Scott’s Weekend Rewind: PC North, Edmond Santa Fe, Douglass with big wins in Week 2
The opening of Yukon's new Miller Stadium was one of many events during a busy weekend of football.
I can already tell this is going to be a long week. Since Sept. 1, I haven’t gone more than two days without covering a high school football game. Friday can’t get here soon enough.
And after the three games I covered this weekend, it’s going to be hard for the next 13 weeks of football to live up to the standard.
On Thursday night, I watched Putnam City North knock off Mustang in double-overtime when sophomore kicker Richard Gallegos booted through a 17-yard field goal to clinch it. Friday brought the debut of Yukon’s new stadium, and a late rally by Edmond Santa Fe to spoil the opener at the Millers’ new home. Then we had the usual amount of drama on Saturday afternoon at the Soul Bowl.
Here’s a look back at what we learned about the teams in those three contests, starting with the double-OT thriller at PC Stadium.
OK Runner Classic is Friday in Norman
Norman's Tanner Satterthwaite, the defending Class 6A champion, is one of several top runners competing in Friday's OK Runner Classic in Norman. PHOTO BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN
Over 100 cross country teams will descend upon Norman Friday for the sixth annual OK Runner Classic, which is hosted by Norman High School.
Several of the top runners in the state will compete in the event, including defending Class 6A boys champion Tanner Satterthwaite of Norman and last year’s 6A girls runner-up Emily Helms of Mustang.
High school races begin at 10:30 a.m. with the 2A-4A girls. The last varsity race, the 5A-6A boys, begins at 2:30 p.m.
Here is the full list of race times:
10:30: 2A/3A/4A girls
11:30: 2A/3A/4A boys
1:30: 5A/6A girls
2:30: 5A/6A boys
4:30: Junior high girls
5:00: Junior high boys
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Video: Yukon’s Corben Jones excited by receivers’ play, ready for next week
At least over the last few years, Canadian County Bedlam has rarely left the fans feeling shorted in intensity and excitement. Friday was no different, with Yukon going into Mustang and coming away with a 44-31 win.
Now, the Millers move to next week when they will open their new stadium, and you can bet everyone will be juiced for that as Edmond Santa Fe visits.
Mustang heads to Putnam City North, where a pair of teams coming off rivalry losses will try to avoid an 0-2 start.
Here are a few random observations that didn’t make it into my game story from Yukon’s win:
-I probably didn’t talk up the Yukon defense enough in the game story. Considering that they were starting eight new guys, and had some schematic changes — three-man front — that really impacted the game, defensive coordinator Steve Chard and his boys probably deserved a little more credit. I don’t say that to take anything away from the receivers. They made big play after big play, often in situations when the Millers had to have them.
-The Yukon run game didn’t necessarily show a lot, but it didn’t have to, either. The passing attack was so smooth, it didn’t matter what the committee of running backs produced. Still, you see some talent there, though I still don’t think there’s going to be one guy who gets the bulk of the work over the season. Interestingly, sophomore Austin Roberts scored a 6-yard touchdown on his first carry. Doesn’t mean anything regarding the RB battle, but it’s a pretty cool memory.
-Brandon Taylor’s shoulder looked fine, and his feet were working, too. He did a great job of moving around to avoid pressure, rolling out and scrambling when needed to keep plays alive. He’s always seemed more comfortable standing in and unloading the ball just before the hit comes, but on Friday, he moved well around the pocket and outside of it.
-Travis Mitchell could be the Broncos’ big breakout star this year. He’s a very athletic receiver with good hands and good ball skills from what I’ve seen. He had an impressive 76-yard catch that set up a late TD when the Broncos tried to rally.
-Defensively, the Broncos were missing a couple of guys, but two guys seemed to keep showing up a lot — Tucker Calmus and Cory Irwins. Calmus is ideal for the middle linebacker spot, and Irwins was flying around making plays from the outside linebacker position. Jared Chance at defensive tackle was solid again as well.
I’ll see both of these teams again next week, so I’m curious to see how they each progress. Yukon has to find a way to keep the momentum going and not fall off, while Mustang must keep moving forward. They seemed to get more and more comfortable as the game went on, and they need to build on that.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK
Game preview: Yukon at Mustang
Quarterback Corben Jones will lead Yukon into hostile territory against rival Mustang Friday night.
A year ago at this time, when Yukon hosted Mustang in one of the final games at the old Miller Pride Stadium, an overflow crowd surrounded the field and brought a playoff atmosphere to a Week 1 ballgame.
I expect a similar feeling tonight at Bronco Stadium — the first game against Yukon since the new bleachers were built last year. A Mustang administrator said they expect around 13,000 fans for Canadian County Bedlam tonight, and I don’t doubt it. It’s a huge game between two schools that continue to grow in size and football prowess.
What to watch for: Mustang
Keep an eye on the offensive line. That group will be the biggest key to Mustang’s success, not only against Yukon, but all season. If they can protect QB Brandon Taylor, the Mustang offense will move up and down the field the way it has been accustomed to the last few years. But if Taylor spends too much time on the seat of his pants, it could be a long night for Bronco followers.
Defensively, Mustang has some experience, and the secondary must avoid mistakes. Keeping the Millers’ unproven run game in check will be a big help.
What to watch for: Yukon
This is purely speculation on my part, but I wonder if QB Corben Jones will go back to running more, like he did as a sophomore? Last year, he was able to get rid of the ball quickly to one of his deep, talented receiving corps. He has a lot of new guys at receiver this year, and a new running back as well. So I’m curious to see just how often he tucks it and takes off.
One area to keep an eye on will be Yukon’s cornerbacks. Both are new starters, and there’s no tougher first test than Mustang. Even though the Broncos are sending out a new crop of receivers, the offense and the routes are tough to keep up with, and Taylor can pick a secondary apart if given the time.
The Pick: Yukon 30, Mustang 20. This will be my third straight year covering Canadian County Bedlam, and I haven’t seen a bad one yet. Don’t expect to see one tonight, either. I think either of these teams could be ready to make a run at their respective district titles, and winning this game would be an early boost of confidence to help get that done.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK
Mustang’s Brandon Taylor has shoulder contusion, should play vs. Yukon
Mustang quarterback Brandon Taylor says he has a shoulder contusion and he “should be ready” for next week’s season opener vs. Yukon.
Taylor suffered the injury to his left (throwing) shoulder in Thursday night’s scrimmage vs. El Reno at the Mustang Pigskin Preview. It was feared that he might have broken his collarbone, but X-rays Friday morning came back with good news.
Taylor, one of the top quarterback prospects in the state, threw for more than 3,300 yards and 36 touchdowns last year. The Broncos host Yukon Sept. 2.
Offensive line play is something of a concern for the Broncos with some young players getting their first varsity action up front. They had a better showing Thursday night agianst Lawton MacArthurs in the first game, but had to turn around and play a fresh El Reno team right after.
El Reno’s small, quick defensive line caused trouble for Mustang in the second scirmmage. They sacked Taylor on consecutive plays, injuring his shoulder on the second one.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK
Brandon Taylor’s injury and other thoughts from Mustang’s Pigskin Preview
Mustang quarterback Brandon Taylor will have X-rays Friday morning on his injured throwing shoulder.
At some point Friday morning, Mustang quarterback Brandon Taylor will find out just how bad he hurt his left shoulder on Thursday night. It could be as minor as a bruise, or as major as a broken collarbone, but it will be important news either way for the Broncos.
There are a lot of new receivers and some young offensive linemen, so they need Taylor’s leadership and experience to hold the offense together. That’s not to say sophomore Frankie Edwards won’t be a good fill-in. He’s a talented young kid, but he doesn’t have the experience of Taylor.
I’ll have the news on Taylor’s shoulder as soon as I hear something.
As for Thursday’s scrimmages, Mustang had some tackling issues on defense, and the offensive line is still growing up. At receiver, Travis Mitchell showed some impressive skills, and could be valuable at receiver.
Here are some other thoughts from the Pigskin Preview:
-El Reno showed some promise, and looked a lot better on offense than when I saw them at team camp in Yukon back in June. Rashaad Copeland and Ray Little are two very dangerous athletes who each made some big plays. Copeland has been drawing some college attention from OSU, Kansas and North Texas.
-Norman North is still looking for some offensive continuity at quarterback. Bryan Payne is a talented running back, but the two QBs — senior Chad Ehrhart and junior Peyton Gavras — had some ups and downs Thursday. Defensively, the Timberwolves were strong against Altus, and they’ll need to hang their hat on that side of the ball while the offense comes along.
-Justin Jones’ first preseason at McGuinness has been a rough one. He had five starters sidelined Thursday, including most of his linebackers. No major injuries, but still, those guys are missing valuable time under a new coach. QB Camden Tharp has a good skillset, and I’d look for him to have a good year. The Irish got a good performance from the offensive line, and that will be important as they try to develop the run game.
-Lawton MacArthur looks good. Really good. I know Tulsa East Central has a lot of star power. I haven’t seen them or any of the other top teams in 5A, but Mac has a lot of athletes all over the place, not to mention the best kicker in the state, which is always a nice feature. RB Darius Graham is a big, strong runner, and Michael Thomas is a beast at cornerback. When he gets in press coverage, his WR isn’t getting off the line of scrimmage most of the time. Most of Mac’s linemen are playing both ways, so that’s always an issue with stamina, but they’re going to be a dangerous team.
-Lawton Eisenhower looks vastly different with Adrian McDonald on the field. The athletically gifted quarterback sat out Thursday night’s scrimmage after suffering a rib injury last week. Coach Boone Copeland said he didn’t know when McDonald would be back, but he’s hoping to have him next week for the opener.
-Altus is obviously battling through a transition, like a lot of teams, but the Bulldogs have a more positive attitude than just about any team I’ve been around this year. Diquon Woodhouse — who is in my top five favorite names in HS football this year — made some solid plays, including a pick-six for Altus’ only TD. He doesn’t seem to have any lingering effects from the sprained MCL in spring ball, even though he still wore a brace for protection.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK
Ups and downs for Mustang, Midwest City in scrimmage
Midwest City's Ronnie Davis throws a pass during Thursday's scrimmage against Muskogee.
Unless you were a Tulsa Union fan, you probably didn’t come away feeling completely satisfied after the four-team scrimmage at Midwest City Thursday night.
The Redskins, owners of the last three Class 6A gold balls, looked solid across the board Thursday night, including junior starting quarterback Hunter Atyia (pronounced uh-TIE-uh). More on him later.
As for Mustang and Midwest City — two of the teams who will be battling this year for the title of Great West Hope — both had their bright moments, but both faced some struggles, especially on defense.
Union scored four touchdowns on the Broncos during the 30-minute scrimmage. Mustang started several sophomores last season, so they’re still young on that side of the ball. But they have a good amount of experience.
“No excuses right now, because a bunch of them played last year,” coach Ty Prestidge said. “I’m happy with them. I think Union will make a lot of people look like that, especially this time of year.”
Offensively, you knew Midwest City would be a little shaky at times, considering two quarterbacks — Ronnie Davis and Joel Davis (no relation) — are battling for the starting job. The two alternated series, and both had some good moments. Ronnie Davis had the big play of the night, though most of the work was done by receiver Zac Brannon.
Brannon caught a pass on a slip screen coming in from the right side of the field, cutting across the traffic and outrunning everyone to the end zone for a 70-yard TD.
Here are some more news and notes from Thursday night:
Huff looking for more from defense
After a so-so showing from his defense — which is expected to be among the best in the state — Midwest City coach Steve Huff hopes his players will clean up their tackling.
“With as many returners as we have on defense, I think maybe we’ve been reading our clippings too much,” Huff said. “Right now, the main thing for that group is to tackle better. They did not tackle well, and they know it. They’ll watch film and they won’t like what they see, but they’ll go back to work.”
Mustang’s Taylor leading the charge
The Mustang quarterback is working with several new receivers and a few new offensive linemen, so he’s trying to get everyone on the same page in the Broncos’ fast-paced offense.
He was intercepted twice — once on a tipped pass — but overall, coach Ty Prestidge was pleased with his quarterback’s play against Tulsa Union.
“When he has time to throw, he’s good. And he’s like anybody else when he has people hanging on him,” Prestidge said. “We’re gonna get better on the offensive line, and I think our receivers are gonna come around.
“We were happy with Brandon’s performance. He’s gonna have a good year.”
Mustang looking for receivers
Mustang graduated its top five receivers from last year’s team, including All-State first-teamer David Glidden, so the pass-happy Broncos are looking for depth, playmakers and reliable hands.
Aside from a couple of drops, Mustangs receivers were solid, coming through with a few big plays. Derek Garvin and Dakota Warrington are among the leaders of the group, and sophomore Colton Hadlock is working his way into a bigger role.
“He’s a big target and he caught everything that was thrown at him tonight,” coach Ty Prestidge said. “I think he’s gonna come on and be a good one. He showed some promise tonight.”
Tulsa Union’s Atyia steps into starter’s role
Hunter Atyia got plenty of experience as a sophomore last season filling in when starting quarterback Kale Pearson got hurt, and Atyia looked solid moving the offense against Mustang Thursday night at Midwest City.
But the expectations will be a little heftier for Atyia this season.
“He’s really made for that position,” Union coach Kirk Fridrich said. “The experience is there, but as a sophomore, there weren’t a lot of expectations on him. This year, it’s a different game. It’s a lot easier to go in and play as a backup than it is to be the guy. But he’s getting there, and we’re excited about what he did tonight.”
Muskogee’s Williams in different role
Williams is in a new offensive role under first-year coach Josh Blankenship, shifting from quarterback to receiver. He’s being recruited primarily as a defensive back, but his offensive skills will be valuable for the Roughers this year.
“A lot of our offense is gonna have to be finding as many creative ways as possible to get the ball in his hands,” Blankenship said. “That’s why we put him in the receiver position. We want to get the ball to him out in space.”
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Mustang golfer June Tigert shoots 61
Mustang senior June Tigert shot 61 at an OJGT tournament at Trosper Park on Sunday.
Mustang senior June Tigert shot a 9-under-par 61 Sunday in a runaway victory of the Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour Trosper Challenge at Trosper Park.
Tigert, The Oklahoman’s All-City Girls Golfer of the Year last spring, carded eight birdies, one eagle and one bogey in the final round to win the tournament by 11 strokes.
“I just felt good. I was hitting good shots, making putts — just giving myself a chance,” Tigert said. “It was tons of fun, and it was even better, because I was playing with all my friends and they were all supporting me.”
Her 61 came one day after she recorded her career best score of 66 in the first round of the Trosper Challenge. For the 36-hole tournament, Tigert had 12 birdies, one eagle and one bogey to finish at 13-under-par 127.
Tigert shot 28 on the front nine Sunday, including three birdies and an eagle on holes 6-9.
“I try not to think about my score during the round and just wait until the end,” Tigert said. “I had no idea I could do that until I actually did it.”
Edmond North’s Allison Sell, the first-day leader after shooting 65, finished second at 2-under 138.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Video roundup: Yukon’s Derek Deeds, Mustang’s Brandon Taylor and Putnam City’s Casey Curtis
In case you missed any of my video interviews from my visits to football practices in the West Metro this week, here they are, all in one place for your viewing convenience. Yukon WR/DB Derek Deeds talks about the new stadium. Mustang QB Brandon Taylor discusses his relationship with the Broncos’ new receivers. And Putnam City RB/DB Casey Curtis talks up the Pirate defense:
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Mustang football will be on radio
You can hear all the games of QB Brandon Taylor and the Mustang Broncos on KKNG 97.3 FM this season.
Radio station KKNG, 97.3 FM, will carry live game broadcasts of Mustang football this season, school athletic director Chuck Bailey said.
The station will carry all Mustang football games, along with pregame and postgame shows. Jim Miller and Mike Hall will provide play-by-play and commentary.
Miller, a teacher and tennis coach at Harrah High School, is also the public address announcer for Oklahoma City Thunder home games.
Mustang’s season opens at home Sept. 2 vs. Yukon.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
