weatherford: Revisiting Round 1…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Weatherford (12-0) vs. Douglass (9-3)
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Yukon HS (I’ll be there)
I’m a boxing nut, my favorite sport. I can’t help but think that when Weatherford and Douglass battle each other, it is exactly like a heavyweight bout.
It’s two big hitters who are going to push each other to the limit in every way possible. Each team will give its best shot, and the question will be who will be able to respond from it?
How even are these teams? Each is led by a pair of solid runners. Quinton Neil and Kevin Forbes for Douglass; Jake Barrios and Kale Sawatzky for Weatherford.
But how about the team stats? Weatherford has scored 380 points and and has given up 147. In other words, 31-12. Douglass has scored 368 points and has given up 137 points. In other words, 30-11.
You’ve heard me talk a lot about the Week 8 battle where Weatherford snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a 14-7 win at Douglass. Well, here’s a blast from the past.
Cashion vs. Stroud Capsule…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Cashion (12-0) vs. Stroud (12-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Stroud HS
Cashion (12-0)
Why the Wildcats can win: Because they went through one of the tougher districts and came out on top in a couple of games where I didn’t think it was possible. Cashion has a toughness that stems from the way coach Lynn Shackelford has molded this team to be. Not always flashy, but always effective.
Quote:
There’s not much you need to say at this point. We know this game is going to be tough, but this is what you want at this time of year.” – Shackelford
Stroud (12-0)
Why the Tigers can win: Because they’ve been so dominant all season. While Cashion has to battle to the final seconds a couple of times, Stroud has been, whew, untouchable. 512-86 or 43-7 is the average winning margin per game this season for Chris Elerick’s team.
Key matchup: Cashion’s Jeremy Seaton vs. Stroud defense. I don’t know if Cashion can stop Cody Pritchard, but if Jeremy Seaton can be as effective running and throwing the ball as he’s been all year, then I think the Tigers might be in for a long night.
The pick: Cashion 22, Stroud 19. I can’t see this being by more than a touchdown, and I can’t see either team scoring more than 30 points. The winner of this will definitely have earned the berth into the semifinals.
Video: Douglass’ Norris White
Douglass plays Weatherford at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night at Yukon HS in a Class 4A semifinal. I recently had a chance to sit down and talk with Trojans’ two-way standout Norris White:
3 Qs: Star Spencer vs. Sallisaw
By Ryan Aber and Robert Przybylo
raber@opubco.com; bprzybylo@opubco.com
Why does my name always come first in these double bylines? The advantages of having a last name that starts with “Ab” when you don’t have a co-worker whose last name is Aaron. For better or worse, though, it also meant I always sat in the front of the class in elementary school. Anyway, on to the three questions on Star Spencer vs. Sallisaw:
Star Spencer (10-2) vs. Sallisaw (11-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sapulpa HS
Robert Przybylo: The Star Spencer defense was absolutely dominant in district play but boy have Elk City and Oologah tested the Bobcats. Is this team starting to wear down or has it been matchup problems or something else?
Ryan Aber: Against Elk City, it was a bit of both, wearing down and matchup problems. The Elks’ no-huddle spread didn’t allow Star Spencer to substitute as much as it would like and that took its toll on the Bobcats. Last week, the score was a bit deceiving. Star trailed early but dominated from late in the second quarter on pretty much. Darrell Hall is confident in his team, though certainly Sallisaw will be a test.
Przybylo: Some kids just start to ‘get it.’ I don’t think there has been a better example of this than Terence Olds. Always a dynamic player, he’s matured by leaps and bounds this year. What led to this and has it rubbed off on his teammates?
Aber: It hasn’t rubbed off as much as Hall would like, but it’s certainly had an effect. Olds and Joe Christian, who I wrote about in Monday’s paper, really are the heart and soul of the Bobcats. As far as what led to Olds’ maturation, he told me he just “woke up” this summer and realized there were more important things in life than just hanging around Spencer and being a high school football star. He made a choice to apply himself fully, not only on the field but in the classroom, and it’s certainly paid off. You can hear the pride in Hall’s voice whne he talks about both of those guys.
Przybylo: In big games, sometimes it’s the player you don’t expect that makes the big play. If it’s not Darwin Rideau or Olds, who might become that player that takes center stage for Darrell Hall’s club?
Aber: Well, you’ve got to start with Franky Jamison, the Bobcats’ quarterback. You don’t hear a lot about him because of the gaudy numbers that Olds and Rideau have but Jamison has really come on this year after taking over for Jeremy Harris. Bobcats offensive coordinator Rashaun Woods has really done a good job with Jamison and the Star Spencer passing game, and he’s a threat to break off a big run, too.
Norman North sports this week
A look at Norman North sports events in the next week:
Friday
Wrestling: Oklahoma Open at OU
Saturday
Wrestling: Oklahoma Open at OU
Tuesday
Basketball: Norman North at Westmoore, girls 6:15; boys 8 p.m.
Norman sports this week
A look at Norman sports events in the next week:
Friday
Wrestling: Oklahoma Open at OU
Saturday
Wrestling: Oklahoma Open at OU
Tuesday
Basketball: Del City at Norman, girls 6:15; boys 8 p.m.
