The Oklahoma City Area Baseball Coaches Association will play its annual all-star game at 6 p.m. Thursday at Palmer Field at Dolese Park.

An all-star team made up from these two rosters will play a Tulsa-area all-star team in a doubleheader at noon Saturday at Bishop McGuinness. OCS’ Ken McQueen and Tecumseh’s Chad Trahan will coach the Oklahoma City team.

NORTH
Starters
Pitchers: Brock Stuber, Piedmont; Parker Rigler, Edmond Memorial; Kyle Stephens, Edmond North
Catchers: Mike Hale, Putnam City North; Jon Denney, Yukon
First baseman: Cody Daylor, Edmond North
Second baseman: Daniel Costello, Edmond Santa Fe
Third baseman: Bryan Dutton, Guthrie
Shortstop: Dalen Edgar, Piedmont
Outfielders: Landon Eason, Yukon; Jack Hale, Edmond Memorial; Cole Lindley, Deer Creek
Utility: Austin Brooks, OCS
Desgnated hitter: Jacob Jerome, Edmond Santa Fe

Reserves: Chiante’ McKee, Star Spencer; Bradley Fitch, Bishop McGuinness; Reed Brooks, Putnam City; Jonathan Sergent, Classen

Coaches: Ken McQueen, OCS; Kory Williams, Piedmont

SOUTH
Starters
Pitchers: Alexander Svetgoff, Westmoore; Gage Trahan, Tecumseh; Nick Ward, Southmoore
Catchers: Lane Paul, Tuttle; Cameron Knight, Westmoore
First baseman: Dylan Mauk, Blanchard
Second baseman: Daniel Herron, Norman North
Third baseman: DJ Gasso, Norman North
Shortstop: Tre Edwards, Southmoore
Outfielders: Chevin Noone, Carl Albert; Hunter Heath, Bethel; Quade Nelson, Blanchard
Utility: Damion Orr, Midwest City
Designated hitter: Joel Davis, Midwest City

Reserves: Cooper Owens, Putnam City West; Colin Webb, Moore; Matt Foster, Norman; Casey Bowlan, Shawnee; Jovanny Hernandez, U.S. Grant; Zack Howry, Capitol Hill; Landon Vodka, Mustang.

Coaches: Chad Trahan, Tecumseh; Travis Owen, Tuttle

At ASA Hall of Fame Stadium
Class 6A
All games Wednesday, May 1
First Round
Westmoore vs. Southmoore, 10 a.m.
Tulsa Union vs. Muskogee, 10 a.m.
Moore vs. Jenks, 10 a.m.
Broken Arrow vs. Tahlequah, 10 a.m.
Semifinals
Westmoore-Southmoore winner vs. Tulsa Union-Muskogee winner, 12:30 p.m.
Moore-Jenks winner vs. Broken Arrow-Tahlequah winner, 12:30 p.m.
Championship
Semifinal winners, 3:15 p.m.

Class 5A
All games Wednesday, May 1
First Round
Cache vs. Seq. Tahlequah, 11:15 a.m.
Holdenville vs. Berryhill, 11:15 a.m.
Purcell vs. Bethel, 1:45 p.m.
Henryetta vs. Valliant, 1:45 p.m.
Semifinals
Purcell-Bethel winner vs. Cache-Seq. Tahlequah, 3:15 p.m.
Henryetta-Valliant winner vs. Holdenville-Berryhill, 3:15 p.m.
Championship
Semifinal winners, 6:15 p.m.

Class 4A
All games Wednesday, May 1
First Round
Dale vs. Latta, 11:15 a.m.
Chisholm vs. Washington, 11:15 a.m.
Davis vs. Liberty, 12:30 p.m.
Tushka vs. Mangum, 12:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Dale-Latta winner vs. Davis-Liberty winner, 1:45 p.m.
Tushka-Mangum winner vs. Chisholm-Washington winner, 1:45 p.m.
Championship
Semifinal winners, 4:45 p.m.

Class 3A
All games Tuesday, April 30
First Round
Rattan vs. Rock Creek, 10 a.m.
Wayne vs. Fort Towson, 10 a.m.
Mooreland vs. Depew, 10 a.m.
Apache vs. Preston, 10 a.m.
Semifinals
Rattan-Rock Creek winner vs. Wayne-Fort Towson winner, 12:30 p.m.
Mooreland-Depew winner vs. Apache-Preston winner, 12:30 p.m.
Championship
Semifinal winners, 3:15 p.m.

Class 2A
All games Tuesday, April 30
First Round
Binger-Oney vs. Dewar, 11:15 a.m.
Okarche vs. Roff, 11:15 a.m.
Turner vs. Barnsdall, 1:45 p.m.
Pond Creek-Hunter vs. Soper, 1:45 p.m.
Semifinals
Binger-Dewar winner vs. Turner-Barnsdall winner, 3:15 p.m.
Pond Creek-Soper winner vs. Okarche-Roff winner, 3:15 p.m.
Championship
Semifinal winners, 6:15 p.m.

Class A
All games Tuesday, April 30
First Round
Red Oak vs. Arnett, 11:15 a.m.
Tupelo vs. Asher, 11:15 a.m.
Eagletown vs. Hammon, 12:30 p.m.
Buffalo Valley vs. Leedey, 12:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Red Oak-Arnett winner vs. Eagletown-Hammon winner, 1:45 p.m.
Tupelo-Asher winner vs. Buffalo Valley-Leedey winner, 1:45 p.m.
Championship
Semifinal winners, 4:45 p.m.

Class 6A
BOYS
EAST
At Tulsa Rogers
Friday
Winner’s Bracket
Owasso vs. Broken Arrow, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Stillwater vs. Bixby, 8 p.m.

At Catoosa
Winner’s Bracket
Tulsa Union vs. Jenks, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Tulsa Washington vs. Bartlesville, 8 p.m.

Saturday
At Catoosa
Stillwater/Bixby winner vs. Owasso/Broken Arrow loser, 8 p.m.
Tulsa Washington/Bartlesville winner vs. Tulsa Union/Jenks loser, 6:30 p.m.

WEST
At Choctaw
Friday
Winner’s Bracket
Midwest City vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Edmond North vs. Putnam City

At Norman North
Winner’s Bracket
Edmond Memorial vs. Putnam City West, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Putnam City North vs. Lawton Eisenhower, 8 p.m.

Saturday
At Norman North
Putnam City North/Lawton Eisenhower winner vs. Edmond Memorial/Putnam City West loser, 6:30 p.m.
Edmond North/Putnam City winner vs. Midwest City/Edmond Santa Fe loser, 8 p.m.

GIRLS
EAST
Thursday
At Catoosa
Winner’s Bracket
Muskogee vs. Tulsa Washington, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Jenks vs. Tulsa Union

At Tulsa Rogers
Loser’s Bracket
Broken Arrow vs. Mustang, 6:30 p.m.
Winner’s Bracket
Bartlesville vs. Bixby, 8 p.m.

Saturday
At Catoosa
Broken Arrow/Mustang winner vs. Bartlesville/Bixby loser, 1:30 p.m.
Jenks/Tulsa Union winner vs. Muskogee/Tulsa Washington loser, 3 p.m.

WEST
Thursday
At Choctaw
Winner’s Bracket
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Putnam City, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Norman vs. Southmoore, 8 p.m.

At Harrah
Loser’s Bracket
Lawton Eisenhower vs. Choctaw, 6:30 p.m.
Winner’s Bracket
Norman North vs. Edmond Memorial, 8 p.m.

Saturday
At Harrah
Lawton Eisenhower/Choctaw winner vs. Norman North/Edmond Memorial loser, 1:30 p.m.
Norman/Southmoore winner vs. Edmond Santa Fe/Putnam City loser, 3 p.m.

CLASS 5A
BOYS
EAST
Friday
At Bixby
Winner’s Bracket
Tulsa Memorial vs. Tulsa Kelley, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Chickasha vs. Guthrie, 8 p.m.

At Sapulpa
Winner’s Bracket
Coweta vs. Tulsa Edison, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Skiatook vs. Noble, 8 p.m.

At Bixby
Saturday
Skiatook/Noble winner vs. Coweta/Tulsa Edison loser, 6:30 p.m.
Chickasha/Guthrie winner vs. Tulsa Memorial/Tulsa Kelley loser, 8 p.m.

WEST
Friday
At Edmond North
Winner’s Bracket
Bishop McGuinness vs. Lawton MacArthur, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Del City vs. Capitol Hill, 8 p.m.

At Edmond Memorial
Winner’s Bracket
Carl Albert vs. Southeast, 6:30 p.m.
Western Heights vs. Piedmont, 8 p.m.

Saturday
At Edmond Memorial
Western Heights/Piedmont winner vs. Carl Albert/Southeast loser, 6:30 p.m.
Del City/Capitol Hill winner vs. Bishop McGuinness/Lawton MacArthur loser, 8 p.m.

GIRLS
EAST
Thursday
At Bixby
Loser’s Bracket
Chickasha at Tulsa Edison, 6:30 p.m.
Winner’s Bracket
Tulsa East Central at Collinsville, 8 p.m.

At Sapulpa
Winner’s Bracket
Tahlequah vs. Tulsa Memorial, 6:30 p.m.
Loser’s Bracket
Grove vs. Tulsa Kelley, 8 p.m.

Saturday
At Sapulpa
Grove/Tulsa Kelley winner vs. Tahlequah/Tulsa Memorial loser, 1:30 p.m.
Chickasha/Tulsa Edison winner vs. Tulsa East Central/Collinsville loser, 3 p.m.

WEST
Thursday
At Edmond North
Loser’s Bracket
Del City vs. Ardmore, 6:30 p.m.
Winner’s Bracket
Shawnee vs. Piedmont, 8 p.m.

At Edmond Memorial
Loser’s Bracket
El Reno vs. Lawton MacArthur, 6:30 p.m.
Carl Albert vs. Deer Creek, 8 p.m.

Saturday
At Edmond North
El Reno/Lawton MacArthur winner vs. Carl Albert/Deer Creek loser, 1:30 p.m.
Del City/Ardmore winner vs. Shawnee/Piedmont loser, 3 p.m.

LARGE EAST
P: Whitney Whitehorn, Owasso
C: Nicole Nease, Owasso
1B: Macklin Hitz, Jenks
2B: Sam Reiss, Broken Arrow
3B: Paige Luellen, Jenks
SS: Madison Vaughan, Coweta
OF: Hannah Stirton, Owasso; Britney Johnson, Tahlequah; Samantha Smith, Collinsville
P: Elena Gambill, Broken Arrow; Jessica Walker, Grove
C: Ashleigh Tramel, Grove
U-3B: Taylor Dodson, Grove
U-C: Allie Alvstad, Bixby; Theresa Collins, Broken Arrow
U-1B: Paige Gan, Muskogee
U-SS: Shannon Driggers, Collinsville; Taylor Perdue, Sand Springs
Coach: Shane Eicher, Owasso

LARGE WEST
P: Jordan Dixon, Edmond North
C: Shelbie Smith, Edmond Memorial
1B: Lindsay Littles, Edmond Memorial
2B: Haley Wells, Deer Creek
3B: Madi Ellis, Yukon
SS: Madisyn Long, Carl Albert
OF: Kierra Miles, Mustang; Abby Taliaferro, Edmond North; Rachel Cooper, Duncan
P: Maddy Ellis, Yukon; Summer Leitka, Norman
C: Braden Bradshaw, Southmoore
U-3B: Courtney Moore, Duncan
U-SS: Mariah Peace, Westmoore
U-2B: Caitlynn Hall, Moore
U-OF: Brianna McComas, Edmond Santa Fe; Courtney Chelf, Enid
U-1B: Hannah Lynch, Moore
Coach: Erin Regier, Deer Creek

MIDDLE EAST
P: Jayde Hansen, Perry
C: Kaci Trentham, Coalgate
1B: Anna Crawford, Adair
2B: Kara Lynch, Sequoyah-Tahlequah
3B: Brenna Vise, Poteau
SS: Taylor McElhaney, Oologah
OF: Shelby Standridge, Poteau; Kassi Yazel, Morris; Audrianna Hooks, Bristow
P: Madison Boyd, Chelsea; Jessica Bluebird, Sequoyah-Tahlequah
C: Shyanna Sigman, Tecumseh
U-SS: Sutv Meely, Tecumseh
U-P: Kylar Foshee, Valliant
U-2B: Bailey King, Morris
U-SS: Ashley Williams, Berryhill; Raven Campos, Adair; Ryan Martin, Beggs
Coach: Tommy Howard, Valliant

MIDDLE WEST
P: Andee Frazier, Little Axe
C: Jacie Stephens, Washington
1B: Shelby Robinson, Newcastle
2B: Megan Sanders, Weatherford
3B: Jordan Chism, Piedmont
SS: Samantha Leising, Little Axe
OF: Kaylin Taylor, Purcell; Nikki Horton, Cache; Emma Nelson, Piedmont
P: Shea Coats, Tuttle; Tate Landmark, Cache
C: Kaitlyn Holmes, Harrah
U-3B: Dani Warren, Cache; Tiphani Napier, Plainview; Annamarea Combs, Tuttle
U-OF: Bryanne Knox, Dickson; Ashley Savage, Newcastle
U-2B: Avery Walker, Marlow
Coach: Rodney DeLong, Cache

SMALL EAST
P: Jalissa Gum, Frontier
C: Casey Kelley, Roff
1B: Jadyn Gibbs, Rattan
2B: Cheyenne Been, Dewar
3B: Kelby Alexander, Drumright
SS: Samantha Berry, Dale
OF: Kelly Easterling, Oktaha; Sericca Rider, Red Oak; Sarah Morrison, Caney Valley
P: Kendra Coleman, Red Oak; Taylor Canida, Roff
C: Danielle Dockrey, Dale
U-SS: Kendra David, Caney Valley; Jill Shipman, Stroud
U-P: Taylor Eaves, Panama; Jill Roye, Red Oak; Jaimie Williams, Rattan
U: Victoria Stambaugh, Davenport
Coach: Casey Butcher, Red Oak

SMALL WEST
P: Peyton Walker, Hammon
C: Kori Barrios, Hammon
1B: Selika Shives, Binger-Oney
2B: Sydney Harrel, Leedey
3B: Danielle Hammons, Fort Cobb-Broxton
SS: Kayla Wilson, Mooreland
OF: Larissa Tate, Binger-Oney; Carly Farmer, Pond Creek-Hunter; Bailey Carnes, Merritt
P: Taya Haney, Leedey; Emily Wasinger, Frederick
C: Harli Ridling, Sentinel
U-3B: Jenna Trissel, Leedey
U-P: Ashton Lierle, Fort Cobb-Broxton; Jaci Booker, Cyril; Lakeyna Forsythe, Fletcher
U-SS: Olivia Mason, Fairview
U-2B: Casey Redus, Wayne
Coach: Scott Brewer, Wayne

All right, so here’s the weekly rankings explanation/discussion. Class 6A was once again the toughest, although there were plenty of other interesting choices along the way.

CLASS 6A
1. Tulsa Union (3)#4-2
2. Jenks (5)#4-2
3. Broken Arrow (4)#3-3
4. Edmond North (2)#6-0
5. Owasso (6)#3-2
6. Edmond Santa Fe (7)#5-1
7. Sand Springs (9)#6-0
8. Southmoore (10)#5-1
9. Lawton (1)#5-1
10. Norman North (NR)#5-1

This is one I had to deconstruct completely yet again after the weekend’s results that included Southmoore’s win over Lawton, Putnam City’s win over Westmoore and Edmond North escaping against a now 1-5 Yukon team. I thought it would happen a few weeks ago and it has–Union is the best team in 6A again. The Redskins loss to Owasso looks like the bump in the road that it was last year as Union rolled to another title. Sand Springs gets a big test this week when it plays Union. Play the Redskins tight–even in a loss–and the Sandites move up next week. A win in that game and I’ll vault Sand Springs to No. 1.

CLASS 5A
1. Guthrie (1)#6-0
2. Tulsa East Central (2)#2-4
3. Deer Creek (3)#6-0
4. Bishop McGuinness (4)#6-0
5. Tulsa Kelley (5)#4-2
6. Claremore (6)#5-1
7. Coweta (7)#4-2
8. Del City (8)#4-2
9. Lawton MacArthur (9)#4-2
10. Tulsa Memorial (10)#6-0
*Tulsa East Central forfeited four wins.

This one wasn’t too difficult was Claremore’s 20-19 loss to Tulsa East Central was the only loss in the top 10. Claremore stays above Coweta and Del City because their game against East Central was closer. Claremore-Coweta, though, will get sorted out soon enough as the teams face off Oct. 26.

CLASS 4A
1. Wagoner (1)#5-1
2. Cascia Hall (3)#6-0
3. Anadarko (6)#6-0
4. Ada (4)#6-0
5. Clinton (2)#4-2
6. Douglass (5)#4-2
7. Sallisaw (7)#4-2
8. Fort Gibson (8)#6-0
9. Cleveland (9)#6-0
10. Catoosa (NR)#3-3

Anadarko’s big performance deserved to be noticed, and the Warriors move up three places to No. 3, ahead of Ada, Clinton and Douglass. The only other shuffle came in the final spot as Catoosa slips in ahead of Broken Bow and Poteau. Catoosa beat a ranked opponent (Tulsa McLain) and a few weeks ago nearly knocked off Fort Gibson. That puts Catoosa in even against teams with better records.

CLASS 3A
1. Kingfisher (1)#6-0
2. Tuttle (2)#6-0
3. Berryhill (3)#6-0
4. Seminole (4)#5-0
5. Blanchard (5)#6-0
6. Metro Christian (6)#5-1
7. Victory Christian (7)#6-0
8. Sequoyah-Tahlequah (8)#5-1
9. Verdigris (9)#5-1
10. Cushing (10)#5-1

Nice and easy yet again: Everyone wins.

CLASS 2A
1. Vian (2)#6-0
2. Davis (3)#6-0
3. Frederick (4)#6-0
4. OCS (7)#5-1
5. Millwood (1)#5-1
6. Hennessey (5)#4-2
7. Stroud (6)#5-1
8. Adair (9)#6-0
9. Lindsay (8)#4-2
10. Commerce (10)#5-1

The big mover on the positive side was OCS, who knocked off top-ranked Millwood. The Saints’ only loss so far is to Class 3A Jones. Millwood drops to No. 5, just behind OCS. I also flipped Adair and Lindsay after taking in the totality of their seasons to this point.

CLASS A
1. Wynnewood (1)#5-0
2. Wayne (2)#6-0
3. Thomas (3)#6-0
4. Ringling (4)#4-1
5. Texhoma (5)#5-0
6. Fairview (NR)#6-0
7. Cashion (6)#6-0
8. Crescent (7)#6-0
9. Kiefer (8)#6-0
10. Morrison (9)#5-1

None of the teams in the top 10 lost but I promised a reader I’d break down and reassess this class so I did. What I found, for the most part, is that I liked where I had teams. I feel comfortable in Ringling where they are with their one loss (to Davis) and Morrison with theirs (to Alva). I was OK leaving off Empire, Savanna, Talihina, Warner and Summit Christian even with undefeated records. But going over the rankings and results of the first six weeks, I couldn’t ignore what Fairview has done. Friday, they beat Hooker 71-18. So far, they’ve outscored opponents 303-56. Fairview played three opponents that other top 10 teams had played this year and the matchups were favorable for Fairview. It beat Pioneer 63-8 while Cashion beat Pioneer 52-20. It beat Okeene 49-6 while Cashion won 27-20 and Thomas won 26-6. And finally, it beat Hooker 71-18 on Friday, while Hollis won 45-21. I don’t always matchup scores like that because there are a number of factors that could skew things, but when you’re looking at that many games, I couldn’t ignore it. So Farview goes in at No. 10 while Hollis is the unlucky team to slip.

CLASS B
1. Laverne (1)#6-0
2. Wetumka (2)#6-0
3. Pond Creek-Hunter (3)#6-0
4. Fox (6)#6-0
5. Dewar (4)#5-1
6. Garber (5)#5-1
7. Davenport (7)#4-2
8. Rejoice Christian (8)#5-1
9. Covington-Douglas (9)#4-2
10. Alex (10)#5-1

Garber and Dewar both got beat, but they got beat by teams ranked above them. Fox leap-frogged the pair but everything else remains constant.

CLASS C
1. Tipton (1)#6-0
2. Cherokee (2)#6-0
3. Forgan (3)#5-0
4. Ryan (4)#6-0
5. Sharon-Mutual (5)#5-1
6. Thackerville (7)#4-1
7. Webbers Falls (8)#4-1
8. Maud (9)#4-1
9. Balko (10)#5-1
10. Temple (NR)#3-3

Things were just fine until Wesleyan Christian beat No. 6 Deer Creek-Lamont. The next four just move up one spot, but the No. 10 position gave me a bit of heartburn. Deer Creek-Lamont? It just lost to Wesleyan Christian by 22. Wesleyan Christian? It lost to Bluejacket by 36 just last week. Bluejacket? It lost to Deer Creek-Lamont by 16 a couple weeks ago. So welcome to the rankings Temple. Temple has three losses but they came to Class B No. 4 Fox, Class C No. 1 Tipton and No. 4 Ryan (30-20, Tipton’s closest game all season by 10 points).

A look at how Oklahoma high school alums fared in out-of-state college action over the weekend:

A week before Kansas State comes to Norman, a couple of former Oklahoma high school stars turned in big performances in the WIldcats’ 35-21 win over North Texas on Saturday night.

The Mean Green took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter when former Tulsa Washington standout Tyler Lockett returned the kick 96 yards to tie the game up.

The next two Kansas State touchdowns were scored by former Jenks standout Tramaine Thompson–one from 38 yards out and the other from 21.

Thompson finished with five catches for 102 yards. Lockett added another 23-yard kick return and a six-yard catch.

Tulsa Washington’s Keenan Taylor started on the offensive line for Kansas State. Dante Barnett (Tulsa Washington), Andre McDonald (Choctaw) and Zach Trujillo (Deer Creek) played but didn’t record any stats in the win.

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This is becoming a weekly staple but once again the Oklahoma connection paid off for Ohio. Norman North’s Tyler Tettleton threw for 200 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 35 yards, former Timberwolves standout Beau Blankenship ran for 102 yards and Guthrie’s Donte’ Foster had three catches for 30 yards in the Bobcats’ 27-24 come-from-behind win over Marshall.

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Former Tulsa Washington standout Isaac Bennett had two rushes for eight yards and two catches for 14 yards in Pittsburgh’s 35-17 upset of Virginia Tech.

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Not much positive came out of Arkansas’ 52-0 blowout at the hands of Alabama.
Former McGuinness standout kicker Cameron Bryan came up with a nice play on special teams, sprinting down and downing a punt inside the 5 in the first half.

Bryan handled kickoff duties in eight games for Arkansas in 2009 but after Zach Hocker continued to solidify himself in the kicker roll just prior to the season, Brayn asked to be given a chance to play on kick coverage.

You can read more about him here: http://newsok.com/mcguinness-product-cameron-bryan-joins-arkansas-kickoff-coverage-team/article/3707537

Tulsa Washington’s Eric Bennett had six tackles, Tulsa Union’s Terrell Williams had one and Muskogee’s Robert Thomas had a pair of quarterback hurries.

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Former Tulsa Central standout Demarco Cobbs had four tackles and Millwood’s Josh Turner had three tackles in Texas’ 66-31 win at Ole Miss. Cobbs got the start at strongside linebacker.

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Former Carl Albert star David Oku ran for 44 yards and had 11 yards receiving in Arkansas State’s 42-13 loss to Nebraska.

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Carl Albert’s Christian Smith had three tackles and Jenks’ Orion Jones had one in Toledo’s 27-15 win over Bowling Green.

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Metro Christian’s Rylan Hess had four tackles in Colorado School of Mines’ 42-19 win over Black Hills State. Hess also had a blocked pass.

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NCAA Division II No. 1 Pittsburg State beat Southwest Baptist 52-9 on Saturday with the help of a few Oklahomans.
Catoosa’s Joe Uzzel had three tackles and Israel Maselera and Dino Teague (Tulsa East Central) had two tackles. Teague had a sack. Darrack Harger (Sand Springs) was 2-for 3 with 18 yards passing and rushed for -6 yards.
Uzzel started at defensive end, while Collinsville’s Chance Riley started at tight end and Sand Springs’ Tyler Smith at left guard.

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Former Millwood star Davion Pierson continues to impress at Texas Christian. Pierson started and had five tackles–1.5 for loss (0.5 sacks)–in TCU’s 20-6 win over Kansas.
Tulsa Washington’s John Williams had three tackles for Kansas. Owasso’s Gavin Howard started on the offensive line for the Jayhawks.

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Timothy Flanders, a former Midwest City star, scored a touchdown late in the first half as Sam Houston State built a lead on Baylor. But the Bears came back to win 48-23. Flanders ran for 84 yards and had another 56 yards receiving in the loss. Former Norman North standout K.J. Williams played for SHSU as well.

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Lawton Sonny Puletasi usually starts for Wyoming at defensive end but made a mark on the other side Saturday, catching a two-point conversion pass in the second quarter of the Cowboys’ game against Cal Poly. It wasn’t enough, though, as Wyoming fell 24-22. Puletasi had three tackles, while Tulsa Washington’s T.J. Smith saw time for Wyoming as well.

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Cayman Bundage, a freshman out of Douglass, didn’t start but saw playing time in Arizona’s 56-0 blowout of South Carolina State. Owasso’s Trent Spurgeon played for the Wildcats as well.

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Brandon Swindall, a Millwood product, played for Utah State as the Aggies nearly pulled off a second consecutive upset, before falling to Wisconsin 16-14.

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McGuinness’ Kris Parham ran for 23 yards and Putnam North’s Josh Booker ran for 9 in Weber State’s 35-21 loss to McNeese State. Parham also had 72 kickoff return yards on three chances. Edmond Santa Fe’s Willie Okwuonu led Weber State with nine tackles–all solo–in the loss. Edmond Memorial’s Anthony Morales had 6.5 tackles, Edmond Memorial’s David James had three, Edmond Santa Fe’s Trevor Pletcher had two, and Putnam City’s Robbie Diamond, Jenks’ Devin Pugh and Edmond Memorial’s Connor Myers had one each.

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Bartlesville’s Kirby Schoenthaler had three catches for 27 yards in Dartmouth’s season-opening 35-7 win over Butler. Muskogee freshman Victor Williams had a carry for three yards and two catches for five yards. Tulsa Union’s Corbin Stall had a sack. Verdigris’ Cohle Fowler started on the offensive line.

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Former Muskogee standout Shjuan Richardson had seven catches for 100 yards and three touchdowns in Emporia State’s 42-14 win over UCO. Ponca City’s Adam Schlitz had four catches for 48 yards and Ponca City’s Brent Wilson had two runs for eight yards in the win.

McGuinness’ Chris Poston had three tackles and an interception, Alva’s Derek Lohmann and Midwest City’s Kevin Gaddis each had five tackles and a forced fumble, Del City’s Jeff Richards had five tackles and Luther’s Justin Wilson had a pair of tackles. Norman North’s Lance Uhles, Collinsville’s Trey Rodgers and Piedmont’s Jordan McAdoo all started on the offensive line as Emporia State racked up 538 yards of total offense. Northwest’s Andre Maupin and Broken Arrow’s Josh Moses also played.

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Lincoln Christian’s Roman Wilson caught a two-point conversion pass with about five minutes left to lift Princeton to within three but Princeton fell to Lehigh 17-14. Wilson had four catches for 40 yards to lead Princeton in receiving and added a 23-yard catch. Tulsa Kelley’s Mark Hayes started at tight end for Princeton while fellow Comet Michael Major saw action.

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Muskogee’s Vernon Scott ran for 46 yards and a touchdown, caught one pass and returned a kick in Missouri State’s 28-23 loss to Murray State. Norman North’s Nick Canavan had seven tackles and Tulsa Union’s Howard Scarborough added three in the loss. Jenks’ Ryan Boatright, Star Spencer’s Jason Fitch and Edmond Santa Fe’s Tre Kelley also saw time for Missouri State.

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Former Heritage Hall star Turner Petersen ran for 47 yards and had 13 yards receiving in the Owls’ 56-37 loss to Louisiana Tech.

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Carl Albert’s Joe Stoner had five tackles in New Mexico’s 49-14 loss to Texas Tech. Another former Titan, Tre’ Porter, played for Texas Tech but did not record any statistics.

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Norman North’s Beau Traber had six tackles in Bucknell’s 19-3 loss to Delaware.

—
Owasso’s Jacques Washington had a pair of tackles in Iowa State’s 37-3 win over Western Illinois. Washington started at free safety. Jenks’ Bob Graham also saw time on the offensive line.

—
Edmond Santa Fe’s Randy Ponder had five tackles in the Missouri’s 24-20 win over Arizona State. Edmond North’s Xavier Smith had one. Guthrie’s Kentrell Brothers also saw time.

—
Owasso’s Nick Rosa scored on a seven-yard touchdown pass and finished with five catches for 60 yards in Drake’s 27-10 loss to Indiana State. Holland Hall’s Seth Hedman had five tackles.

—
Bixby’s Michael Nelson had a nine-yard catch in Missouri Southern’s 21-14 win over Lincoln (Mo.). Norman North’s Riley Nolan also played in the win.

—
Broken Arrow’s Rowdy Harper started on the offensive line for Houston in the Cougars’ 37-6 loss to UCLA. Norman’s Zach Johnson also saw time.

—
Marlow’s Colt McCauley started at left guard for Southeast Missouri in its 35-14 loss to Southern Illinois.

—
Glenpool’s Codey Zickefoose, who started at linebacker, had a tackle in Arkansas Tech’s 73-34 loss to Henderson State. Glenpool’s Tim VanOrsdol started at left tackle.

Know someone I missed? Let me know in the comments or with an e-mail.

Southmoore senior lineman Drew Nickell will miss the season after suffering fractures in his left leg and ankle in Friday’s scrimmage against Edmond North.

The injury will require surgery.

SaberCats coach Jeff Brickman said the team would wear helmet stickers in Nickell’s honor this year.

“We don’t have a whole lot of guys that play both ways but he’s one of them because of the work ethic that he brings every day,” Brickman said. “He’s the guy all summer that’s been there and the kids respect him so much because of what he does.”

Brickman said Nickell was as positive as possible following the news.

“He’s never down,” Brickman said. “He’s always an upbeat type of kid. He just said these things happen.”

The loss will affect Southmoore much more on the offensive side, where Nickell played full time.

Senior Jake Spradling, who was at left guard, will move to right tackle to take Nickell’s spot, while junior Dakota Haynes will step into Spradling’s spot at left guard.

“We shouldn’t have that big of a drop-off there but we’ve got to hope no one else gets hurt,” Brickman said. “He felt pretty good about Haynes as a backup on the offensive line but there’s a bit of a drop-off after that.”

On defense, the SaberCats were already using a deep rotation at defensive end, so that rotation just gets one short.

All-Conference
First Team
Ashley Clark, Midwest City
Alie Decker, Edmond Memorial
Carolee Dillard, Midwest City
Taylor Ely, Norman
Bri Kuestersteffen, Norman North
Toni Smith, Del City

Second Team
Brittany Alavinejad, Westmoore
Serithia Hawkins, Southmoore
Sydney Hill, Edmond Memorial
Mariah Jackson, Del City
Kayla Tucker, Southmoore

Third Team
Bethany Cox, Norman
Jami Hensley, Westmoore
Rasheeda Kabba, Westmoore
Amanda Patterson, Moore
Haley Woodard, Norman North

Honorable Mention
Dionna Collins (Del City), Piper Kalthoff (Del City), Jenny Roy (Edmond Memorial),
Alyssa Hand (Edmond Memorial), Jasmine Gaddis (Midwest City), Jasauen Beard (Midwest City), Adrianna White (Midwest City), Reagan Widener (Midwest City),
Tori Thomas (Norman North), Kabria Harkey (Westmoore),

Defensive Players of the Year: Jordan Thomas, Edmond Memorial, and Cornell Neal, Midwest City

Offensive Players of the Year: Jordan Woodard, Edmond Memorial, and Rico Hogan, Norman

Coach of the Year: Shane Cowherd, Edmond Memorial

Newcomer of the Year: Terrell Savala, Edmond Memorial

First Team
James Woodard, Edmond Memorial
Jordan Woodard, Edmond Memorial
A.J. Holland, Del City
T.J. Noel, Midwest City
Rico Hogan, Norman
Cornell Neal, Midwest City

Second Team
Brett Cannon, Del City
Terrell Savala, Edmond Memorial
Connor Madole, Norman
Jordan Thomas, Edmond Memorial
Tripp Fuller, Westmoore

Third Team
Dorian Gigger, Moore
Chris Hobgood, Moore
Steffon Herd, Del City
Trey Ayala, Westmoore
Jamal Mosely, Del City

Honorable Mention:
Sam Kaplan, Norman North
Jourdan Bean, Southmoore
Maurice Davenport, Moore
Kyle Lakin, Westmoore
Beau Palmer, Westmoore
George Kittle, Norman
Daniel Harper, Norman
Keith Glover, Del City
Deonte Long, Del City
Devin Bockhaus, Midwest City
Daryck Jones, Midwest City
Torey Noel, Midwest City
Kesean Brown, Midwest City
Reggie Sloan, Edmond Memorial
Aaron Young, Edmond Memorial

Southmoore's Andrew Long verbally committed to play football at Air Force on Wednesday.

Southmoore running back Andrew Long is excited about the opportunity to play Division I football, but the chance to attend the Air Force Academy means far more.

Long verbally committed to the Air Force football program on Wednesday.

“The opportunity to play football and serve my country means a lot to me,” Long said. “When I thought about the opportunity to have a degree from there, it’s like graduating from Harvard. It sets you up for life.”

Long’s uncle and grandfather each served in the Air Force as well.

Long rushed for 1,084 yards and 11 touchdowns on 172 carries for Southmoore, concluding a career as a four-year starter. He is excited to be a part of the Falcons’ run-heavy, option attack.

“I should have the opportunity to run the ball or catch the ball,” he said. “I’ll play defense if that’s what they want me to do, but right now, they want me as a running back.”

Air Force offered a scholarship in April. Long was also considering Central Oklahoma and Washburn, among others. National Signing Day is Feb. 1.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

All-District Team
Quarterbacks: Hunter Collins, Jenks; Zac Mills, Broken Arrow; Tyler Williams, Sapulpa.
Running backs: A.J. Leinewebber, Putnam West; Andrew Long, Southmoore; Bradley McGee, Muskogee; Forest Myers, Norman; Cameron Ousely, Muskogee; Donovan Roberts, Norman;
Inside receivers: Trevor Hall, Sapulpa; Victor Williams, Muskogee.
Outside receivers: Will Armstead, Broken Arrow; Levi Copelin, Broken Arrow; George Kittle, Norman; Levi Pickering, Sapulpa; Quad Ware, Broken Arrow; Isaac Whitney, Southmoore.
Tight ends: Ryan Boatright, Jenks; Kenneth Dennis, Norman; Sam Laptad, Jenks; Zac Veatch, Broken Arrow.
Offensive Linemen: Samuel Ayeni, Southmoore; Massey Barnett, Sapulpa; Tyler Davis, Broken Arrow; J.T. Dotson, Jenks; Aaron Farris, Jenks; Alex Frazier, Broken Arrow; Gintrell Frazier, Shawnee; Blake Garrity, Putnam West; Foster Hare, Norman; Tyler Loudenback, Putnam West; Harrison Madden, Norman; Sam Sabin, Jenks; Caleb Stainaker, Southmoore; Chris Tabor, Broken Arrow; David Vogt, Sapulpa; Caleb Washington, Southmoore.
Defensive tackles: Jeremy Barrientos, Shawnee; Chase Duke, Sapulpa; Jeremy Gunter, Broken Arrow; Ashton Henderson, Jenks; Orion Jones, Jenks; Kyle Lewis, Muskogee.
Defensive ends: Matt Frazier, Broken Arrow; Chandler Heath, Muskogee; Jamel Ingram, Muskogee.
Inside Linebackers: Will McDonald, Broken Arrow; Derek Morris, Broken Arrow; Dominic Rossetti, Norman; Wes Starr, Muskogee; Kaleb Thompson, Southmoore
Outside Linebackers: Levi Jennings, Southmoore; Chris Ladd, Broken Arrow; Bryan Pisklo, Jenks; Colton Shackelford, Southmoore.
Safeties: Travis Burge, Southmoore; Brad Davis, Norman; Josh Fleak, Sapulpa; Sidtrel Grayson, Muskogee; Xavier Hunter, Muskogee; Matt Linscott, Jenks; Mason Mullings, Broken Arrow.
Cornerbacks: Levi Copelin, Broken Arrow; Aaron Fowler, Muskogee; Rico Hogan, Norman; Dalton Pridemore, Sapulpa; Jaylen Rayford, Norman; Torrence Reed, Jenks.
Purple heart awards: Chris Carpenter, Shawnee; Trevor Davison, Norman; Chase Duke Sapulpa; Andrew Long, Southmoore; Derek Morris, Broken Arrow; James Richardson, Muskogee; Alex Ross, Jenks.

Honorable mention:
Broken Arrow: Calvin Mann, OL
Muskogee: Ed Baker, RB; Mikel Smith, OR; Parker Wilkerson, Muskogee
Norman: Nick Gaines, DE; Dylan Stout, DE
Sapulpa: Kegan Fox, TE; Lane Youngblood, S
Shawnee: Dillon Garcher, ILB; Andrew Smith, OLB


Edmond North running backs Jared Benway, left, and Jarion Tudman. PHOTO BY DOUG HOKE, THE OKLAHOMAN

MOORE — Who’s excited about the start of high school football season?

I know I am. I’m covering my first game of the season tonight, and it should be a great one.

Edmond North at Southmoore. Two teams; four outstanding running backs.

But it goes deeper than that. Both teams are talented on both sides of the ball, and both teams have the ability to be two dimensional offensively.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: EDMOND NORTH
In the backfield, the Huskies have speedster Jarion Tudman, who rushed for 1,299 yards and nine touchdowns last season, and the powerful Jared Benway, who was hurt all of last season but showed flashes of what he can do as a sophomore.

Senior quarterback Jesse Mathews won the job after a close competition with junior Luke Hoskins, who will back Benway up at fullback. Mathews, who is replacing two-year starter Travis Townsend under center for Edmond North, has a solid group of receivers at his disposal.

Senior Garrett Molinsky had 476 yards and five touchdowns last season. Senior tight end Troy Davis added eight touchdowns a year ago. Other pass-catchers for the Huskies include senior Ken Bingham, a speedy target with good hands, and Rashad Salaam, who at 6-foot-4 provides a big target for Mathews.

Up front, the Huskies should get a big boost from move-in guard Will Wiedenmann (6-foot-7, 336 pounds), who coach Jeremy Dombek said looks like he’s 280 pounds because of his athleticism.

Defensively, Edmond North returns eight starters. The Husky defense’s strong point is its secondary, which is led by senior safety Christian Peterson.

Southmoore running back Andrew Long. OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE PHOTO

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: SOUTHMOORE
Southmoore missed the playoffs last season after injuries to their top offensive stars — now graduated quarterback Kendal Thompson and running back Andrew Long. But the experienced their backups gained could pay dividends this season.

Junior quarterback Tre Edwards got lots of playing time in Thompson’s absense last year. He threw for nearly 1,000 yards last season and rushed for 467 and 12 touchdowns. SaberCats coach Chris Jensen called Edwards a “magician” with the ball in his hands.

Edwards, Long, who rushed for 1,499 yards in just eight games, and junior Karltrell Henderson, who also rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2010, create one of the top backfields in Class 6A.

A big questionmark for the SaberCats’ rushing attack will be their offensive line, which returns no starters.

Edwards also has three returning starters to throw the ball to — tight end Jackson Stallings, who grabbed five TDs last season, and juniors Johnathan Martin and Nick Ward.

Defensively, Southmoore brings back five starters, including linebackers Kaleb Thompson, who had 125 tackles last season, and Terrance Bonner. The SaberCats defense is very talented despite its inexperience, and has the potential to be a strong unit in 2011.

PREDICTION TIME
This could be a classic game because of the two immensely talented offenses. I think it will ultimately come down to which rushing attack has a better showing, and I believe it will be the Huskies’. Edmond North’s defense is more experienced than Southmoore’s, and when you combine that with the SaberCats’ green offensive line, I think it spells a Huskies victory.

Edmond North 27, Southmoore 24.

-PC linebacker/running back Desmond Tilly hurt his left knee in the final few minutes of the game. Pirate folks don’t seem to think it’s serious, but it will likely require an MRI once the swelling goes down. The Pirates don’t have a ton of depth, so losing Tilly for any significant amount of time would be bad. He was flying around making plays at outside linebacker and is a great complement to MLB Elie Rushing. Tilly was also running the ball hard backing up Casey Curtis. With Curtis and Tilly each playing both sides of the ball, you need them both at RB to help keep the other fresh.

-Yukon fans might have noticed that Derek Deeds was icing his shoulder at the end of the night. He told me afterward that it was nothing more than a muscle spasm and he’d be fine. Just like Tilly, Deeds is a guy Yukon wouldn’t want to lose. They’re so young at receiver that his presence there is valuable. And he’s an anchor on the back end of the defense as well.

-In other injury news, Southmoore RB Andrew Long sat out Friday’s action, but only as a precaution, coach Chris Jensen said. Essentially, the SaberCats know what they’re going to get from Long, so there was no need to risk getting him hurt.

-On a sidenote to that, Friday was my first chance to see Karltrell Henderson. The junior had a couple big games at the end of last season to climb up over the 1,000-yard mark. He’s a beast of a runner. Punishes people and has decent moves to go along with it. It’ll be fun to watch those two guys share a backfield this year.

-I know Southmoore QB Tre Edwards has some doubters simply because of his height — probably 5-10 if you count the mohawk — but the kid is a confident player who throws the ball well. He can run the offense, move in the pocket and find the open man. He might not make D-I coaches drool, but he’s going to win a lot of games at Southmoore.

-Speaking of short guys, Yukon is running out some little dudes at receiver this year as they try to replace four of their top five from last season. But QB Corben Jones was excited with their performance Friday, especially when protection broke down. They were making good decisions in situations the team hasn’t worked on yet in practice, and Jones was happy to see that.

-The Millers are auditioning about four different players at running back, and might use multiple guys throughout the season. It was tough to tell a lot Friday, because Yukon only had a couple of regular starters available on the offensive line. The replacements held their own, but with their regular starting five, Yukon will have one of the better O-lines around, and that will certainly make life easier for the RBs.

-Lastly, I was impressed in my first chance to see PC quarterback Devin White in live action. Seeing him at practice last week, he certainly looks the part of a good high school quarterback at about 6-1 and probably 195 pounds. On Friday, he showed that he has a good, accurate arm, and he moves really well. Combine that with Curtis — who had some crazy good runs Friday — and the Pirates should be in good shape offensively. They are using a lot of new guys on the O-line, but they seemed to hold up well.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com

He landed a good one for the 2012-13 seasons.

Southmoore will play a home-and-home series with Class 5A power Carl Albert in back-to-back season openers, the coach told The Oklahoman this week.

Carl Albert will host the 2012 game, and the SaberCats will host in 2013.

Southmoore will return to a west district for the 2012-13 seasons, being paired with the likes of Norman, Mustang, Lawton, Edmond Memorial and Edmond Santa Fe.

Carl Albert’s new district will be very similar to the current one, with Guthrie, Deer Creek and El Reno, along with the addition of McGuinness.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com

Tuesday
Game 1: Southmoore vs. Woodward CM, noon
Game 2: Enid Minors vs. Edmond Stars, 2:30 p.m.
Game 3: WW Minors vs. CC Shockers, 5 p.m.
Game 4: OKC Broncos vs. Enid Majors, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday
Game 5: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser, noon
Game 6: Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Loser, 2:30 p.m.
Game 7: OKC Sandlot vs. Game 1 Winner, 5 p.m.
Game 8: Game 2 Winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday
Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner, 2:30 p.m.
Game 10: Game 7 Loser vs. Game 8 Loser, 5 p.m.
Game 11: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 7 Winner, 7:30 p.m.

Friday
*After Thursday’s play, pairing will be determined by AABC rules
Game 12: TBA vs. TBA, 5 p.m.
Game 13: TBA vs. TBA, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday
Game 14: TBA vs. TBA, noon
Game 15: TBA vs. TBA, 2:30 p.m.
Game 16: TBA vs. TBA, 7 p.m.

Sunday
Game 17: Championship, 1 p.m.
Game 18: Championship, 6 p.m. (if necessary)
Champion advances to South Plains National Regional in Fort Worth

Wednesday
At Memorial
Choctaw 16, Checotah 2
Norman North 7, Choctaw 4
Edmond Memorial 5, Southmoore 3
Edmond Santa Fe 17, Latta 2
At North
Moore 13, Norman 5
Westmoore 5, Moore 2
Edmond North 8, Westmoore 5

Thursday
At Memorial
Checotah vs. Norman North, 2:30
Southmoore vs. Checotah, 5 p.m.
Edmond Memorial vs. Choctaw, 7:30
At North
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Norman, noon
Norman vs. Edmond North, 2:30
Latta vs. Westmoore, 5 p.m.
Latta vs. Edmond North, 7:30

Friday
At Memorial
Southmoore vs. Norman North, noon
Edmond Memorial vs. Norman North, 2:30
Southmoore vs. Checotah, 5 p.m.
Edmond Memorial vs. Checotah, 7:30
At North
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Moore, noon
Moore vs. Latta, 2:30
Norman vs. Westmoore, 5 p.m.
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Edmond North, 7:30

Saturday
At Memorial
A5 vs. B5, noon
A3 vs. B3, 2:30
A1 vs. B1, 5 p.m.
At North
A4 vs. B4, 2:30
A2 vs. B2, 5 p.m.

Wednesday
At Memorial
Choctaw vs. Checotah, noon
Choctaw vs. Norman North, 2:30
Edmond Memorial vs. Southmoore, 5 p.m.
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Latta, 7:30
At North
Norman vs. Moore, 2:30
Moore vs. Westmoore, 5 p.m.
Westmoore vs. Edmond North, 7:30

Thursday
At Memorial
Checotah vs. Norman North, 2:30
Southmoore vs. Checotah, 5 p.m.
Edmond Memorial vs. Choctaw, 7:30
At North
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Norman, noon
Norman vs. Edmond North, 2:30
Latta vs. Westmoore, 5 p.m.
Latta vs. Edmond North, 7:30

Friday
At Memorial
Southmoore vs. Norman North, noon
Edmond Memorial vs. Norman North, 2:30
Southmoore vs. Checotah, 5 p.m.
Edmond Memorial vs. Checotah, 7:30
At North
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Moore, noon
Moore vs. Latta, 2:30
Norman vs. Westmoore, 5 p.m.
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Edmond North, 7:30

Saturday
At Memorial
A5 vs. B5, noon
A3 vs. B3, 2:30
A1 vs. B1, 5 p.m.
At North
A4 vs. B4, 2:30
A2 vs. B2, 5 p.m.

Quincy Johnson and T.J. Wright bring home more powerlifting gold.

There wasn’t a more dominant powerlifter this season than Carl Albert’s Quincy Johnson. Meet after meet, Johnson was racking up the honors.

He punctuated the season last weekend by winning the national championship in the 198-pound unequipped division at the National Athlete Strength Association championships.

Johnson set the world record in the squat (518 pounds), bench (320), deadlift (524) and total (1,362). Johnson was also named the Most Outstanding Heavyweight Lifter.

Other area winners included Southmoore’s T.J. Wright in the unequipped 168-pound division and Cajun Cox of Midwest City in the equipped 168-pound division.

Wright set world records in the deadlift (573 pounds) and total (1,267). Wright won Most Outstanding Lightweight Lifter.

Unequipped means no power suits or shirts were worn. Equipped means things such as wrist wraps, knee wraps, shirts and belts are allowed.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@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.

Heritage Hall junior running back Barry J. Sanders isn’t any closer to making a commitment, but he did earn another honor.

Sanders was named the 10^th best recruit for the class of 2012 by Tom Lemming as Lemming released his top 100 recruits Tuesday.

Lemming has spent more than 30 years evaluating recruits. Sanders was the only player from Oklahoma in the top 100. Dorial Beckham-Green, the Springfield, Mo., wide receiver, was ranked the top prospect.

I’ve admit that I’m bias toward the Oklahoma kids, but I was amazed that Alex Ross of Jenks, Cayman Bundage of Douglass, Sterling Shepard of Heritage Hall and Donovan Roberts of Norman didn’t sniff the list. Feel people are sleeping on this class still.

- Edmond Santa Fe junior Ty Hensley said he wants to keep his options open for football. Meanwhile, the baseball honors continue to roll in for the star pitcher.

Hensley has been invited to participate in the Under Armour All-America baseball game Aug. 13 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Hensley is one of 36 players invited and is the lone Oklahoman on the roster. The game will be televised live on MLB Network (Cox 264). The players participating were chosen by a committee of Baseball Factory scouts.

The game will punctuate a four-day event for the players that will include a formal workout for MLB scouts, a home run derby and a meet-and-greet with Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.

- Sand Springs quarterback Darrack Harger was among one of the top performers at the Under Armour combine in Dallas last weekend.

Harger, 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, has added 15 pounds since the end of last season and was said to be the best quarterback in the bunch by Rivals.com

Harger doesn’t have any official offers but is receiving interest from several Big 12 schools, including Oklahoma State.

Top QB prospect is going to be a battle. The four early favorites: Harger, Kason Key of Owasso, Ramsey Hamilton of Beggs and Corben Jones of Yukon. It feels like every week that is something different to report on at least one of them.

- A name to watch is definitely Stillwater wide receiver Jesse Vester. He’s been just as busy as anybody else, attending Tulsa, OSU and KU Junior Days. His April is going to be pretty busy, too. And with new coach Tucker Barnard officially in Stillwater and QB Jerame Littell, Pioneers will definitely have a different look.

- Southmoore has produced one top talent after another in the last couple of years and don’t look for that to stop in this upcoming season. Running back Andrew Long is definitely the gem of the SaberCats, but linebacker Jackson Stallings is starting to come on the radar. Neither have any official offers, but coach Chris Jensen has done a great job of getting his kids noticed.

- Any news or notes you wanna contribute? Drop me a line, appreciate it.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

Player of the Year:  Obi Emegano (Edmond Memorial)

Defensive Player of the Year:  Trez Colbert (Midwest City)

Offensive Player of the Year: Tilford Thornton (Southmoore)

Newcomer of the Year: Jordan Woodard (Edmond Memorial)

Coach of the Year: Shane Cowherd (Edmond Memorial)

1st Team
Obi Emegano  (Edmond Memorial)
Tilford Thornton  (Southmoore)
Brandon Lucas  (Southmoore)
Trez Colbert  (Midwest City)
Trael Colbert  (Midwest City)
Patrick Schaefer  (Norman North)

2nd Team
James Woodard  (Edmond Memorial)
Dorian Gigger  (Moore)
A.J. Holland  (Del City)
Jared Jobe  (Edmond Memorial)
Jordan Woodard  (Edmond Memorial)

3rd Team
Conner Madole  (Norman)
Greg Austin  (Midwest City)
Matt Southard  (Norman North)
Blake Pullium  (Westmoore)
Drew Smith  (Del City)

Honorable Mention
Brandon Southern  (Norman)
Jacques Murray  (Norman)
Jordan Thomas  (Edmond Memorial)
Gabe Bonzie  (Norman North)
T.J. Noel  (Midwest City)
Kody English  (Moore)
Beau Palmer  (Westmoore)

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

From Norman North, let’s move just up the road to Southmoore and Paul Le. He was solid last year and this year, well, he just went to that other level.

He easily won the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. He was less than .2 off setting a record in each of them, but he’s just fine with the way everything went down.

He was named Most Outstanding Swimmer by the coaches, and he might get another honor, hint hint.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

The Thompsons (Charles and Kendal) at Kendal's OU ceremony at Southmoore

I keep saying ‘Southmoore’s Kendal Thompson,’ maybe I should say ‘Oklahoma’s Kendal Thompson.’ Real fun environment at the signing ceremony today:

There is no doubt Southmoore quarterback Kendal Thompson is ready for the next chapter of his life to begin. There’s also no doubt he enjoyed making a brief return back to high school.

Thompson, an Oklahoma signee, joined several other Southmoore athletes for a signing day ceremony Wednesday afternoon in the Southmoore gym.

“This is like a family day for me,” Thompson said. “It’s celebrating with the Southmoore family and recognizing all the hard work that was done to get here.”

Thompson wasn’t allowed to stick around too long as he had to get back to campus in Norman. Thompson said he is taking 14 hours this spring.

Thompson said making the adjustment to college hasn’t been too difficult, saying the 5 a.m. workouts have been one of the toughest adjustments.

“It doesn’t feel too weird at all already being in college,” Thompson said. “This is what I’ve been preparing for. This is what I’ve wanted to do.”

Thompson committed to Oklahoma in November 2009 and will follow in the footsteps of his father, Charles Thompson, who also played quarterback for the Sooners.

Kendal Thompson’s senior season wasn’t what he was hoping for as a leg injury forced him to miss six weeks. In limited time, Thompson was 24 of 32 for 295 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed for 233 yards and had a rushing and receiving score.

Kendal is a lot different player than his father was and Charles is not concerned at all about Kendal being his own person.

“That’s the thing about Kendal – he’s always had his own identity,” Charles Thompson said. “I’m proud of him not just as a father but as someone who also wore those colors. It’s very exciting.”

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

1. Josh Turner, Millwood (Texas) — A great fit. One of the most selfless, unassuming top prospects I’ve ever met. Ready to make a name for himself.

2. Kendal Thompson, Southmoore (Oklahoma) — Already got a leg up and has enrolled with the Sooners. He’ll play somewhere at OU, unsure if it will be QB.

3. Dylan Dismuke, Duncan (Oklahoma) — Great senior season to send him off to Norman. Lifelong dream come true for the big man.

4. Kentrell Brothers, Guthrie (Missouri) — Took his time and made the right call for himself. Felt he was the best player in the state this year.

5. Tyrequek Zimmerman, Lawton (Oregon State) — Zimmerman and Jabral Johnson are headed to Corvallis and should make a big impact for the Beavers.

6. Domonique Petties, Duncan (Arizona) — Petties was extremely busy making the rounds. He is double-signing with Arizona and NEO. Freakish talent, for sure.

7. Garrett Gladd, Sallisaw (Tulsa) — Switched from Stanford to Tulsa and seems really pleased with his decision. Would have been a force anywhere.

8. Kevonte Richardson, Millwood (Hutchinson, Kan.) — An all-around talent for the Falcons. Can do a little bit of everything on the field on both sides of the ball. Could be QB or could be DB, good at both.

9. Jamelle Naff, Del City (TCU) — Naff will join teammate Chazten Gonzales with the Horned Frogs as team makes leap to Big East. Both are pumped about it.

10. Austin Beck, Nowata (Arkansas) — Tried to early enroll with Razorbacks but was denied. Shouldn’t adversely affect him at all.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

***

There has never been any question about the athletic ability of Southmoore senior d’Vante Henry.

Nicknamed “The Freak” by his teammates, Henry made a smooth transition from cornerback to defensive end this season. That transition came full circle as Henry committed to Oregon State on Tuesday.

Henry, 6-foot-5 and 192 pounds, has great size but knows he will have to grow into his body for college. One thing nobody can take away is his speed.

Henry was the anchor leg of last year’s Southmoore 400-meter relay team that won the state championship and has been clocked at 4.35 for his 40-yard dash time.

“The phones have been blowing up about him in the last couple of months,” Southmoore coach Chris Jensen said. “His height and speed really set him apart.

“His weight — I feel once he gets a chance to really concentrate on the weight room, he has the chance to put on the weight and keep that speed.”

Henry was also considering being a preferred walk-on at Oklahoma. Henry had 65 tackles, five sacks and three forced fumbles and an interception in 2010.

Lawton’s  Tyrequek Zimmerman and Jabral Johnson are also committed to Oregon State.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

Is it never not football season? In the middle of a crazy-busy basketball tournament week, we gots us some football news to take care of.

First, Wednesday night is the Under Armour game from St. Petersburg, Fla. Texas commit Josh Turner of Millwood and Oklahoma commit Kendal Thompson of Southmoore are the two Oklahoma representatives.

For more on that, you can read Justin Harper’s story on Thompson right here.

Then from there, we go from Florida to San Antonio for the US Army National Combine and All-American game. The combine begins Thursday and runs through Saturday and will feature 500 of the best high school juniors in the country.

From what I know, Anadarko’s Sheldon Wilson, Deer Creek’s Hunter Dinkines, Yukon’s Derek Deeds and Stillwater’s Jesse Vester and Davion Carter will be there. If you know more, please drop us a line. EDIT: A lot more kids are going. Norman’s Donovan Roberts. Casady’s Mac Katigan. Douglass’ Cayman Bundage. Heritage Hall’s Sterling Shepard and Markus Wakefield. Still, if you know more, drop us a line.

Following the combine, the kids are able to stay and watch the All-American game Saturday afternoon on NBC. Oklahoma actually does not have a representative in the game.

So in between basketball tournaments like the Putnam City Invitational and Lady Jag Classic, we still have some football to talk about.

***

Also, Brandon Swindall of Millwood was named 1st MaxPreps All-American, while Booker T’s Derrick Alexander was given second team honor. Juniors Donovan Roberts of Norman and Sheldon Wilson of Anadarko made the junior squad.

No. 1 Edmond Memorial rallies from 13 down in the fourth quarter to knock off No. 3 Midwest City on its home floor, hitting four of four free throws in the final 13 seconds to avenge the overtime loss to the Bombers in the first round of the state tournament (well, sort of, though let’s not equate December wins to March wins).

Had to be the biggest drama of the night, right?

Wrong.

Three metro-area games go overtime, with Shawnee nipping Western Heights, Norman North taking down Southmoore and the big one — Putnam City West winning 55-51 at No. 4 Edmond Santa Fe.

That’s a huge win for the Patriots, simply to show themselves and the rest of Class 6A that just because Tyler Neal and Amric Fields are gone, the Pats aren’t going to be a doormat.

Guard Kyndall Dudley hit four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and overtime to spark the win and Dante Lewis had 10 boards and three blocked shots as the pair of seniors carried PC West to the victory.

“All our kids stepped up and made big plays,” first-year PC West coach Lenny Bert said. “They left their heart on the floor. After the game in the locker room, it wasn’t some big celebration. It was like we were supposed to win. It’s good to get that feeling early, because it showed us we can beat a legitimate team and gives us the belief that we can be good if we do what we’re supposed to do.”

Mustang didn’t need overtime to take down No. 2 Putnam City at PC. David Glidden scored only six points in a loss last week, so I wondered if maybe the ankle he injured in the final football game was still an issue. Then he busts out for 20 against the Pirates. Robert Shaw added 14 and Zac Grismer had 13 in the win.

Back to Memorial-MWC… these are two really good teams who will be hanging around in March. Memorial’s Obi Emegano is a horse, but we all knew that. The Bulldogs play some tough defense, too.

Sophomore Jordan Woodard is a budding star who will only get better. For such a young kid to step to the free throw line with 6.1 seconds left and a one-point lead and be able to hit two free throws — he was 2-of-4 at the line before that — was very impressive. He and his brother, James, are both very athletic and will make it tough for teams to figure out how to defend the Bulldogs this year, especially with Emegano.

“It’s hard to guard (Emegano) one-on-one,” Memorial coach Shane Cowherd said. “And if you foul him, he’ll make you pay at the line.”

He certainly did Tuesday, hitting 14 of 16, including two with 12.9 seconds left.

The Bombers look about the same as last year. Not huge inside but very tough on defense to create easy offense, and they can get going on some serious 3-pointer streaks. They might even have a little better depth than last year, too.

There was plenty more drama around the metro area last night, and a few big performances as well. Bridge Creek’s Ryan Spangler had 46 points, 26 rebounds, seven assists and six blocked shots in a rout of Crooked Oak. Armon Provo had his second straight 30-point game, scoring 34 against Choctaw, and his night ended when the Panthers held a 33-point lead after three quarters. And Deer Creek’s Garrett Hermanski scored 38 in a win over Chickasha.

We’re only two weeks into the season. How much better can this year get?

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com

I HATE the Edmond Open…hate it. It’s always that dang week in December where it’s the final week of football, and I can never see the basketball.

It’s that way once again. Busy with football this weekend but hoping that somehow I can see the boys final at 8 p.m. Saturday at Memorial. The girls bracket is dynamite, the semis are going to be insane.

Boys (At Memorial)
Thursday
Game 1: Edmond Memorial vs. Santa Fe JV, 3:30
Game 2: Tulsa Central vs. NW Classen, 6:30
Game 3: Lawton Mac vs. Edmond North, 5 p.m.
Game 4: Tulsa Rogers vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 8 p.m.

Friday
Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 3:30
Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 5 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 6:30
Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 8 p.m.

Saturday
Game 9: Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6, 3:30
Game 10: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 5 p.m.
Game 11: Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 6:30
Game 12: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 8 p.m.

Girls (At North)
Thursday
Game 1: Santa Fe vs. Tulsa Rogers, 3:30
Game 2: Bishop McGuinness vs. Edmond Memorial, 6:30
Game 3: Cache vs. Tulsa Central, 5 p.m.
Game 4: Edmond North vs. Southmoore, 8 p.m.

Friday
Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 3:30
Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 5 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 6:30
Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 8 p.m.

Saturday
Game 9: Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6, 11 a.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 12:30
Game 11: Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 2 p.m.
Game 12: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3:30

With junior running back Andrew Long out of action for Southmoore’s regular season finale, some might though the SaberCats’ ground game would take a hit.

Running back Karltrell Henderson made anyone watching think otherwise. On Friday night against Putnam City West, he rushed for 344 yards on only 18 carries and scored three times.

In his final two games, Henderson rushed 42 times for 530 yards — more than a 10-yard per carry average — and scored six times.

Henderson is just a sophomore and gives Southmoore a great running back duo for next season behind quarterback Tre Edwards.

Others in consideration:

Kendal Thompson, Southmoore football: Thompson made his final game as a high school player a memorable one. Thompson threw four touchdowns on only seven passes. He also ran for 59 yards, the most he’d had in almost two months.

Ricky Balogun, Westmoore football: Balogun led the Jaguars with 14 tackles in a loss to Lawton. He was also a star on special teams, returning two punts for 70 total yards.

Putnam City West (1-8) at Southmoore SaberCats (5-4)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Moore Stadium

PC West (1-8)
Why the Patriots can win: One last shot. This senior class has been through a lot, and getting that victory earlier this year was huge for them — and well-deserved. They have one last chance to taste victory, and they want it more than anyone could understand. The Pats will need RB Johnny Smith come back from the ankle injury he suffered last week and be effective.

Southmoore (5-4)
Why the SaberCats can win: Pursuit of Perfection. It’s the motto Southmoore coach Chris Jensen has used all season and it’s about all the SaberCats have left to play for. Kendal Thompson will be behind center, but running back Andrew Long won’t play because of a high ankle sprain. We’ll see how perfect the SaberCats can be.

Key matchup: Southmoore’s Karltrell Henderson vs. his nerves. Henderson will be thrown into the starting lineup for the first time all season. With Long out, the sophomore has his first chance to shine. He’s been good this season rushing for 670 yards and eight touchdowns. But he’s always been the backup.

Scott’s pick: Sabercats 35, Patriots 12. Southmoore just has too much firepower.

Justin’s pick: Southmoore 37, PC West 7. Southmoore will avoid being .500 for the season, but the offense will be slowed a little because of Long’s absence.

All year, Southmoore’s motto was to pursue perfection. Despite having lost four of its last five games, coach Chris Jensen said the team could still do that.

“We still have an opportunity to do that,” Jensen said. “As a team, we still have the possibility to play our best game — our last game.”

With that mentality last Friday, Southmoore had its best defensive performance of the season. The SaberCats held Shawnee to only six points. There’s something to take away from that result. This week against Putnam City West, the SaberCats have a chance to be even better.

The only question I have is that is it really a relief for Southmoore to have success. Don’t get me wrong; it’s great to win any game, no matter where in the season it falls. But how much does it hurt to see the success that your team could have had? Six inches in the other direction and Kendal Thompson might not have missed six weeks. Half a foot and Southmoore might not have lost 4 out of 5 district games to start the Class 6A-3 season.

Jensen said that Southmoore handled the situation against Shawnee with a lot of maturity and still prepared the way he wanted them too. This week, they’ll probably do the same.

“That’s what we stress and that’s what I think our kids will do this week,” he said.

Few performances would have outranked the return of Southmoore quarterback Kendal Thompson. But Westmoore cross country runner Noemi Hernandez did.

In 11:26, Noemi Hernandez not only set a new career-low in the last race of her career but also won the Class 6A girls’ state cross country championship. She is the first Jaguar to do so since Summer Suchy won in 1998.

Hernandez defeated Mustang’s Emily Helms for the first time all year and has now made the All-State team in back-to-back years.

Hernandez spent two years behind Katelin Cherry and Taylor Painter. Despite accomplishing something neither of them did, Hernandez still feels that they will always be superior.

“I think, in my mind, they are always going to be better than me,” she said. “It feels pretty awesome. I feel like I gave everything to my school and I represented really well.”

Others in consideration:

Kendal Thompson, Southmoore football: After missing six straight weeks, Thompson returned triumphantly. He threw a touchdown on his first play and scored twice in only three drives. Southmoore scored every drive he was in the game.

The Lions’ offense, Moore football: The Lions put up more points than they had in the previous four weeks combined despite falling 42-40 to Putnam North last Friday. After 8 losses, kudos goes to an offense that still pushed hard until the very end.

FIRST TEAM MID-STATE CONFERENCE
Del City = Kayla Rogers, Rachel French
Edmond Memorial = Lindsay Littles, Alexis Bracaglia, Sommer Peterson
Midwest City = Brooke Hand, Brittany Hand, Shianne Hughes
Moore = Brianna Nunley, Hannah Coker, Raegan Sampson, Caiti Hall
Norman = Caitlyn Cosme, Summer Leitka
Norman North = Andrea Smith, Shelby Tiller
Southmoore = Haley Strawn, Chelsi Hill
Westmoore = Kendra Pierce, Taylor Green, Melaney Anderson

HONORABLE MENTION
Edmond Memorial = Rachel Baker, Charli Kroeker
Midwest City = Tiana Jordan, Carly Suellentrop, Ashlee Gesell
Moore = Hannah Lynch, Tianna Gutierrez, Qiana Harrison, Stephanie Couser
Norman = Catherine Lesser, Sami Alberts
Norman North = Jacy Glover, Michaela Smith, Tanner Moody
Southmoore = Hartley Tyler, Jackie Hilterbran, Katelyn Brown
Westmoore = Destinie Lookout

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Friday (Afternoon) Quarterback … This week: Jenks vs. Southmoore.

I got a strange feeling as I walked into Moore Schools Stadium that this was going to happen. I looked down and saw Kendal Thompson still in street clothes and suddenly my feeling got stronger. It slowly unfolded, but came completely unraveled in the second half. If Southmoore was going to stay with Jenks in this game, the SaberCats were going to have to play a perfect game and even catch some breaks. Instead, Jenks played a near-perfect game and caught all the breaks.

There’s only one question now for Southmoore. Where do you go from here?

What happened: The Jenks Trojans showed why they are, and should be, the far-and-away favorites to win Class 6A this year. The SaberCats couldn’t stop Jenks. Period. Two of the three drives that didn’t end in points were actually stopped by the clock. But they didn’t get to 70 points without a little help from Southmoore. Strangely enough, the game was 21-14 at one point. Southmoore had just responded to a blocked punt that Jenks’ Matt Linscott took into the end zone.

But after Tre Edwards scored on a long touchdown run, Jenks took the ensuing kickoff back 95 yards as Alex Ross scored his third of four touchdowns. Ross went untouched and Jenks was literally unstoppable after that.

“We can’t put the ball on the ground and we can’t throw an interception,” Southmoore coach Chris Jensen said. “Special teams, who can anticipate that. We’ve been pretty solid on special teams and they had a couple scores on special teams in the first half.”

Linscott scored his second touchdown when Edwards was a half-second late on a post route to tight end Jackson Stallings and Linscott stepped in front and took it the opposite direction.

Jenks was tired at the end of the first half. But in the second half, the SaberCats just couldn’t keep up offensively.

What does it mean: Southmoore has plenty of questions. Not the least of which is what is there left to play for. The SaberCats are in the worst predicament in spots. They need help to accomplish their goals. Southmoore is stuck behind Muskogee, which rolled Putnam City West last night.

The biggest question may still surround Kendal Thompson and it’s not when he’ll be back. With the SaberCats almost completely out of the playoffs is there a reason for him to come back at all. I know he wants to, but should he?

Up next: Southmoore travels to Shawnee next Friday in desperate need of a victory after losing three-straight games.

With the Southmoore SaberCats facing a must-win situation if they want to have a chance of making the playoffs, coach Chris Jensen was very specific about what his team was facing.

“When we lost to Muskogee we were at the must-win point every step of the way from there,” he said. “We are still at that point. You have to win every game you play at this stage of the game especially sitting where we are.”

The key word there is was.

Southmoore is out of the playoffs right now with the best team in Class 6A ahead of them. That’s not a good sign for the SaberCats. Not only because they are out of the playoffs, but also because Muskogee — the team in the fourth spot — is one game ahead of Southmoore. The Roughers also beat the SaberCats earlier this season. Making things even worse is the Roughers’ schedule. They play Putnam City West and Sapulpa sandwiching a game against Norman. Muskogee likely walks way with a 2-1 record from that stretch.

Southmoore, on the other hand, faces Shawnee and PC West after Jenks to close the year — likely another 2-1 record.

That leaves Southmoore out of the playoffs. The SaberCats have two choices: Beat Jenks or hope that Muskogee gets upset along the way. Either way the SaberCats only have one way to do things.

“All I can ask for the guys is to prepare the way we can — prepare to win — like we try to do every week and lay it on the line,” Jensen said.

This week, Southmoore lays its whole season on the line.

As Southmoore prepares for Jenks this Thursday, the SaberCats do so with a question mark still looming over starting quarterback Kendal Thompson.

Thompson has been out since Week 2, when he suffered a knee sprain against Westmoore. Southmoore coach Chris Jensen said Thompson is still day-to-day.

“It’s nothing I can explain,” Jensen said. “It has not progressed as fast as I’m sure he’s hoped.”

Southmoore (4-3, 1-3) has lost two straight games and three of its last four. The loss of Thompson, who faced Jenks last season in the Class 6A state playoffs, has hurt more than just on the field, Jensen said.

“He is a star on the football field and I don’t think anyone would deny that or argue that,” he said. “He brings so many intangibles other than ability. The team rallies around him and he’s just a strong competitor that when he’s just standing on the sideline it has an effect on your team.”

This week’s Moore player of the week choice was a tough one. On one hand, there was an athlete accomplishing something she’d never done before. On the other hand, there was an athlete who chose to do something I’d never seen before.

It was tough, but in the end I had to go with Noemi Hernandez of Westmoore.

Hernandez won the individual Mid-State Conference championship while leading the Jaguars to a team title by one point. Westmoore edged Edmond Memorial 47 to 48. It was Westmoore’s fourth-straight conference championship.

Hernandez finished with a time of 11:37, a career-best.

Others in consideration…

Vova Razryvin, Moore football: Razryvin jumped back behind center when starting quarterback Corey Reeves went down with an injury and threw for three touchdowns and 181 yards. He also ran for 82, but Moore still lost to Norman North.

More importantly, when Norman North’s D.J. Hicks was injured and being driven off in an ambulance, it was Razryvin that quickly organized a game-wide prayer at midfield.

“I go church every Sunday and every Wednesday I get a chance to,” Razryvin said. “I saw that hit and it didn’t look good. I just thought, ‘Hey, we can’t do anything but God can.’ And just prayed for him.”

Andrew Long, Southmoore football: In a 56-28 loss to Broken Arrow, Long rushed for three touchdowns and 154 yards against a tough Tigers’ defense. He also caught three passes for 15 yards. Long has been key for the SaberCats as quarterback Kendal Thompson continues to miss games.

Caleb McKee, Westmoore cross country: McKee finished in fourth at the Mid-State Conference meet and led the Jaguars for a third place finish. He ran in a time of 17:05.

Moore softball: Raegan Sampson’s game-winning hit Thursday looked like a sign of good things to come. However, the Lions were bounced by Jenks and finished another great season.

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.

If there was ever a must-win week for the Southmoore SaberCats, it’s this week. After three weeks of district play, the SaberCats sit fourth in Class 6A-3 — two games behind Norman, Broken Arrow and Jenks. It doesn’t help that all three of those teams are undefeated in the district and Norman and Jenks are 6-0 on the year. While those teams haven’t faced off head-to-head yet, it’s still time to move for Southmoore.

Southmoore appears to have a decent hold on the fourth spot, but Muskogee has an identical record in district and beat Southmoore on a missed field goal earlier this season.

Just a quick look, here’s the Class 6A-3 district standings through six games:

Team                                                      Dist.                  Over.                  +/-

No. 1 Jenks                                    3-0                  6-0                  45

No. 6 Norman                                    3-0                  6-0                  36

No. 3 Broken Arrow                  3-0                  5-1                  45

Southmoore                                    1-2                  4-2                  9

Muskogee                                    1-2                  3-3                  -29

PC West                                                      1-2                  1-5                  -21

Shawnee                                    0-3                  2-4                  -39

Sapulpa                                                      0-3                  2-4                  -45

So if it wasn’t obvious already that Southmoore needs to do some moving to gain ground on the teams ahead of them, it should be now. All three teams ahead of Southmoore are ranked in the top six in Class 6A. What makes this week’s matchup against Broken Arrow even more important is what’s to come. Next week, Southmoore hosts Jenks.

All signs point to Kendal Thompson. The senior quarterback, also an Oklahoma verbal-commit, has been out for four weeks with a knee sprain and should play in some capacity Friday. The SaberCats will need their most dynamic player if they want to have a chance of making it to the second round of the playoffs. Because the fourth-best team in 6A-3 faces the best team in 6A-4. In all likelihood that team will be Tulsa Union.

Don’t write off the Muskogee Roughers just yet either. Muskogee has already played Broken Arrow and Jenks. Left on the Roughers’ schedule is Shawnee, PC West, Norman and Sapulpa.

So Southmoore, it’s your move.

Westmoore’s defense showed on Friday that it is big-time. The Jaguars held Del City to only 6 points, but forced six-straight turnovers to end the game. One of the key forces on that defense is Tyler Newton, who is the Moore Player of the Week.

Newton finished the game with 9 tackles and two recovered fumbles. The second of the two fumbles was also the first touchdown of his career. He also gets the award for being one of the leaders on the defense.

To go along with Newton, Ricky Balogun, Bo Hurst, Cody Cates and Bryan Norris all had double-digit tackles.

Others in consideration:

Andrew Long, Southmoore football: Long rushed for 140 yards and scored three touchdowns in a loss to Norman. What makes this performance standout is that the junior almost led his team to a come-from-behind win. Two of his three touchdowns came in the fourth quarter. He also had one catch for 41 yards.

Zach VanDyke, Westmoore football: VanDyke factored into Westmoore’s victory in two ways. He returned a punt for a touchdown in the first half and intercepted a Del City pass in the second half as the Jaguars took control off the game. He also had 6 tackles out of the secondary.

Noemi Hernandez, Westmoore cross country: Hernandez set a new season-low as she finished fourth at the Edmond Pre-State meet. Hernandez ran in a time of 11:54.27 as Westmoore edge Jenks to win the event by less than two seconds.

Caleb McKee, Westmoore cross country: McKee finished seventh overall at the Edmond Pre-State 5k and posted a 16:43.33. It bettered his previous season-best by nearly 10 seconds.

Moore softball: What a shock (not really). Stephanie Riley’s girls are headed back to the state tournament, and it’s a wide open field

Welcome to the Saturday Morning Quarterback … Today’s Edition: Norman vs. Southmoore.

This one was viewed as one of the elite games of the week and it was. There were great swings of emotion and momentum as well as a lot of really good football to watch. Obviously, Norman prevailed on the strength of its defense and running game but Southmoore’s valiant effort in the fourth quarter showed the SaberCats could still play with the state’s top teams.

Norman breakdown: There were a lot of questions about the Norman Tigers before Friday night. Were they really that good? Who had they played? What will that defense do against a real offense? Is their offense good enough to compete at the top level?

Those answers in order are:

Yes.

Now, Southmoore — a state semifinalist from last year.

Force it into multiple mistakes and, at times, shut it down completely.

Yes.

The first thing that struck me about Norman last night was how big its entire team was. Not only in the trenches, but the linebackers, defensive backs and running backs are all big boys. When you play that style of football, size helps a lot. But when you need to drive the ball for 8 minutes, it helps a lot too.

Probably the most impressive thing that Norman did on Friday night was not defensive. It was their offense in the second half. With the lead, Norman drove 6:38 off the clock to open the second half. Then again drove the last 8 minutes off the clock. Overall, the Norman offense had possession for 18:06 of the second half. Keep in mind there’s only 24 minutes in a half. Now, that defense may have given Norman its lead, but the Tigers showed Friday that they could win a game from both sides of the ball.

Up next: Norman travels to Putnam City West looking to stay undefeated and stay atop 6A-3.

Southmoore breakdown: There were plenty of reasons for Southmoore to fold up in the first half on Friday night. The SaberCats fell in a big hole quickly and then to make matters worse, fell back in the hole in the second half.

Southmoore still battled back, and despite falling to 4-2, showed some resiliency against an undefeated team and one of the best defenses in the state. They posted a season-high 28 points on a Norman defense that had given up more than 7 points only once in a game. They also ran for 223 yards against a team that had only been giving up an average of 64.4 yards on the ground.

Aside from beating themselves in the first half on three plays, it wouldn’t be hard to make the case that Southmoore outplayed Norman at times. But like Southmoore coach Chris Jensen said after the game, when a play needed to be made, it was Norman that made it, not Southmoore.

Up next: Southmoore travels to Broken Arrow for Game 2 of its 3-week brutal stretch. The SaberCats should be expecting quarterback Kendal Thompson to return to action after missing four weeks.

Norman Tigers (5-0) at Southmoore SaberCats (4-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Moore Stadium

Norman (5-0)
Why the Tigers can win: Physicality. The Tigers play defense better than anyone. Not only that but their offense fits in perfectly with a talented defense. Norman wears you down on offense and shuts you down on defense. It’s tough to face a team that will hit you in the mouth on offense or defense, but both. That’s why the Tigers are 5-0.

Quote: “We know Southmoore’s defense likes to play hard and every play they are going to go all out, so our offensive line is doing the best they can to step up and be on top of them and hit them first before we can get hit — just try and be four steps ahead of them.” — Norman running back Donovan Roberts

Southmoore (4-1)
Why the SaberCats can win: Speed. Running back Andrew Long and quarterback Tre Edwards in the backfield and Caleb Willis and Jackson Stallings on the outside. Not to mention an unusual amount of speed in the defensive front. There’s a lot of pressure on Southmoore in this one too. This is the first of three extremely tough games for the SaberCats.

Quote: We know what’s on the line after Muskogee. We have to come out and we have to come out with the ‘W.’ — Southmoore running back Andrew Long

Key matchup: Southmoore’s backfield vs. Norman defense. If the SaberCats are going to win this game, they are going to have to outscore the Tigers. Southmoore has the guns to do it, but this is the best defense it might face all season.

The pick: Southmoore 24, Norman 21. Speed vs. power and speed takes it late. Expect this one to be physical on both sides, but the SaberCats extra bit of speed gives them the edge.

With such a big game, there was plenty to talk about. Here are just a few of some of the things players and coaches said in the lead up to Friday night:

Southmoore coach Chris Jensen on facing the Norman defense … “We’ve been pretty successful on offense up to this point. It’s another challenge. Once again, you always want to see where you stand up, where you measure up. Getting to go against a defense that has had the success that they’ve had is exciting for our program.”

Norman coach Greg Nation on the running back battle … “Southmoore knows that (Andrew) Long is their bell cow and ours is over there wearing No. 28 (Donovan Roberts).”

Norman linebacker Greg Offenburger on Class 6A-3 district play … “We are going to go out there and get a ‘W’ every week and try to win as many district games as possible to make it to those playoffs this year.”

Southmoore defensive end Jermaine Tucker about facing Norman … “When we go up against them it’s going to set the pace of playoffs and teams on down the line that we are going to have to play.”

Norman coach Greg Nation on Tigers’ linebacker Greg Offenburger … “When that cat is playing hard, he’s a go-daddy. He can take a game and turn it his way.”

Norman coach Greg Nation on his team’s surprising 5-0 start … “You want to see some good football, come out and watch us.”

In the not too distant past, Donovan Roberts and Andrew Long raced onto the field and embraced after not seeing each other for a while.

At least that’s the way Andrew’s dad tells the story of a T-Ball game when play stopped so the two could reunite.

Roberts and Long have been friends since Andrew was in Donovan’s mother’s first-grade class at Earlywine Elementary — maybe even earlier — but Friday night, they’ll face off again. The two started competing in little league nearly 13 years ago, but there won’t be any special embrace when Southmoore and Norman meet in a Class 6A-3 clash — despite facing each other for the first time in high school.

All that love will be saved for later.

“The love is still there, but once that whistle is blown, it’s game time,” Roberts said. “Put all the emotions aside. Both of us just want that win for the team, nothing else matters. After the game all that is important, but while the game is playing nothing else is.”

What makes the friendship so unique is how well each of the running backs is doing. Leading Norman’s rushing attack, Roberts is atop Class 6A in carries (143) and touchdowns (15). Long on the other hand, leads the class in yards (1,040) and per carry average (8.5).

Despite how the two are so similar, they’re also very different.

“Where Donovan has some speed, Long has more speed,” Norman coach Greg Nation said. “Where Long has some size, Donovan has a lot more size.”

Roberts is as downhill a runner as runners get. Long on the other hand can make one cut and go the distance. And despite all the time together, it makes sense that they would be different running backs.

Long: 5-foot-9, 170 pounds.

Roberts: 6-foot-2, 200 pounds.

The best part is they both seem genuinely happy to see the other succeed — as long as it isn’t Friday.

“I want to see him do well, but I want to come out on top in the end,” Long said.

There’s plenty on the line when Southmoore and Norman face off Friday in one of the biggest games in the state this weekend. It’s so important for both teams that the coaches don’t have to tell their players.

Coaches Chris Jensen (Southmoore) and Greg Nation (Norman) aren’t trying to hide the importance or downplay the matchup.

Norman is at the top of the district after a 5-0 start to the season and a 2-0 start to conference play. Meanwhile, Southmoore is two weeks removed from a loss to Muskogee and is tied for fourth in Class 6A-3. Only the top 4 teams will make the playoffs.

“In our district, every game is important and we’ve got to make sure that we take care of business every week,” Jensen said. “Every game, every point is important. You can’t miss an opportunity.”

If Norman wins, the Tigers stay in at least a tie for first place. If the SaberCats win, Southmoore has a chance to pull away from Muskogee and take fourth place outright.

“We know what’s at hand, that we are 5-0 and they are 4-1,” Norman running back Donovan Roberts said. “We are taking this game as any other one. We are taking every game as a hurdle. We’re going over these hurdles as it is and we’re just playing hard.”

The game might mean a little more to Southmoore. The SaberCats are only 1-1 in the district. After playing Norman, Southmoore travels to Broken Arrow and then hosts Jenks — the two teams tied with Norman atop the district.

“This is going to be really important,” Southmoore linebacker Jermaine Tucker said. “We are going to be having two pretty good teams that are coming up here pretty soon. Broken Arrow and Jenks. If we can get this win on Friday, it’s going to put us in a very good position and give us the confidence that we need to proceed on through those games.”

That’s not to say Norman doesn’t need the win too.

Call it a hunch in picking the Tigers over the SaberCats. When Norman comes to Moore Stadium to face Southmoore on Friday, I see one of two things happening.

The first is Norman freezes in a big spotlight. Greg Nation’s team has been the team under the radar all season. And with every win, they’ve turned more heads. But this time, hmm, don’t think people are underestimating this team.

Now at 5-0, no sneaking up on anybody anymore. So what happens when they’re expected to be the team to beat? Moral victories don’t mean anything in this one.

The other (what I’m seeing) is the team embraces this moment. Has been waiting for this opportunity. With offensive studs like Donovan Roberts and Jaime Myers, tough to bet against them.

The defense has been sensational. Anybody who watched the Shawnee game knows the 20 points allowed had no bearing on the game whatsoever. Paced by Greg Offenburger, that was the first game an opponent scored more than 7 points.

Southmoore needs this win in a big way. It appears it will have to do it without Kendal Thompson and that makes it an incredibly tough task.

Sophomore Tre’ Edwards is going to be a stud, but I don’t know if he’s there yet. No doubt that RB Andrew Long definitely is there. But think the Tigers will do enough to stop Long and throw off the offensive balance.

The pick: Norman 33, Southmoore 28.

Boneman’s LOCK record: 5-0 (Guthrie over Duncan, Heritage Hall over Clinton, Purcell over Lexington, Midwest City over Yukon, Jones over Morris).

Southmoore quarterback Kendal Thompson, an Oklahoma oral commit, hasn’t played since suffering a sprained left knee during a Week 2 win vs. Westmoore. Thompson didn’t play last week against Sapulpa and said before the game that he expects to return Oct. 15, when the SaberCats travel to Broken Arrow.

Southmoore hosts Norman on Friday in a game with District 6A-3 title implications on the line.

Safety Austin Brooks left the 51-27 victory against Sapulpa with a hamstring injury, and running back Karltrell Henderson suffered a knee injury late in the game. ‘Cats Chris Jensen said both injuries are minor.

As his quarterback continues to miss games, Southmoore running back Andrew Long does nothing but carry his team more and more. In a 51-27 victory against Sapulpa last Friday, Long rushed for 215 yards on 32 carries and scored two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 12 yards as he earned the Moore Player of the Week honor.

Long also eclipsed the 1,000-yard and 10-touchdown mark for the season and is averaging 11.3 yards per carry.

Others in consideration:

Noemi Hernandez, Westmoore cross country: Hernandez led the Westmoore Jaguars to a second-place finish in Mustang last Thursday. With a time of 11:56.50, Hernandez finished in second place. It was also Hernandez’ best time of the season.

Hernandez has finish in the top-6 in all fives races this year and has finished in second place on three separate occasions.

Bryan Norris, Westmoore football: As the Jaguars earned their second-straight shutout, Norris hauled down 11 ball carriers. The senior linebacker led the team in total tackles as well as solo tackles — he had six.

Welcome to the Friday Morning Quarterback….Today’s edition: Sapulpa vs. Southmoore.

Southmoore 51, Sapulpa 27

Amid all of the problems that Southmoore went through, there was plenty to be pleased about. The SaberCats outplayed themselves and, it may not seem so from the final score, but this one was a lot closer than it looked. Without a few key stops from the Southmoore defense and some great field position for its offense, Southmoore could have been in a dogfight that it probably shouldn’t have.

Southmoore fell back into some old bad habits, but was eventual able to lean on junior running back Andrew Long. Long, along with backup running back Karltrell Henderson took over the game in the fourth quarter.

Southmoore breakdown: There was plenty of reason for concern for Southmoore coach Chris Jensen. As a team, there were way too many penalties and fumbles. Those two issues had disappeared last week against Muskogee, and Jensen seemed surprised they came back. Southmoore committed 12 penalties for 125 yards and lost two fumbles.

With all the team issues and struggles Southmoore went through, there were plenty of bright spots. Every unit had its ups and downs. The special teams scored a touchdown on a punt return and blocked two extra points. Even after Travis Burge muffed two punts, he did a stellar job rebounding and in his own words “forgetting” about his mistakes.

Defensively, Southmoore turned out six three-and-outs and forced two turnovers. Not to mention, when it had to be done, the defense gave the SaberCats’ offense great field position — more often than not on Sapulpa’s side of the field.

The offense may have shown the greatest turnaround. The Southmoore running game was shut down and Sapulpa forced quarterback Tre Edwards to beat them. A few minor tweaks and the running game doubled its offensive production on the ground in the second half. It was an extremely impressive performance from the coaches, but more so the players as they should their ability to adapt.

Up next: Southmoore hosts Norman in what could be an important game as far as Class 6A-3 standings are concerned. The game is at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in Moore Stadium.

I had it wrong in Friday’s paper. I apologize.

Southmoore player’s hearing issued a continuance

A hearing regarding a Southmoore football player’s eligibility was issued a continuance, Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association executive secretary Ed Sheakley said Friday morning.

The hearing concerning Austin Brooks’ eligibility was supposed to be Friday at the Cleveland County courthouse, but the continuance was issued Wednesday.

“As of yesterday (Thursday), we are not sure why the continuance was issued nor when the case will be rescheduled,” Sheakley said.

Brooks’ hardship appeal was denied by the OSSAA Board of Directors in August. A temporary injunction was issued Sept. 1 that has allowed Brooks to play football for the SaberCats this season.

Brooks has already been eligible for four fall semesters and was ruled ineligible despite the extenuating circumstances of his situation. Brooks has only been eligible for three spring semesters and is cleared to run track this season.

Sapulpa Chieftains (2-2) at Southmoore SaberCats (3-1)
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Moore Stadium

Sapulpa (2-2)
Why the Chieftains can win: Sapulpa is odd. So far this season, the Chieftains have played two games at home and two on the road. The strange thing is that their two losses have come at home. By the associative property of football can we determine that Sapulpa is a better road team than home team? Probably not, but their record is better and they’ve had plenty of success away from home.

Southmoore (3-1)
Why the SaberCats can win: Southmoore gets its second-straight Tulsa-area opponent. The difference between Muskogee and Sapulpa isn’t the teams, but that the game is in Moore. That and the Southmoore offense isn’t facing quite as stout a defense. There’s no denying that Southmoore can score points, the SaberCats average just less than 45 points per game. It’ll be nice for Southmoore to return home, but now three weeks out of a knee sprain will quarterback Kendal Thompson play?

Key matchup: Southmoore defense vs. Sapulpa offense. The SaberCats’ defense just got 41 points hung on them by Muskogee and has a few holes to plug. There’s still plenty of room to grow, but the Sapulpa offense may have to find something it hasn’t had yet. Sapulpa averages just more than 13 points per game.

The pick: Southmoore 42, Sapulpa 13. Sure, I’m playing the averages. Southmoore hasn’t scored less than 40 points all year and Sapulpa has been a little dormant on offense. I’ll take those odds, because the Sapulpa offense doesn’t have enough firepower to keep up.

The Southmoore SaberCats got a big surprise last week against Muskogee. Not only did the SaberCats lose 41-40 after a last-second field goal went wide, but the game plan went a little askew.

“We felt like we had a pretty good grasp on the game,” Southmoore coach Chris Jensen said. “Our game plan going in, or at least I thought it going it, was because they had so many two-way players and we thought we could wear them down towards the end and we’d finish it out.”

The only problem was that Muskogee never wore down and Southmoore was never able to force its will on the Roughers, Jensen said.

The one player that stuck out the most to Jensen was Muskogee’s linebacker/running back Brandon McGee.

“I can’t imagine how hard that kid works in practice,” Jensen said.

Jensen said that his players still worked hard and the SaberCats just have to “fine tune” their focus and “make sure we are making plays when we need to make plays.” “There were a couple times when we didn’t make plays in critical situations and that was the difference in the game,” Jensen said.

When you play against a team as short-handed as Muskogee and they are able to play with you to the very end it can teach you something. Not to say Southmoore doesn’t work hard or train well, but maybe a little bit of Muskogee’s will to compete will rub off on Southmoore.

Southmoore SaberCats (3-0) at Muskogee Roughers (2-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Muskogee

Southmoore (3-0)
Why the SaberCats can win: Sophomore quarterback Tre Edwards will be behind center for his second career start and the SaberCats’ comfort level with the new signal caller is growing. The offense didn’t lose a beat when Edwards took over for Kendal Thompson against Westmoore and stayed consistent against Moore last week. It could get even better, but the real wild card might be the threat of Thompson suiting up only two weeks after a left knee strain.

Muskogee (2-1)
Why the Roughers can win: The Roughers have a lot of team speed and plenty of talented players — some play on both sides of the ball. Bradley McGee might be the best of them. McGee ran for 93 yards and more than 10 yards per carry in a recent win against Tulsa Central. It’ll also be Muskogee’s homecoming, which adds that much more importance.

Key matchup: Muskogee’s focus vs. Southmoore’s big play ability. It’s an odd matchup, but it fits. Muskogee begins a three-week stretch against the SaberCats, Broken Arrow and Jenks. At the same time, Southmoore has the ability to score on any play. One let down from Muskogee, and Southmoore will be counting six more points in its favor.

The pick: Southmoore 41, Muskogee 33. It’ll be a slugfest with plenty of speed. Whoever blinks first could be going home with a loss. Muskogee’s tough stretch will be too much, and another week under center will help Southmoore’s sophomore quarterback Tre Edwards.

Friday will be a day of firsts for Southmoore. It’ll be the SaberCats’ first long road trip — their longest of the season. It’ll be their first district game. It will also be the first time the SaberCats will have to deal with an immense amount of team speed.

Southmoore faces Muskogee this Friday at 7:30 p.m. along with a whole mess of speed.

Southmoore coach Chris Jensen emphasized each word when he said, “They are very fast.”

“Probably the most team speed that we’ve seen up to this point,” he said. “That’s one of those things you have to try and contain and try and manage. It’s important on both sides of the ball.

Jensen said the SaberCats will have to maintain their blocks offensively — to slow down pursuit — and stay in their lanes defensive — to keep the big play in front of them.

“You really have to play disciplined football,” he said.

Another way to combat speed is to run right at it. The SaberCats may have found that type of running back last week against Moore.

Jensen said this week that he was impressed with sophomore Karltrell Henderson’s running style. Henderson provided a nice change of pace from starting running back Andrew Long’s speed. Long also runs with a bit of power.

“He got in there and showed he can be a significant factor for us down the road,” Jensen said. “He’s big, he’s physical and he runs hard with the football.

There will be plenty for the SaberCats to deal with in Muskogee, not the least of which could be the second career start for quarterback Tre Edwards, who is likely in the starting lineup with Kendal Thompson still recovering from a left knee sprain.

Jensen said Edwards did “pretty well,” but there were still plenty of things he could do better.

Moore Lions (0-2) at Southmoore SaberCats (2-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Moore Stadium

Moore (0-2)
Why the Lions can win: It’s obvious that the Lions are a completely different football team this season. Still loaded with juniors, the Lions will get better every week as that group gains experience. The defense has been the most impressive — only giving up five touchdowns in two games.

Southmoore SaberCats (2-0)
Why the SaberCats can win: There are plenty of options around sophomore quarterback Tre Edwards. Andrew Long can take it to the house on any play, but the real surprise is tight end Jackson Stallings. Stallings has become a major threat for the SaberCats’ offense.

Key matchup: Tre Edwards vs. Moore defense. The Lions’ defense has improved every week and Moore will lean on the unit against a sophomore quarterback. Meanwhile, Edwards will take his place behind center for his first high school start.

The pick: Southmoore 31, Moore 7. Southmoore’s offense will take a hit without Kendal Thompson behind center, but an improving defense will slow down the Lions. At the end of the day, Southmoore will have a little too much for Moore.

As Southmoore prepares for Moore this Friday, they do so with the question of Kendal Thompson still looming. I spoke with Kendal earlier this week and he said that it’s still a left knee sprain but is getting better day-by-day.

Southmoore coach Chris Jensen didn’t say whether Kendal will play this week, but said it will be a week-by-week decision.

As of right now, Jensen still feels confident in Southmoore’s backup quarterback, Tre Edwards.

“We’ve got confidence in Tre that he can do the job when he’s called on,” Jensen said. “He proved that the other night and so we’ll just prepare like we have been.”

Thompson had some injury problems his sophomore year, but Jensen said the senior quarterback’s attitude has been good.

“He’s going to come back,” Jensen said. “He knows he has more games ahead of him.”

Moore coach Scott Myers, who will lead his Lions against the Thompson-less SaberCats, had nothing but sympathy for Thompson’s predicament.

“All coaches hate, hate that scenario from a kid’s standpoint,” Myers said. “You only get so many opportunities to play high school football. The kid is obviously and extreme athlete and has an opportunity to play at the next level and everything. That being said, there’s something special about high school football. Kendal’s had some tough go’s. … You hate to see something like that for a kid because there’s nothing like high school football.”

After fumbling on its first two drives against Westmoore, the Southmoore offense exploded. The SaberCats scored three times in only 2:52. Kendal Thompson opened the flurry when he found tight end Jackson Stallings with 35 seconds left in the first quarter.

Andrew Long continued it only 42 seconds into the second quarter on a 5-yard run. Southmoore got the ball back after another three-and-out and Tre Edwards found Thompson on a skinny post for a 26-yard touchdown toss. Southmoore didn’t score for another 22:27.

***

The Southmoore SaberCats have hurt themselves the past two weeks as much as their opponents have.

Against Edmond North, the SaberCats found themselves in a two-score hole early, and in Week 2, Southmoore committed 15 penalties for 130 and fumbled the football five times, losing four.

Southmoore coach Chris Jensen was very clear after the Friday’s 49-27 victory against Westmoore about how the SaberCats will respond.

“We’ll get it fixed,” he said.

Southmoore faces Moore at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Moore Stadium.

His numbers may not be up to Player of the Weeks standards, but the feat Southmoore’s Tre Edwards pulled off earns him the spot. The sophomore quarterback filled in for Oklahoma-commit and senior quarterback Kendal Thompson midway through the third quarter and went on a 98-yard drive in the fourth quarter to give the SaberCats a permanent lead.

Thompson led the SaberCats back against Westmoore and finished the game with 91 rushing yards and 108 passing yards. He ran for two touchdowns and three for a third in the 49-27 victory.

Others in consideration:

Tyler Thompson, Westmoore, Football: Thompson performed at a top level against one of the Jaguars’ toughest opponents of the season. In the Southwest Showdown, Thompson threw for 125 yards and rushed for 117 yards and one touchdown. He threw for two touchdowns.

Noemi Hernandez, Westmoore, Cross Country: Finished second at the OK Runner Classic in Norman with a time of 12:43. She led the Jaguars to a second consecutive first-place finish.

Brianna Nunley, Moore, Softball: The Lions are roaring again under Stephanie Riley. Nunley is leading the charge in the circle.

Sure, call me bonkers, but there are plenty of reasons to think Kendal Thompson’s injury and absence won’t hurt the Southmoore SaberCats. Yeah, I get it. He’s a D-I commit to OU and an incredible talent. By no way am I making any sort of claim that Southmoore can make a run in the Class 6A playoffs without him. But there is absolutely no reason to rush him back. Here are five good reasons why:

Tre Edwards is a gamer…. Edwards first completed pass was a touchdown against Westmoore. Oddly enough it was to Kendal Thompson. But then things got bad. Edwards threw six straight incompletions. And they were bad incompletions as he missed a few open receivers and struggled. But then the sophomore did something that nobody outside of Southmoore’s sideline expected. Edwards clicked when he needed to and complete 5 of 6 passes to close the game including his final four as he marched Southmoore back. When the SaberCats needed him, Edwards was clutch.

Legitimate passing options have emerged… Before the season, there were questions about how well a young group of receivers would develop. Two weeks in and there are some serious passing threats running down the field in Southmoore uniforms. The best is probably Jackson Stallings. There’s nothing better for a young quarterback than a strong tight end — yes, even at the high school level. Stallings, also just a sophomore, is 6-foot-1 and a reliable pass catcher. The SaberCats also have 6-foot sophomore Nick Ward, who caught four passes Friday, and senior Caleb Willis. Six different SaberCats caught a pass against Westmoore, so there’s a lot of depth there as well.

The defense is improving…. Judging by the final score this may seem absurd. But take a few things into account. Southmoore turned the ball over four times and twice on its own side of the field. The SaberCats’ defense allowed only 117 yards in the first half — 70 of which came on a touchdown run on Westmoore’s last play of the half. The SaberCats also produced six three-and-outs Friday. It’s not an elite defense, but could be.

Upcoming schedule…. A quick peek and there’s not reason to rush Thompson back. Southmoore gets Moore next week and travels to Muskogee for the fourth week of the season. There might be a temptation to rush him back for the road game at Muskogee, and to be honest; he might be 100 percent by then.

Andrew Long…. This may be the best reason I have. Long is a rare blend of elite speed and surprising power. He’s also a junior running back that has the ability to carry a team on his back — even if it’s just for few games. Looking at a guy with 4.3 speed and only 5-7, most people would think he’d rather run around defenders. I’m sure the defenders think that too. Add in to his running credentials the fact that he’s also a strong pass catcher out of the backfield. Tre Edwards has a pretty nice safety net.

Welcome to the Saturday Morning Quarterback….Today’s edition: The Southwest Showdown..

Southmoore 49, Westmoore 27

While I was only able to break down one key drive in Saturday’s article the real story coming out of Friday night’s Southwest Showdown was Kendal Thompson. Or the lack of Kendal Thompson.

There’s not need to worry though, I’ve already heard from him today. He went back in for more tests and the injury is still believed to be a left knee strain. Thompson believes he’ll be back in a few weeks but I tend to disagree. While most of the time athletes will underestimate their injuries because of a desire to get back on the field, Thompson may be overestimating here.

On the play, Thompson took no extra time to stand up and walked off on his own power. Had the SaberCats been ahead in the game, no one would have realized Thompson was injured. Personally, I’d be surprised to see him miss more than two weeks of action.

Southmoore breakdown: There was only one team on the field that could beat the Southmoore SaberCats on Friday night. And they almost did.

Southmoore turned the ball over on its first two drives and never punted in the game. Instead, they turned on the gas for less than three minutes in the first half to take the lead and held on. Granted, Southmoore looked ten times better in the second half than it did in the first, but the SaberCats nearly beat themselves.

At the end of the day, even after turning the ball over four times, Southmoore still came away with an impressive victory. It may not seem impressive on paper, but the SaberCats did come back from a deficit with a sophomore quarterback under center.

Any time a team loses its D-I commit quarterback and still manages to come from behind, there’s something to be said — even if they put themselves in the hole.

Up next: Southmoore faces Moore next Friday as the SaberCats look to win the city championship.

Westmoore breakdown: If nothing else, Westmoore took advantage of the gifts it was given. When the Jaguars got a short field Friday, they scored. When the ball was on the ground, 80 percent of the time, they got it. And they made big plays when they needed to.

It was a coming out party of sorts for sophomore quarterback Trevor Thompson. Thompson showed off his running ability with more than 100 yards on the ground including a 70-yard touchdown run where he showed good breakaway speed. Thompson struggled at times through the air but still managed to string together enough passes to take control of the Westmoore quarterback situation/battle/rotation/controversy/(or any other word you want to put in).

There were also plenty of injuries for both teams, but Westmoore took the brunt of what seemed like nearly a dozen players hobbling off with cramps. All of those players should be fine by Monday afternoon practice.

Up next: Westmoore plays its third straight game at Moore Stadium as the Norman North Timberwolves come to town next Thursday.

This rivalry should be a fun one to watch. Southmoore has dominated the rivalry in recent history and comes will plenty of talent. There’s a small collection of D-I on the other side of the football as well. The playmakers alone keep this one interesting.

Westmoore Jaguars (1-0) vs. Southmoore SaberCats (1-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Moore Stadium

Westmoore (1-0)
Why the Jaguars can win: Westmoore has the offense to control a ball and win in three yards and a cloud of dust on almost every play. They’ll have to get a big push up front, but have a new offensive mentality. That mentality will have to be effective on Friday.

Quote: “We want our first city championship since the new school. We’re just trying to get that and we’re working really hard. It’d mean a lot to get it.” – Running back Cody Feuerborn.

Southmoore SaberCats (1-0)
Why the SaberCats can win: Southmoore showed last Friday that they can score from anywhere on the field. All they need is a small crack or seam and running back Andrew Long is taking it the distance or quarterback Kaleb Thompson is finding an open receiver.

Key matchup: Westmoore secondary vs. Kendal Thompson. Westmoore got beat up late last week through the air. Kendal Thompson is a step up from most quarterbacks in Oklahoma and Westmoore will have to step up its pass defense.

The pick: Southmoore 42, Westmoore 10. Southmoore had to come from behind last week, but this week they won’t. The SaberCats will be a step faster than the Jaguars almost everywhere on the field and Westmoore doesn’t have an offense fit for a comeback.

There should be a lot of tension at Moore Stadium on Friday night went Westmoore faces off against Southmoore. There will be a few serious enemies on the field.

“We are enemies on the field, but off the field we are really, really good friends,” Southmoore running back Andrew Long said.

There’s plenty to love above the Southwest Battle and most of that comes on the field. As a former athlete, I know there’s nothing better than beating you friend or “brother.” It’s strange to explain but the feeling of mutual respect after beating your best friend gives you a little something you don’t get from beating a hated rival.

Long is still good friends with Westmoore quarterback Trevor Thompson and many other Jaguars. But possibly the most intriguing “friendship” to watch Friday night will be between Westmoore defensive end/offensive tackle Tyler Newton and Southmoore quarterback Kendal Thompson. Newton and Kendal Thompson have played together since Newton was at Brink Junior High and Kendal was at Moore West.

And while Long and Trevor Thompson will never face each other directly, Newton and Kendal will.

As an option-read quarterback, there will be plenty of times when Kendal will have to read what good buddy Newton is thinking and try and react to his movement.

Playing against a friend and top-level athlete has Newton excited.

“Especially knowing how athletic and quick and how good a football player (he is), it drives me harder in practice knowing I’m going to have to compete against him,” Newton said.

The one-on-one matchup should be a fun one to watch Friday night. I’m sure it’ll happen more than once and I’ll be keeping an eye out for it.

Of all the players that performed well last Saturday against Edmond North, one made an impact in Southmoore coach Chris Jensen’s mind.

Sophomore tight end Jackson Stallings was asked to replace Austin Haywood this season and so far, he’s done exactly what’s asked of him.

“Austin is not a guy that you can replace, but Jackson, for what we are asking him to do, has really pleased us as an offensive staff,” Jensen said.

***

Big plays were the name of the game last Saturday as Southmoore came from behind to beat Edmond North.

There was Kendal Thompson’s 61-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Willis in the second quarter and then Andrew Long’s 75-yard touchdown run a few minutes later.

Long scored on an 80-yard carry in the third quarter and had multiple runs of 40 or more yards sprinkled in throughout the contest.

Because of those big plays, Southmoore didn’t have to grind out any long drives and control the clock. Big plays are always nice to have, but can’t be something the SaberCats get used to.

“You can never count on it and you have to have the discipline to move the ball down the field and not make mistakes,” Southmoore coach Chris Jensen said. “Obviously, big plays are big. They are a back breaker for the defense. … We are capable of it, but you can’t rely on it.”

Westmoore: Getting ready for speed

In its first day of work, Westmoore spent the majority of practice getting ready for Southmoore’s offense. But they took a unique approach. They ran two different scout-team offenses against the Jaguars’ first-team defense.

By doing that, coach Billy Langford hoped his team would be ready for the fast-paced, no-huddle offense of the SaberCats. There are plenty of other ways to keep an offense off the field. Westmoore could try and control the ball and keep it away from Southmoore.

Langford that will happen Friday night.

“It’s going to be a challenge for our defensive guys,” he said. “Hopefully, offensively we can control the ball a little bit and give our defensive guys some breaks. That’s how we are going to combat it: Try to control the ball ourselves offensively and not have to put our defense out there every three plays.”

I asked Westmoore senior linebacker Cody Cates what it’s like dealing with such dynamic playmakers in a fast offense.

“I think if we keep them contained and on the inside then we’ll be alright. But if he gets on the edge, obviously it’s going to be a problem.”

But, which one Cody?

“Both.”

Southmoore running back Andrew Long and quarterback Kendal Thompson are both dynamic playmakers, who can, to say the least, make plays anywhere on the field. And it only takes one seam for a big play to be made.

“We have to get lined up right every time and get all the calls every single snap,” Langford said. “Because it only takes once out of alignment and one missed called and they are playing their fight song.”

Southmoore eyeing school first

After a solid finish in Edmond on Friday, the SaberCats have coach Adam Helms focused on a big achievement.

Southmoore cross country hasn’t even started its speed work — used to drop times significantly — and Helms already feels that the SaberCats are primed to make regionals.

“I think that’s a pretty good accomplishment personally,” Helms said.

It all comes from the last week of work. Last week, Helms and Southmoore got to see a significant chunk of the teams that will run at regionals and got a guideline to follow. This week, the SaberCats will run at the OK Runner Classic in Norman. Norman is also the site of the regional race.

“That’s the reason why we scheduled it, because of the ability to run on it before regionals so the kids have an idea of what they are up against,” Helms said.

Southmoore hasn’t made the regional race in its three years of existence.

Helms started the season slowly because of the heat, but sounds rather confident in his team when he says things like…

“It seems like the runners are starting to get it figured out,” he said. “While we’re not in great shape and haven’t work on any of our speed work to get our times down, I’m very happy with where everybody is right now.”

There seems to be a lot of room to grow in Southmoore.

With a weekend full of big runners, there was one that stood out the most. Westmoore Noemi Hernandez finished second at the 3.2-kilometer race at Edmond Santa Fe with a 12:24.00 and led the Jaguars to a first-place finish. Westmoore beat Edmond North by 21 points in the first recorded meet of the season.

Behind Hernandez, Westmoore picked up 5 of the top-15 spots against an extremely tough field. The race featured Edmond North, Edmond Santa Fe and Edmond Memorial. Hernandez is the Moore Player of the Week.

Westmoore runs again on Friday in the OK Runner Classic in Norman.

Others in consideration:

Cody Feuerborn, Westmoore, Football: Feuerborn carried the Jaguars to a 21-14 victory in the Moore War and scored all three touchdowns.

Andrew Long, Southmoore, Football: With the SaberCats trailing by 13 through the first quarter, Long turned 28 first-quarter yards in a game total of 324 and three touchdowns. Behind touchdown runs of 75 and 80 yards, Long brought Southmoore back for a 40-19 victory.

Caleb McKee, Westmoore, Cross Country: As Westmoore finished in second place as a team, McKee’s 16:54.00 was good enough for a individual fifth-place finish.

Raegan Sampson, Moore, Softball: The Lions remain one of the top teams in the state and Sampson is a big reason why. She’s hitting .486 with 15 RBIs.

Thursday’s misfortune turned into my gain. I wasn’t originally going to be at Edmond North and Southmoore. However, game moved to Saturday, and whoo hoo.

Lots of questions going into this one for both teams. Feel pretty content and confident with the answers the teams gave me.

Southmoore 40, Edmond North 19

That six-minute blitz by the Huskies to start the game was impressive and had me wondering how wrong I was about the team.

Running back Jarion Tudman was finding creases. Quarterback Travis Townsend was accurate. Play calling was flawless. Troy Davis was making me say ‘who?’

Before you blinked, it was 13-0 Huskies.

But Southmoore didn’t flinch. That comes with the experience that QB Kendal Thompson and RB Andrew Long have. All those stars gone from last year (Julian Wilson, Austin Haywood, Nyko Symonds, Derek Serowski, Ryland Widener, Mason Myers, Sam York), rough start, panic button?

No, sir. Thompson was incredibly accurate. I didn’t see his best games last year, but I saw an impressive performance Saturday. Passing, running, he had it all working in this one.

However, this game belonged to Long. TD runs of 11, 75 and 80. More than 320 yards rushing, two more carries of at least 45 yards. What couldn’t he do?

What I found most impressive was those two long TD runs and how he didn’t get caught. A couple of Huskies had an initial angle to bring him down, but it didn’t happen. In fact, it wasn’t even that close to occurring.

Eventually, North made a couple of timely mistakes and a shootout become a little one-sided. It didn’t feel like a 40-19 game, but it was.

Boneman’s Breakdown

- Torn on Tudman. Love the way he runs. Love his speed, but he put it on the ground a couple of times. You gotta trust your backs can hold on to the ball. See how he responds this week.

- Troy Davis is going to be a name everybody gets more familiar with. He was the No. 1 player that impressed me the most for North, but I froze on his name (couldn’t remember it at all) when talking with coach Jeremy Dombek following the game. Sorry, Troy, you were supposed to get pub in Sunday’s paper.

- They’re not as flashy as Symonds and Serowski, but the SaberCats have a strong set of wide receivers for Thompson to find. And sophomore Tre Edwards showed some good things in relief of Thompson, gives them some versatility.

- Agree with Dombek that his team should be OK. Correctable mistakes are ones you can live with.

Up next: Southmoore vs. Westmoore (1-0) on Friday (Moore blogger Justin Hite will be there). North at Choctaw (1-0) on Friday.

When I got out of my car around 6 p.m. at UCO, I was ticked. It was obvious that a storm was coming and my induction to the 2010 high school football season would be delayed.

Little did I know that 90 minutes later it would be delayed another day. I wasn’t the only one with a smug look of disgust. Everyone else got to play, why not us? Why not here?

But then Southmoore coach Chris Jensen made me realize something special that comes with the SaberCats season opener getting pushed back to Saturday at 11 a.m.

“The way I look at it, our kids have a chance that they don’t always get and that’s to play on Saturday afternoon,” he said after the game was finally (officially) postponed.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for probably 90 percent of these kids. They will get a chance to play on Saturday afternoon on a college campus. It’ll have all the glamour and glitz of playing football in college but at a discounted rate. It will truly be a special day.

“There’s something special and something they’ll remember about playing an afternoon game on Saturday,” Jensen said.

Southmoore SaberCats (0-0) at Edmond North (0-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: UCO (Moore blogger Justin Hite will be there)

Southmoore (0-0)
Why the SaberCats can win: Playmakers, playmakers, playmakers and the SaberCats have plenty of them. With senior quarterback Kendal Thompson and junior running back Andrew Long in the offensive backfield Southmoore has two players that can take it to the house every play.

Edmond North (0-0)
Why the Huskies can win: Because North has bounced back after losing running back Jared Benway for the season. Jarion Tudman has a tough chore to start the year, but Travis Townsend is a year smarter at QB. He also has several WRs he can throw the ball to and keep Southmoore off balance.

Quote:

We’ve changed up our offense a little, and it’s made a big difference.” – Townsend

Key matchup: Southmoore running game vs. Edmond North defensive line. The defensive line is the best unit for the Huskies, but they have to replace Colton Byford at defensive end. Byford had 106 tackles last year and with a mobile quarterback like Thompson a strong defensive end is necessary.

Justin’s pick: Southmoore 31, Edmond North 13. There are just too many athletes for Edmond North to slow down. The Huskies will put up some points, but with the SaberCats will pull away in the second half.

Boneman’s pick: Southmoore 17, North 12. Think it’s going to be a bumpy night for both teams, but the SaberCats have enough weapons against a young North defense.

Justin Hite says Kendal Thompson and Southmoore should do just fine this year.

Southmoore

Offensive outlook: Is it safe to say that the SaberCats have the best backfield in the state of Oklahoma? I can’t make a case that they don’t. Junior Andrew Long might be the best back in the state not named Barry Sanders. Kendal Thompson might be the best quarterback in Oklahoma — Bob Stoops seems to think so. Plus having two senior linemen that are both taller than 6-foot-1 and weigh more than 570 pounds combined is always nice. Wide receiver will be a question, but having Long and Thompson will let the pass catchers mature. By the end of the season expect this unit to be putting up big numbers. I’m thinking somewhere close 40 points per game numbers.

Determining the defense: There are plenty of standouts here. Senior cornerback T.J. Wright should comeback after missing his junior season and D’Vante Henry is an absolute force at outside linebacker. The only question is up front. The SaberCats lost two starters on the defensive line. Most games are won and lost in the trenches and if that’s true, there could be some holes in the SaberCats armor.

Key game: There are two things standing in the way of Southmoore and the 6A-3 district title: Broken Arrow and Jenks. When the SaberCats head to Broken Arrow in mid-October the season is on the line. Not only that, but Southmoore can’t challenge Jenks the next week until they beat Broken Arrow first.

Bold prediction: Despite losing 17 starters from the 2009 state semifinalists, Southmoore will be back. Expect the SaberCats to still trail Jenks for the district title, but I’m counting on one playoff upset from Southmoore. When that will be who knows, but don’t be surprised to see them back in the semifinals.

Wednesday: Outlooks for Moore and Westmoore.

Regular Norman and Moore blogger Justin Harper is having to leave for personal reasons and temporarily won’t be able to clue you in with what’s going on for the Tigers, Timberwolves, Lions, Jaguars and SaberCats. We wish Justin the best during this tough time.

Starting this week, we have a couple of new bloggers to try to fill the void. For all your Moore information, Justin Hite is going to be your guy. For news from Norman, OU student James Corley will be the man in charge. Here they are in their own words.

Justin Hite, Moore blogger:

The first game I ever covered was between the Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers in 1994. I mean, I was only 8 years old and it was actually a video game I had just played on SEGA Genesis, but it was a start.

I grew up in northern Virginia and I graduated from Elon University in North Carolina. After covering the NBA, NFL, PGA Tour as well as high school and college sports, I came to Oklahoma to pursue my career. I spent 17 months in Stillwater and then moved to Oklahoma City where I did freelance work for The Oklahoman and the Associated Press.

Now, it’s time for a little high school football. Everything about Moore, Southmoore and Westmoore, you can find here. From the Moore War to the Class 6A state playoffs, I’ll be there.

James Corley, Norman blogger:

You might say football is an obsession of mine. It basically has to be because of how I was raised.

My parents never fought when I was growing up except for one day out of the year: OU-Nebraska. Mom was a Husker and Dad was a Sooner. Eventually I would have to choose sides.

I studied journalism at both schools and worked for both school papers. Now I live in Norman and work for The Oklahoman.

I’ll be all over Norman and Norman North football this season, anything Tiger or Timberwolf. Football’s an obsession and it starts on Friday nights (Boneman’s Note: Or in this week’s case, Thursday

Heard a lot of rumblings the last few days about allegations against Southmoore in terms of ‘stealing’ kids from Moore as apparently five athletes from Moore have transferred to Southmoore in various sports.

But it’s not illegal, not with the new transfer policy passed by the Moore Schools in the spring. It’s only now people are starting to become aware of what this policy is actually saying:

“It allows students who live in one school’s district to transfer to another school without penalty for non athletic reasons.”

It’s a slippery slope, but so far, nothing illegal has been done. I talked to OSSAA executive secretary Ed Sheakley about this last week, and he said the OSSAA doesn’t have to do anything about this.

He’s right. It’s the district’s policy, has nothing to do with the Association. Much like Putnam City has changed its enrollment policy.

Obviously, not everybody likes it, but it’s what was passed.

In talking with Moore Schools AD Carl Franks, he said this was to give kids in the district more freedom and give them more of a choice.

He also said something heard a lot when it comes to OSSAA hardship appeals:

“When we look at any transfers, it’s not based on from what school to what school. We’re trying to determine if the reasons for the request meet the policy guidelines.”

It’s about meeting the criteria.

You could argue that Moore and Putnam City West (though it’s not exactly the same situation) are going to be the two schools affected by this the most, both now and in the future. It will be very interesting to see how the enrollment numbers fluctuate for those two programs in the future.

And Michael Kinney must have heard some rumblings, too, as here is his piece from The Moore American.

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

The last time we checked in with Bridge Creek’s Ryan Spangler he had several offers and the interest was picking up with each passing week.

After checking in with Bishop McGuinness assistant Andy Fisher this week, he said Spangler might be the most sought after prospect in the state.

Fisher said Penn State and Gonzaga saw Spangler play one time, and that was all it took for those teams to offer the forward (who also stars at quarterback).

Spangler now has 11 offers. He’s not a bad little QB, either. Well, maybe little isn’t the word to describe Spangler.

- A couple of Irish boys are also tearing it up on the summer circuit as Matt Christiansen and Joe Edmonds are both starting to receive interest from top schools. Both will only be juniors and Christiansen is ranked in ESPN’s top 100 for 2012.

- Another team to watch for, said Fisher, will be Putnam City. Think everybody knows about Dominique Raney, but the summer has been very kind to senior RonQuis Lewis and junior guard Tre Payne.

- The Southmoore girls team is taking a huge hit with the loss of Sidney Cook (who has moved to North Carolina), but the interest in the boys team has picked up with the play of Brandon Lucas. He was someone I circled last year after watching him play twice. He’s got the goods.

- And another familiar name (for Edmond followers) as Fisher said Memorial star Obi Emegano has impressed scouts with his play this summer.

- I’d love to see Ardmore’s Nino Jackson in action as I had several coaches at the OCA clinic talk about how Jackson is the real deal. An offer from Kansas is enough for me.

- And of course, you can’t talk boys basketball without mentioning Douglass. It seems like everybody in the Trojans’ lineup will be fielding offers left and right.

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.

The ESPN RISE Elite 11 Quarterback Competition has seen the likes of former Florida great Tim Tebow and former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford.

However, it had never seen a signal-caller from Oklahoma in its previous 11 years until now as two high school quarterbacks will represent the state in the four-day event later this week at Soka University of America in California.

Southmoore’s Kendal Thompson and Broken Arrow’s Archie Bradley are two of the 12 quarterbacks who have been invited. Thompson has committed to Oklahoma while Bradley has committed to OU to play baseball and football.

The final 12 were chosen after a process of tape evaluation, interviews and workouts. They will compete against each other and receive guidance from some of the top college quarterbacks, including Miami’s Jacory Harris and Jerrod Johnson of Texas A&M.

***

For more on who made the cut, go here.

Back out in Edmond on Thursday night for a near three-hour 7-on-7 practice between a bevy of teams. Santa Fe was the destination this time. And though Midwest City and Edmond North didn’t show up, still very much worth the time.

The format wasn’t like last weekend as there were no points or tournament or anything like that.  Offenses rotated every play while defenses alternated every four plays.

Thoughts and observations

- Douglass is going to be able to throw this year. I sent Ryan Aber and Scott Wright the same text message that this was the No. 1 thing I learned Thursday. Antyoun Smith was fantastic for the Trojans but throwing wasn’t his specialty. Shon Bridges was bringing the goods last night. Douglass was tough because the team wasn’t wearing jerseys but had a good talk with coach Willis Alexander.

- Felt cheated when it came to Guthrie. I got to see the Bluejays for bits and pieces. However, I planned to watch them intently in the final station, but Rafe Watkins’ boys were gone. Apparently they go out to eat on the final day…d’oh. Was good to see Kentrell Brothers in action again.

- Big couple of weeks for Northwest Classen. This was the first time the Knights have done something like this, and it will be intriguing to see what these four days meant to them. Coach Anthony Robinson was very pleased with the two weeks and NW certainly competed hard.

- Also spent a little more time watching smaller schools like Hennessey and John Marshall. Hennessey has some players, and I like their wide receivers. Orlando Pina is going to be able to stretch out defenses while Zach Griffin has great hands. Unfortunately, didn’t get to chat with Bruce Troxell about the Bears.

- Didn’t know the Irish were going to be there but good to see McGuinness again. Now’s the time for Jamaal Whitney to make that jump up. He definitely has all the tools to be a special one. Irish are itchin’ to get out there for real as I’m sure most teams are at this point.

- My first look at Putnam City North and gotta say, liked what I saw. This format won’t bring out the best in someone like Dre Holman but felt Jace James made some real nice throws as did Joe Summers. However, what I took from the Panthers was how solid WR Covin Conrady. Scott Wright told me to be on the lookout for Conrady, and he was certainly right about that.

- Edmond Santa Fe, Deer Creek and Southmoore were also there. I admit I didn’t spend as much time on these three schools after watching them all last weekend. I will say Tre Kelley is carrying himself differently (that’s a positive) for the Wolves. Alex Christensen is being used as a TE a lot more with Joel Blumenthal at QB for the Antlers though the two are still alternating snaps. And I could watch Kendal Thompson throw all day. Southmoore also has some sharp practice jerseys.

- By the time everything ended, it was too dark to shoot video with some of the players I wanted to. However, there should be a video of some action that I shot during the night on NewsOK shortly.

- We’re getting closer and closer to Aug. 10. I’ll have much more on certain teams in the upcoming days.

That was a lot of fun, I will admit it. Had a blast covering the 7-on-7 Oklahoma Showdown at Edmond North this weekend. Midwest City and Atoka were your champions and here are some of my impressions.

Midwest City
No regrouping, simply reloading. This team looked the best the entire weekend. My MVP was WR Claude Donald, but Austin Roberson came up huge in the championship win vs. Edmond North. Bombers responded well to adversity in this one and quarterback Greg Austin is really developing into a top prospect. At this time last year, didn’t even know who he was. Tough to not look at the DBs in this type of setup and Ricky Reeves and Corey Lang had good weekends.

Edmond North
Running back Jared Benway needs to get healthy, suffered another nagging ankle injury. He will, of course, play a major role for this team. QB Travis Townsend is the most improved QB I’ve seen so far from last year. Really good balance in finding different receivers as MWC didn’t let Donquay Hammons make a big play. Townsend was not frazzled at all. I was right on the sideline, and Garrett Molinsky was out of bounds in the final minute of regulation. It was close, but he was out. Defensively, Camden Bohnert had a solid couple of days.

Edmond Santa Fe
The Wolves went from 0-2 to 7-3. Look out for WR Tre Kelley, he was incredible. He’s just going to be a junior, and he made some huge plays this weekend. The future looks incredibly bright (Phillip Sumpter, Shevin Smith) for Santa Fe, but this is a real young team. Good showing by Bruce Gowen’s boys.

Shawnee
Another pleasant surprise as this team is more than just Brayle Brown. Leon Davis had some huge moments though he was hampered by injuries. Coach Billy Brown was pleased as seven different receivers caught touchdowns this weekend. Didn’t bring that many guys but produced with who was there.

Southmoore
SaberCats worked on their craft, which wasn’t really suited for this type of event. Coach Chris Jensen gave the quote of the weekend: “this is basketball on grass.” Kendal Thompson is emerging as a leader to go with his talent while WR Devonte Henry is a name to watch this year.

Edmond Memorial
Bulldogs couldn’t find their offense in the second day, only scoring eight points in three games. Wouldn’t put too much stock in it as of all the teams that participated, this is the squad where ‘all passes’ will certainly not be their game plan. Put Kameron Doolittle and Cale Olbert in the backfield and watch good things happen.

Deer Creek
Opened my eyes with the way they fought back Saturday. Quarterback Joel Blumenthal is going to be something special. Each time I see him, he looks just a little bit better. His chemistry with Hunter Dinkines is really coming along. Alex Christensen had a lot of various little injuries, he needs to get to 100 percent. The 4 second rule killed the Antlers.

Choctaw
Tough to find a positive when you lose your last eight games unless it was the way the Yellowjackets did. A lot of close, competitive battles that just didn’t go their way. Coach Bill Bays said he’s not worried about the physical aspect of things, but his guys need to get mentally tougher.

Special thanks to Santa Fe athletic director Barry Blagowsky for keeping me informed on everything and North athletic director Tom Snider and his crew for a well-run, fun couple of days. Look for Atoka and MWC videos as well as a Tre Kelley video on NewsOK early this week.

All that’s left is the championships with Cashion (Jeremy Seaton) vs. Atoka (L.T. Pfaff) and Midwest City vs. Edmond North. Been a fun and hot couple of days.

Here’s your housekeeping as of 6:15. UPDATE: Atoka 32, Cashion 8. Midwest City 26, North 18 OT.

Oklahoma Showdown
Large Schools
At Edmond North
Pool Play Standings
Team*W*L
Midwest City*8*0
Edmond North*6*2
Edmond Santa Fe*6*2
Edmond Memorial*4*4
Shawnee*4*4
Southmoore Navy*3*5
Southmoore Gold*3*5
Choctaw*1*7
Deer Creek*1*7

Scores
Deer Creek 22, Southmoore Navy 10
Shawnee 36, Choctaw 24
Midwest City 30, Edmond North 20
Edmond Santa Fe 34, Southmoore Gold 12
Edmond Santa Fe 8, Edmond Memorial 0
Southmoore Gold 20, Choctaw 14
Midwest City 42, Southmoore Navy 6
Shawnee 26, Edmond North 24
Midwest City 30, Edmond Memorial 2
Southmoore Gold 32, Deer Creek 6
Edmond Santa Fe 24, Shawnee 22
Edmond North 22, Southmoore Navy 10

Tournament Bracket
Play-in Game
Deer Creek 20, Choctaw 18
Quarterfinals
Midwest City 32, Deer Creek 6
Shawnee 24, Edmond Memorial 6
Edmond North 24, Southmoore Gold 18
Edmond Santa Fe 36, Southmoore Navy 26
Semifinals
Midwest City 24, Shawnee 18
Edmond North 10, Edmond Santa Fe 4
Championship
Midwest City 26, Edmond North 18 OT

Great day of football (if you love passing) today at the 7-on-7 Oklahoma Showdown event. While Scott Wright was immersed in the smaller schools, I was out at Edmond North handling the big boys.

First, some housekeeping.

Standings
Midwest City (5-0); Edmond North (5-0); Edmond Memorial (4-2); Edmond Santa Fe (3-2); Southmoore Navy (3-2); Southmoore Gold (1-4); Choctaw (1-4); Deer Creek 0-6

Scores
Choctaw 14, Deer Creek 0
Edmond North 18, Edmond Memorial 14
Midwest City 18, Edmond Santa Fe 12
Shawnee 18, Southmoore Gold 12
Southmoore Navy 22, Choctaw 14
Edmond Memorial 38, Deer Creek 32 5OT
Midwest City 18, Shawnee 12
Edmond North 26, Edmond Santa Fe 12
Edmond Memorial 22, Choctaw 18
Edmond North 24, Deer Creek 6
Midwest City 28, Southmoore Gold 14
Edmond Santa Fe 26, Southmoore Navy 18
Edmond Santa Fe 14, Deer Creek 0
Edmond North 14, Choctaw 12
Edmond Memorial 12, Shawnee 6
Southmoore Navy 16, Southmoore Gold 14
Midwest City 50, Choctaw 24
Shawnee 34, Deer Creek 12
Edmond North 24, Southmoore Gold 12
Edmond Memorial 18, Southmoore Navy 14
Edmond Santa Fe 20, Choctaw 12
Midwest City 42, Deer Creek 6
Southmoore Gold 26, Edmond Memorial 24
Southmoore Navy 30, Shawnee 18

Thoughts and observations

- Bombers looked awfully good. A sluggish start was wiped away because of how strong the finish was. MWC needed three INTs and a TD with 40 seconds left to beat Santa Fe in its first game. However, wow, the train started rolling. The Bombers put up a 50-spot against Choctaw and closed the day with 42 points against Deer Creek. WR Claude Donald was incredible for QB Greg Austin while DB Corey Lang had a great day in the secondary.

- Joining MWC in going unblemished was Edmond North. QB Travis Townsend was on the money all day and has found his No. 1 option in DonQuay Hammons. The two connected time and time again (no bigger than the one to beat Memorial with 18 seconds left). Davis Owens showed his willingness to go over the middle (and dislocated his pinky in the process in one of the more poignant visuals of the day). Should be fun when the Huskies and Bombers meet up at 10:40 a.m. Saturday.

- The results weren’t there, but Kendal Thompson had a fine day for Southmoore. It’s a different bunch for this crew, and he admitted that it’s been an adjustment to get accustomed to how things will be. He’s taking a more active role when it comes to leadership and this team will be just fine. His squad was only 1-4 while SMNavy was 3-2.

- As the day went on, the throws were more crisp for just about all QBs but none moreso than Memorial’s Kameron Doolittle. His ball got better with each game, and he’s found his go-to guy in Jeff Balkenbush. Balkenbush came up with all the big catches and is clearly going to play a big role for this team in the fall.

- Rough day for Deer Creek. The points were there to be put on the board, but the Antlers had a tough time catching the ball. QB Joel Blumenthal had his moments, but he also negated a lot of plays by taking too long (only have 4 secs to make a throw). That 5 OT battle with Memorial was a fun one, though.

- I could have sworn Ty Hensley would be the QB for Santa Fe, but Paul Bronson had a big day today. Both had their moments, according to coach Bruce Gowen, but Bronson made me take a step back a couple of times. With Patrick Hinton and Conner Bays, Wolves have some talent. Showed good team maturity by winning final three games.

- Shawnee’s style was unique but effective at times. The Wolves didn’t throw many deep balls, opting to dink and dunk their way down the field. That’s OK when you have a QB like Brayle Brown, who can zip that sucker in a tight spot. Hope to spend a little more time with Shawnee and Choctaw on Saturday.

- Nail-biters: Good day for those. North beat Memorial with 18 seconds left. MWC beat Santa Fe with 40 secs left. Memorial and DC went to 5 OTs (one play from the 5 to score). Memorial secured win vs. Choctaw with Doolittle INT with less than a minute left. MWC beat Shawnee at the horn with Donald snagging the game-winner. Good stuff.

- Back either late Saturday or Sunday for thoughts on day 2. Teams will finish playing each other by 1:20, then tournament play will start at 3:15. Championship will be at approximately 8 p.m.

Kendal Thompson, an OU commit, is the big man on Southmoore's campus now. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

The rumors were running rampant after last season that Kendal Thompson was going to bolt from Southmoore to head to Heritage Hall to play with Barry Sanders and win a state championship.

The private schools writer in me was excited about seeing that duo carve up the competition one game after another, but I’m glad Thompson is back with the SaberCats.

Southmoore had so much talent last year and yea, the losses of Mason Myers, Julian Wilson, Austin Haywood, etc., definitely don’t have the expectations as high as last year. But this will be the true test in my eyes.

This year is certainly going to be Thompson’s team. To go with running back Andrew Long, these are the guys that are going to have to make sure Southmoore isn’t just a one-hit wonder.

Saw Thompson play a couple of times last year (admittedly, they weren’t his best games). However, when a play needed to be made, he came through. That’s the kind of toughness you need from a quarterback, and that’s what you’re looking for from a leader.

Southmoore isn’t the darlings of the state going into this season, so maybe this year is even more important to sustaining the success of the program. Thompson knows how to deal with adversity and pressure, being Charles Thompson’s son will do that for ya.

Thompson could hide out in the crowd of all the talent last year. Now it’s his time. The four-star recruit is ready.

REGION III US Youth Soccer Championships
Baton Rouge, LA
Friday’s games involving Oklahoma teams

BOYS
U14: Lonestar (TX) 96 Red 3, TSC-96 Red (OK) 0
U15: Brentwood (TN) 95 Premier 1, OFC 95 (OK) 0
U16: TSC 94 Black (OK) 3, Dallas Texans San Antonio 94 Red (TX) 0
U17: Celtic 93 Green (OK) 4, KFC Crush 93 Blue (TN) 1; TSC 93 Red (OK) 1, DFW Tejanos 93 Premier (TX) 0
U18: 92 Louisiana Fire Red (LA) 2, Celtic 92 Green (OK) 1; OFC 92 (OK) 6, Dallas Texans Houston 92 Red (TX) 1
U19: Tulsa Soccer Club (OK) 2, Louisiana Fire (LA) 2

GIRLS
U14: East Lake Arsenal (FL) 3, OFC 96 (OK) 0
U15: Hurricane 95 Rhein (OK) 2, BUSA 95 Elite (AL) 0
U16: Solar Red 94 (TX) 2, North OKC OFC 94 (OK) 0
U17: Hurricane FC 93 Shubert (OK) 4, Mandeville Lakers (LA) 0
U18: 91 TFC Navy (NC) 4, Hurricane FC 92 Cussen (OK) 1

Anyone who saw Cook play last season knows she’s big time. But making the final 16 in the nation means she has taken her game up a notch or two. She averaged 13.3 points and 7.4 rebounds. The 6-1 post also was part of the 27-player tryouts for the U-17 World Championship Team.

Southmoore’s Sidney Cook has been named as one of the 16 finalists for the 2010 USA women’s U18 national basketball team, it was announced Friday.

The 12-player roster will be released Monday, and the team will compete in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship from June 23-27 at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

As a sophomore, Cook averaged 13 points and seven rebounds per game.

Cook was also in Colorado Springs as one of the 36 players trying out for the US U17 World Championship team.

Cook has been in Colorado Springs all week as the girls went through three days of practices and trials to dwindle the 27-player roster to 16.

“It was a unique situation, having the U17s and U18s going on at the same time, but I thought being able to inter-mingle the groups helped us get a clear-cut idea of who was ready,” USA U18 and University of Hartford head coach Jen Rizzotti said in a press release.

The 16 finalists are:
Sidney Cook (Southmoore H.S./Moore, Okla.)
Diamond DeShields (Norcross H.S./Norcross, Ga.)
Stefanie Dolson (Minisink Valley H.S./Port Jervis, N.Y.)
Raven Ferguson (Africentric Early College/Columbus, Ohio)
Reshanda Gray (Washington Prep H.S./Los Angeles, Calif.)
Cassie Harberts (San Clemente H.S./San Clemente, Calif.)
Bria Hartley (North Babylon H.S./North Babylon, N.Y.)
Malina Howard (Twinsburg H.S./Twinsburg, Ohio)
Afure Jemerigbe (St. Mary’s H.S./Stockton, Calif.)
Alexis Jones (MacArthur H.S./Irving, Texas)
Allyson Malott (Madison H.S./Middletown, Ohio)
Kayla McBride (Villa Maria Academy/Erie, Pa.)
Chiney Ogwumike (Cy-Fair H.S./Cypress, Texas);
Cassie Peoples (Cy-Fair H.S./Houston, Texas);
Haley Peters (The Peddie School/Red Bank, N.J.)
Theresa Plaisance (Vandebilt Catholic H.S./Marrero, La.)

Midwest City’s Richa Jackson was one of 26 players invited to compete for 12 roster spots on the U18 national team this week.

Jackson, a Duke signee, led the Bombers to the Class 6A state championship as a senior, averaging 17.6 points, nearly six rebounds and three steals per game.

She was also was named to the Parade  and McDonald’s All-American teams.

The camp for the hopefuls will be held June 8-11 in Colorado Springs, Colo. The team will compete June 23-27 in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women in Colorado Springs.

The top four in that will qualify for the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women in July 2011 in Chile.

Sidney Cook of Southmoore was invited to compete for a spot on the U17 national team. Those trials will be held at the same time as the U18 team trials.

That team will compete at the U17 World Championship on July 16-25 in Rodez and Toulouse, France.

Southmoore's Ethan Baker

Southmoore’s Ethan Baker always hoped he would get the chance to compete for an NCAA Division I school. He just thought his chance would come in football.

On Wednesday, the two-time 400-meter state champion signed a letter of intent to run for the Big 12 Conference champion Nebraska track team.

“I’m real excited,” he said. “I always thought I’d go D-I, I just didn’t think it would be for track. God works in mysterious ways.”

In addition to winning the 400 two years straight, Baker was on the SaberCats’ 400 and 1,600 relay teams that helped them win the Class 6A team championship on Monday.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com

Former Oklahoma football standout Antonio Perkins will be on hand to sign autographs.

The blood drive will be held at Dimensions Academy (1101 E Main St.) from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. To donate contact Donny Griffits at 579-1880 or at donaldg@norman.k12.ok.us.

Edmond North is off to a good start in its Class 6A state golf championship defense on Monday at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Course. The five-time defending champs shot a first-round 301 for a four-stroke lead over Edmond Santa Fe. Host Norman North is six back.

Edmond Memorial’s Taylor Moore finished his first round with a 2-under-par 70, one of two golfers under par in the opening round. The other was Edmond North’s Austen Fuller at 71.

Santa Fe’s Cody Reed and Norman North’s Bryce Barnard came in at 73; Tate Williamson, the No. 5 man from Broken Arrow, shot 74, along with Norman North’s Jett Johnson and Shawnee’s Dillion Mooreland, who is playing as an individual. At 75 were Broken Arrow’s Brent Williamson, Edmond North’s Alec Heinen 75, Bixby’s Jack Fiscus and Norman’s Kyle Raberding 75.

Everyone will play between 19 and 28 holes on Tuesday, with the first groups reaching No. 18 in the second round before play was halted. The last group was on the No. 9 tee.

The damage to holes 5-8 could impact play. About one-fourth of the groups still have all or some of those holes to play, because they started their rounds on No. 10.

There was a large tree uprooted on No. 7, which could change the thought process of how a player attacks the hole. Talking to some of the players, the tree prevents many players from hitting driver off the tee, because you need an accurate tee shot to have an open look at the green. Anything on the left side of the fairway was trouble. But without that tree, the hole becomes easier… basically a fairly open, straight par 4, and one of the shorter ones on the course.

But whether or not the Jimmie Austin folks can get the tree removed from the course in time for Tuesday’s action is questionable. That’s not an easy chore, so we’ll have to see what it looks like when everyone returns to the course on Tuesday morning.

Here are the team scores through the first round:

1. Edmond North 301
2. Edmond Santa Fe 305
3. Norman North 307
4. Edmond Memorial 310
5. Tulsa Union 312
6. Broken Arrow 313
7. Bartlesville 315
8. Jenks 318
T9. Putnam City North 321
T9. Stillwater 321
11. Owasso 325
12. Choctaw 326

And here’s the updated first-round individual scoring:

Top Individuals
70 — Taylor Moore, Edmond Memorial
71 — Austen Fuller, Edmond North
73 — Cody Reed, Edmond Santa Fe; Bryce Barnard, Norman North
74 — Dillion Mooreland, Shawnee; Tate Williamson, Broken Arrow; Jett Johnson, Norman North
75 — Brent Williamson, Broken Arrow; Alec Heinen, Edmond North; Jack Fiscus, Bixby; Kyle Raberding, Norman

Others
Edmond North: Eli Armstrong 77, Chase Griggs 78, Caleb Meyers 79
Edmond Santa Fe: Matt Helms 77, Landon Morgan 77, Max McGreevy 78, Brandon Stewart 78
Norman North: Drew Wright 80, Alex Newell 80, Matt Krutz 80
Edmond Memorial: Rex Greene 78, Mason Wright 81, Connor Kurtz 81. Bobby Todd 85
Tulsa Union: Bobby Goben 76, Garrett Hagood 77, Brodie Hinkle 78, Ryan Allen 81, Brady Richardson 89
Broken Arrow: Julian Rom 80, Sam Greenleaf 84, Nathan Swisher 88
Bartlesville: Brad Hager 78, Brandon Wong 78, Braxton Clopp 79, Josh Strimple 80, Clint Jones 81
Jenks: Colton Staggs 77, Brandon Jelley 79, Aaron Davis 81, Will McDonald 81, Hunter Miller 82
Putnam City North: Zach Tucker 76, Tripp Walcher 76, Sawyer McKaughan 84, Conrad Walcher 85, Terry Wiles 89
Stillwater: Tyler Grantham 76, Taylor Onley 76, Parker Dolezal 80, Skyler Patton 89, Brice Clark 91
Owasso: Zach Enzbrenner 79, Austin Clark 80, Ryan Hunninghake 81, Brad Kershaw 85, Cole Morgan 86
Choctaw: Drew Posada 77, Luke Fesner 80, Hunter Eisenhour 83, Heath Vessels 86, Taylor Gossett 93
Lawton: Russell Cozad 79
Lawton Eisenhower: Cullen Stahl 83, Tyler Jimenez 88
Moore: Ryan Harris 84
Muskogee: Stephen Allen 81
Sand Springs: Cole Stephenson 90
Sapulpa: Brody Moses 79
Southmoore: Iain Tesney 86
Westmoore: Garrett Cooley 83, Cory Montgomery 85
Yukon: Adam Cooper 79

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com

Third-ranked Mustang topped the Jags 2-0 to advance to the 6A semis. The Broncos will face Tulsa Union Tuesday for a berth in the finals.

With Lauren Vabolis and Mia Vabolis leading the way, Westmoore overcame a 1-4 start to the season by winning seven of nine games prior to Friday’s loss. Two of Westmoore’s three losses since the month of March came to the powerful Mustang squad and the other was by the narrowest of margins to Norman North in a shootout. The Jags close out at 8-7, but exit as one of 6A’s hottest teams at the end of the year.

Lauren Vabolis and Mia Vabolis each ended the season with a team-best tying 12 goals. Mia added a team-high eight assists. Chelsea Swisher added eight goals and five assists for the Jaguars.

The Moore cheer and pom squads will perform at the event and patrons will have the opportunity to make a $2 donation at the gate. All proceeds will go to benefit the Special Olympics.

Millwood cornerback/wide receiver Josh Turner and Edmond Memroial quarterback/wide receiver Kameron Doolittle are among seven Oklahoma athletes who have been nominated to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl next January.

Also nominated were Duncan defensive back Dominique Petties, Duncan offensive lineman Dylan Dismuke, Southmoore quarterback Kendal Thompson, Sallisaw offensive lineman Garrett Gladd and Tulsa Washington running back Isaac Bennett.

Of the 400-plus nominations, 90 will be selected to play in the game, which will be held Jan. 8 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Last year, Tulsa Washington’s Calvin Barnett, who eventually signed with Arkansas, was the state’s lone representative in the game.

At Edmond Santa Fe
Wednesday
Game 1: Del City vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 1 p.m.
Game 2: Southmoore vs. Putnam City, 4 p.m.
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7 p.m.
Thursday
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 4 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 7 p.m.
Friday
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 7 p.m. (if necessary)

Jade Staggs, Westmoore

Girls golf

Even while playing in swamp-like conditions and heavy winds, Staggs won the Mid-State Conference championship. Staggs carded a 1-under par 70 at Westwood Park Golf Course and ran away with the title by 10 strokes.

Nowata offensive lineman Austin Beck committed to Arkansas on Saturday, according to Rivals.com.

Beck became the latest state player to commit to the Razorbacks since the hiring of Tulsa native and former OU standout Garrick McGee.

Earlier in the month, Beck attended Arkansas’ spring game.

McGee played a big part in the Razorbacks signing five state players in February.

Prague’s Denton Simek, Fort Gibson’s Courtney Gaston, Jenks’ Jarrett Lake and Tulsa Washington’s Eric Bennett and Calvin Barnett signed with Arkansas in February.

Beck is the second 2011 commitment from the state. Former Muskogee defensive lineman Robert Thomas, who signed with the Razorbacks out of high school before going to Coffeyville Community College, has recommitted to Arkansas.

The 6-foot-8, 285-pound Beck also had offers from Baylor, Illinois and Missouri.

Other state players from next year’s class that have committed to colleges are Norman North’s Daniel Davis (Stanford), Mustang’s David Glidden (OSU), Lawton’s Jabral Johnson (Arizona), Jenks’ Trent Martin (Tulsa), Glenpool’s Isaac Maselera (OSU) and Southmoore’s Kendal Thompson (OU).