FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2010 SPECIAL SECTION NEWSOK.COM/VARSITY
VARSITY 2010
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW: NORTH METRO EDITION
HERITAGE HALL | THE CHARGERS’ MUCH-HERALDED JUNIOR CLASS IS STEPPING UP AND TAKING CHARGE. PAGE 4
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BISHOP MCGUINNESS | WITH TWO SOLID QUARTERBACKS, THE IRISH ARE READY TO MAKE ANOTHER RUN. PAGE 5 DOUGLASS | EXCITEMENT IS IN THE AIR AS THE TROJANS TRY TO RETURN TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. PAGE 2
From left; Quintaz Struble of Heritage Hall, Jamaal Whitney of Bishop McGuinness and Devante McKinney of Douglass.
PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
Excitement in the 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.”
Shon Bridges passes for Douglass during a 2008 game. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE
SECTION PRODUCTION
Sports editor: Mike Sher›man Assistant sports editors: ›Scott Munn, Hayley Riggs, Ryan Sharp and Darla Smith Writers: Justin Harper, Robert Przybylo and Scott Wright Design: Hayley Riggs Cover: Heritage Hall’s Quintaz Struble, Bishop McGuinness’ Jamaal Whitney and Douglass’ Devante McKinney. Photo by Nate Billings, design by Phillip Baeza
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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.
Heritage Hall’s standout class one year smarter BY ROBERT PRZYBYLO Staff Writer bprzybylo@opubco.com
A lot was said about this year’s Heritage Hall junior class back when they were freshmen. The hype didn’t die down last year as sophomores. And with a certain number of them already entering their third year with significant playing time, no one is giving them a free pass this season. After dominating Class 2A in 2008, a lot was expected from last year’s team. But the kids had some growing pains and could never maintain that consistency. The difference is already showing up in this year’s practices. The unit is much more crisp, more in sync.
“We’re wondering more about what plays to run at this time than last year, when we were still trying to line up correctly,” coach Andy Bogert said. The offense is going to run through junior Barry Sanders. After a phenomenal sophomore year, Sanders knows there will be even more attention this year. He also welcomes the challenge that goes with moving up to 3A. The Chargers have two solid quarterbacks in junior Sterling Shepard and senior Cooper Cloud. Bogert said he’s not looking for a competition, but instead will plan to use both of them depending on the offensive package. One of the biggest changes is in the leadership department. Heritage
didn’t have many seniors last year, and it showed at times. That shouldn’t be the case as Cloud and some of the juniors have stepped up, especially junior tight end Quintaz Struble. “He’s become a big leader for us,” Bogert said. “He won’t let people get down on themselves.” The receiving game should be stronger as junior quarterback-turnedwide receiver Cale Courtney said he’s a lot more comfortable now. Shaun Tkach had a terrific summer, Bogert said, and adds another dimension to the team. Bogert said the defense should be extremely fast, one of his fastest teams yet. However, size might be an issue, Bogert said.
Q&A
With Casady junior RB Garrison Lee
It’s been incredibly hot for fall practice. What are you doing when you’re done? I’m just trying to rehydrate and relax. I feel like I’m losing 10 pounds with each practice. I’m getting my strength back, taking a dip in the pool and relaxing.
The Casady team was loaded with seniors last year, but that’s not the case this year. In fact, with only three seniors this season, some of the juniors will have step up. One of them will be junior Garrison Lee. In addition to his role at running back, Lee had 101 tackles last year.
Garrison Lee Casady junior running back
What did last year’s ‘Redeem Team’ teach you guys? They were just really good guys, on and off the field. They taught how to be leaders and how to represent the school. We learned how much football and the success means to the school.
What’s the biggest difference for you entering this year? I’ve put on a lot of weight. I’ve added 20 pounds since last year. I just spent a lot of time in the weight room, and it came pretty easy. I could squat 275 pounds last year, and now I can do 500.
You’re not the only expected to be a bigger leader this year, but are you ready for it? I am. I definitely feel like I am. I’ve improved a lot from last year, and we have a lot of guys who are going to play a big role. The one talent you wish you had? I wish I could sing. I don’t have any musical talents at all. I sing all the time, and it just annoys people. I would love to be able to sing. BY ROBERT PRZYBYLO
› Follow The Oklahoman’s high school coverage on twitter at @HSVarsity
Heritage Hall senior Cooper Cloud is one of the Chargers’ two quarterbacks. PHOTO
BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
McGuinness back as one of the 4A favorites BY ROBERT PRZYBYLO Staff Writer bprzybylo@opubco.com
The biggest question heading into last year for Bishop McGuinness was, who would be the quarterback and how productive would the offense be? The first question still has to be answered this season for the Irish, but there are no doubts about how explosive the offense is going to be. If you want any problems, having two solid quarterbacks is one you can tolerate. That’s exactly what coach Kenny Young has with juniors Camden Tharp and Quinn Shanbour. Shanbour won the job last season but had his season ended early with a broken ankle in the second
week of the season. Tharp took the reins, and the Irish remained one of the top teams in Class 4A. Whether it was running or throwing, Tharp matured immensely throughout the season. No matter who ends up with the job, Young is confident the offense will see both players on the field because “they’re two of our best 11.” All eyes will be on running back LaRone Richardson. Injuries limited his effectiveness last season, but he showed glimpses of what he can do when healthy. Richardson said it took him until about March to start feeling right, and it’s shown as the elusiveness and quickness is back for one of the top backs in the state. Jamaal Whitney will be
the top target for Tharp or Shanbour. Whitney is a freak of an athlete, and Young said the senior just has to be more consistent with his concentration. “You look at our offense, and I don’t see a weakness,” Richardson said. “Quinn or Camden, it doesn’t matter — they’re both really good at what they do.” Linebackers Jameel Whitney (Jamaal’s brother) and Jay Lester dominated the day defensively last year. But with both graduated, this year the strength appears to be on the line. Seniors Dakota Leftwich and Nick Callaway will lead the charge. Callaway had 72 tackles and three sacks, while Leftwich had 63 stops and four sacks. The defense also welcomes back Danny Krenger, who had 57 tackles.
Bishop McGuinness running back LaRone Richardson was limited by injuries last season but should be back to full speed. PHOTO BY JOHN CLANTON, THE OKLAHOMAN
Millwood ready to live up to expectations BY SCOTT WRIGHT
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
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
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.”
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)
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Friday, Sept. 17 — Mus›tang at Bixby (Cox); Ed-
mond 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); Shawnee 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
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Thursday, Oct. 14 — ›Norman North at Moore (Cox)
Oct. 15 — Guthrie ›atFriday, 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’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
HIGH SCHOOL 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
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
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
Northeast quarterback Michael Thomas, left, tries to get past U.S. Grant’s Gavonni Bonds on a carry during a 2009 game at C.B. Speegle Stadium. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE
our expectations are. We had a lot better participation at summer workouts, 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 working 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
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
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
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.
EDMOND-AREA FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
OCA’s Holt excited about senior year After playing his freshman year, Oklahoma Christian Academy’s Tyler Holt wasn’t happy with the way the team was progressing and sat out his sophomore year. But under coach Keith Lough, Holt said he found his love of the game again and came back for his junior year. Holt was among the team leaders with 100 tackles last year and figures to play an even bigger role this season. “We’ve come a long way, and there is a lot of pride with this senior group,” Holt said.
COYLE’S SCOTT NOT SATISFIED Coyle’s Magnus Scott won the Class A state championship in the 100-
Tyler Holt OCA standout
meter dash. He led the football team as a running back. He also starts for the basketball team. Despite all those accomplishments, Scott isn’t satisfied. “I’ve done pretty good, but there is still room for improvement,” he said. “I’m satisfied with what I’ve done, but I will be even more satisfied when we’ve accomplished more.” Scott said he wants to use his speed to lead his team to the playoffs this year.
Barry Parks Chandler tight end
MILLER TO PROVIDE DAVENPORT’S SPARK Davenport coach John Greenfield is looking to improve on last year’s 10-2 record. One of the players he’ll look to will be junior running back and defensive back Mike Miller. Miller, a two-year starter, played in only three games last season after suffering a concussion. “With Mike, there’s just one speed: fast,” Greenfield said. “He does everything hard.” BY ROBERT PRZYBYLO, TARIQ LEE AND CORBIN HOSLER
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
Edmond North trying to reload on defense BY ROBERT PRZYBYLO Staff Writer bprzybylo@opubco.com
EDMOND — Last year was supposed to be the year for the Edmond North Huskies, and the team made tremendous strides with an 8-3 record. But now that the program is starting to get some consistency, the toughest part is trying to maintain that level of play. It gets especially tough when the nucleus of the defense is gone. It wasn’t just the defensive line that was hit. It wasn’t just the linebackers or the secondary — it was everywhere. “We’re going to have to have a lot of young guys step
up,” coach Jeremy Dombek said. “We know they have the talent, but they’ve never been there before.” The cupboard isn’t completely bare. Linebacker Ryan Adams returns, and Kyle Aschenbrenner and Camden Bohnert have made tremendous strides. Going into the summer, Dombek was most worried about the secondary. It’s not just that the Huskies lost their starters, but they lost top Division I talents such as Xavier Smith and Rickey Lawyer. “Those are tough names to replace, but I’m happy with the progress we’ve made,” Dombek said. “The 7-on-7 events were big for our confidence, and I think we’re go-
ing to be OK.” The offense returns a strong cast, including senior quarterback Travis Townsend. After winning a threeman battle for the job last year, Townsend was phenomenal as a junior. Though he didn’t throw for a huge amount of yards (1,154), he was nearly flawless until a late-season injury. Junior running back Jared Benway was going to play a huge role, but a leg injury has him out indefinitely and will put a lot of pressure on Townsend. Townsend has also found his No. 1 target in Donquay Hammons. The pair have been working together for three years, and it shows in the chemistry department.
Q&A
With OCS senior wide receiver Skyler Sikes Oklahoma Christian wide receiver Skyler Sikes and quarterback Jack Warren haven’t been there forever, but they’re both three-year starters for the Saints. And with the move up from Class A to 2A, they’re the two expected to lead this team after losing a lot from last year’s club. It’s a whole new cast of characters. How are things going? Phenomenal. We’ve had some of the best practices that I’ve ever been a part of. We know a lot of guys are going to have to step up, but we’re not too worried about that. You’ve had to step up and be a leader. Are you
Skyler Sikes OCS receiver comfortable with that? Yes, sir. I feel incredibly comfortable with that. It’s a real natural role for me and this is something the Lord has really shaped for me in my life — for this moment. When did the chemistry with Jack start? That goes back to freshman year. We started in JV together and became really good friends. It’s been two years of solid chemistry at
the varsity level. We can improvise and work on our timing. And we’re great friends off the field. What have you been working on? Conditioning and speed. I’m pretty quick off the ball. I’ve been working on the precision of the routes. Steve Largent, Wes Welker, Jordan Shipley — those are the guys I look up to. They run great precise routes. I’ve been able to shave threetenths off my 40 time. I’m at a 4.8, and I’m still learning. How do you work on speed at this point in your career? It’s more about technique. There is a right way to run and a wrong way, and it’s made a big difference for me. BY ROBERT PRZYBYLO
Edmond North quarterback Travis Townsend was nearly flawless until a lateseason injury. PHOTO
BY JOHN CLANTON, THE OKLAHOMAN
SOUTH OKC METRO 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
Edmond Santa Fe looks to bounce back BY ROBERT PRZYBYLO Staff Writer bprzybylo@opubco.com
EDMOND — It wouldn’t be inaccurate to say the Edmond Santa Fe football team was a couple plays away from a 3-7 season turning into a 7-3 year and a playoff berth. But the fact of the matter, is the Wolves were 3-7. That’s not the way coach Bruce Gowen envisioned his first season. There wasn’t a big adjustment in terms of the defense, which is where Gowen had made his name, but the offense was always a work in progress. “It took a lot longer for everything to click than I thought it would,” Gowen said. “We feel a lot
better about this year.” The feelings are good, but the numbers are not. Gowen said there are only 16 seniors out for Santa Fe and not that many juniors. The future looks incredibly bright for the Wolves, but the present is going to be determined by how fast the young players mature. The strength of the team is at wide receiver, where Santa Fe has three solid options in Conner Bays, Patrick Hinton and Tre Kelley. Kelley broke his hand the first week of practice, but he is a big target. He’ll be a big weapon when he gets back. Hinton, though not the biggest guy around, has tremendous speed and is the most experi-
enced of the group, while Bays is only entering his junior year. It remains a little bit of a mystery who’s going to throw to the trio. Junior Ty Hensley, also a big baseball star, saw limited time last year and has been battling it out with senior Paul Bronson for the quarterback spot all spring and summer. The Wolves are eager to get back out there, especially with the success of the other Edmond schools. Edmond Memorial and Edmond North each won eight games last year. “The intensity is totally different this year,” Hinton said. “The players, the coaches, we will not go through another 3-7 year. That’s not how we’re going out.”
Edmond Santa Fe players enter the field before a 2009 game against Del City at Wantland Stadium. PHOTO BY DOUG HOKE, THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE
Memorial offense looking for more explosiveness BY ROBERT PRZYBYLO Staff Writer bprzybylo@opubco.com
Quarterback Kameron Doolittle, right, hands the ball off to running back Cale Olbert during spring practice. Olbert rushed for 651 yards last season. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN
EDMOND — When you think of the Edmond Memorial offense, it hasn’t been too exciting lately. Doesn’t mean it hasn’t been effective, but the Bulldogs have relied heavily on a power running game to get them to where they are. But this season, there is going to be a change. Memorial is going to try to spread the field more. “It’s going to be exciting to try to do something new,” quarterback Kameron Doolittle said. “A lot of the plays are going to come from the shotgun, and I think that’s really going to work out well.”
The change is suited to work for Doolittle’s skill set. Giving an allaround talent like Doolittle more room to roam in the shotgun and rollout packages brings out the best in the team. If teams are able to stifle Doolittle, running back Cale Olbert is ready to step up and be the top option. For half of last year, he was in that position anyway. After an injury to D’Juan Brooks and a change in position for Doolittle, Olbert went from being one part of a three-headed monster to taking over the lead role. Olbert rushed for 651 yards and six touchdowns, and he’s 100 percent after breaking his thumb in the sum-
mer. The Bulldogs’ top two receivers are gone, but Jeff Balkenbush turned a lot of heads this summer. “He’s really stepped up and has become a leader for us,” secondyear coach Justin Merideth said. The Bulldogs lost their heart and soul from last year’s defense, Adrian Shoecraft and Nelson Medeiros. But with top talents like Connor Myers, Jeremy Langston and Jared Chambers, the defense will still be a major strength for the team. After a 1-3 start, Memorial won seven consecutive games before losing to Jenks, and the expectations are even higher this season.
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