Private schools honor: Markus Wakefield, Heritage Hall…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
One more week to perfection. A perfect season wasn’t the ultimate goal for Heritage Hall, but if the Chargers win Friday, it will happen.
Every game there seems to be another hero. Against a good Bethany team the second time around, it was lineman Markus Wakefield — just not the way I thought it would be.
I’ve said it more than enough at this point so I’ll keep it short. Wakefield threw a touchdown pass and recovered a fumble in the end zone for a score in the semifinal win.
Look for a story on Wakefield and his lineman counterpart Quintaz Struble later this week.
Other contenders
Heritage Hall defense: In a game where both defenses stopped what the other teams are known for, the Chargers in the second half were incredible in limiting Bethany to 9 total yards in the second half.
Preston Sullivan, Casady: Cyclones started the season going 3-0 and Sullivan earned MVP honors of the Liberty Academy Tournament in Shawnee.
T.J. Holland, OCS: What a way to start the year for the Saints. OCS, behind Holland and Jack Warren, won at John Marshall 62-57.
Jake Peace, Mt. St. Mary’s: Not just a star on the football field, Peace led a balanced effort in a win against Heritage Hall.
Kate Andrews, Bishop McGuinness: So many weapons, what do you do? Andrews led a balanced effort in a three-win week.
Mid-Del honor: Chris Stevenson, Del City…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Well, the first quarter was not what new Del City boys coach Tim Stogsdill was hoping for against Westmoore.
But after an early deficit, back came the Eagles. Behind Chris Stevenson’s 17 points, Del City got out of Westmoore with a 57-44 victory.
Former coach Allen Dukes had been there so long that it feels strange to think about someone else being on that sideline.
Have a gut feeling Del City is going to be a team that sneaks up on people this season.
Other contenders
Kaylon Williams, Midwest City: Bombers got off to a red-hot start against Norman North to cruise to 70-42 victory. Williams led way with 15 points.
Trez Colbert, Midwest City: The unexpected early loss in football allowed the football kids to get their basketball legs. Colbert notched 19 points in an impressive 31-point win against Norman North.
Best of the Rest honor: Kentrell Brothers, Guthrie…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I don’t even know if what Guthrie’s Kentrell Brothers did last week is in the top 3 of his performances this season, but it came at the right time.
Against a gritty Coweta team, the Bluejays weren’t really having that much offensive success. But when you have Brothers, you’re never out of it.
Brothers ended up with three touchdowns in the 27-3 win, and he did it in three different ways. He caught one, threw another and rushed for a score. Big-time players come up big when it matters most, and Guthrie is going to need that for sure this week against Tulsa Washington.
You can read more on Brothers’ partner in crime, WR Devonte McCully in Tuesday’s paper. Sorry, Devonte, the secret is out on you.
Other contenders
Tyrequek Zimmerman, Lawton: With the game in the balance at 20-14 vs. Broken Arrow, Zimmerman scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to give the Wolverines the huge win.
Zeke Zimmer, Washington: It’s a different Warrior every week. Zimmer notched three touchdowns in an impressive 35-0 victory at Crooked Oak.
Darian Bennett, Crescent: Just another day at the office for Bennett. Coach J.L. Fisher said Bennett rushed for 270 yards in the first half and four touchdowns in the win at Carnegie. Look for more on Bennett in Thursday’s paper.
Jeremy Seaton, Cashion: Another familiar face here. Seaton accounted for three touchdowns in the Wildcats’ tough victory against a good Ringling team.
Mid-Del honor: Taylor Hawkins, Carl Albert…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Only one team per class likes the way their season ends. Last year that team was Carl Albert. But this year it wasn’t meant to be for Gary Rose’s club.
It was a coming of age year for Taylor Hawkins, though. A baseball star, the Titans quarterback wasn’t able to get much time in for football during practice in August. He had found a home on defense as the Death Squad group was living up to its name.
But an injury to Dillan Dansby brought Hawkins back to the offense and to the quarterback position. Behind that offensive line and RB Kenton Whittington, the Titans looked like they hadn’t missed a beat.
However, it came to an end last week in a 21-14 loss at Tulsa East Central. A 9-3 season is great for most programs, but you know this will be motivation for the Titans next year.
Private schools honor: Sterling Shepard, Heritage Hall…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
There were some tense moments in the second half of Heritage Hall’s victory against Little Axe.
And if it wasn’t for Sterling Shepard’s early heroics, we could have really been talking about some anxious times.
Before Shepard left with a hip injury, he scored two touchdowns and started it with an interception return for a score in the 27-7 win vs. the Indians.
The health of Shepard and running back Barry J. Sanders are questions 1a. and 1b. heading into Friday’s game with Bridge Creek (I’ll be there).
Other contenders
LaRone Richardson, Bishop McGuinness: Not the end he was hoping for, but Richardson notched two more touchdowns in the 26-23 loss at Glenpool.
Cooper Cloud and Cale Courtney, Heritage: Hooked up on a touchdown in the fourth quarter to seal the deal against Little Axe.
Nick Callaway, McGuinness: Wasn’t always a pretty thing was the Irish passing game this year, but Callaway came up with key grabs, including a touchdown Friday.
Austin Brooks, OCS: Overmatched against Millwood but was able to stay with it and ran for a score and threw for another in the 59-28 loss to Falcons.
Victoria Vaughn, Mt. St. Mary’s, Cheerleading: I know her from tennis, but she became the first MSM cheerleader to make the all-state team.
Best of the Rest honor: Ryan Spangler, Bridge Creek…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
It was just THAT week for Bridge Creek quarterback Ryan Spangler. Two days after signing with Gonzaga to play basketball, he threw for four touchdowns in a rout of Purcell in the first round. You couldn’t stop him on this week.
Spangler has thrown more than four touchdowns in a game, but in the crazy conditions Friday, no performance may have been more impressive for him.
He only finished with 139 yards, but he got ‘em when they mattered. It was the quick start that doomed Purcell.
Spangler had a little help from running back Blake Henderson. The senior rushed for three touchdowns as well to set the stage for Bridge Creek at Heritage Hall on Friday (I will be there).
Other contenders
The Miller boys, Davenport: Mike and Matt combined for all five touchdowns as Bulldogs won a thriller, 32-28 vs. Seiling.
T.J. Martin, Cashion: That’s how you make sure you are not victim of an upset. Martin returned two kicks for touchdowns in the 55-31 win against Turpin.
Guthrie defense: Just another brilliant outing, this time against Durant. Lions had -37 rushing yards. Bluejays forced four turnovers to cruise to the 35-6 win.
Steven Howard, Washington: Warriors are rolling right now. Howard was sensational scoring five touchdowns in victory against Tishomingo.
Deaquan Wojciechowski, Lawton: I was there to witness his brilliance. Two rushing touchdowns, a punt return for a score in a fun, well-played 28-13 win vs. Edmond Memorial.
Edmond honor: Jarion Tudman, North…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I called him out in the five-minute guide, and he showed me up on Friday night. Edmond North running back Jarion Tudman rushed for 222 yards and a touchdown to shut me up in the Huskies’ 28-21 win at Yukon.
Tudman is deadly with the ball when he holds onto it. He held onto it against the Millers and became the workhorse he always has the potential to be.
It was a spirited effort by North, who has rebounded nicely from that 2-4 start. Is the upset possible? North is at Union on Friday.
Look for more on Tudman later this week.
Other contenders
Shawn McLaws, Deer Creek: Always around to play a big role. Fumble return for a touchdown, kicking field goals. He did a little bit of everything in the 19-12 road win at Ardmore.
Kameron Doolittle, Memorial: The senior closed out a tremendous career for the Bulldogs by rushing for more than 100 yards as Justin Merideth’s gritty bunch kept it close before losing to Lawton.
Travis Townsend, North: Senior quarterback wasn’t about to call it a career just yet, accounting for two touchdowns in the win.
Deer Creek offensive line: Less than five minutes and with the ball, Antlers line did its job as Deer Creek ran out the clock behind Alex Christensen and the offensive surge.
Will Conant, Memorial: Been regarded as one of the best kickers by yours truly for two years and showed it with two big FGs vs. Lawton.
Elizabeth Donohoe, North: You’ll be seeing that name a lot in the next couple of months as she signed with Oklahoma State last week.
Mid-Del honor: Kenton Whittington, Carl Albert…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I focused a lot on Taylor Hawkins in my story on the Carl Albert overtime victory against Duncan. He didn’t give me much of a choice by scoring the game-winner in overtime to stave off the upset.
But running back Kenton Whittington woke this team up. After a rough first quarter, Whittington scored twice in the second quarter and rushed for more than 100 yards.
Whittington sure isn’t the biggest runner in the world, but he’s about as tough as they come and knows how to get the hard yards.
The Titans saw a 21-3 halftime lead disappear but found a way to pull it out and set the stage for a mega-showdown at Tulsa East Central.
Other contenders
James Flanders, Midwest City: The junior finished a strong season with two rushing touchdowns in the overtime loss to Westmoore.
Taylor Hawkins, Carl Albert: Got his passing game going in the second and third quarters and did the little things necessary to get the victory vs. Duncan.
Midwest City defense: I wasn’t there so I don’t know how the Jaguars pulled off that upset, but I know the Bombers defense gave it everything it had as it did all season.
Kaylon Williams, Midwest City: Just about that time again, the senior signed to play basketball for Oklahoma last week.
Best of the Rest honor: Dylan Coppenbarger, Tuttle…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Some really good options in this category on this week. Several players came up with big outings in the final week of the regular season.
But I liked what Dylan Coppenbarger of Tuttle did. The Tigers were coming off a tough, hard-fought loss against undefeated Anadarko and needed to show there was no hangover.
Mission accomplished. The Tigers rushed for 376 yards in a 41-7 dominating win against Marlow. Leading the charger Coppenbarger.
He finished with four touchdowns and hopes to do more of the same when Tuttle visits Madill in one of the more intriguing first round matchups Friday.
Other contenders
Tylor Seabolt, Jones: He scored one rushing touchdown, one receiving touchdown and took a punt back for a score as Jones continues to roll.
Darian Bennett, Crescent: What can you say about him? Twelve carries for 361 yards and five touchdowns to go with an INT return for a touchdown. Incredible month.
Levi Hill, Hennessey: Another team able to overcome a spirited loss. Hill notched three touchdowns as Eagles took care of Centennial.
Bryan Dutton, Guthrie: Not shocking that Bluejays defeated Southeast, but Dutton was perfect in passing and threw for three more touchdowns.
Private schools honor: Camden Tharp, McGuinness…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
That’s the kind of statement you wanted to make if you were McGuinness before the playoffs. The Irish were able to get the passing game going to go with that incredible rushing attack, and it led to a blowout win at Guymon.
Quarterback Camden Tharp hasn’t had the greatest season ever, but the last few weeks have been a step in the right direction. Against Guymon, he threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another.
If the Irish are balanced on offense, look out, could be a bad sign for the rest of the state. The running game added another 272 yards.
In the best first round matchup of the week, the Irish are at Glenpool on Friday night.
Other contenders
Sterling Shepard, Heritage Hall: Nothing new to what he’s doing, but his consistency has been incredible. Added another four touchdowns in win vs. Kingfisher.
Josh Bivens, OCA: Oklahoma Christian Academy went out on top as Bivens notched three touchdowns in a 45-0 blowout against Sasakwa.
Colton Lindsey, CHA: Freshman quarterback is coming of age. Lindsey threw for four touchdowns and rushed for another in Crusaders victory over Crooked Oak.
Joseph Reis-Herron, Mt. St. Mary’s: Momentum for next year for Rockets? End year on two-game winning streak as Reis-Herron tallied five rushing touchdowns in cruising to win vs. Walters.
Cooper Cloud, Heritage Hall: Not much said about passing game for Chargers, but Cloud notched three more touchdown passes and didn’t throw a pick.
