All-Private schools football team…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Back again. This time around we’re looking at the private schools in the Oklahoma City area. Plenty of good choices, couple of tough calls.
Here ya go:
All-Private schools
Offense
QB — Cooper Cloud, Heritage Hall
RB — Barry J. Sanders, Heritage Hall
RB — LaRone Richardson, Bishop McGuinness
WR — Skyler Sikes, OCS
WR — Jake Peace, Mt. St. Mary’s
WR — Charlie Cho, OCA
OL — Markus Wakefield, Heritage Hall
OL — Connor Morrison, Casady
OL — Bill Johnston, Heritage Hall
OL — Graham Bennett, Casady
OL — David Krenger, Bishop McGuinness
K — Keegan Carter, OCS
P — Kenny Wooldridge, CHA
Defense
DL — Zach Collums, Mt. St. Mary’s
DL — Nick Callaway, Bishop McGuinness
DL — Quintaz Struble, Heritage Hall
DL — Dakota Leftwich, Bishop McGuinness
LB — Garrison Lee, Casady
LB — Josh Blair, CHA
LB — Brandon Nguyen, Bishop McGuinness
LB — Graham Busby, Heritage Hall
DB — Mac Katigan, Casady
DB — Sterling Shepard, Heritage Hall
DB — Tyler Konarik, Bishop McGuinness
KR — Jamaal Whitney, Bishop McGuinness
Offensive Player of the Year: LaRone Richardson, Bishop McGuinness
Defensive Player of the Year: Sterling Shepard, Heritage Hall
Coach of the Year: Andy Bogert, Heritage Hall
Where to put Sterling Shepard became the biggest question. I had him at WR, KR and DB before deciding DB was where he could help this team the most. Bennett should be a DL, but he can be an OL, too, so we’ll be OK. No doubts on my three awards. If I switched and made Shepard offense, I would have gone with Lee of Casady as the defensive player.
Private schools honor: Heritage Hall football seniors…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Granted full access by the Heritage Hall coaching staff for the 3A championship against Kingfisher allowed me to see the things I normally don’t.
One of those was the group of Charger seniors huddling together separate from the rest of the team for one last final speech about what they mean to each other and what this season meant to them.
I won’t reveal anything that was said as that moment was for those nine seniors. Coach Andy Bogert would always have the seniors stand up first after the postgame talks, and he did it one more time Friday night.
And though a lot of talent resides in that spectacular junior bunch, those kids were quick to point out the leadership of the senior class and how that made all the difference starting from last year’s loss to Pawhuska.
The nine seniors: Graham Busby, Cooper Cloud, Shaun Tkach, Coby Brownrigg, Sami Horani, Dru Bullard, Blaine Kennedy, Andrew Johnson and Bill Johnston.
Seniors were members of 14-1, 15-0, 8-5 and 15-0 seasons.
Other contenders
Sterling Shepard, Heritage Hall: If you don’t know by now, Shepard scored all four of the Heritage Hall touchdowns and all in the second half of a classic 28-21 win over Kingfisher.
T.J. Holland, OCS, Basketball: He’s done it again. Man does he look sharp early on this season. Road win at Casady, followed by a tournament championship at Luther…not bad.
Alexa Lienhard, McGuinness, Basketball: In an incredibly brutal Edmond Open, the Irish beat Memorial and Cache with Lienhard doing significant damage.
Matt Silver, Casady, Basketball: I really like the potential of Silver this season. Cyclones were able to bounce back from OCS loss for consolation championship at Luther.
OCS: T.J. Holland, Jack Warren too much for Casady…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Was expecting a very intriguing basketball game at Casady on Tuesday night between the Cyclones and Oklahoma Christian School.
Guess OCS stars T.J. Holland and Jack Warren didn’t care what I was expecting. The Saints’ leaders combined with the defense for another impressive road win.
OCS 63, Casady 42
- Neither team got off to a great start. A lot of effort but not much execution. Jonathan Gibson scored the first five points of the game for OCS and never scored again. Just one of them games without any real rhythm.
- Eventually, Warren and Holland got on track. I was looking forward to a great battle between the Nos. 12, Holland and Casady’s Preston Sullivan. They both kinda neutralized each other. Holland ended up with 18 points. Sullivan had 15, but both really didn’t score on the other. Matt Silver also had a solid game for the Cyclones.
- I don’t wanna say Casady comes back and wins the game, but this game changed when Casady forward Cecil Ray picked up his second foul in the first half. Though Ray only finished with two points, he was cleaning up the backboard. OCS wasn’t getting many second chance opportunities. With Ray out, the lead was stretched out.
- OCS led 25-11 at halftime and was never really threatened in the second half. Casady got it down to 13 a couple of times and there was real good energy in the first home game for Allen Dukes and his boys. But anytime it looked like a run was happening, the Saints would stretch it out more.
- So back-to-back road wins to start the year for OCS…not bad. OCS still is not at home anytime soon as the Saints are a part of the Luther Tournament this weekend. Casady falls to 3-1.
- The girls game was canceled but look for a video with T.J. Holland on NewsOK on Wednesday.
Private schools honor: Markus Wakefield, Heritage Hall…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
One more week to perfection. A perfect season wasn’t the ultimate goal for Heritage Hall, but if the Chargers win Friday, it will happen.
Every game there seems to be another hero. Against a good Bethany team the second time around, it was lineman Markus Wakefield — just not the way I thought it would be.
I’ve said it more than enough at this point so I’ll keep it short. Wakefield threw a touchdown pass and recovered a fumble in the end zone for a score in the semifinal win.
Look for a story on Wakefield and his lineman counterpart Quintaz Struble later this week.
Other contenders
Heritage Hall defense: In a game where both defenses stopped what the other teams are known for, the Chargers in the second half were incredible in limiting Bethany to 9 total yards in the second half.
Preston Sullivan, Casady: Cyclones started the season going 3-0 and Sullivan earned MVP honors of the Liberty Academy Tournament in Shawnee.
T.J. Holland, OCS: What a way to start the year for the Saints. OCS, behind Holland and Jack Warren, won at John Marshall 62-57.
Jake Peace, Mt. St. Mary’s: Not just a star on the football field, Peace led a balanced effort in a win against Heritage Hall.
Kate Andrews, Bishop McGuinness: So many weapons, what do you do? Andrews led a balanced effort in a three-win week.
Private schools honor: Cooper Cloud, Heritage Hall…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
It wasn’t too long ago (around this point last year) where I wasn’t sure how far Heritage Hall was going to go with Cooper Cloud as its quarterback.
You know about the greatness about Sterling Shepard and Barry J. Sanders, but you need a quarterback to keep teams honest. Was Cloud really the answer?
Um, yes. Yes, he is. Cloud has improved dramatically in the last year, and what I saw Friday night was a continuation of that. He takes control of this team. Cloud threw for three touchdowns in the Chargers’ 34-0 win against Bridge Creek.
The health of Sanders and Shepard will continue to be a big story, but this team can still find a way, especially if Cloud can stay healthy.
Other contenders
Heritage Hall defense: Wrote about them after the fact. But two picks, two recovered fumbles, no points. Heck of a night vs. the Bobcats.
Sterling Shepard, Heritage Hall: Wasn’t the sharpest I’ve seen him, but man, I think we would all love to have two touchdown receptions and an interception on an ‘off’ night.
Bob Kraft, Heritage Hall, Baseball: You don’t think of Heritage Hall and baseball, but the Chargers are making strides. Kraft signed with New Mexico State last week.
Shanna Schuelein, Casady, Diving: From elite gymnast to one of the best divers around, Schuelein signed with Auburn last week.
Casady: Shanna Schuelein signing video…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Diving, huh? Not that big of a shock that Casady’s Shanna Schuelein was able to sign somewhere to dive. She’s been a natural since she stopped gymnastics.
And Auburn, well, that was a shoo-in. Why? Because she took the visit to the campus during the Auburn-LSU weekend. That was one heck of a football game. And if you had any doubts about where you wanted to go, that would have erased them.
Oh yea, Tigers have a great diving program, too.
Here is a short video, following her signing:
Private schools honor: Jake Peace, Mt. St. Mary’s…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
This was a good battle for the honor this week. In one corner, you had Sterling Shepard and Cooper Cloud leading a comeback win at Bethany.
In the other corner, you had Mt. St. Mary’s wide receiver Jake Peace, who caught the game-winning touchdown to give the Rockets their first victory of the season.
The winner? Peace…by that much. Coach Dal Nichols has raved about Peace all season. He said bluntly he feels if MSM was a better team, more colleges would be taking a look at Peace.
Peace caught the game-winning TD with 26 seconds left. Rockets added an INT return for a score and won 28-20 against Comanche.
Other contenders
Cooper Cloud and Sterling Shepard, Heritage Hall, Football: Down at half, the duo connected for both touchdowns in a huge 14-7 road victory at Bethany.
LaRone Richardson, McGuinness, Football: Richardson notched another three touchdowns and turned a sluggish 7-3 halftime lead into a comfortable 27-3 victory against Cache.
Cassius Calhoun, Casady, Football: Look out for the Cyclones in 2011. All those juniors are going to be something special. Calhoun scored both touchdowns in the 35-14 loss to Holland Hall.
Christian Heritage returns: Crusaders had a pair of them. Kenny Wooldridge took an INT back for a touchdown. Bryant Hodge returned a punt for a score.
Irish cross country teams: Solid all season, the girls placed third and the boys finished fourth at the state meet at Mitch Park.
Marie Mason, Rhodes College (Casady), Field Hockey: Rhodes is 15-1 and has clinched the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship. Mason was named the conference Defensive Player of the Week.
Holland Hall vs. Casady Capsule…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Holland Hall (9-0) at Casady (3-6)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Hoot Gibson Field
Holland Hall
Why the Dutch can win: Because this is the best team people on the west side of the state do not get a chance to see. It would be so interesting to see Holland Hall against the Millwoods or Heritage Halls this year. Great offense, solid defense, dang near unstoppable this year.
Casady (L – FWAll Saints; L – Heritage Hall; W – OCS; L – Houston Kinkaid; W – Cistercian; W – Greenhill; L – St. Marks; L – St. Johns; L – Episcopal)
Why the Cyclones can win: It would take the perfect game and a whole bunch of uncharacteristic turnovers by Holland Hall to create the biggest upset in the state this season.
Quote:
This game means a lot to our kids, and I know they’re going to give everything they have.” – coach Koby Scoville
Key matchup: Casady defense vs. Brad Kragthorpe and Kwame Sexton. Nobody has had an answer all season for this talented Holland duo. Will the Cyclones?
The pick: Holland Hall 49, Casady 13. A good start would do wonders for the Cyclones’ confidence, but no matter how you slice it, the Dutch have earned this undefeated year.
Boneman’s Casady prediction record: 7-2.
Casady: Youngsters growing up…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Casady’s season is going to come to a close Friday night with a visit from rival Holland Hall. All that’s left to play for is pride and the spoiler role.
At 3-6, the Cyclones have lost their last three games, and the last two have been by a combined 94-16 score. But this is a rivalry game, and you throw out the records here.
In talking to coach Koby Scoville after last week’s game, he said there were a lot of positives, most notably with a couple of young players starting to grow up.
I thought Scott Fisher played his best game of the season. He’s starting to get real comfortable. Tripp Kerr was another kid that played well. We’re getting there.” – Scoville
Holland Hall has been incredible this season. From non-conference wins against Cascia Hall and Lincoln Christian to conference wins against teams like Houston St. Johns, not much this team hasn’t been able to do.
Casady has a solid run game with Cassius Calhoun and Ronnell Johnson, and you figure they’ll be playing with a ton of emotion.
The game is Friday at 7.
Private schools honor: LaRone Richardson, McGuinness…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Gonna keep this short because you can read much in Tuesday’s paper. I thought I had lost my chance to name LaRone Richardson the best player of the week.
Seriously, how do you top his five-score outing in a loss to Millwood? Um, well, he did. Richardson found the end zone six times in a dominating win against Piedmont.
Always one of my favorite kids to talk to, look for his story in Tuesday’s paper.
Other contenders
Garrison Lee, Casady: Found out the day before the game he would be playing defensive line, and he was one of the best players on the field in the loss to Bellaire Episcopal.
Chris Easterly, OCS: Playing running back just because the Saints have no one left. How’d he do? Five touchdowns in the OCS win against Northeast.
Josh Bivens, OCA: I was really pumped about this team until the Parker Randell injury. Bivens notched four touchdowns in the win against Macomb, the Eagles’ first of the year.
Ray Frazier, Mt. St. Mary’s, Cross Country: Frazier was impressive at the state meet, placing fourth overall as the Rockets earned seventh.
Maddy Hill, McGuinness, Cross Country: The Irish girls were dominant at the 5A regional, placing second, third, fourth and sixth in winning the event.
Note: No Heritage contenders because SeeWorth Academy forfeited the game last week.
