A-2 All-District team
Here’s the District A-2 All-District team. Have another district’s awards? E-mail them to raber@opubco.com.
District A-2 All-District
Most Valuable Player: Jacob Smart, Minco
Offensive MVP: Cade Baade, Minco
Defensive MVP: Jarod Cross, Okeene
Quarterback of the Year: Bret Wardlaw, Okeene
Running Back of the Year: Garret Wilson, Okeene
Wide Receiver of the Year: Steven Whalen, Minco
Tight End of the Year: Landon LaRue, Crescent
Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year: Carrie Farmer, Minco
Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year: Justin Kessen, Crescent
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Tanner O’Kelley, Okeene
Linebacker of the Year: Britt Bosler, Cashion
Cornerback of the Year: Cody Day, Okeene
Safety of the Year: Hunter Mason, Cashion
Kicker of the Year: Tristen Lacey, Crescent
Coach of the Year: Clint Warren, Minco
Quarterbacks: Preston Walker, Crescent; Derek Gabrial, Pioneer
Running backs: Hayden George, Hunton; Michael Cronister, Crescent; T.J. Martin, Cashion.
Wide Receivers: Chase Carter, Okeene; Aaron Murray, Hinton; Jacob Overton, Minco.
Offensive Lineman: J.T. Lee, Minco; Zac Tarrent, Crescent; Kendall Boling, Hinton; Dexton Robertson, Cashion; Matt Schneider, Pioneer.
Tight End: Holden Hedges, Pioneer.
Defensive Linemen: Brandon Nixon, Cashion; Tidel Garrison, Hinton; Shakeal Jones, Crescent; Colby Ruthardt, Minco.
Linebackers: Mason Howe, Okeene; Dakota Bare, Minco; Justin Baker, Hinton.
Defensive Backs: Cris Henderson, Pioneer; Zach Miller, Crescent; Tyler Mitchum, Minco; Nathen Rackley, Okeene.
Kicker: Gabriel Rui, Hinton
High school baseball at the Brick expanding
BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com
The last two years, the Mayor’s Cup between the three Edmond and three Moore high schools has been a regular event at the ballpark now known as RedHawks Field at Bricktown.
This season the schedule of games at the park expands with 17 high school and one college game scheduled for the park during April.
The 2011 Mayor’s Cup will be played Saturday with Edmond North and Moore at 11 a.m., Edmond Santa Fe and Westmoore at 2:30 and Edmond Memorial and Southmoore at 6 p.m. (Boneman’s note: I will be at The Brick for the Saturday games).
Crowder and Stuart will play at 7 p.m. Friday to start the series.
World Baseball Outreach will hold a baseball equipment drive during the Mayor’s Cup. Fans are asked to bring new or gently used baseball and softball equipment to help the organization provide equipment to at-risk youth in the state.
Other than the Mayor’s Cup, the other games in the series are free to the public.
Schedule (gates open an hour before game time):
Friday: Crowder vs. Stuart, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Edmond North vs. Moore, 11 a.m.; Edmond Santa Fe vs. Westmoore, 2:30 p.m.; Edmond Memorial vs. Southmoore, 6 p.m.
Tuesday: UCO vs. USAO, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Amber-Pocasset vs. Cashion, 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 7: Yukon vs. El Reno, 7 p.m.
Friday, April 8: Sterling vs. Elgin, 4 p.m.; Purcell vs. Sayre, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 9: Kansas vs. Westville, 5 p.m.
April 23: Stroud vs. Wellston, 2 p.m.; Cushing vs. Lone Grove, 5 p.m.
April 26: Carnegie vs. Clinton, 4 p.m.; Holdenville vs. Konawa, 7 p.m.
April 27: Carl Albert vs. Shawnee, 7 p.m.
April 28: Jenks vs. Choctaw, 7 p.m.
April 30: Midwest City vs. Muskogee, 2 p.m.; Comanche vs. Velma-Alma, 5 p.m.
All-Best of the Rest football team…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and yours from the Varsity staff. I’ma go back to being Uncle Bob to my niece and nephew here in Kansas.
Here’s the final installment with an all-best of the rest. Basically, teams in the OKC area that aren’t in one of the set zones.
Here ya go:
All-Best of the Rest
Offense
QB — Ryan Spangler, Bridge Creek
RB — Devin Campbell, Bethany
RB — Blake Riojas, Newcastle
WR — Caden Locke, Bridge Creek
WR — Abraham Luna, Santa Fe South
WR — Travis Carroll, McLoud
OL — Landon Chappell, Newcastle
OL — Caleb Craig, Harrah
OL — Blake Belcher, Guthrie
OL — Dexton Robertson, Cashion
OL — Gonzalo Delatorre, Kingfisher
K — Nathan Lee, Jones
P — Derek Patterson, Kingfisher
Defense
DL — Kentrell Brothers, Guthrie
DL — Darren Davenport, Bethany
DL — Micah Thompson, Jones
DL — Derrick Luetjen, Hennessey
LB — Kenny Dennison, Blanchard
LB — Landry Chappell, Guthrie
LB — Jeremy Seaton, Cashion
DB — Tanner Koons, Tuttle
DB — Tylor Seabolt, Jones
DB — Orlando Pina, Hennessey
DB — Mike Miller, Davenport
KR — Jeremy Smith, Kingfisher
Offensive Player of the Year: Derek Patterson, Kingfisher
Defensive Player of the Year: Kentrell Brothers, Guthrie
Coach of the Year: Shannon Watford, Hennessey
Kinda get a glimpse into a lot of our Little All-City team with this list. I’ll have much more to say when the LAC team comes out Thursday, Dec. 30.
Carolyn Orton Memorial Festival schedule…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
The goal for teams in Class B-4A is to make it to the Big House in March. Teams from all over the state will get a taste of what State Fair Arena is like this weekend.
Several teams in Class A-4A will be competing at the Carolyn Orton Memorial Festival this weekend at State Fair Arena.
Six games will be played Friday and eight more Saturday. Teams competing in the boys and girls event are Luther, Jones, Comanche, Marlow, Snyder, Carnegie, Tuttle, Kingfisher, Perkins-Tryon, Wellston, Walters, Elmore City, Cashion and Frontier.
Admission is $5. Orton was the mother of former McGuinness star Daniel Orton and former OSU player Terrance Crawford. She died of lupus.
Carolyn Orton Memorial Festival
At State Fair Arena
Friday
Luther vs. Jones, 1 p.m. (girls)
Luther vs. Jones, 2:30 (boys)
Comanche vs. Marlow, 4 p.m. (girls)
Comanche vs. Marlow, 5:30 (boys)
Snyder vs. Carnegie, 7 p.m. (girls)
Snyder vs. Carnegie, 8:30 p.m. (boys)
Saturday
Walters vs. Elmore City, 10 a.m. (girls)
Walters vs. Elmore City, 11:30 a.m. (boys)
Wellston vs. Perkins-Tryon, 1 p.m. (girls)
Wellston vs. Perkins-Tryon, 2:30 p.m. (boys)
Tuttle vs. Kingfisher, 4 p.m. (girls)
Tuttle vs. Kingfisher, 5:30 p.m. (boys)
Cashion vs. Frontier, 7 p.m. (girls)
Cashion vs. Frontier, 8:30 p.m. (boys)
Best of the Rest honor: Kentrell Brothers, Guthrie…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I don’t even know if what Guthrie’s Kentrell Brothers did last week is in the top 3 of his performances this season, but it came at the right time.
Against a gritty Coweta team, the Bluejays weren’t really having that much offensive success. But when you have Brothers, you’re never out of it.
Brothers ended up with three touchdowns in the 27-3 win, and he did it in three different ways. He caught one, threw another and rushed for a score. Big-time players come up big when it matters most, and Guthrie is going to need that for sure this week against Tulsa Washington.
You can read more on Brothers’ partner in crime, WR Devonte McCully in Tuesday’s paper. Sorry, Devonte, the secret is out on you.
Other contenders
Tyrequek Zimmerman, Lawton: With the game in the balance at 20-14 vs. Broken Arrow, Zimmerman scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to give the Wolverines the huge win.
Zeke Zimmer, Washington: It’s a different Warrior every week. Zimmer notched three touchdowns in an impressive 35-0 victory at Crooked Oak.
Darian Bennett, Crescent: Just another day at the office for Bennett. Coach J.L. Fisher said Bennett rushed for 270 yards in the first half and four touchdowns in the win at Carnegie. Look for more on Bennett in Thursday’s paper.
Jeremy Seaton, Cashion: Another familiar face here. Seaton accounted for three touchdowns in the Wildcats’ tough victory against a good Ringling team.
Scott’s Lock: Cashion’s time to shine
At this point in the season, there really aren’t any bad matchups or easy picks left to be made. Every game has the potential for a showdown.
I definitely think that will be the case with Cashion and Ringling, but I look for Cashion to pull it out. They’re the team I picked to win it all from the start of the playoffs and the emergence of a star receiver in Taylor Cochran has helped a ton.
Cochran went for 216 yards and three scores last week, his third 100-yard-plus game since top receiver Britt Basler was lost for the year with a torn ACL last month.
But it’s been the offensive line play that has really made this team go. Starting right tackle Brandon Nixon is expected to return from injury this week, giving them a strong pair of bookend tackles, with 6-foot-4, 300-pound Dexton Robertson on the other side.
The line only returned two starters from last year’s 12-win team, but the new group came together quickly and has been a huge key in protecting QB Jeremy Seaton and opening holes in the run game.
I’d expect another strong performance from the front five in a Cashion victory.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Best of the Rest honor: Ryan Spangler, Bridge Creek…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
It was just THAT week for Bridge Creek quarterback Ryan Spangler. Two days after signing with Gonzaga to play basketball, he threw for four touchdowns in a rout of Purcell in the first round. You couldn’t stop him on this week.
Spangler has thrown more than four touchdowns in a game, but in the crazy conditions Friday, no performance may have been more impressive for him.
He only finished with 139 yards, but he got ‘em when they mattered. It was the quick start that doomed Purcell.
Spangler had a little help from running back Blake Henderson. The senior rushed for three touchdowns as well to set the stage for Bridge Creek at Heritage Hall on Friday (I will be there).
Other contenders
The Miller boys, Davenport: Mike and Matt combined for all five touchdowns as Bulldogs won a thriller, 32-28 vs. Seiling.
T.J. Martin, Cashion: That’s how you make sure you are not victim of an upset. Martin returned two kicks for touchdowns in the 55-31 win against Turpin.
Guthrie defense: Just another brilliant outing, this time against Durant. Lions had -37 rushing yards. Bluejays forced four turnovers to cruise to the 35-6 win.
Steven Howard, Washington: Warriors are rolling right now. Howard was sensational scoring five touchdowns in victory against Tishomingo.
Deaquan Wojciechowski, Lawton: I was there to witness his brilliance. Two rushing touchdowns, a punt return for a score in a fun, well-played 28-13 win vs. Edmond Memorial.
Scott’s Lock: Cash in on Cashion
I finally got the bounce-back win that I needed in my Locks of the Week with Tulsa East Central edging Coweta last week, so that inspired me to go back out on a limb this week.
The Cashion-Watonga game is the exception in what is otherwise a really bad scheduling hang-up. The seven-team districts that are now the norm in Class A-3A have created a scheduling mess for many coaches, and it has put non-district games each week of the season.
In most cases, teams are left to scramble for an opponent they wouldn’t otherwise play, forcing some odd — and in some cases very ugly — matchups. But this one is gold.
It’s regionally convenient, something of a rivalry, and pits two good teams against each other. Couldn’t be better, given the circumstances.
I’m picking Cashion, because I like what Jeremy Seaton does at QB, and he has some weapons around him. He was very impressive when I saw him over the summer in 7-on-7, reaching the small-school finals at hte Oklahoma Showdown.
Watonga is no slouch, so I expect this to be a good game — Cashion 34, Watonga 30.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Best of the Rest honor: John McCracken, Blanchard…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Gonna keep this one brief because you can read much more about Blanchard’s John McCracken in Tuesday’s paper as the Player of the Week.
We always have a media day for all the local teams to come in for photos and conversations and things like that. Blanchard’s Jeff Craig is one of the most consistent coaches to bring his kids.
The Lions showed up this year but not McCracken. Where did he come from? This junior has exploded through five games. He has 15 rushing touchdowns and two receiving scores.
His success is leading to a lot of team success and Blanchard is 4-1 and right on the cusp of being ranked in the crazy-deep Class 3A.
Let’s just say the key for McCracken has been mental maturity as much as anything else. Read more Tuesday.
Other contenders
Blake Henderson, Bridge Creek: The Bobcats didn’t have great success on the ground in the win against Weatherford, but Henderson did score four touchdowns.
Chase Rodgers, Chickasha: In one of the most emotional scenes of the season, Rodgers threw for five touchdowns in the Chicks’ first home game since the death of Kody Turner.
Louis Durant, Lawton Eisenhower: The Eagles haven’t lost since a Week 1 defeat to Lawton and Durant is a heckuva running back. Durant had three more touchdowns in a rout of Choctaw.
Jeremy Seaton, Cashion: The Wildcats remain the No. 1 team in Class A and Seaton notched another four touchdowns in Cashion’s win against Crescent.
Best of the Rest honor: Deaquan Wojciechowski, Lawton…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
There were other numbers that were more impressive. Running backs that ran for more yards. Quarterbacks that put up gaudy numbers.
But what Lawton’s Deaquan Wojciechowski did against a rival in a big-game atmosphere, well, that’s gotta mean something. Wojciechowski rushed for 159 yards and a touchdown and set the tone in a 41-9 thrashing of a good Lawton MacArthur team.
We’ll keep this short because I’ve written about Wojo for Tuesday’s paper, but he has taken this move from WR to RB and made it a seamless transition.
Other contenders
Brayle Brown, Shawnee: Brown threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for two more in a 33-26 victory against Deer Creek.
John McCracken, Blanchard: What a start to the season for the Lions. McCracken added another four touchdowns in a win against Lindsay.
Caden Locke, Bridge Creek: You want an all-around game? Three receiving touchdowns, a rushing score and recovering a blocked punt for his fifth touchdown. Not bad.
Jeremy Seaton, Cashion: When the Wildcats needed it the most, Seaton powered his way for one big play after another in a win against Morrison.
