The showdown: Archie Bradley vs. Dylan Bundy
Archie Bradley of Broken Arrow is a two-sport star and is scheduled to pitch vs. Owasso's Dylan Bundy.
EDIT at 5 p.m.: Oh, stupid weather. The game between Owasso and Broken Arrow has been postponed. Word is that it’s postponed and not canceled, which might be the only good thing about the announcement.
No word on when the game is going to be made up. Sigh.
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What more can you ask for? No. 1 vs. No. 2? Check. The two best prospects in the state faring off against each other? Check.
Great weather? Oh, we hit a snag there. Another one of those patented weather shifts is the only downside to what could be an epic evening Friday in Owasso.
While I’ve made it clear Edmond Santa Fe is the cream of the crop on the west side, even coach Lonny Cobble would admit the Wolves have a ways to go when it comes to No. 1 Broken Arrow and No. 2 Owasso.
The Tigers and Rams have not lost to an in-state opponent this year so something will change in that category tonight. The teams are a combined 45-2 and haven’t lost a game since March 16.
Still not hooked? OK, how about Dylan Bundy vs. Archie Bradley? Got ya paying attention now. As of Thursday, both teams were planning on giving EVERYBODY what it wants with a showdown of the two best arms in the state.
Bradley, of course, has signed with Oklahoma for football and baseball. Bundy has committed to Texas. A lot of of experts believe neither will see a day at their respective campus because they’re going to be first-round draft picks in the MLB Draft in June. Bundy has 95 strikeouts in 42 innings.
This seemed like a prime spot for Cox to swoop in and broadcast the game. However, Cox has opted for Bedlam baseball between OU and OSU. However, VYPE will have a broadcast on ihigh.com. Because of prior commitments, I cannot make it out to Owasso (really wanted to), so here’s to hoping my laptop is compatible with the video on ihigh.
Once again, No. 1 Broken Arrow (Bradley) at No. 2 Owasso (Bundy), 7 p.m. Friday.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
The Oklahoman’s Super 30 revisited, Pt. II
Back in August, we unveiled the Super 30 for the Class of 2011. Here’s where they’re all going as we get closer to Signing Day:
11. Davion Pierson, Millwood (TCU) — The other local boy (not on Del City) going to Gary Patterson and the Horned Frogs. Pierson’s dedication to his conditioning was key this year.
12. Daniel Davis, Norman North (Pennsylvana) — Went his separate ways with Stanford and has found a home in the Ivy League. Comfortable with decision.
13. Archie Bradley, Broken Arrow (Oklahoma) — Such a great baseball prospect that I would be shocked to see Bradley on OU’s campus in the fall though he said he really wants to be there.
14. Tyler Lockett, Tulsa Washington (Kansas State) — Played the role of recruiter himself in getting teammate Dante Barnett to join him in Manhattan.
15. Kameron Doolittle, Edmond Memorial (Northeastern Oklahoma) — Coaching changes proved crucial at Colorado and Tulsa. Still has a very upbeat attitude about his future.
16. Cody Miller, Lawton (East Central University) — A steal for the Ada-based program. Miller is about as solid as they come. ACL injury hurt his prospects.
17. Hunter Davis, Choctaw (Kansas State) — A late change from Tulsa to KSU, said he felt really comfortable in Manhattan.
18. Trevon Lewis, Midwest City (Texas State) — Midwest City assistant Jason Sexton said Lewis should be signing with Texas State, he’s another late sleeper if you ask me.
19. David Glidden, Mustang (Oklahoma State) — Proving again size doesn’t matter, Glidden could become a household name in a couple of years for the Cowboys.
20. Jake Love, Tonkawa (Kansas) — A solid senior season removed any doubts about Jayhawks taking a chance on Tonkawa product.
Wednesday: Nos. 10-1.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Broken Arrow vs. Lawton Capsule…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Broken Arrow (9-2) at Lawton (11-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Cameron Stadium, Lawton (wish I could be there)
Broken Arrow
Why the Tigers can win: Because their only two losses are to Jenks and Union. Geez, couldn’t even beat those teams, huh? A little sarcasm, fellas. No, this team hasn’t missed a beat under Steve Spavital. The health of QB Archie Bradley has been a concern, but he should be ready to go.
Lawton
Why the Wolverines can win: Because this entire season has been geared toward this moment. Most (yours truly included) have thought Lawton is the best team on the west side. But how do you prove it? By beating a top-notch east side team when it matters most. I was really impressed with how strong this offense looked despite not having Cody Miller.
Key matchup: BA after the long trip. Broken Arrow’s longest trip of the year was to Putnam City for a blowout win against Putnam West. This is a heck of a trek to make for a second-round matchup. Will that have any effect on the game, or at least the start of the game?
The pick: Lawton 27, Broken Arrow 24. I’m counting on the stars to come out in this one. Jabral Johnson with a big play on defense to lead to some heroics from Tyrequek Zimmerman and a Wolverine victory.
Boneman’s Lawton prediction record: 11-0.
Boneman’s BA prediction record: 11-0.
Norman vs. Broken Arrow Capsule…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
No. 6 Norman (7-0) at No. 3 Broken Arrow (6-1)
7:30 p.m., tonight, Tiger Memorial Stadium, Broken Arrow
Why bother: Norman overcame one big test against Southmoore, but this is the biggest one the team will have seen so far.
The Tigers have been paced by the production and durability of junior running back Donovan Roberts. He has had no issues carrying the ball 30 times per game and not wearing down.
The defense, led by Greg Offenburger, hasn’t seen the likes of an offense such as Broken Arrow.
With all the talk of quarterback and Oklahoma commit Archie Bradley, Broken Arrow has been able to be extremely successful on the ground. Broken Arrow has been dominant in district play.
The pick: Broken Arrow 42, Norman 27. The start of this game will be crucial. How will Norman adapt to seeing the speed and strength of Broken Arrow?
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More thoughts that weren’t fit to print: Can’t stress enough how big I think the first 6-8 minutes of this game are going to be. Norman has to show early that it belongs on the same field as BA.
Broken Arrow has a certain kind of swagger right now and definitely feels it can beat any west side teams. For the record, they’re not wrong right now.
Names that can come up big for Norman: Jaime Myers and George Kittle. Myers is an explosive kickoff returner while Kittle has a penchant for making big plays on defense.
Of course, Norman is going to need a huge game from Donovan Roberts. I think BA is going to try to disrupt and harass QB Zach Long early and get him rattled.
Hate to say this whole game comes down to confidence, but I think it will. I’m 7-0 in picking Broken Arrow games and 5-2 with Norman (winning the last four). Anyone heading to the game, would love constant Twitter updates @BPrzybylo.
Southmoore vs. Broken Arrow Capsule…
By Justin Hite
Southmoore SaberCats (4-2) at Broken Arrow (5-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Broken Arrow
Southmoore (4-2)
Why the SaberCats can win: Desperation. Southmoore is in as much of a must-win situation as possible this week. Hanging on to the fourth playoff spot in Class 6A-3, a loss might drop the SaberCats out of the playoffs with Jenks coming next week. It’s now or never for Southmoore.
Broken Arrow (5-1)
Why the Tigers can win: Elite. Broken Arrow seems poised to break into the discussion as one of the best teams in the state — right alongside Jenks and Tulsa Union. They have a three-year starter behind center, Archie Bradley and plenty of playmakers. The Tigers have only had one slip-up this season. Be sure to know that the Tigers would love to make up for that loss against a semifinalist for last season.
Key matchup: Kendal Thompson vs. Kendal Thompson’s knee. If Southmoore is going to win, they are likely going to need their senior leader behind center. Thompson has been kept off the field for four weeks to make sure his knee heals. If it hasn’t, there could be trouble for Southmoore.
The pick: Southmoore 42, Broken Arrow 33. In triumphant fashion, Thompson returns from his knee injury and leads the SaberCats to victory and keeps them in the playoff chatter.
What we learned in Tulsa: Week 2…
By Robert Przybylo and Matt Baker
BPrzybylo@opubco.com; matt.baker@tulsaworld.com
The Tulsa World’s Matt Baker is back with his take on what happened in the Tulsa area in Week 2:
No enormous surprises last week in wins and losses, but how a few teams picked up wins shocked me and changed the way I viewed a few times:
1. Jenks is the top team in the state: It shouldn’t be a huge shock – I picked Jenks to knock off Union, and so did most of my colleagues. But I didn’t expect the Trojans to thump the two-time defending state champs, 33-7. Jenks dominated every aspect of the game, from special teams (fumble recovery on a punt) to offense (a huge night from emerging receiver Brandon Kitchens) to defense (great play from two junior defensive tackles. Jenks has a great secondary tailback in Alex Ross and a third option in Tray’vonne Barré. If it can stay healthy, the Trojans are clearly the team to beat.
2. The second best team in 6A is…Broken Arrow? I’m not sure the last time that was the case, but it is now. The Tigers found a legitimate rushing game with Richie Fruechting, who had 5 TDs and 271 yards, despite playing with a banged-up shoulder. And that was against Booker T. Washington, my pick to win state in 5A. BA’s offensive line and defense are as good as it gets. So is the quarterback, Archie Bradley. If there’s a year where the state’s largest school can finally break through and capture a gold ball, it seems like it could be in 2010.
3. East Central is a 5A contender: I’ve been driving the Bartlesville bandwagon since I saw the Bruins beat Owasso on the road in the playoffs. So for East Central to earn a 24-23 overtime win says a lot about the Cardinals’ team. Coaches have said EC has its best team since its state title team in 2005. A win like Friday’s OT thriller against a great Bartlesville justifies that claim – and should put the
rest of 5A on notice.
Scrimmage report: Southmoore, Yukon, PC and BA
I went into the Southmoore-Yukon-Putnam City-Broken Arrow scrimmage expecting quite a show, with two Oklahoma QB commits, Southmoore’s Kendal Thompson and BA’s Archie Bradley, as well as a solid senior at PC, Caleb Lee, and one of the state’s top junior signal-callers, Yukon’s Corben Jones.
Then again, scrimmages are for making your team better, not showing off your talent.
The early portion of the scrimmage, when all four teams were going on half-fields, had more action than the mini-games. Thompson and Jones were throwing downfield more. Thompson took off on a few impressive runs. It was good stuff.
Broken Arrow’s run game was pretty solid, breaking free for multiple long runs with three different backs, and Bradley made some nice throws, though he was obvioulsy not back to full form after missing some time for an all-America baseball game in California last week.
Yukon’s defense has some guys in new positions, and I think it will improve as they get more comfortable. I spoke briefly with Derek Deeds after the game and he talked about being a little lost at times, with it being his first scrimmage at free safety.
Here’s the breakdown from Saturday’s paper, all in one place:
QBs take a backseat in Moore
A pretty impressive collection of quarterbacks were on hand for the four-team scrimmage between Southmoore, Yukon, Putnam City and Broken Arrow.
But on many plays those quarterbacks were little more than spectators as all four teams had other plans for Friday night’s meeting at Moore Stadium.
Southmoore’s Kendal Thompson participated in the early part of the scrimmage, but played only one series at QB in the mini-game against Yukon, which Southmoore won 14-7.
Yukon is working to develop its young offensive line, and didn’t throw as much as it will during the season. Putnam City and Broken Arrow are both trying to get a feel for what kind of run game they will have to compliment strong throwing QBs.
PC line improving
In an offense geared to run the ball more reliably than last year, Putnam City is seeing progress from its mostly new offensive line, despite Friday’s 14-0 loss to Broken Arrow.
Junior running backs Casey Curtis and Desmond Tilley provide a good combination of speed and power, two good weapons if the offensive line comes together as the coaches think it can.
“I feel it went pretty good,” senior tackle Jay Hura said. “Everyone needs to get better. We have a lot to work on, but there were some things we did well. We had a few breakdowns that we’ll be fixing before we face Putnam City North (in the season opener).”
Yukon defense building around experience
Yukon defensive coordinator Steve Chard has some solid pieces to build around as he puts his defense together. He must find two defensive tackles, and he has moved some players around in the secondary — where the Millers have plenty of talent — to find the right mix.
But it helps that he has both defensive ends back in Andrew Edwards and Jake Doyle, along with linebackers Jake Henderson and Carson Mathews.
Senior Kollin Retter started at free safety last year, but has moved into a linebacker/safety hybrid position, getting the hard-hitting tackler closer to the ball.
Southmoore’s Edwards gets lots of action
Sophomore quarterback Tre Edwards of Southmoore had an idea he might get a lot of playing time Thursday night and he was right.
The backup to starter Kendal Thompson quarterbacked all but one series in the mini-game against Yukon, leading both touchdown drives.
“We feel really good about Tre and his abilities,” Southmoore coach Chris Jensen said. “This was a great opportunity to get him some reps.”
Junior running back Andrew Long also played just one series for the SaberCats.
“We know what those guys can do,” Jensen said. “We saw some great things out of them in the scrimmage earlier in the day. We wanted to let the other guys get some reps.”
Filling the gaps
Yukon
The Millers have three holes on the offensive line vacated by long-time starters, and with so many weapons in the backfield and at receiver, Yukon could benefit greatly from the offensive line growing up fast.
Yukon running back Terry Jones had some success running the ball Friday night, scoring the team’s only touchdown in the mini-game aginst Southmoore. And that group of offensive linemen is motivated to prove it won’t be a weak spot for the Millers.
“We’re trying to establish the run and make the offensive line known, instead of being that question mark,” said junior right tackle Tyler Bush, whose play was praised by coaches along with another newcomer, Logan Schantz. “We’re playing with a chip on our shoulder.”
Southmoore
The SaberCats have a few spots where they need to replace talented players, but one of those spots looks to be in good — albeit young — hands.
Sophomore tight end Jackson Stallings caught a 38-yard touchdown pass that gave Southmoore a 14-0 lead in the first half.
At 6-foot-1 and 203 pounds, Stallings isn’t cut from the same mold as the man he replaces, 6-foot-5 Austin Haywood, but he showed Friday that he can be a viable receiving target for the SaberCats.
“He loves football and he’s done what he needed to do to give himself a chance to be successful at a young age,” coach Chris Jensen said. “We’re really pleased with his progress so far.”
Blue-chip report
Southmoore QB Kendal Thompson
Southmoore and Oklahoma Sooner fans alike can breathe easy after seeing QB Kendal Thompson watching most of the mini-game against Yukon from the sidelines Friday night. The Oklahoma commit wasn’t injured. Instead, coach Chris Jensen chose to rest him and running back Andrew Long.
“We know what Kendal can do, and we don’t have to keep him on the field to prove anything,” the coach said. “We made the decision to play him in one series and get him out.”
Both players made some spectacular plays in the scrimmage portion of the evening, including a 35-yard TD pass from Thompson to Long, who was running deep out of the backfield.
Broken Arrow QB Archie Bradley
Another Sooner-bound quarterback, Bradley is still trying to get in the flow of football after joining his team only a week ago. A top-level pitcher on the Broken Arrow baseball team, he was invited to San Diego to participate in the AFLAC All-America baseball game.
“He’s really rusty right now,” coach Steve Spavital said. “But he’s coming along very quickly.”
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Baseball: Oklahoma kids tearing up national scene…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Tuesday marked the first day of football, but don’t tell that to some of the state’s best baseball players as Oklahoma HS kids are dominating right now on the national scene.
Oklahoma reps win Area Code challenge
Whether it was Broken Arrow’s Dylan Delso at the plate or Deer Creek’s Michael Fulmer on the mound, the Oklahoma representatives fared well in the Area Code challenge this week in Long Beach, Calif.
Eight Oklahomans were on the Chicago White Sox roster that went 4-1 in the six days and earned the challenge championship.
In the team’s final win, a 9-1 whipping of the Texas Rangers, Delso drove in two runs while Fulmer, Edmond Santa Fe’s Kyle Shaw and Broken Arrow’s Mason Hope combined to pitch five scoreless innings and struck out nine.
The White Sox roster had players from 11 different states and Oklahoma had representatives from Deer Creek (Fulmer and Brian Anderson), Santa Fe (Shaw, Ty Hensley and Clayton Blackburn), Norman North (Caleb Simpson) and Broken Arrow (Delso, Hope).
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Outlaws taking next step
The Oklahoma Outlaws baseball team had no problems in advancing to the American Legion World Series.
The Outlaws won 8-0 against League City, Texas, and then 7-2 vs. Pontotoc, Miss., on Monday night to earn the American Legion Mid-South championship.
The Outlaws consist of high school graduates from the Mid-Del area, including Choctaw’s Josh Halbert. The team has won the Seniors Division of the American Legion in Oklahoma two years in a row.
The American Legion World Series begins Friday in Spokane, Wash., where the Outlaws will play the Mid-Atlantic champion.
Deer Creek: Michael Fulmer starts out on right foot…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
The Area Code baseball games got underway Thursday in Long Beach, Calif., and Deer Creek pitcher Michael Fulmer introduced himself to the rest of the nation.
In two innings, Fulmer struck out four as the Chicago White Sox (where all Oklahomans are) defeated the Washington Nationals 6-3 on Thursday night.
Broken Arrow’s Dylan Delso had a triple as well.
The White Sox are off Friday and will return to the diamond Saturday. You can track all Area Code games at ESPNRISE.com/IScore.
Here’s the rest of the White Sox schedule:
Saturday
White Sox vs. Oakland A’s, 1 p.m.
Sunday
White Sox vs. NY Yankees
Monday
White Sox vs. Cincinnati Reds, 10 a.m.
Tuesday
White Sox vs. Texas Rangers, noon
Archie Bradley, Kendal Thompson earn honors at Elite 11…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
It was the first time an Oklahoma quarterback had made the prestigious Elite 11 camp in California, and Broken Arrow’s Archie Bradley and Southmoore’s Kendal Thompson made it count.
Bradley was named the third-best quarterback by the college counselors and was said to be the most outgoing of all 12 participants.
Bradley also won Best Leader, Most Coachable and the Golden Gun Accuracy Challenge while Thompson earned Best Attitude honors by the counselors.
Denton, Texas, product and Oklahoma State commit J.W. Walsh was voted the QB with the quickest release.
The college counselors were Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert, TCU’s Andy Dalton, Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins, Virginia Tech’s Tyrod Taylor, Miami’s Jacory Harris and Jerrod Johnson of Texas A&M.
Jeff Driskel of Hagerty HS in Oviedo, Fla., was named the MVP of the camp.
