FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2010 SPECIAL SECTION NEWSOK.COM/VARSITY
MIDWEST CITY | THE BOMBERS ARE RELOADING FOR ANOTHER PLAYOFF RUN. PAGE 2
2010
DEL CITY | THE EAGLES ARE DETERMINED TO FINISH BETTER AND EARN A PLAYOFF BERTH. PAGE 5
VARSITY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW: EAST METR0 EDITION
From left; Trevon Lewis of Midwest City, Chazten Gonzales of Del City and Dwight Dobbins of Carl Albert.
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CARL ALBERT | THE TITANS ARE READY TO GET BACK TO WORK. PAGE 4
PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
Midwest City reloading for another run BY ROBERT PRZYBYLO Staff Writer bprzybylo@opubco.com
MIDWEST CITY — The top five tacklers from Midwest City are gone. A top running back graduated. The top wide receivers have departed. However, there is no concern for the Bombers. None. Some teams take a couple of years to bounce back from losses of that magnitude, including the graduation of last year’s Defensive Player of the Year, Emmanuel Maxwell. All Midwest City is going to do is plug in some new names, and for the most part, the results for Steve Huff’s boys are going to be the same or maybe better.
“Those guys taught us a lot about leadership and how to handle different situations,” senior Trevon Lewis said. “Now it’s our turn.” Lewis is the gem of a defense that is going to be filled with top-notch players and blazing speed. This should be the year Cameron Hishaw breaks out. Hishaw had 65 tackles and two sacks as a junior and is receiving interest from several schools. The defensive backfield is going to be anchored by Ricky Reeves. The junior dominated in 7-on-7 competitions this summer. Offensively, quarterback Greg Austin returns a year smarter and more mature, and he has a host of weapons to get the ball
to. As a sophomore, running back James Flanders was still trying to find his way, but there will be no questioning the junior this season. “I know I’ll be getting more attention, but I’ve been putting in the work,” Flanders said. “I’ll be ready for it” Wide receiver Claude Donald had a huge summer. Consistency has been his issue before, but he and his teammates appear to be focused 100 percent. “It’s all about the gold ball,” Lewis said. “That’s our aim. That’s our focus. Nothing else matters.” Lewis is also being thrown a new wrinkle, as he should see time at fullback this season.
Midwest City junior running back James Flanders, left, runs after a catch during a summer 7-on-7 tournament. PHOTO BY DOUG HOKE, THE OKLAHOMAN
Carl Albert ready to get back to work BY ROBERT PRZYBYLO Staff Writer bprzybylo@opubco.com
MIDWEST CITY — Every year it seems like Carl Albert is always in the same position. The Titans are usually coming off another great season and trying to stay motivated. That won’t be a problem this season. Last year’s Class 5A champions will be anything but complacent. Carl Albert won its 10th state title in the last 20 years, and it seems some people have forgotten about that. All the focus going into this season seems to be on the other 5A powers, Tulsa Washington, Guthrie and Duncan. Tulsa Washington is loaded with top recruits,
the Bluejays have Kentrell Brothers and the Demons have two of the state’s top prospects in OU commit Dylan Dismuke and safety Dominique Petties. All will be in the conversation for the gold ball. What about the Titans? All they do is win. “We’re going to do the little things right. We have to,” Carl Albert coach Gary Rose said. “Offense, defense, special teams, in the locker room — that’s how we’re going to get the job done.” There isn’t that jawdropping recruit for Carl Albert this year. Nobody resembles anything like running back David Oku from a couple of years ago or defensive back Tre Porter from last year. The top recruit has been
Dwight Dobbins, a solid defensive back who committed to Tulsa this summer. And the strength of the team is going to be its running game. Whether it’s the power game of Tyre LeBlanc, the experience of Kenton Whittington or the multifaceted attack of junior Taylor Hawkins, Carl Albert has options. The Titans return 11 starters from last year’s club, and two of them are among the top linemen in the state. Center Anthony Frazier and right tackle/defensive end Kyle Croak are going to be three-year starters. “This is our senior year, and we want to continue that legacy,” Dobbins said. “It’s time to get back to work.”
Carl Albert defensive back Dwight Dobbins committed to Tulsa this summer. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
Del City determined to finish better BY ROBERT PRZYBYLO Staff Writer bprzybylo@opubco.com
DEL CITY — For the first eight weeks of the 2009 season, Del City was one of the biggest surprises in the state. At 7-1, the Eagles were ranked in the top 10 in Class 6A and looked like they’d be a force in the postseason. But back-to-back losses, combined with one of the wildest districts in the state, earned Del City the honor of ‘best team to not make the playoffs.’ “That was tough, real tough to accept,” senior quarterback Chazten Gonzales said. “We definitely felt like we were better than some of those teams, but that’s not the
way it worked out.” A lot of the success stemmed from Gonzales and his chemistry with wide receiver standouts Chris McAlister and Donavan Dan. With both of the receivers moving on, many expect the Eagles to fall back into the middle of the 6A pack. Don’t include the Del City players in that group. Senior Marquis Walters is going to be the new top dog at receiver. He only had 195 yards receiving and one touchdown last year, but he’s put in a lot of time with Gonzales, a TCU commit, to develop that chemistry. Gonzales amassed nearly 3,000 yards of total offense. But with pair
of great running backs, he won’t have to do it by himself. Seniors Greg Johnson and Adrian Fletcher combined for nearly 1,000 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns, while Johnson is also a featured receiver out of the backfield. Gonzales should have time to make his decisions, especially with 300-pounder Jamelle Naff watching his back. Naff, who has become one of the state’s top prospects, has narrowed his college choices to Missouri and TCU. “We know what we have to do this year,” Naff said. ”We have to finish better. “We can’t wait to get back out there.”
Del City senior quarterback Chazten Gonzales, a TCU commit, amassed nearly 3,000 yards of total offense last season. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
New Star Spencer QB Bogus growing up fast BY SCOTT WRIGHT Staff Writer swright@opubco.com
Taking over a team that won a state championship last fall, Terrell Love could have sat back and waited to see if an older player would step in and win the starting quarterback job. But the new Star Spencer coach saw no reason to wait, handing the job to sophomore Darion Bogus in the early days of camp, and the 5-foot-7 youngster is growing up fast. “He’s coming along well,” Love said. “He’s starting to understand his role as a leader in the huddle and in the locker room.
Stevo Henderson Star Spencer WR
“He’s throwing well. He’s always texting me with something different to ask, something he wants to try, so I see him coming along.” Bogus’ growth has been noticed by the players as well. “He’s young, but he looks like he can get the job done,” said return-
ing receiver Stevo Henderson. “He has that playmaker ability in him. He’s making a lot of progress. Day one, he was throwing picks, couldn’t read plays and stuff. But it’s like he grew up overnight. He’s maturing fast.” Bogus will be playing behind an offensive line that must replace all five starters. But a few experienced players are holding the group together. “They’re coming along so well,” Love said. “We had a couple guys out early, and that gave me a chance to work my guys that will be my twos. The whole group is progressing faster than I expected.”
The defense will be built around a strong group of linebackers with Kenneth Davis, Jamonte Mitchell and Montrell Alexander. Kenneth Turner is the top returning starter on the defensive line, and the back end is strong with Henderson anchoring the group at cornerback. More than anything, Love is pleased to see his young team coming together as a unit. “I see the mesh coming,” Love said. “The timing from the huddle to the line to the play, back to the huddle. Guys are getting to know me better and we’re starting to understand each other better.
Star Spencer’s Darion Bogus, a 5-foot-7 sophomore, was handed the quarterback job in the early days of camp. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
Choctaw’s Davis worth a look
Choctaw defensive end Hunter Davis committed to Tulsa over the summer. PHOTO
Choctaw coach Bill Bays is still in the process of trying to turn the team around, but he has a great cornerstone to build on. Senior Hunter Davis is one of the top recruits in the state and had a few offers before committing to Tulsa this summer. Davis should dominate on the defensive line and will also see time at tight end. Davis won’t be alone, as running back Aaron Fournier also returns for the Yellowjackets. “We have a lot of good guys coming back,” Davis said. “We feel we’re going to surprise people.”
SMITH HAS LITTLE AXE THINKING POSITIVE To say the last few months have been trying for Little Axe is an understatement. Whether it’s been on the field or off, it certainly hasn’t been dull. Jason Wheeler was going to be in his first year as head coach but left in the summer to take a job in Texas. Last year’s coach, Tony Smith, who helped lead the team to its best year and first playoff appearance, stepped back into the trenches. The program is also still trying to deal with the tornado that hit the area in May, but that hasn’t broken their spirit. “We’re going to be out here every day and do what we always do,” senior leader Robby Dryden said.
NICHOLS BACK FOR BETHEL After some recent success, including its first playoff appearance, last year was a step backward for Bethel football. The program has made several changes. Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of
BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN
Famer Eddie Paul is taking over as head coach, while Kevin Nichols is going to be coaching the quarterbacks. Nichols led the Wildcats to the playoffs in 2007. “Eddie asked me, and it was too good of an opportunity to pass up,” Nichols said.
CHA’S BLAIR A FORCE Christian Heritage Academy was a game away from the playoffs in 2009, and the Crusaders haven’t forgotten that. After an 0-3 start, CHA closed out at 5-5. Anchoring John Merrell’s team will be senior linebacker Josh Blair. As a junior, Blair had 113 tackles and three sacks. "This will be his third year to start for us at linebacker," Merrell said. "And he’s bigger and stronger than he’s ever been. He’s over 215 now. He just has tremendous desire to be a good football player and he’s only gotten better and better every year."
TUGGLE PACING HARRAH The improvement of Harrah football has been
evident under coach Greg Willis. The Panthers have gradually worked their way up and were 5-5 last season in Class 5A. Now that Harrah has dropped to 4A, expectations are even higher. One big reason is the return of running back Trey Tuggle. Tuggle rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns last year. Junior wide receiver Jake Queen should also play a much bigger role this season.
TECUMSEH RELYING ON FOWLER Nobody thought Tecumseh was going to win eight games last year, but Greg George’s kids pulled out some close games and gained confidence throughout the year. Quarterback Kyle Fowler grew up as well. The only thing Fowler could be accused of is trying too hard. To go with his 10 passing touchdowns, he also had 15 interceptions. He was the team’s top rusher as well, amassing more than 800 yards on the ground and adding 12 more touchdowns. BY ROBERT PRZYBYLO
SECTION PRODUCTION Sports editor: Mike Sher›man Assistant sports editors: ›Scott Munn, Hayley Riggs,
Ryan Sharp and Darla Smith
Justin Harper, Rob›ertWriters: Przybylo and Scott Wright › Design: Hayley Riggs Midwest City’s Tre›vonCover: Lewis, Del City’s Chazten Gonzales and Carl Albert’s Dwight Dobbins. Photo by Nate Billings, design by Phillip Baeza
HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW SECTION Pick up Sunday’s Oklahoman for our 2010 high school preview section, where you can find schedules for every team in the state and rankings for every class.
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Q&A
Q&A
With Jones WR Tylor Seabolt When former Jones quarterback Daxx Garman was ruled ineligible, it took away everything the Longhorns had accomplished as a team in 2009. But even though Jones had to forfeit wins and missed the playoffs, it didn’t take away from the year the players had. As a sophomore, wide receiver Tylor Seabolt burst onto the scene. He’s expecting even bigger things in his junior year. You guys had the district won before the OSSAA made that ruling. How much has that driven you heading into this season? It’s been a big factor in our work ethic in the offseason and in the weight room. We want to prove to everyone that
Tylor Seabolt Jones receiver we can make it on our own. It was our team’s talent that got us there. Did you even pay attention to last year’s playoffs? Personally, I did. I watched the game and noticed some of the teams that we beat go far, and it upset me. It motivated me even more. What’s going to be the biggest difference for this team? It’s just the entire team.
We didn’t lose much from last year. We’ve got some good young players who are ready to step up. We’re going to show people what we’re made of this season. You’re just a junior but already expected to be one of the top recruits next year. How’s the recruiting trail been? It definitely picked up this summer. I went to Oklahoma State and Tulsa for camps this summer and planned on going to Kansas State but couldn’t find the time. It made me realize just how hard I have to work to attain my dreams. What’s the one talent you wish you had? I wish I could play guitar. I would love to do that. I tried once, but it didn’t really work out that well. BY ROBERT PRZYBYLO
With Shawnee junior Jeremy Barrientos It’s not just a move up in class for Shawnee, but it’s going to be an entirely different cast of characters as the offense doesn’t return a lot of starters. Junior running back Jeremy Barrientos should play a bigger role in the offense Nervous about the move up to 6A? No, not really. I’m actually extremely excited about this chance to go against the best in the state. More games are going to be on television, it’s going to be fun. You guys were an offensive juggernaut last year. How’s the team looking this season? It’s going to be different on offense. We have so many young guys who are going to have to step up for
us. I’m moving from fullback to running back this year as we’re using more of a spread offense. Tough transition to go from fullback to running back? I don’t have to block as much, and I’m going to get the ball more so I’m pretty pumped about that. Biggest difference for you this season? Conditioning. I’m going to play on both sides of the ball, starting defensive end, and some on special teams. I have to be in good position. It’s paid off. It’s been hot this summer, but I’ve been OK. Talent you wish you had? I wish I could play basketball. I played some in middle school. I was too aggressive and fouled out a lot. So that’s perfect for a defensive end? Exactly. BY ROBERT PRZYBYLO
Excitement in air at Douglass BY SCOTT WRIGHT Staff Writer swright@opubco.com
With the change to an offense more reliant on the passing of new quarterback Shon Bridges, there’s an excitement in the air around Douglass football this season. But it will be the defense of Willis Alexander’s team that gives them a shot at returning to the Class 4A championship game. Last year’s runners-up, the Trojans have to replace several key players, but the defensive front has a lot of returning talent to build around. Defensive ends Ravi Riley and DeVante McKinney are backed by linebacker Erik King, giving
the front seven an outstanding combination of size, speed and strength. “Our defense is physical, fast, and we’re gonna hit you,” Riley said. “It’s that simple.” And though the Trojans lost several seniors last year, the new senior class has the experience and the attitude to take over. “The strength of the team is the leadership, the seniors,” King said. “If we lead these youngsters, we’ll be all right. “I’ve got to keep everybody up, make plays. Even when the play’s not to me, I’ve got to make plays. I’ve been here long enough to know what’s going on.” The offense has some playmakers, led by top receiver, Marcus Caddell, with McKinney at tight
end, giving Bridges some reliable targets. The offensive line returns starters like Cayman Bundage and Riley, and running back Aliston Cobb rushed for 714 yards on 82 carries last year. And there’s nothing more motivating than reaching the championship game and losing. It lit a fire that has been burning since December. “Last year’s motivation carried over,” King said. “We’re working just as hard as last year, and maybe even harder, because we want it even more since we fell short last year. “We’re a brotherhood right now. We’ve just got to transfer that to the field, make it happen, make plays and get that gold ball.”
High school football TV schedule Cox Communications (Cox 3) and KSBI (Cox 7) are back once again to showcase some of the top high school football games this year. The stations are televising a combined 36 contests. Week 1 Thursday, Sept. 2 — Douglass at McGuinness (Cox); Heritage Hall at Casady (KSBI) Friday, Sept. 3 — Bixby at Jenks (Cox); Clinton at Weatherford (KSBI) Week 2 Thursday, Sept. 9 — Yukon at Edmond Santa Fe (Cox); Del City at Norman North (KSBI) Friday, Sept. 10 — Jenks at Tulsa Union (Cox); Putnam City North at Mustang (KSBI) Week 3 Thursday, Sept. 16 — Tulsa Washington at Tulsa East Central (Cox); Norman North at Westmoore (KSBI) Friday, Sept. 17 — Mustang at Bixby (Cox); Edmond Santa Fe at Midwest City (KSBI) Week 4 Thursday, Sept. 23 — Del City at Edmond North (Cox) Friday, Sept. 24 — Claremore at Coweta (Cox); Newcastle at Kingfisher (KSBI) Week 5 Thursday, Sept. 30 — Sapulpa at Southmoore (Cox); Shaw-
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Shon Bridges passes for Douglass during a 2008 game. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE
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nee at Norman (KSBI) Friday, Oct. 1 — Midwest City at Putnam City North (Cox); Norman North at Yukon (KSBI) Week 6 Thursday, Oct. 7 — Tulsa NOAH at Bethany (Cox); Edmond North at Putnam City (KSBI) Friday, Oct. 8 — Cascia Hall at Berryhill (Cox); Norman at Southmoore (KSBI) Week 7 Thursday, Oct. 14 — Norman North at Moore (Cox) Friday, Oct. 15 — Guthrie at Carl Albert (Cox); Putnam City at Mustang (KSBI) Week 8 Thursday, Oct. 21 — Owasso at Bixby (Cox); Jenks at Southmoore (KSBI) Friday, Oct. 22 — TBA (Cox); El Reno at Guthrie (KSBI) Week 9 Thursday, Oct. 28 — Norman North at Edmond Memorial (Cox) Friday, Oct. 29 — Broken Arrow at Jenks (Cox); Muskogee at Norman (KSBI) Week 10 Thursday, Nov. 4 — Yukon at Edmond Memorial (Cox) Friday, Nov. 5 — TBA (Cox); Midwest City at Norman North (KSBI)
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Millwood ready to live up to expectations BY SCOTT WRIGHT Staff Writer swright@opubco.com
There’s only one question surrounding Millwood football this season: Can the Falcons finish the job? With as much or more talent than anyone they’ve played the last two seasons, Millwood hasn’t won a championship or even played for a gold ball. And answering that question with a “yes” will mean the Falcons first answered the questions about their offensive line. Last year, it was a revolving door of players cycling through as coaches looked for someone to earn the job. “We always have one or two guys that are really good and three guys we try to roll in there and figure out who’s
gonna go where,” offensive coordinator Kevin Cox said. “We think we’ve made some strides this year and found some people who can help us out a lot — maybe even a freshman.” Davion Pierson, a toplevel college prospect, will anchor the offensive line at left guard in addition to his duties as one of the premier defensive tackles in the state. Devin Dobbins, another 300-pounder, moves from center to left tackle. Harvey Hightower will also help the line, which gives the Falcons a clear picture of what their offensive line will look like. The value of that can’t be understated with the talent the Falcons have at the skilled positions, with Texas commit Josh Turner at receiver, along with college
prospects Brandon Swindall, Shevin Patton, Mike Cole and quarterback Kevonte Richardson. Patton and Allan Starks are the top two candidates for carries at running back as Millwood tries to replace Emilio Gatewood, a 2,000yard rusher who moved to Norman North in the offseason. Larry Seals had 183 tackles at inside linebacker last year and will anchor the defense along with Pierson. That gives the Falcons a run-stopping threat up front and tons of speed on the back end. “A lot of people are expecting to see a lot of things,” Cole said. “And we’re gonna show ‘em. That’s what we plan on doing. We want that state title.”
Millwood’s Larry Seals and the rest of the Falcons prepare to take the field before facing Kingfisher in the 2009 Class 2A state semifinals in Yukon. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE
NORTH OKC METRO FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
Miller utilizing youth in first season at Grant Matt Miller is U.S. Grant’s third coach in the last three seasons, but after helping build Little Axe into a playoff team, Miller takes over the Generals with plans of doing the same there. And he’ll get his chance to start building for the future right away, because he’ll be forced into using several young players in his lineup this fall. One of the few seniors on the squad is Anthony Ortiz, who can do a lot in the backfield. He reached the 1,000-yard mark in both rushing and passing last season. There are also a couple of returning starters on the offensive line, led by sophomore Daniel Laguna, who started at guard as a freshman. Another sophomore, running back/linebacker Derrick Young rushed for more than 500 yards and picked off three passes on defense in a strong freshman year. Junior Carlos Morales, 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, gives the Generals a big tight end. Defensively, Christian Nicholson is a potential college prospect as a 6foot-2, 245-pound defensive end who had eight sacks and three forced fumbles last year.
LYONS BUILDING REDSKINS’ NUMBERS Back at the helm for Capitol Hill, Montana Lyons is hoping to see a rise in participation as he tries to build his program into a regular contender for postseason bids. “We’ve just got to continue to build,” Lyons said. “I think the guys have a better understanding of what our expectations are. We had a lot better participation at summer workouts,
Southeast’s Jay Gogue, left, is one of several players his coach is counting on to be defensive leaders. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE
and that always helps. And when the kids show up, they’ve had a better attitude, so I think we’re looking better.” The Redskins’ strength will be at the skilled positions, led by senior quarterback/safety Derrick Jefferson. Fred Taylor, De’Antre Williams and Junior Zavala are all seniors who will contribute. “We have a good senior class, guys who made the summer workouts,” Lyons said. “They’re guys we’ll have to lean on for the future. We have a lot of freshmen that look up to those guys, so if they pull their weight, we’ll be OK.”
SAFETIES LEADING SOUTHEAST DEFENSE Southeast coach Michael Branch is relying on some of his experienced seniors to help him get the Spartans back on the right track, not only from a performance perspective, but also in attitude and effort. Branch sees a strength in his secondary, led by safeties Nelson Williams and Jay Gogue, players who he is counting on as leaders of his defense. “There was a lot of misunderstanding on defense last year, and we’re gonna get that fixed,” Williams said. “Me and the other defensive backs are work-
ing together to make sure everybody is on the same page.”
NORTHWEST YOUNG BUT EXPERIENCED Northwest Classen will be relying on several young players who got valuable experience as sophomores last year. In 2009, the Knights’ quarterback and top rusher were both sophomores, with Christian Gorham completing more than 50 percent of his passes for 869 yards. Another sophomore, Marvin Kerbo, rushed for 395 yards on just 43 carries, an average of 9.2 yards per rush.
NORTHEAST’S THOMAS BACK IN ACTION Michael Thomas will be at the heart of the Northeast offense once again, after a busy 2009 season. He played quarterback, receiver, defensive back and special teams last season, leading the Vikings in total offense, while adding 53 tackles and two interceptions. He’ll have a couple of solid wideouts helping him on offense, with Aron Gaines and Trevyone Willis, who combined for nearly 800 receiving yards and seven TDs last year. BY SCOTT WRIGHT
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULES B BETHANY (3A-3) (Reagan Roof) S 3 Blanchard S 10 at Pauls Valley S 17 at Washington S 23 at John Marshall O 1 SeeWorth Aca. O 7 Tulsa NOAH O 15 Kingfisher O 21 at Centennial O 29 Heritage Hall N 5 at Newcastle BETHEL (3A-4) (Eddie Paul) S 3 McLoud S 10 at Bridge Creek S 17 Madill S 24 at Perkins O 1 at Keys (Park Hill) O 8 Little Axe O 15 Star Spencer O 21 at Prague O 29 at Chandler N 5 Bristow BLANCHARD (3A-1) (Jeff Craig) S 3 at Bethany S 10 Lindsay S 17 at Newcastle S 24 at Riverside O 1 Pauls Valley O 8 Tuttle O 15 Weatherford O 21 at Anadarko O 29 at Marlow N 5 Bridge Creek BRIDGE CREEK (3A-1) (Jerry Wallis) S 3 Elgin S 10 Bethel S 17 Little Axe S 24 Tuttle O 1 at Weatherford O 8 Anadarko O 15 at Marlow O 21 at Kingfisher O 29 Riverside N 5 at Blanchard
C CAPITOL HILL (5A-2) (Montana Lyons) S 2 Centennial S 10 at U.S. Grant S 17 Southeast S 23 Duncan O 1 at Chickasha O 8 Altus O 15 at Ardmore O 21 at Northwest O 29 Lawton MacArthur N 5 at Durant CARL ALBERT (5A-1) (Gary Rose) S 3 Tulsa Washington S 10 at Ardmore S 17 at Duncan S 24 at Western Heights O 1 El Reno O 7 at Southeast O 15 Guthrie O 21 Ada O 29 at Deer Creek N 5 Noble
CASADY (IND.) (Koby Scoville) A 27 at FW All Saints S 2 Heritage Hall S 10 Oklahoma Christian S 16 at Houston Kinkaid S 24 Dallas Cistercian O 1 at Dallas Greenhill O 8 Dallas St. Mark’s O 15 at Houston St. John’s O 22 Houston Episcopal O 29 Holland Hall CASHION (A-2) (Lynn Shackelford) S 3 Yale S 10 Morrison S 17 at Luther S 24 Pioneer O 1 at Crescent O 8 at Watonga O 15 Okeene O 21 at Minco O 29 Wellston N 5 at Hinton CENTENNIAL (3A-3) (Mark Ryan) S 2 at Capitol Hill S 10 Anadarko S 17 at Northwest S 23 Heritage Hall O 1 at Newcastle O 8 John Marshall O 14 SeeWorth Aca. O 21 Bethany O 29 at Kingfisher N 5 Hennessey CHANDLER (3A-4) (Neal Bacon) S 2 Stroud S 10 at Kingfisher S 17 Harrah S 24 at Star Spencer O 1 Prague O 8 at Henryetta O 15 Bristow O 21 at Perkins O 29 Bethel N 5 at Little Axe CHOCTAW (6A-1) (Bill Bays) S 3 Putnam West S 10 Edmond North S 16 at Putnam City S 24 Moore O 1 at Lawton Eisenhower O 7 at Edmond Memorial O 15 Midwest City O 21 at Norman North O 29 Yukon N 5 at Putnam North CHR. HERITAGE (2A-2) (John Merrell) S 3 Maysville S 10 Lincoln Christian S 17 at Oklahoma Christian S 24 Jones O 1 at Northeast O 8 Konawa O 15 at Millwood O 21 Lexington O 29 at Luther N 5 Crooked Oak COMMUNITY CHR. (IND.) (Josh Norman) A 28 Sunrise Christian S 3 at Quinton S 10 SeeWorth Aca. S 17 at SW Christian S 24 OKC Patriots
O 1 at Rejoice Christian O 9 Lighthouse Chr. O 15 Destiny Christian O 21 at Life Christian O 29 Windsor Hills COYLE (C-3) (Shane Weathers) S 3 at Agra S 10 Medford S 17 Ryan S 24 SW Covenant O 1 at DC-Lamont O 8 Timberlake O 15 Riverfield O 21 Waukomis O 29 at Covington-Douglas N 5 at Carney CRESCENT (A-2) (J.L. Fisher) S 2 at Wynnewood S 10 at Crooked Oak S 17 Perry S 24 at Sayre O 1 Cashion O 8 at Okeene O 15 Minco O 21 at Wellston O 29 Hinton N 5 at Pioneer
O O O N
15 21 29 5
Lawton at Edmond Santa Fe U.S. Grant Mustang
DESTINY CHRISTIAN (IND.) (Rusty Stone) A 27 Lawton Christian S 3 SW Covenant S 10 at OKC Patriots S 17 at Windsor Hills S 24 Rejoice Christian S 30 at SW Christian O 8 Corn Bible O 15 at Community Chr. O 22 Gracemont O 29 Life Christian DIBBLE (A-5) (Charley North) S 3 Minco S 10 Bray-Doyle S 17 at Wilson S 24 at Wayne O 1 Waurika O 8 Maysville O 15 Elmore City O 21 at Rush Springs O 29 at Stratford N 5 Wynnewood
CROOKED OAK (2A-2) (Greg Adams) S 3 at St. Mary S 10 Crescent S 17 John Marshall S 24 at Luther O 1 Lexington O 8 Northeast O 15 at Perry O 21 at Millwood O 29 Jones N 5 at Chr. Heritage
DOUGLASS (4A-2) (Willis Alexander) S 2 at McGuinness S 11 Millwood S 17 at Star Spencer S 24 Tecumseh O 1 at Santa Fe South O 8 Cushing O 15 at McLoud O 21 at Harrah O 29 Glenpool N 5 Cleveland
D
E
DAVENPORT (B-2) (John Greenfield) S 3 Dewar S 10 Okla. Christian Aca. S 17 at Fox S 24 Alex O 1 at Macomb O 8 Cyril O 14 at Sasakwa O 22 at Bowlegs O 29 Central Marlow N 5 at Paoli
EDMOND MEMORIAL (6A-1) (Justin Merideth) S 3 Edmond Santa Fe S 10 Stillwater S 17 at Edmond North S 24 Putnam North O 1 at Moore O 7 Choctaw O 15 at Lawton Eisenhower O 21 at Midwest City O 28 Norman North N 5 at Yukon
DEER CREEK (5A-1) (Grant Gower) S 3 at Piedmont S 10 at Shawnee S 17 Tecumseh S 24 at Guthrie O 1 Southeast O 8 at El Reno O 15 Western Heights O 21 at Noble O 29 Carl Albert N 5 Ada
EDMOND NORTH (6A-2) (Jeremy Dombek) S 2 Southmoore S 10 at Choctaw S 17 Edmond Memorial S 23 Del City O 1 at Mustang O 7 at Putnam City O 15 Westmoore O 21 at Lawton O 29 Edmond Santa Fe N 4 at U.S. Grant
DEL CITY (6A-2) (Nick Warehime) S 3 at Midwest City S 9 at Norman North S 17 Norman S 23 at Edmond North O 1 Putnam City O 7 at Westmoore
EDMOND SANTA FE (6A-2) (Bruce Gowen) S 3 at Edmond Memorial S 9 Yukon S 17 at Midwest City S 24 at Westmoore O 1 Lawton O 8 Mustang
O O O N
15 21 29 5
at U.S. Grant Del City at Edmond North Putnam City
EL RENO (5A-1) (Tom Cobble) S 3 Woodward S 10 at Chickasha S 17 at Elk City S 24 Noble O 1 at Carl Albert O 8 Deer Creek O 15 at Ada O 22 at Guthrie O 29 Southeast N 5 Western Heights
G GUTHRIE (5A-1) (Rafe Watkins) S 3 Duncan S 10 Ponca City S 17 at Enid S 24 Deer Creek O 1 at Ada O 8 Noble O 15 at Carl Albert O 22 El Reno O 29 at Western Heights N 5 at Southeast
H HARRAH (4A-2) (Greg Willis) S 3 Western Heights S 10 at Piedmont S 17 at Chandler S 24 Cushing O 1 at McLoud O 8 Tecumseh O 15 at Santa Fe South O 21 Douglass O 29 at Cleveland N 5 Glenpool HENNESSEY (2A-1) (Shannon Watford) S 3 at Northeast S 10 Jones S 17 Kingfisher S 24 Perry O 1 at Alva O 8 Chisholm O 15 at Oklahoma Christian O 21 at Tonkawa O 29 Watonga N 5 at Centennial HERITAGE HALL (3A-3) (Andy Bogert) S 2 at Casady S 10 Clinton S 17 at Davis S 23 at Centennial O 1 Tulsa NOAH O 8 Newcastle O 14 John Marshall O 21 SeeWorth Aca. O 29 at Bethany N 5 Kingfisher
J JOHN MARSHALL (3A-3) (Bruce Troxell) S 3 Northwest
S S S O O O O O N
10 Cache 17 at Crooked Oak 23 Bethany 1 Kingfisher 8 at Centennial 14 at Heritage Hall 22 Newcastle 29 at Weatherford 5 SeeWorth Aca.
JONES (2A-2) (Dave Martin) S 3 Perkins S 10 at Hennessey S 17 St. Mary S 24 at Chr. Heritage O 1 at Morris O 8 Millwood O 15 at Lexington O 21 Luther O 29 at Crooked Oak N 5 Northeast
K KINGFISHER (3A-3) (Jeff Myers) S 3 Watonga S 10 Chandler S 17 at Hennessey S 24 Newcastle O 1 at John Marshall O 8 SeeWorth Aca. O 15 at Bethany O 21 Bridge Creek O 29 Centennial N 5 at Heritage Hall
L LEXINGTON (2A-2) (Waymon Scott) S 3 Sulphur S 10 Little Axe (at Noble) S 17 Purcell S 24 Northeast O 1 at Crooked Oak O 8 at Luther O 15 Jones O 21 at Chr. Heritage O 29 at Meeker N 5 Millwood LIFE CHRISTIAN (IND.) (Loy Hill) A 27 at Boulevard Chr. S 3 at Eagle Point S 10 at Windsor Hills S 17 Lawton Christian S 24 at Riverfield O 2 SW Christian O 8 Rejoice Christian O 15 OKC Patriots O 21 Community Chr. O 29 at Destiny Christian LITTLE AXE (3A-4) (Tony Smith) S 3 Santa Fe South (at Noble) S 10 Lexington (at Noble) S 17 at Bridge Creek S 24 at Bristow O 1 Perkins O 8 at Bethel O 15 at Okmulgee O 22 at Star Spencer O 29 Prague N 5 Chandler
SEE SCHEDULES, PAGE 13N
SCHEDULES LUTHER (2A-2) (Scott O’Hara) S 3 Wellston S 10 at St. Mary S 17 Cashion S 24 Crooked Oak O 1 at Millwood O 8 Lexington O 14 at Northeast O 21 at Jones O 29 Chr. Heritage N 5 at Stroud
M MACOMB (B-2) (Tommy Price) S 3 at Carney S 10 at Bowlegs S 17 Cyril S 24 at Sasakwa O 1 Davenport O 8 at Central Marlow O 14 Paoli O 21 at Okla. Christian Aca. O 29 Fox N 5 at Alex MCGUINNESS (4A-1) (Kenny Young) S 2 Douglass S 10 Tulsa Kelley S 17 at Millwood S 24 Clinton O 1 at Woodward O 8 Elk City O 15 at Elgin O 21 at Piedmont O 29 Cache N 5 at Guymon MCLOUD (4A-2) (Eric Cardin) S 3 at Bethel S 10 at Perkins S 17 Seminole S 24 at Glenpool O 1 Harrah O 8 at Cleveland O 15 Douglass O 21 at Santa Fe South O 29 Tecumseh N 5 Cushing MEEKER (2A-5) (Mike Hedge) S 3 at Prague S 10 Konawa S 17 Wellston S 24 at Haskell O 1 Okemah O 8 at Stroud O 15 Morris O 21 at Mounds O 29 Lexington N 5 Holdenville MIDWEST CITY (6A-1) (Steve Huff) S 3 Del City S 10 at Enid S 17 Edmond Santa Fe S 24 Yukon O 1 at Putnam North O 8 Moore O 15 at Choctaw O 21 Edmond Memorial O 29 at Lawton Eisenhower N 5 at Norman North MILLWOOD (2A-2) (Tony Henry)
S S S S O O O O O N
2 Star Spencer 11 at Douglass 17 McGuinness 24 at Alva 1 Luther 8 at Jones 15 Chr. Heritage 21 Crooked Oak 28 at Northeast 5 at Lexington
MINCO (A-2) (Clint Warren) S 3 at Dibble S 10 at Wayne S 17 Apache S 24 Wellston O 1 at Hinton O 8 Pioneer O 15 at Crescent O 21 Cashion O 29 at Okeene N 5 Burns Flat-Dill City MOORE (6A-1) (Scott Myers) S 3 Westmoore S 10 at Norman S 17 at Southmoore S 24 at Choctaw O 1 Edmond Memorial O 8 at Midwest City O 14 Norman North O 21 at Yukon O 29 Putnam North N 4 Lawton Eisenhower MUSTANG (6A-2) (Ty Prestidge) S 3 at Yukon S 10 Putnam North S 17 at Bixby S 24 at Lawton O 1 Edmond North O 8 at Edmond Santa Fe O 15 Putnam City O 22 at U.S. Grant O 29 Westmoore N 5 at Del City
N NEWCASTLE (3A-3) (Keith Bolles) S 3 at Pauls Valley S 10 at Tuttle S 17 Blanchard S 24 at Kingfisher O 1 Centennial O 8 at Heritage Hall O 15 Tulsa NOAH O 22 at John Marshall O 29 SeeWorth Aca. N 5 Bethany NOBLE (5A-1) (Steve Barrett) S 3 Tecumseh S 10 at Duncan S 17 Chickasha S 24 at El Reno O 1 Western Heights O 8 at Guthrie O 15 Southeast O 21 Deer Creek O 29 at Ada N 5 at Carl Albert NORMAN (6A-3) (Greg Nation) S 2 Norman North S 10 Moore S 17 at Del City S 24 at Sapulpa S 30 Shawnee O 8 at Southmoore
O O O N
15 21 29 5
Putnam West at Broken Arrow Muskogee at Jenks
NORMAN NORTH (6A-1) (Lance Manning) S 2 at Norman S 9 Del City S 16 at Westmoore S 24 Lawton Eisenhower O 1 at Yukon O 8 Putnam North O 14 at Moore O 21 Choctaw O 28 at Edmond Memorial N 5 Midwest City NORTHEAST (2A-2) (Tim Thomas) S 3 Hennessey S 9 at Northwest S 17 at Riverside S 24 at Lexington O 1 Chr. Heritage O 8 at Crooked Oak O 14 Luther O 22 at Oklahoma Christian O 28 Millwood N 5 at Jones NORTHWEST (5A-2) (Anthony Robinson) S 3 at John Marshall S 9 Northeast S 17 Centennial S 24 Altus O 1 at Ardmore O 8 Duncan O 15 at Chickasha O 21 Capitol Hill O 29 at Durant N 4 at Lawton MacArthur
O OKLA. CHRISTIAN ACA. (B-2) (Keith Lough) S 3 OKC Patriots S 10 at Davenport S 17 Central Marlow S 24 at Paoli O 1 Bowlegs O 8 Fox O 14 at Alex O 21 Macomb O 29 at Cyril N 5 Sasakwa OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN (2A-1) (Derek Turner) S 3 Metro Christian S 10 at Casady S 17 Chr. Heritage S 24 at Chisholm O 1 Watonga O 8 at Perry O 15 Hennessey O 22 Northeast O 29 Alva N 5 at Tonkawa OKC PATRIOTS (IND.) (Jon Sikes) S 3 at Okla. Christian Aca. S 10 Destiny Christian S 17 Rejoice Christian S 24 at Community Chr. O 1 at Lighthouse Chr. O 8 at SW Christian O 15 at Life Christian O 22 Open O 29 at Gracemont N 5 Dallas HSAA
P PAULS VALLEY (3A-2) (Kevin Foster) S 3 Newcastle S 10 Bethany S 17 at Lindsay S 24 at Plainview O 1 at Blanchard O 8 Dickson O 15 Purcell O 21 at Lone Grove O 29 at Sulphur N 5 Madill PIEDMONT (4A-1) (Rob Green) S 3 Deer Creek S 10 Harrah S 17 at Western Heights S 24 Elgin O 1 at Clinton O 8 Woodward O 15 at Elk City O 21 McGuinness O 29 at Guymon N 5 at Cache PURCELL (3A-2) (Mike Wilson) S 3 Lindsay S 10 at Washington S 17 at Lexington S 24 Sulphur O 1 Madill O 8 at Plainview O 15 at Pauls Valley O 21 Dickson O 28 Mustang JV N 5 at Lone Grove
PUTNAM CITY (6A-2) (John Wofford) S 3 at Putnam North S 10 at Putnam West S 16 Choctaw S 23 U.S. Grant O 1 at Del City O 7 Edmond North O 15 at Mustang O 22 at Westmoore O 29 Lawton N 5 at Edmond Santa Fe PUTNAM NORTH (6A-1) (Bob Wilson) S 3 Putnam City S 10 at Mustang S 17 at Putnam West S 24 at Edmond Memorial O 1 Midwest City O 8 at Norman North O 15 Yukon O 21 Lawton Eisenhower O 29 at Moore N 5 Choctaw PUTNAM WEST (6A-3) (John Jensen) S 3 at Choctaw S 10 Putnam City S 17 Putnam North S 24 Broken Arrow O 1 at Jenks O 8 Shawnee O 15 at Norman O 21 at Muskogee O 28 Sapulpa N 5 at Southmoore
S SANTA FE SOUTH (4A-2) (Jerry Braziel) S 3 Little Axe (at Noble) S 10 Riverside S 17 SeeWorth Aca. S 24 at Cleveland O 1 Douglass O 8 at Glenpool O 15 Harrah O 21 McLoud O 29 at Cushing N 5 at Tecumseh SEEWORTH ACA. (3A-3) (Robert Walker) S 3 at Riverside S 10 at Community Chr. S 17 at Santa Fe South S 24 Open O 1 at Bethany O 8 at Kingfisher O 14 at Centennial O 21 at Heritage Hall O 29 at Newcastle N 5 at John Marshall SHAWNEE (6A-3) (Billy Brown) S 3 Bartlesville S 10 Deer Creek S 17 at Ponca City S 24 Jenks S 30 at Norman O 8 at Putnam West O 15 Muskogee O 21 at Sapulpa O 29 Southmoore N 5 at Broken Arrow
SEE SCHEDULES, PAGE 14N
SCHEDULES T SOUTHEAST (5A-1) (Michael Branch) S 3 U.S. Grant S 9 Star Spencer S 17 at Capitol Hill S 24 Ada O 1 at Deer Creek O 7 Carl Albert O 15 at Noble O 21 Western Heights O 29 at El Reno N 5 Guthrie SOUTHMOORE (6A-3) (Chris Jensen) S 2 at Edmond North S 10 at Westmoore S 17 Moore S 24 at Muskogee S 30 Sapulpa O 8 Norman O 15 at Broken Arrow O 21 Jenks O 29 at Shawnee N 5 Putnam West ST. MARY (2A-3) (Dal Nichols) S 3 Crooked Oak S 10 Luther S 17 at Jones S 24 at Washington O 1 Frederick O 8 at Lindsay O 15 Cordell O 21 Hobart O 29 at Comanche N 5 Walters STAR SPENCER (3A-4) (Terrell Love) S 2 at Millwood S 9 at Southeast S 17 Douglass S 24 Chandler O 1 Bristow O 8 at Perkins O 15 at Bethel O 22 Little Axe O 29 at Victory Christian N 5 at Prague SW CHRISTIAN (IND.) (Chuck Peot) A 27 Windsor Hills S 3 at Cherokee S 10 at Chetopa, Kan. S 17 Community Chr. S 24 Lawton Christian S 30 Destiny Christian O 2 at Life Christian O 8 OKC Patriots O 22 at Rejoice Christian O 29 Thackerville SW COVENANT (C-3) (Bill Martin) S 3 at Destiny Christian S 10 at Waukomis S 17 Covington-Douglas S 24 at Coyle O 1 Carney O 8 at DC-Lamont O 15 Medford O 22 Open O 29 Rejoice Christian N 4 at Timberlake
TECUMSEH (4A-2) (Greg George) S 3 at Noble S 10 Seminole S 17 at Deer Creek S 24 at Douglass O 1 Cleveland O 8 at Harrah O 15 Glenpool O 21 Cushing O 29 at McLoud N 5 Santa Fe South TUTTLE (3A-1) (Phil Koons) S 3 at Cache S 10 Newcastle S 17 Elgin S 24 at Bridge Creek O 1 Riverside O 8 at Blanchard O 15 Open O 21 at Weatherford O 29 Anadarko N 5 Marlow
U U.S. GRANT (6A-2) (Matt Miller) S 3 at Southeast S 10 Capitol Hill S 17 at Ada S 23 at Putnam City O 1 Westmoore O 7 at Lawton O 15 Edmond Santa Fe O 22 Mustang O 29 at Del City N 4 Edmond North
W WASHINGTON (2A-3) (Brad Beller) S 2 at Apache S 10 Purcell S 17 Bethany S 24 St. Mary O 1 at Walters O 8 at Comanche O 15 Frederick O 21 at Lindsay O 29 at Cordell N 5 Hobart WAYNE (A-5) (Brandon Sharp) S 3 at Konawa S 10 Minco S 17 Empire S 24 Dibble O 1 at Maysville O 8 Elmore City O 15 at Rush Springs O 21 Stratford O 29 at Wynnewood N 5 at Ringling
WELLSTON (A-2) (Lloyd Leep) S 3 at Luther S 10 Drumright S 17 at Meeker S 24 at Minco O 1 Carnegie O 8 Hinton O 15 at Pioneer O 21 Crescent O 29 at Cashion N 5 Okeene WESTERN HTS. (5A-1) (Kevin Ball) S 3 at Harrah S 10 Tulsa Central S 17 Piedmont S 24 Carl Albert O 1 at Noble O 8 Ada O 15 at Deer Creek O 21 at Southeast O 29 Guthrie N 5 at El Reno WESTMOORE (6A-2) (Billy Langford) S 3 at Moore S 10 Southmoore S 16 Norman North S 24 Edmond Santa Fe O 1 at U.S. Grant O 7 Del City O 15 at Edmond North O 22 Putnam City O 29 at Mustang N 5 at Lawton WINDSOR HILLS (IND.) (Wes Randall) A 27 at SW Christian S 2 at OSD S 10 Life Christian S 17 Destiny Christian S 24 Eagle Point O 1 Boulevard Chr. O 8 Lawton Christian O 15 at Rejoice Christian O 22 Open O 29 at Community Chr.
Y YUKON (6A-1) (Todd Wilson) S 3 Mustang S 9 at Edmond Santa Fe S 17 at Stillwater S 24 at Midwest City O 1 Norman North O 8 Lawton Eisenhower O 15 at Putnam North O 21 Moore O 29 at Choctaw N 5 Edmond Memorial
COMING SUNDAY Pick up Sunday’s Oklahoman for the high school football preview section, which will have football schedules for every school in the state.
Q&A
With John Marshall WR/DB Alandis Bell Do you feel good about the defense with so many returning starters? We have the same guys from last year that carried us to the second round of the playoffs, and hopefully we’ll have the same determination, the same ability and the same mind frame to get us back there again and farther. You have some new players at cornerback. How is that position coming along? They’re looking pretty good, but to get to the level we need, they’ll have to step it up. They’ll be OK, though. Is this team motivated to show there won’t be a drop-off from last year with the loss of key players like Brendon Jordan and Ken Berry? There’s a lot of motivation for the guys that are back, but in order to have a No. 1 team, we have to get everybody on that same level. What are your thoughts about the two players competing for the quarterback job, Dion Vickers and Davion Smith? The quarterback battle is a tough call. It’s back and forth between those two guys, so we really don’t know what kind of offense we’ll come out with until one of them steps up and shows what they can do. It’s a really close battle. We had our doubts about a freshman (Smith) being able to come in and do it, but seeing him and our junior, it’s a good competition. It’ll be a pretty good situation no matter who wins it. BY SCOTT WRIGHT
John Marshall receiver Alandis Bell says the team’s quarterback battle is a close one. PHOTO BY DOUG HOKE, THE OKLAHOMAN
Southmoore’s Wright anxious to get on field BY JUSTIN HARPER Staff Writer jharper@opubco.com
While Southmoore was having its breakthrough season last year — going 11-2 and reaching the Class 6A semifinals — TJ Wright could only watch from the sideline. "It was a weird feeling because I felt great about how we were playing and how we were winning," Wright said. "But knowing I couldn’t be a part of it on the field really hurt." Wright will get his chance to make up for lost time this season. The senior is one of numerous new starters who the SaberCats are expecting big things from. And with 17 starters gone from the 2009 club, new starters such as Wright will need to be difference makers. "A lot of people are going to know about TJ really fast," said
Southmoore star tailback Andrew Long. "TJ can hit. He rocked me in practice. I got up and thought I had a concussion. He hits us like that, so I’d hate to be on the other team." Wright had previously played linebacker, but has moved to the cornerback spot. He broke his collarbone in practice last year just as the season got going. "I’m comfortable at corner," he said. "I really wouldn’t care where I played, I’m so ready to get back on the field. It was tough sitting out." The injury didn’t keep Wright from having great success last year. In the spring he won a powerlifting state championship and set two state records. Competing in the 157pound class, Wright smashed the deadlift state record in his weight group by hoisting 530 pounds. He benched 285 and squatted 430, giving him a re-
cord total of 1,245 pounds. "He has tremendous strength," said Southmoore coach Chris Jensen. "And he’s shown a lot of desire to come back and do well in his senior season. He’s going to be a really good player for us." Long, a thousand-yard rusher as a sophomore who has 4.37 speed, and quarterback Kendal Thompson, who has already committed to play at the University of Oklahoma, will command the headlines. But players like Wright could determine if Southmoore continues to rank among the best in Class 6A. "We have a lot of players who we already know what they can do and who we know will be great for us," Wright said. "But to be a team like we had last year, we have to have a lot of guys be great who haven’t had their chance before now."
Southmoore’s Andrew Long, top, ran for over 1,000 yards last season. PHOTO BY
STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN