FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4 , 2020
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GOING THE EXTRA MILE
JENKS EAST INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS SEEK HELP IN GATHERING CLO THES TO DONATE TO JENKS CAREPOINT
By Kyle Salomon
Students have divided into “houses” in Laura Hightower’s sixth-grade class at Jenks East Intermediate. Each of the “houses” was assigned to come up with a community service project that best resembles their “house” name. One of the “houses” is named “Pathos”, which means passion. The “Pathos” group is made up of nine Jenks East Intermediate sixthgrade students in Hightower’s class. “Pathos” came up with the idea to collect gently used clothes to give to Jenks Carepoint, which is an organization that serves the Jenks community with clothes and other items people might need. Students in “Pathos” decided they wanted to get the word out to more people than just their school to help donate clothes for those in need. “We thought it would be awesome for them to think about others and try to make it a positive thing because there are a lot of people who are down right now,” Hightower said. “This house has run with the idea. It is very impressive.” The nine students in the “Pathos” house are Gunnar Goll, Graham Pinnell, Abby Reid, Esther Ayodele, Marie Catterson, Trey Williams, Tiffany Atkins, Chanda Kuzmarov and Dylan Rackley.
Back row - Gunnar Goll, Graham Pinnell, Abby Reid, Esther Ayodele, Marie Catterson, Trey Williams Front row - Tiffany Atkins, Chanda Kuzmarov, Dylan Rackley
“It gives back to the community so much,” Marie Catterson said. “What better way to show passion than to give our clothes to someone who needs them. We wanted to give back through Jenks Carepoint because they are local, and they give back to the Jenks community. We are going to collect as much as we can because winter is coming, and they probably need a lot of coats and jackets.”
ERIC FOX REMEMBERS HIS FRIEND, ALLAN TRIMBLE, ONE YEAR AF TER HIS PASSING
It’s been a year. We know 2020 has been a strange year in and of itself, but it has also been one year since our community lost a leader, a mentor, an educator, and an influencer. In some ways, it seems I should refer to him as Coach Trimble, but “coach” cannot entirely capture all that he has been for so many. There is a stadium with his name on it, but more importantly, there are hearts with his impression on them, not just in our community but literally all over the world. The work of the Trimble Strong Foundation continues to impact lives as “salt and light” in urban communities, foreign countries and even families made bigger and stronger through adoption. Robert F. Kennedy once said, “Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples to build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” Allan Trimble selflessly acted to improve the lot of others and sent forth ripples of hope for innumerable people across decades of a career.
Gunnar Goll said to him, passion means to commit to something. “In my mind, I thought, ‘it is so close to Christmas, we could help kids get some things for Christmas and donate clothes to them,’” Gunnar said. CONT on pg 3...
He made too many decisions to count ranging from what time to stop the bus on a road trip for a stretch of the legs and a pre-game snack, to whether a practice should be in full pads, half pads or shirts and shorts, as well as whether to go for it on third down, take the wind in the fourth quarter or how to resolve a challenge with his staff or a player. Some of those decisions wouldn’t be classified as demonstrating courage, but others had implications for the future of his program, a young person’s trajectory or even a community. Allan always reminded his staff that we were “in the kid business.” In fact, he was judged (as most coaches are) based in large part on what groups of 16, 17 and 18-year-olds decided to do. He didn’t make excuses for this. He saw his job as an opportunity to influence future generations by celebrating achievements, taking both wins and losses with humility and grace, and building others up by recognizing the God-given dignity each individual possesses. Perhaps this is part of what made his interaction with our Special Olympians so authentic – he truly saw the good and the potential in all. Many times, he would remark that a player may need the program more than the program needed the player. In other words, although he coached some talented players that made it in top college programs or even the NFL, he wasn’t just a coach for those individuals. He was a coach for the entire team including a player that was relegated to a role without the spotlight of Friday night lights. His investment into lives was more about building the best in others than what he or his team gained. A quote that Coach Trimble often referenced comes from John Shedd who wrote in 1928, “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” Allan knew tough times, battles and struggles both before his diagnosis of ALS and afterwards. He embraced them as learning opportunities for himself and those around him. He didn’t seek refuge in playing it safe but in his faith, which sustained him and his family and friends who faced tough times alongside him. Allan Trimble and his example still teaches us today, even in the midst of a challenging year. Let us honor his legacy by setting out on the rough seas and steering the ship. Let us continue to be taught by this mentor that all have dignity and worth to be nurtured. Allan Trimble gave many inspiring talks in pregames, half times, post games and several other venues, but the life that he modeled achieves what no speech could ever do. We understand that we are stronger together than any of us separately. For those lessons, we are grateful for the ripples of hope he continues to send forth.
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JENKS TRIBUNE SANTA LE T TERS SPECIAL
We want to know what the children in the Jenks community want for Christmas! Send us those Letters to Santa and we will publish them in the Jenks Tribune Santa Letters Special Section, which will run Friday, December 18! The deadline to send in those Letters to Santa is 5 p.m. Sunday, December 13! You can send all Santa Letters to ksalomon@jenkstribune. com or jwiesman@jenkstribune.com. You may also bring them by our office at 329 S. Elm St. Ste 201 in Jenks or you can mail them as well! If you are a business and would like to purchase an advertisement in this special section, the deadline is 5 p.m. Monday, December 14! We look forward to seeing what Santa Claus will be bringing everyone this year!
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BANCFIRST ’S ANGEL TREE TO BRING JOY FOR 21ST YEAR By Kyle Salomon
If you walk into the lobby area of the BancFirst in Jenks, you will see a nicely lit Christmas tree with small notes pinned to it. At first glance, you might just think to yourself, “those are pretty decorations”. However, if you look closer, you will see those small notes are much more than decorations. They are lists of items that residents of Grace Living Center in Jenks have put together as gifts they would like for the Christmas season. For the 21st year, BancFirst in Jenks has put up its Angel Tree with 148 angels from Grace Living Center. The age range of the angels this year is 39 to 100. Residents at Grace Living Center will not be able to celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas this year with their families due to precautions from the COVID-19 pandemic. BancFirst staff said they wanted to do the annual Angel Tree, but they are aware of the current economic situation people are facing this year and wanted the gifts to be simple to purchase and in a certain price range. Most of the gifts on the lists this year are necessities, and items easier to purchase. The Angel Tree is anonymous both ways. The angel does not know who purchased their gifts and the person purchasing the gifts does not know the name of the angel they are shopping for to give them a great holiday season. The program also got started earlier this year and will run through Dec. 15 to allow more time for people purchasing items for an angel. One difference this year due to the pandemic and to limit interaction between people, those who purchase gifts for the angels are asked to check themselves out at a table, which is set up in the lobby of the bank.
CAREPOINT CONT from pg 1... Abby Reid said some people don’t have enough clothes, and this is their chance to help them out. “Passion means you really enjoy doing something and you have a lot of support,” Abby said. Chanda Kuzmarov said to her, passion means caring a lot about something.“It’s good to give back,” Chanda said. “Especially for the kids, who don’t have many clothes.” Both Graham Pinnell and Esther Ayodele said they were happy to give back to the community. “I think it really helps out the community,” Graham said. “It is something that helps the Jenks community,” Esther said. The class plans on taking donations of clothes for several weeks. To drop off clothes for the Jenks East Intermediate sixth-grade class to take to Jenks Carepoint, you can drop the clothes in a box outside of the front door at the school. You may also contact Jenks Public Schools or Jenks East Intermediate with any further questions about to help out Hightower’s class.
PRACTICING GRATEFULNESS
Typically, at the beginning of each year I set a “word” for the year, something I choose to focus on and be the filter by which I see and do things. One year I chose “mindfulness,” and another it was “rest.” This year, though, during the process of selecting a word, the final decision eluded me. In reflection, however, I notice a common theme that has played out over the last 10 months. That word is “grateful.” During a time where so many things have gone awry, where so many people have lost a loved one or a career, where we have struggled to balance hope and fear, we have every opportunity to leave 2020 feeling bitter, angry and resentful. Yet, when I pause, when I look back on how each part of this year has affected my life, my family, my schedule, my heart, I am eternally grateful to have walked through it all. As we enter holidays, though it looks different for many this year, the foundation of the celebration remains the same. Gratitude, appreciation, and thanksgiving and all in perfect timing. Did you know that positive psychology research shows gratitude is strongly associated with greater happiness. An attitude of gratitude enables people to feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. Woah. Talk about an easy way to improve your mental health! There are many different approaches to practicing gratefulness. You can apply mindful gratitude to the past by retrieving positive memories, the present by not taking your current situation for granted or the future by maintaining a hopeful and optimistic attitude. Regardless of the current level of your gratitude, there is always room to grow; it is a quality, or mindset that can be cultivated through practice. Gratitude is also defined as a way for people to appreciate what they have instead of always reaching for something new in the hopes it will make them happier. Gratitude helps people refocus on what they have instead of what they lack. The ability to be grateful is a skill we can teach our children early on. Each year at Thanksgiving we incorporate a fun, turkey themed activity for the kids where they can reflect themselves and write down (or dictate to a grown up) the things/people they are most thankful for. I hope that by starting them in this mindset from a young age, that they would be able to cultivate an attitude of gratitude for themselves.
a thank-you letter but research shows that you will experience an increased level of happiness by expressing your enjoyment and appreciation of that person's impact on your life. Send it, or better yet, deliver and read it in person if possible. Make a habit of sending at least one gratitude letter a month. Once in a while, you may even write one to yourself. Thank someone mentally. No time to write? It may help just to think about someone who has done something nice for you, and mentally thank the individual. (Although I truly believe that if you think something nice about someone, you should always tell them! A quick text or email is fast and easy to send. And the benefits for both sender and receiver vastly outweigh the cost of time.) Keep a gratitude journal. Start each day by writing down 3-5 things you are thankful for. They may be simple or complex. Today, I am thankful for a warm cup of coffee. Yesterday I was thankful for a stable job that provides me an income to buy groceries for my family. Simple task with a BIG mental impact. Count your blessings. Pick a time annually to sit down and write about your blessings — reflecting on what went right or what you are grateful for. We do this with our family during the holidays. Frankly, it should be a more routine part of our schedule. As you reflect, be specific, being able to identify how you find gratitude or appreciation during a trial, trains your brain to be able to look for the good next time things get tough. The height of my joy depends on the depth of my thanks. Pray. People who are religious use prayer to cultivate gratitude. Meditate. Mindfulness meditation involves being still and reflecting. You may choose to think on a word, a phrase, or even a verse. Visualize that word or phrase playing out in your daily life. What does it look like? How does it make you feel? Here is one to get you started: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
As we move into the holiday season, here are some practical ways to cultivate gratitude on a regular basis: Write a thank-you note. You not only will nurture your relationship with another person by writing
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JENKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION LAUNCHES ANNUAL TROJAN 20 CAMPAIGN If investing in a child’s education sounds like a good idea, please consider participating in the Trojan 20 fundraising campaign. Each year, we ask parents for a gift of at least $20 for each of their children enrolled at Jenks Public Schools, but anyone can participate. Why should you give? Public funding for schools in Oklahoma is not sufficient to provide the excellence in education we seek for our children. Dollars raised by the Jenks Public Schools Foundation through annual giving initiatives, like the Trojan 20, fund programs that would not exist without your support. When? If you are ready to donate and be a part of the Trojan Advantage, please click on the link to make an online donation. www.Trojan20.com Have questions? We would love to hear from you! Our e-mail address is Jenksfoundation@jenksps.org.
PUBLIC WORKS STAFF BEGINS DECORATING CITY FOR HOLIDAYS The holidays are just around the corner, and some of Jenks Public Works staff hung holiday wreaths and decorations around Jenks. There were 34 large holiday wreaths are hung at most major intersections in Jenks, which took about 24-man hours. There were 41 smaller holiday wreaths (and garland) will be hung on all light poles along Main Street in downtown Jenks. This process takes around 40-man hours. Photos/Courtesy
BOJANGLES Meet Mister Bojangles! About 50 pounds and 2 to 3 years old, Bojangles is shy around other dogs but is very cuddly and affectionate with people. He is very calm and would probably be great for an older person that can’t tolerate a rambunctious dog. While we can’t guarantee he’s house trained, he does keep his kennel clean and waits to go potty outside. If you’d like to meet Bojangles or any of his adoptable friends, call Jenks Animal Control at 918-299-6311 Option 8 or email animalcontrol@jenksok.org
CHarlie Brown Hi, my name’s Charlie Brown! I’m 2 years old, 60 pounds, and I love everybody! They said I had something called heartworms; I don’t know what that means, but I know I didn’t feel so great. But the nice people at the shelter said I was such a good boy that they sent me to the doctor and got me treated for them. They didn’t let me run and jump for several weeks, but now I’ve finished all my medicine and I get to play with the other dogs, yay! They said I need to get re-checked in another 4 months or so, but I’m ready for a home and a new family! If you’d like to meet Charlie Brown or any of his adoptable friends, call Jenks Animal Control at 918-299-6311 Option 8 or email animalcontrol@jenksok.org
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Long-time Jenks resident, a former City of Jenks employee, and a proud parent of a Jenks High School golfer! FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020
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JENKS RUNS THROUGH OWASSO, CLINCHES ANO THER STATE TIT LE APPEARANCE
By Kyle Salomon Jenks left no doubt Friday in its semifinal matchup with No. 1 ranked and unbeaten Owasso. The Trojans dismantled the defending 6A-1 champions 39-15 at Broken Arrow Memorial Stadium and avenged their loss to the Rams in last season’s state title game. Owasso got the ball to start the game, but fumbled on its first play, which was recovered by Jenks’ defensive tackle A.J. Brown. Two-plays later, the Trojans got on the board with a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Stephen Kittleman to receiver Ty Walls. Place-kicker Max Paskvan was good with the extra-point and Jenks led 7-0 in the first minute of the contest. “Against a good team like Owasso, you have to play well from start to finish,” Jenks coach Keith Riggs said. “The turnover to start the game was huge to swing the momentum our way and our guys did a great job not giving up that momentum.” Jenks running back and safety Grant Lohr echoed his coach’s comments. “That was a big momentum switch for us,” Lohr said. “Then we got the ball coming out of the half, so it was basically like we got the ball to start each half. We kept them down after that. We didn’t let them get back in the game. We kept control the whole time.” The Trojans would put another scoring drive together in the opening frame, this one capped by a 22-yard run from Lohr. Paskvan was good with the point after attempt and Jenks led 14-0 after one quarter. The Trojan defense jumped in on the scoring party with a safety on a tackle by defensive lineman Coleman Thurber to give Jenks a 16-0 advantage early in the second. After another solid defensive possession from the Trojans, Lohr would again get loose for a long score,
this one from 59 yards to give Jenks a 23-0 lead following the Paskvan extrapoint. Owasso reached the end zone for the first time late in the first half on an Emery Neeley two-yard run. Hagen Hood was good with the PAT and the Rams cut the Trojan lead to 23-7. Jenks would tack on three more points before halftime on a Paskvan 38-yard field goal to give the Trojans a 26-7 advantage heading into the locker room. The Trojans didn’t let their foot off the gas in the second half. Jenks took the opening possession of the third quarter and took nearly eight minutes off the clock. The drive ended with another Paskvan field goal, this one from 22 yards to give the Trojans a 29-7 lead. “When you come out and have the lead and then chew up that much clock and get some points out of it has to take the air out of your opponent a little bit,” Riggs said. “It really set the tone for the second half for us.” Owasso scored its second and final touchdown on the following possession on a 47-yard pass from Austin Havens to Hakelan Carney followed by a successful two-point conversion to cut the Jenks’ lead to 29-15 going into the fourth quarter. The Trojans added another touchdown in the final frame on a one-yard run from Lohr and another field goal from Paskvan to give Jenks 10 more points and secure the victory. “Even off their two scoring drives, we turned around and took the momentum right back from them,” Riggs said. “Our offense did a great job. I felt like we had two good game plans on both sides of the ball, but ultimately, it’s your kids who have to execute the game plan and they did a great job of executing tonight.” Jenks finished the game with 352 yards of offense, including 236 rushing and 116 passing. The Trojans had 18
first downs and were 3 of 11 on third down attempts. Kittleman was 13 of 21 for 116 yards with one touchdown. Lohr rushed 185 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries and Waylon Adams caught four passes for 69 yards. Jenks held Owasso to 208 yards of offense, including 158 rushing and 150 passing. The Rams had eight first downs and were 1 of 11 on third down attempts. Trojan linebacker Ethan Bilgrien had 13.5 tackles. Jenks turned Owasso over four times in the game. Brown recovered a fumble, while Lohr, cornerback Jayden Patrick and safety Joey Havir each had interceptions. “We were locked in all week,” Lohr said. “We knew what was coming. Owasso is a great team. I feel like we had that fire after last year losing to them 14-6 in state.” With the win, Jenks advanced to the 6A-1 state championship game, which will be played at 1 p.m. next Saturday at Wantland Stadium on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma against the winner of Edmond Santa Fe and Union. Edmond Santa Fe and Union play Saturday night at Owasso in the other 6A-1 semifinal.
RADIO CHANGE FOR 6A-1 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME Due to Oklahoma State’s 11 a.m. game with TCU, the Jenks-Edmond Santa Fe 6A-1 state championship game radio broadcast will air on KVOO 98.5 FM. Pre-Game coverage will begin at 12:30 p.m. with kickoff at 1 p.m.
A.J. Brown Junior Defensive Tackle The Jenks Tribune Player of the Week is junior defensive tackle A.J. Brown. Brown anchored the Trojan defense that stifled Owasso in Jenks’ 39-15 win over the Rams to advance to the 6A-1 state championship game. Brown finished the game with 8.5 tackles and a fumble recovery on the first play of the game that gave the Trojan offense great field position on its opening drive.
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Holly has been with U Dirty Dawg Wash since July of 2019 and brings with her a long and varied business background in retail store management. She is Reilly’s Grandma (who we introduced you to a few weeks ago), and you will see them both working together at the reception desk. Holly is a capable and valued employee who tackles every situation with common sense and grace. Her witty personality and love for all dogs (including her own Llewellin Setter, Shadow) and their owners makes coming to the shop fun. Holly is a real “Dasher”, buzzing around the shop like a “Comet”, at “Blitzen” speed getting all sorts of things done. She is a “Prancer” and “Dancer” so don’t be surprised at what you see when you come by the shop and wish Holly a MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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SPECIAL PLAYOFF EDI TION
GOLD AT THE END OF THE ROAD
ONLY EDMOND SANTA FE STANDS IN BETWEEN JENKS AND A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
KITTLEMAN READY TO CLOSE CAREER WITH STATE TITLE RIGGS PREVIEWS MATCH-UP WITH EDMOND SANTA FE COORDINATORS GIVE HIGH PRAISE TO WOLVES
KIT T LEMAN READY TO CEMENT LEGACY IN TROJAN FOO TBALL HISTORY
By Kyle Salomon Senior Stephen Kittleman is preparing to play in his final game for the Trojans at 1 p.m. Saturday in the 6A-1 state championship against Edmond Santa Fe. Being the starting quarterback at Jenks High School comes with an enormous amount of pressure and responsibility. The expectation for Trojan football every fall is to bring home a state title. While most teams would be happy to be playing in the last game of the season, the goals every year at Jenks are a little loftier.It will be the third-consecutive year Jenks has played in the final game of the year and the second for Kittleman as the starting QB. A year ago, Kittleman led the Trojans to the title game, but came up just short against Owasso. “I’ve learned a ton. The last few years, we have had a lot of adversity thrown at us going back to our sophomore year,” Kittleman said. “I learned in those moments to not take any play for granted. It’s the state championship, have fun with it, you have to give your best effort on every play. You have to come into every game with the same mindset and just be confident in yourself and trust in your teammates no matter who your opponent is, is huge in big games.” The 2020 season has been anything but normal. The world is currently experiencing a pandemic and every team has had to deal with cancelations and uncertainty throughout the year. “I have to try and be the calm in the storm, just always encouraging my teammates through the lowest of the lows and the highest of the highs,” Kittleman said. “If you look back at the last two years, we have lost two state championships and that doesn’t happen very often at Jenks. As long as I can be there to help them keep a good mindset and just encourage them, it helps us deal with everything that is going on.” Kittleman has been a Jenks Trojan since he was in Pre-K, so he has watched many Trojan greats win state championships throughout the years. He said winning a gold ball would mean the world. “It would be the perfect ending. Growing up, you watch all the older guys win state championships and that’s all you want to do. Then you get to high school and you find out it is a little harder to do that. It’s on you now, you have to work hard every single day. They aren’t just going to give it to you because you are a Jenks Trojan. That was a tough lesson we all had to learn. Over the years, we took those learning points and really buckled down and now we are here. Ending our careers with a gold ball would mean a lot to our whole team and this community.” Jenks comes into the 6A-1 state championship game unbeaten in 6A-1 and with an overall record of 10-1. The Trojans’ only loss was to 6A-2 No. 1 Bixby.
“I think we are definitely playing with a chip on our shoulder,” Kittleman said. “I don’t think that is just this year, I think that is in years’ past as well. I don’t know if we have earned the respect to be talked about like Owasso or other teams have the past few years, so having that chip on our shoulder has been good for us. We have been the underdog for a few years now, which is a weird feeling because we are Jenks and it usually doesn’t happen. We want our respect, and we are going to earn it.”
Jenks snapped Owasso’s 24-game winning streak last week in the 6A-1 semifinals. Kittleman said it was a big win for him and his teammates, but there is still more work left to do. “That is a hard task for all of us. After beating the defending champs with a 24-game winning streak was huge. That is one of the biggest games we have played in our lives. We all know we can celebrate for a little bit. Coach (Keith) Riggs always says we can celebrate until about noon on Saturday and then we are going to move on. I take those words to heart and I take it upon myself to help guys around me and especially the younger guys that we still have one more game to go. We aren’t just going to roll over Edmond Santa Fe. They are going to come to UCO (University of Central Oklahoma) and play the same type of football we are going to play. We need to be focused every day at practice because the gold ball is not just going to be handed to us.” Last season, Edmond Santa Fe came into Allan Trimble Stadium and shocked the Trojans with a 33-30 win. Kittleman said that will be on their minds, as Jenks prepares for the state championship. “That was a low-point for us because they are a westside team and we are pretty good historically against westside teams. That was a low point for us last year and we want to get our revenge. I think there is a little added motivation on top of it being a state championship game.”Kittleman is 18-6 as the starting quarterback for Jenks in his career. This season, he has completed 142 passes out of 211 attempts for 2,237 yards with 26 touchdowns and six interceptions. However, the senior quarterback said he wants to be remembered for more than his stats and what he did on the field. “Most importantly, I want people to remember how I treated people, not my stats or how many games I won, or if I won any state championships, but just how I treated every single person I came into contact with. I want to be remembered as someone who had the best attitude each and every day, smiled through all the good times and smiled through all the bad times, a good person on and off the field and that I glorified God with everything I did.”
Stephen Kittleman - Senior Finish Strong…Giving Him All the Glory! We love you… Mom, Dad, Gracie and JT. Philippians 3:14
Will Mulready –Senior Go Will Mulready! 2020 Gold Ball! We love you! Glen, Sally, Sam, & Jake
James Secrest – Sophomore Congratulations On The Grit And Commitment It Takes To Demonstrate The Kind Of Strength To Be Champions! Go Trojans! Take State!
JENKS HOPES TO KEEP EAST-SIDE STREAK ALIVE, SANTA FE WANTS TO SNAP IT
By Kyle Salomon Jenks and Edmond Santa Fe were scheduled to play their regular season district game Oct. 16, but the game was originally postponed due to COVID-19. Following several failed attempts at trying to schedule a date to make up the game, the contest was officially canceled, which left the Trojans with only five district games and the Wolves with six. It was the only game this season, that was canceled for Santa Fe, but the second for Jenks, who’s game at Enid was called off minutes prior to kickoff. Both the Trojans and the Wolves were unbeaten in district play, but because Edmond Santa Fe played six games and Jenks played five, Santa Fe got the nod over the Trojans for the no. 1 seed. Now, after three rounds of playoffs, it seems like destiny that these two teams will meet at 1 p.m. Saturday for a 6A-1 state championship at Wantland Stadium on the campus of University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. The Wolves are led by junior receiver Talyn Shettron, who is considered by many national recruiting services the best receiver in the nation in the junior class. Shettron is a University of Oklahoma commit. Jenks coach Keith Riggs said Shettron is the best his team will face all year, but Edmond Santa Fe is more than just one player. “He’s an outstanding receiver, the best we have seen all year,” Riggs said. “He is such a matchup problem for teams. They do a great job of taking advantage of that. They run the ball so well, so you almost have to choose if you are going to stop the run or put an extra safety over the top of him. It is going to be important that we make good decisions and read our keys and we are the right place at the right time to control his touches the best we can.” After losing its first two games of the season to Owasso and Stillwater, Edmond Santa Fe has reeled off 10 straight wins. “They have a big and physical offensive line, and they are very talented on the outside,” Riggs said. “They have weapons on offense and have really been able to utilize them and put teams in a bind. We are going to have to play well Saturday. Their defense is very athletic. They started playing Shettron at cornerback late in the season, so that adds another element to their defense. They will have the best duo of corners we will have faced all year. They are physical up front. Their two defensive ends are both Division I caliber players. This is a great challenge and opportunity to play a team like that.” The Wolves are averaging 42.5 points per game and allowing 25.8. They are averaging 447.8 yards per game and allowing 310.8. They have passed for 3,144 yards and rushed for 1,684 yards. “Union had been running the ball very well as the year went on and they did a great job of taking that away from them and forced them to throw the ball more than they wanted to and they were able to get four interceptions in the process,” Riggs said. “It’s a very opportunistic defense. Edmond Santa Fe beat Edmond North, Westmoore and Union on its path to the state championship game. Jenks beat Moore, Norman North, and Owasso to advance to the final round. “One of the great things about this team is it is a veteran team, a very mature group,” Riggs said. “As much as they were looking forward to playing Owasso, and as excited as they were with the victory, they know what is left and what is at stake. They know how to prepare week-in and week-out and we will continue to emphasize preparation for our opponent. All the things we have been doing, we have to continue to do, so I think we will be ready to go this Saturday.” Jenks has not lost to a 6A-1 opponent. The Trojans’ lone loss came in their second game of the season in a 42-35 loss to 6A-2 No. 1 and nationally ranked Bixby. “There has been a little edge to them and in their preparation,” Riggs said. “So many of this year’s starters played in last year’s state championship game and realize how close we were against another outstanding football team. We were right there and had our chances and fell a little short. That feeling tends to stick with you. You don’t want to feel that way again. I think that helped our kids and kept with the right focus.” The west side of the state has not won a title in the state’s largest class since 1995. Edmond Santa Fe will try to break that streak Saturday against Jenks. “I think the east-west issue is great for the fans and generates more interest in the game as well,” Riggs said. “Ultimately, it doesn’t matter where they are from. They are a great football team. It doesn’t change our preparation or the things we are to do this week and the things we will do Saturday.”
Whether a cape or football pads It doesn’t matter the uniform you’re wearing. On or off the field— You’ll always be our super hero.
Four, What can we say kid! It’s been a heck of a ride. We have loved every minute! From the time you were little you have heard stories from your Dad about the Trojan tradition. Tomorrow night is YOUR night to write YOUR ending on the Lohr legacy in Trojan nation. Like we always tell you before every game- Do YOUR THING! Run with A LEAN! Hit to HURT—And you tell them with every tackle you make my name is Grant Jordan Lohr and I’LL BE BACK! It’s Game Time LETS GO! Time to go get YOUR Gold Ball!! We are so proud of you!! Love you! Dad, Mom and Ryan
Thank you Jenks Schools and Coaches for investing in our kids! Thank you for the amazing memories to last a lifetime! Go Trojans! Take State!
NO THING FANCY FOR TROJAN OFFENSE, JENKS WILL RUN THE BALL AT SANTA FE
By Kyle Salomon
Offensively, Jenks has found its groove heading into the 6A-1 state championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday against Edmond Santa Fe. The Trojans have racked up 51, 63 and 39 points in their three playoff wins, but according to offensive coordinator Greg Calabrese, Jenks will face one of its toughest tasks all year with the Wolves. “They have a couple of book end ends on both sides that rush the passer, who are phenomenal,” Calabrese said. “They will be a handful for us, and they have been for most teams they have faced all year, so we will certainly want to start accounting for them. It starts with those two ends up front. You need to give your quarterback some time to go through his reads and let our running backs hit their holes. If we can get those two blocked, we will certainly move on to looking at the backend and looking at those talented guys they have back there as well.” When it comes to the offensive-side of the ball, Jenks has always been known for its power running game between the tackles. Calabrese said don’t expect that to change Saturday. “We are going to stick with it,” Calabrese said. “We will find the value in a few hard-nosed two or three-yard runs and maybe they will get us a time or two, but we will stick with it. It’s a formula that we believe in that has been very good to us since my time calling the plays and it’s certainly not something we will let a talented player or a good call by their coaching staff get us out of what we know is our bread and butter and that is putting our hand in the ground and getting after people in the trenches.” Calabrese said he believes his offense is playing its best ball of the season. “I do. We have some kids back from injury and back from quarantine, but really with the key position, it starts and stops with our quarterback play,” Calabrese said. “Stephen (Kittleman) is playing the best ball he has all year and I can’t think of all the words that you would want to describe (running back) Grant Lohr and what he has done on both sides of the ball for this team. It’s all facets, the offensive line. I can’t remember the last time Stephen was sacked. I feel like we have done a good job of keeping teams off balance, but it is those boys up front. They are playing their best ball of the season. “(Tight end) Waylon Adams doesn’t get talked about nearly as much as he should just because he is so solid, you almost take him for granted. In the run game and the passing game, I call him coach Adams because he is always getting guys lined up. The receivers are coming into form. It’s a little funny to think about that Bixby game at the beginning of the year and how we struggled to get lined up and to see where we are now, it is really encouraging and fun to be a part of. An added element Jenks showed against Owasso was the quarterback run game with Kittleman. Whether it was a designed quarterback run or a scramble out of the pocket, Kittleman was able to get outside of the Ram defensive ends and pick up large gains. “It’s 100% my fault that people don’t see the type of athlete Stephen is,” Calabrese said. “I wish I were braver and gave him some more designed runs. Stephen is a special young man and if we didn’t have him, we wouldn’t be the same team. He is the heartbeat of this unit.”
JENKS DEFENSE FACES DIFFICULT TASK IN STOPPING SANTA FE FIREPOWER
By Kyle Salomon When you mention Edmond Santa Fe on offense, it is hard not to mention the name Talyn Shettron. Shettron is considered the top junior receiver in the nation and is the prized receiver recruit for the University of Oklahoma’s class of 2022. However, Jenks defensive coordinator Adam Gaylor said the Wolves are much more than just a start receiver. “You still have to stop the run. They are really good up front,” Gaylor said. “They have a couple of outstanding backs they like to use. They get into formations that create one-on-one matchups on the outside. They want to run the ball. They are a run team. They will take their shots down field with the talent they have, but to me, it is still, how do you stop the run and help yourself out with their receivers.” Gaylor said trying to defend a superstar like Shettron and a good run game will make things tough for the Trojan defense. “You can’t double on the outside because then you are one gap short in the run game,” Gaylor said. “You have to find that fine line. For us, we are always going to say we are doing everything we can to stop the run and mix in some things to help you out where you are not leaving your corners on an island. You have to be smart. You have to pick and choose when to do what. They create a really stressful situation with him in there.” Gaylor said Santa Fe has shown the ability to play power football with the big boys. “They are big up front and have really good offensive linemen,” Gaylor said. “They have blocked the heck out of everybody they have played this year. We have to win early downs and stop the run. That is their mentality. They get into some heavy sets and have the personnel to be really good at it. Our staff did a good job this weekend of developing a plan for the issues their talent on the outside will create.” Gaylor said the Owasso game was the best his defense has played all year. “The performance against Owasso was our best game this season against an unbelievable offensive mind in Coach (Bill) Blankenship with tremendous players,” Gaylor said. “That was our most complete effort from start to finish. We had a couple of plays we weren’t as urgent and let our guard down and against a great team, you can’t do that. If we do that Saturday, we are going to pay for it. It was fun to watch. It was physical. To give up less than 100 yards rushing to a team like that is tough to beat. We were able to create four takeaways and a safety.” Gaylor said his unit is full of good players, but there are no guys in it for themselves. “We don’t have any “I” guys. They are fun to coach,” Gaylor said. “You get after them a little bit and they respond to it. There are no egos. They will do whatever we ask them to do. We need to keep practicing well. Our practices have been really good the past few weeks and we are going to need another really good week of practice to be able to compete against these guys Saturday.”
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