text:
Yukon Millers football
|Win %
|6 - 5
|3 - 3
|3 - 2
|19 - 16
|Edmond Santa Fe
|35 - 49
|21 - 19
|Lawton Eisenhower
|41 - 28
|Norman North
|42 - 45
|Edmond North
|9 - 20
|35 - 14
|Midwest City
|9 - 12
|U.S. Grant
|55 - 0
|Putnam North
|48 - 7
|29 - 35
|Rush Yds
|Rush Yds Game
|Pass Yds
|Pass Yds/Game
|Yards Total
|Pts Total
|Rush Yds Allow
|Allow Rush/Game
|Pass Yds Allow
|Allow Pass/Game
|Yds Total Allow
|Yds Allow/Game
|Allow Pts
|Allow Pts/Game
|Player Name
|Position (main)
|Clint Adams
|Shawn Anderson
|Trae Anderson
|Ryan Andraszek
|Carlos Bahena
|Zach Barton
|Josh Bedell
|Hunter Blanchard
|Shane Block
|Parker Bohannon
|Branden Brus
|Nick Bryant
|Matt Cammon
|Will Cornelius
|Blake Davis
|Caleb Davis
|Jordan Dorton
|Tucker Doyle
|Tres Durocher
|Logan Edwards
|Noah Gillett
|Jaden Gilmore
|Matt Giroux
|Christian Gordon
|Calen Groce
|Andre Dowuona Hammond
|Emory Icenhower
|Zach Johnson
|Robert Jordan
|Brendan Kane
|J.T. Kearby
|London Khamphanthala
|Bryce Lutts
|Canton Meadows
|Kyle Menge
|Braydn Meyer
|Keegan Meyn
|Rylan Mott
|Caleb Newman
|Billy Patterson
|Jacob Roush
|Caleb Roy
|Hunter Sconce
|Logan Shenck
|Hayden Somerville
|Cooper Stanley
|Corey Sudduth
|Zach Tillery
|Johnny Watson
|Logan Wilkes
Yukon football News
NewsOK articles about Yukon football, or articles mentioning current or former Yukon football players.
Yukon High School Varsity Boys Football
Journey of Mustang's Blake Williams from sickness to stardom under Friday night lights
Oct 8, 2015
It's been a difficult but rewarding journey from sickness to the football spotlight, and Blake Williams can't even tell you the whole story. Because he can't remember all of it.
Journey of Mustang's Blake Williams from sickness to stardom under Friday night lights
By Scott Wright Staff Writer firstname.lastname@example.com | Oct 8, 2015MUSTANG — Tammy Gosnell-Williams' phone rang on the morning of Aug. 13, 2013. It was a worker at Mustang High School, calling to find out why Tammy's son wasn't in class on the first day of school. "Is Blake not coming to school today?" the woman on the phone asked. Tammy started to cry. "No," she said. "We're at the Mayo Clinic right now. Blake won't be in school this year." That morning in Rochester, Minn., Tammy had no idea what was wrong with her son. He had been sick for more than a year, and was still getting worse. His vision was failing. He'd become nauseated for no reason. The weakness and pain in his legs made it difficult for him to walk from his bed to the bathroom. But within a few days at the Mayo Clinic, Blake Williams had a diagnosis. Two months later, he was receiving treatment. And 23 months after that — last Saturday, to be exact — Blake was standing on the sidelines at Owen Field in Norman, shaking hands with Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops as one of the most intriguing recruiting prospects the Sooners had on hand for their 44-24 win over West Virginia. Now a senior at Mustang, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound tight end has a scholarship offer from North Carolina. He got a personal invitation to a camp at Alabama. He's regularly hearing from both programs, along with OU, OSU, Indiana and Arkansas. He'll be on the field Friday night when No. 3 Mustang hosts No. 7 Norman North in a critical District 6A-I-2 matchup. It's been a difficult but rewarding journey from sickness to the football spotlight, and Blake Williams can't even tell you the whole story. Because he can't remember all of it. 'IT'S LIKE I WAS IN A COMA' Countless frustrating doctors' visits with no results had the family feeling desperate. Blake's grandfather had received a life-saving cancer diagnosis at the Mayo Clinic, so they decided that should be their next move. That's where Blake was diagnosed with dysautonomia, or autonomic dysfunction. It's a rare disease that disrupts the automatic functions of the body's nervous system caused by improper blood flow. Symptoms can include high or low blood pressure, fast or slow heart rate, fatigue, nausea, impaired vision, gastrointestinal difficulties, dizziness, anxiety and migraines. Blake experienced most of those, and one more: memory loss. "There's about a six-month gap that I don't really remember what I was going through," Blake said. "I hardly got out of bed for that six months. "It's like I was in a coma. All I wanted to do was sleep all the time, and I was in a bad state of depression." The cause of Blake's dysautonomia was ultimately traced back to a shoulder injury he suffered playing baseball in eighth grade during the spring of 2011. The injury caused scar tissue to develop between his shoulder and ribcage, limiting blood flow through his jugular vein. A year-and-a-half after he had begun feeling sick, Blake finally knew what he had. But the Mayo Clinic offered no treatment for dysautonomia, which is largely viewed in the medical world as incurable — the symptoms can be treated, but not the disease. Once back in Oklahoma, the family started researching dysautonomia, and found three doctors who performed a treatment known as Transvascular Autonomic Modulation, or TVAM. One of them was in California, another was in Italy. The third was in New York, but he was only testing the procedure on animals. By November 2013, Blake was in Newport Beach, Calif., meeting with Dr. Michael Arata, who would perform the procedure. Afterward, Blake started seeing almost instant improvement. His face, which had gradually turned pale, began to regain its color before he left the recovery room. The moment he walked out of the hospital, he noticed the grass and trees around him. "It was all so bright and green," he said. "I saw four birds that were all different colors. Before, it was like I was going colorblind, but this brought color back to my life." Soon, thoughts were moving clearly through his mind again where there had once been a fog. The pain in his legs when he walked was gone. His life was coming back. Next, he wanted football back. ON THE RECRUITING TRAIL Blake had missed the entire 2013-14 school year, so in August of 2014, which should have been the start of his senior year, he was still classified as a junior. At that point, he was feeling the best he'd felt in years, and thought he was ready for football. But he started to decline again. He got to play about a half-dozen snaps against Yukon in the season-opener, but never saw the field again. He remained part of the team, and was healthy enough to stay in school. In April of this year, his family got connected with Dr. Kevyn Kennedy in Oklahoma City, a naturopathic allergy treatment specialist. She reinforced the importance of the paleo diet Dr. Arata had recommended, and put Blake on allergy treatments. His body responded and got back on track. He couldn't make it through spring football practice, but regained his strength in early June. "It's amazing the turnaround we've seen in just a few short months," Mustang coach Jeremy Dombek said. "He knows more than anybody how his body feels, but just being here consistently and going through the things we ask him to do is a major turnaround." Blake took part in summer workouts and 7-on-7 camps with his team. And he got invited to a college camp at North Carolina. Former OU running back Seth Littrell, who has coached at Texas Tech, Arizona, Indiana and now at UNC, watched Blake go one-on-one with the best cornerback and best linebacker in the camp, each a four-star recruit. And Blake beat them both. Before he and his family could get back to Oklahoma, he had a scholarship offer from the Tar Heels. "Coach Littrell told us he almost didn't want to offer, because he didn't want anybody else to find out about Blake," Tammy said. "Once he offered, he knew other colleges would start calling, and that's what happened." Nick Saban invited Blake to a camp at Alabama. OU and OSU got involved, along with Arkansas and Indiana. "A lot of them have basically said if I hadn't had dysautonomia, they would've offered already," Blake said. "But they want to see me make it through the season." OU's interest seems to be getting particularly strong. Cale Gundy was on the sidelines watching him last Friday, prior to Blake's trip to Norman on Saturday. He's cut out of the prototypical H-back mold. Big enough to line up at tight end, fast enough to split out wide and go head-to-head with defensive backs. "He's that type of H-back player everybody's starting to use," Dombek said. "He's got incredibly soft hands. His speed and athleticism and physicality — I see what they're seeing. They just want to see more of it. "He's got the offer from North Carolina, but I think there's gonna be a lot more coming." Through five games, Blake has been one of Mustang's most reliable receivers with 17 receptions for 320 yards and four touchdowns. "We've worked him in slow," Dombek said. "We're not asking him to play 60 plays a game, because we know it's a long year, but we want to get him involved." His teammates are thankful to have him, too. "It's incredible what he's been through," Mustang quarterback Chandler Garrett said. "He's gone from not being able to get through a workout to hardly ever missing any practice now. "It's been very promising and I'm proud of him." TEARS EVERY FRIDAY Tammy cries every Friday night when Blake plays. She can't believe her boy is finally out there, playing the game he loves with the team he has longed to be a part of. "It's a dream come true," she said. "Sometimes it felt like a dream when we were going through all this. And then, when you finally see your son out there doing normal stuff, you're like, did that really happen? Did we really go through all that? "It seems like it was a lifetime ago since Blake was well." For Blake, game time is a time for focus, a time to compete. He doesn't think about his journey to get back on the field, or the pain he endured. But after every game, he makes his way to his truck, and sits there alone. "It's not until after the game that I truly understand how blessed I am to be able to play," Blake said. "I sit in my truck and I pray and thank God for bringing me through the dark times that I've been in." Through it all, Blake never contemplated a future without football. He's exactly where he believed he would be. "I always trusted in God, and I knew this is where I'm supposed to be," he said. "I knew I was supposed to play football. I've always prayed about it and I've just always felt it. "I feel like I can tell people my testimony and how I got through this with faith, and maybe strengthen their faith when they're going through difficult times."
The Oklahoman's high school football predictions
Oct 7, 2015
Every week, The Oklahoman's Scott Wright will predict the score of every game in the state. Last week's record: 128-36 (78.0 pct.) Overall record: 693-187 (78.8 pct.
The Oklahoman's high school football predictions
By Scott Wright Staff Writer firstname.lastname@example.com | Oct 7, 2015Every week, The Oklahoman's Scott Wright will predict the score of every game in the state. Last week's record: 128-36 (78.0 pct.) Overall record: 693-187 (78.8 pct.) Thursday's Games Class 6A Broken Arrow 50, NORMAN 7 PC WEST 42, Capitol Hill 7 Owasso 42, MOORE 14 EDMOND SANTA FE 35, Yukon 21 Class 5A McGuinness 56, SOUTHEAST 6 Class 3A JOHN MARSHALL 55, Bridge Creek 12 Heritage Hall 48, PERKINS 8 Class A Crossings Christian 35, OKEENE 7 Friday's Games Class 6A Bixby 41, PONCA CITY 14 Choctaw 34, LAWTON IKE 21 Edmond Memorial 31, PUTNAM CITY 20 Jenks 49, WESTMOORE 14 Lawton 28, STILLWATER 24 Midwest City 35, ENID 6 BARTLESVILLE 48, Muskogee 14 MUSTANG 50, Norman North 38 EDMOND NORTH 28, PC North 24 Sand Springs 30, SAPULPA 7 TULSA UNION 48, Southmoore 42 Tulsa Washington 44, CLAREMORE 6 Class 5A Chickasha 42, NORTHWEST 12 Coweta 24, MAIZE SOUTH, KAN. 21 ALTUS 42, Del City 35 ARDMORE 38, El Reno 10 COLLINSVILLE 28, Grove 7 GUTHRIE 30, Guymon 13 Lawton MacArthur 34, DUNCAN 17 McAlester 28, SKIATOOK 24 CARL ALBERT 44, Piedmont 10 TULSA KELLEY 24, Shawnee 21 Tahlequah 21, PRYOR 20 Tulsa Edison 30, TULSA EAST CENTRAL13 DURANT 35, Tulsa Hale 14 NOBLE 42, Tulsa Memorial 34 DEER CREEK 41, Western Heights 14 Class 4A ANADARKO 34, Cache 10 Catoosa 38, VINITA 14 Clinton 21, ELGIN 14 Elk City 34, NEWCASTLE 7 TULSA CENTRAL 22, Fort Gibson 18 Glenpool 44, BRISTOW 12 TECUMSEH 28, McLoud 24 Metro Christian 42, MULDROW 21 CASCIA HALL 21, Oologah 20 Sallisaw 29, BROKEN BOW 21 POTEAU 49, Stilwell 6 Tulsa McLain 28, CLEVELAND 24 Tuttle 38, HARRAH 35 Wagoner 35, MIAMI 13 Woodward 31, WEATHERFORD 16 Class 3A CUSHING 48, Centennial 8 MADILL 28, Comanche 14 Dewey 27, KELLYVILLE 7 PLAINVIEW 24, Dickson 14 Douglass 42, MOUNT ST. MARY 13 SEQ. CLAREMORE 29, Jay 21 JONES 35, Little Axe 14 Locust Grove 56, KEYS (PARK HILL) 14 Mannford 20, BLAKCWELL 13 SULPHUR 35, Marlow 28 Meeker 21, BLANCHARD 14 KIEFER 44, Morris 6 HILLDALE 38, Okmulgee 8 Pauls Valley 24, BETHEL 12 Purcell 33, STAR SPENCER 20 Roland 26, IDABEL 22 Seminole 28, KINGFISHER 27 BERRYHILL 30, Sperry 7 STORUD 20, Spiro 8 Stigler 36, HEAVENER 13 CHECOTAH 27, Tulsa Rogers 20 LINCOLN CHR. 49, Tulsa Webster 7 EUFAULA 38, Valliant 6 Verdigris 21, INOLA 20 Victory Christian 45, BEGGS 28 Westville 41, SEQ. TAHLEQUAH 21 Class 2A Adair 56, COLCORD 14 Antlers 24, WILBURTON 18 COALGATE 28, Atoka 7 Caney Valley 21, OKLAHOMA UNION 14 OKEMAH 42, Chandler 35 Chisholm 35, ALVA 14 SALINA 20, Chouteau 16 Chr. Heritage 42, CROOKED OAK 6 LUTHER 56, Dibble 20 PANAMA 48, Foyil 8 Hartshorne 22, VIAN 16 Haskell 42, HULBERT 14 Hennessey 28, PAWNEE 12 WEWOKA 34, Henryetta 28 KINGSTON 40, Hugo 8 PAWHUSKA 20, Kansas 12 Lindsay 41, LEXINGTON 14 Marietta 28, KONAWA 7 Millwood 56, WELLSTON 12 TONKAWA 24, Newkirk 14 Nowata 42, CHELSEA 6 Oklahoma Christian 48, NORTHEAST 8 CASHION 44, Perry 12 Pocola 20, LIBERTY 14 Prague 35, HOLDENVILLE 7 DAVIS 34, Tishomingo 14 Walters 30, HOBART 20 Washington 35, FREDERICK 20 COMMERCE 42, Wyandotte 14 Class A Afton 35, SUMMIT CHR. 6 Apache 21, SNYDER 14 Barnsdall 20, MOUNDS 18 TEXHOMA 24, Beaver 22 FAIRVIEW 42, Burns Flat-Dill City 7 Central Sallisaw 44, GORE 6 WYNNEWOOD 28, Community Christian 14 MORRISON 27, Drumright 24 WAYNE 30, Elmore City 28 REJOICE CHR. 34, Fairland 26 Healdton 32, RUSH SPRINGS 13 Hinton 35, CENTRAL MARLOW 7 HOLLIS 35, Carnegie 12 Ketchum 34, QUAPAW 20 Mangum 26, COLCORD 14 STRATFORD 28, Minco 27 Mooreland 30, HOOKER 13 Okla. Christian Aca. 38, CRESCENT 21 QUINTON 31, Porter 6 Ringling 28, VELMA-ALMA 18 Savanna 34, WARNER 13 THOMAS 49, Sayre 14 Watonga 38, OKLAHOMA BIBLE 30 Wilson 28, EMPIRE 27 HOMINY 48, Yale 8 Class B LAVERNE 56, Canton 8 Davenport 58, DEPEW 6 Dewar 52, CADDO 6 Garber 60, WESLEYAN CHR. 14 GANS 34, Haileyville 20 Keota 54, WETUMKA 8 PIONEER 46, Kremlin-Hillsdale 22 Macomb 24, BRAY-DOYLE 16 Maud 34, CYRIL 18 GEARY 42, Maysville 38 WAUKOMIS 44, Merritt 20 Oaks 52, WATTS 6 ARKOMA 42, Porum 12 TURPIN 54, Ringwood 6 Seiling 42, POND CREEK-HUNTER 34 South Coffeyville 40, MEDFORD 28 ALEX 58, Strother 6 Waurika 40, ALLEN 28 WOODLAND 50, Welch 12 Weleetka 56, CANADIAN 6 Class C CHEROKEE 42, Balko 20 BOISE CITY 52, Buffalo 6 Cave Springs 36, WEBBERS FALLS 28 BLUEJACKET 44, Claremore Christian 34 Corn Bible 48, TEMPLE 20 Coyle 42, COVINGTON-DOUGLAS 24 Destiny Christian 54, BOWLEGS 8 Fox 46, SASAKWA 0 Midway 48, BOKOSHE 12 GRANDFIELD 54, Mt. View-Gotebo 6 TIPTON 28, OKC Patriots 24 COPAN 36, Prue 16 DUKE 48, Ryan 18 Thackerville 56, PAOLI 6 DC-LAMONT 50, Timberlake 44 Tyrone 32, WORD OF LIFE (WICHITA) 28 Waynoka 46, SHARON-MUTUAL 34 Independent Casady 28, DALLAS GREENHILL 14 IMMANUEL CHR. 38, Eagle Point Christian 28 Holland Hall 21, FW COUNTRY DAY 17 Life Christian 42, CEMENT 22 WRIGHT CHR. 56, Regent Prep 6 U.S. GRANT 35, SeeWorth Aca. 14 Saturday's Game Independent OSD 58, Iowa Deaf 12 *Home team in CAPS
High school football: Putnam City West trying to build on first district victory in five years
Oct 6, 2015
The Patriots host Capitol Hill — the only team PC West beat last year — at 7 p.m. Thursday night at Putnam City Stadium, looking for their third win of the season.
High school football: Putnam City West trying to build on first district victory in five years
By Scott Wright Staff Writer firstname.lastname@example.com | Oct 6, 2015BETHANY — Over the last several years, Putnam City West has been part of a lot of football homecoming games. Opponents' homecoming games, that is. When you've averaged one win a year for more than a decade, your team will get picked as the perfect target for an easy win and a big homecoming celebration. But last Friday night, the Patriots spoiled the party in Choctaw, rallying from 21 points down for a 32-21 win. "We all got hyped because we ruined their homecoming," junior linebacker Deiontae Clark. "But this week is our homecoming, and we don't want ours to get ruined, so all that happiness from last week has to turn into focus for this week." The Patriots host Capitol Hill — the only team PC West beat last year — at 7 p.m. Thursday night at Putnam City Stadium, looking for their third win of the season. They haven't won more than two games in a season since 2003, when they beat Choctaw, Moore and Yukon in a three-game stretch to end the year after starting 0-7. Friday's win over Choctaw was PC West's first district victory since October 2010, a span of 32 games. However, this win wasn't some sort of fluke, but rather a sign of the positive direction coach Rocky Martin's program is heading. When they fell behind 21-0, a lot of past PC West teams would have promptly accepted defeat. But this team, powered by a talented junior class and some strong-willed senior leaders, stayed in the game. "We got off to a slow start, but we didn't get down on ourselves," junior quarterback Trey Gooch said. "We rallied around and it turned around for the better. "We have a lot of talent, but our issue has always been our heart and where we are mentally. We know we can do it. It's just a matter of perseverance now." The Patriots moved into the Class 6A Division II rankings at No. 8 this week, and if they keep playing well, the postseason could become more than just wishful thinking. But this team knows it can't let its focus slip, or victories can quickly turn back to losses. "We know we can't overlook anyone," linebacker Katrell King said. "Capitol Hill can come beat us, just like we did to Choctaw last week. "The main thing is to stay focused and keep doing what we're doing."
OKC Thunder: The Thunder's annual high school scrimmage has left memorable impact in its wake
Oct 2, 2015
This year, the eighth edition, will take place at Newcastle on Sunday at 3 p.m.
OKC Thunder: The Thunder's annual high school scrimmage has left memorable impact in its wake
By Anthony Slater, Staff Writer | Oct 2, 2015Back on Oct. 1, 2010, the Yukon high football team was preparing for a huge district home game against Norman North. The stands were packed. The players were hyped. And the place exploded when that night's honorary team captain — Thunder superstar Kevin Durant — led Yukon to midfield for the opening coin toss. "I tell people, that game was over before it started," Yukon athletic director David Fisher said, fondly remembering the 35-17 victory. "You should have seen the look on the Norman North coaches and players faces." Hours before, the Thunder had staged its annual Blue and White scrimmage in Yukon's gym. It was the third edition of what's become an annual event — the state's most popular sports team closing out training camp with an open scrimmage at a local high school. This year, the eighth edition, will take place at Newcastle on Sunday at 3 p.m. For the players, it's little more than the next step in season preparation. But for the communities that have experienced it over the years, it has provided a lasting memory. The Westmoore scrimmage was easily the most impactful. Back in October 2013, with the Moore community still feeling the effects of the May tornado, the Thunder arrived in town to an emotional scene. Before the scrimmage, the team announced its plans to rebuild three outdoor basketball courts destroyed by the storm. The franchise also gathered the boys' and girls' basketball teams from all three Moore high schools and gave them VIP treatment for the day. "We got to sit right behind the benches, and Sam Presti spoke to the teams beforehand about character and some other life skills," Westmoore boys' coach Scott Hodges said. "That was really neat." Russell Westbrook was still recovering from knee surgery during that preseason. He didn't participate in the scrimmage. But that freed him up to play team ambassador for the day, interacting and taking pictures with all the students. "He was great at engaging with the kids," Hodges said. Westbrook said, "Being able to be there and be with the people of Moore was more important than even the scrimmage itself." The Thunder put up a banner signifying the scrimmage over one of the baskets. The school left it up for two years, until, recently, it was peeling and they were forced to take it down. But a photo from that day remains posted in Westmoore's locker room. It's of the entire Thunder team, in that same locker room, stacking it up for a team huddle before they went out on the court. "Our kids think that's so cool," Hodges said. "Westbrook and Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka using their lockers." The Thunder hatched the idea for this tradition upon arrival in Oklahoma City. The plan, according to vice president of marketing and sales Brian Byrnes, was to hit 20 high schools in 20 years. "And if you connect the dots, we would literally circle the entire metro," Byrnes said. "That was the inspiration." There was a scrimmage in Bixby a few years back. The Thunder had a preseason game in Tulsa the next night. So it made sense. But beyond that geographic outlier, the franchise has stuck to its plan. The team has held scrimmages in Midwest City, Bethany and, most recently, Choctaw. Sunday's event at Newcastle takes care of the southwest side of the metro. But of the events, the experience at Yukon was the most unique. In deciding where to hold it, Thunder management reaches out to possible candidates. The team needs to make sure the gym is usable for its players and the administration is prepared to handle ticket allotment within the community. When they contacted Yukon in 2010, athletic director David Fisher had the idea of holding it on a Friday afternoon, pairing it with one of the state's biggest high school football games that night. It went over great. "Our arena holds 2,500, and we estimated that we put 3,500 in it and still had 500 we couldn't let in the gym," Fisher said. After the game, the entire Thunder team crossed the parking lot and showed up at the football game. Fisher, admittedly as a joke, told Durant he should lead the team out of the tunnel and then take part in the coin toss. "He said, 'Really? You can do that?' Fisher said. "Next thing you know him and the Thunder are at the front of the blow-up football helmet and lead our team out onto the field." The Thunder's videographer captured the moment. It served as a clip in OKC's pregame hype video for that entire season. "We were immortalized for about a year on the board with our Yukon football helmet," Fisher said. "It's great to interact with our fans in an intimate setting like that," Durant said. "It's getting bigger and bigger every single year."
High school football: Tate Troxell has breakout performance to lead Edmond Memorial past Yukon, 42-21
Oct 1, 2015
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior finished with 172 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 18 carries. He also caught a 7-yard touchdown pass, which put the Bulldogs up 28-14 in the third quarter.
High school football: Tate Troxell has breakout performance to lead Edmond Memorial past Yukon, 42-21
BY JACOB UNRUH Staff Writer email@example.com | Oct 1, 2015EDMOND — Edmond Memorial running back Tate Troxell took the handoff, shook one tackle and another before slipping past another Yukon defender's reach. Troxell was then faced with a decision that could have put the outcome of the game in balance. Cut back toward the middle of the field or go for the corner pylon? Troxell chose the pylon. He beat one last Yukon defender to score a 61-yard touchdown and break a tie to spark No. 10-ranked Edmond Memorial to a desperately needed 42-21 win over Yukon on Thursday at Wantland Stadium. "I was actually nervous he was going to catch me," Troxell said. "I didn't know if he was going to catch me. I didn't know if I should cut back or not, but I went for it and it worked out." It was the second of three straight touchdowns for Troxell in a long-awaited breakout performance. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior finished with 172 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 18 carries. He also caught a 7-yard touchdown pass, which put the Bulldogs up 28-14 in the third quarter. "We've always felt that he was a very, very good running back and a football player," Edmond Memorial coach Justin Merideth said. "I said at the beginning of the year that I think people would be surprised. It took a little bit to get going, but these are the kind of things he's capable of." Edmond Memorial (2-3, 1-1 District 6AI-1) piled up 509 yards of offense, an explosion on that side of the ball to help the Bulldogs' defense navigate Yukon's up-tempo spread offense behind quarterback Trevor Smith. Smith finished 18 of 38 for 204 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He also scored on a 1-yard run that got the Millers (1-4, 0-2) within a touchdown with 1:17 left in the third. But Edmond Memorial responded with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to seal the much-needed victory after a 1-3 start to the season. "We needed it for confidence," Merideth said. "You go 1-3 — and I don't care how close the games are — your confidence is going to be shaken a little bit. We needed a win to feel good. We've got the rest of district ahead of us, and we needed to get some wins." The Bulldogs opened the game with a 7-0 lead, but quickly fell behind 14-7 on a 35-yard TD pass from Smith to Rylan Redding and a 1-yard run by lineman John Kearby. Troxell then found his rhythm and the performance he said he's been praying for each week. "I told myself before the game that this was my night," Troxell said. "I've been struggling a little bit in the run this year, and thanks to the lineman and the plays the coaches called just paid off. It was great."
The Oklahoman's high school football predictions
Sep 30, 2015
Every week, The Oklahoman's Scott Wright will predict the score of every game in the state. Last week's record: 143-31 (82.2 pct.) Overall record: 565-151 (78.9 pct.
The Oklahoman's high school football predictions
By Scott Wright Staff Writer firstname.lastname@example.com | Sep 30, 2015Every week, The Oklahoman's Scott Wright will predict the score of every game in the state. Last week's record: 143-31 (82.2 pct.) Overall record: 565-151 (78.9 pct.) Thursday's Games Class 6A LAWTON 49, Enid 20 SOUTHMOORE 44, Owasso 38 TULSA WASHINGTON 48, Sapulpa 18 EDMOND MEMORIAL 28, Yukon 24 Class 5A Tulsa Edison 56, CAPITOL HILL 6 Class 2A HENRYETTA 40, Beggs JV 8 Friday's Games Class 6A Bartlesville 28, BIXBY 27 SAND SPRINGS 35, Claremore 17 Edmond Santa Fe 21, WESTMOORE 14 Lawton Ike 28, CANYON CREEK, TEXAS 14 Moore 21, EDMOND NORTH 20 Mustang 41, PC NORTH 14 JENKS 56, Norman 7 MUSKOGEE 24, Ponca City 17 BROKEN ARROW 45, Putnam City 16 CHOCTAW 38, Putnam West 28 MIDWEST CITY 28, Stillwater 13 Tulsa Union 49, NORMAN NORTH 28 Class 5A Altus 34, LAWTON MACARTHUR 31 Ardmore 48, CHICKASHA 8 Carl Albert 42, GUYMON 6 Collinsville 20, TAHLEQUAH 13 Deer Creek 24, McGUINNESS 20 DEL CITY 28, Duncan 21 TULSA MEMORIAL 35, Durant 17 Guthrie 38, PIEDMONT 7 Noble 41, TULSA HALE 12 EL RENO 45, Northwest 6 Pryor 28, GROVE 21 Skiatook 27, SHAWNEE 24 WESTERN HEIGHTS 44, Southeast 30 COWETA 28, Tulsa East Central 13 McALESTER 14, Tulsa Kelley 7 Class 4A Ada 49, McLOUD 13 Anadarko 35, CLINTON 14 TUTTLE 30, Bristow 6 Broken Bow 21, FORT GIBSON 14 WAGONER 34, Cascia Hall 17 Cleveland 28, CATOOSA 21 ELK CITY 38, Elgin 13 Harrah 42, GLENPOOL 35 OOLOGAH 40, Miami 20 Muldrow 31, STILWELL 7 WOODWARD 35, Newcastle 10 METRO CHR. 28, Poteau 27 Tulsa Central 27, SALLISAW 22 Vinita 37, TULSA McLAIN 33 Weatherford 20, CACHE 13 Class 3A Bethany 49, BRIDGE CREEK 7 SEMINOLE 48, Bethel 14 HERITAGE HALL 56, Blackwell 6 PERKINS 42, Centennial 12 VICTORY CHR. 35, Checotah 28 Cushing 24, KINGFISHER 16 Douglass 44, MEEKER 34 Eufaula 21, SPIRO 20 Hilldale 37, MORRIS 7 Idabel 28, STIGLER 24 Inola 34, SEQ. CLAREMORE 6 Jones 41, PURCELL 14 TULSA WEBSTER 30, Kellyville 13 WESTVILLE 56, Keys (Park Hill) 6 Lincoln Christian 48, SPERRY 14 Little Axe 38, U.S. GRANT 12 Locust Grove 54, DEWEY 7 PLAINVIEW 44, Lone Grove 41 DICKSON 35, Madill 34 BLANCHARD 21, Marlow 20 JOHN MARSHALL 50, Mount St. Mary 7 BEGGS 28, Okmulgee 6 Pauls Valley 27, STAR SPENCER 20 Roland 32, TULSA ROGERS 12 Seq. Tahlequah 35, JAY 13 Sulphur 40, COMANCHE 8 HEAVENER 20, Valliant 6 BERRYHILL 28, Verdigris 12 Class 2A Alva 28, NEWKIRK 13 HASKELL 42, Chelsea 7 Chisholm 35, WATONGA 6 MORRISON 27, Chr. Heritage 20 Coalgate 18, HUGO 14 Colcord 35, CHOUTEAU 20 Commerce 40, CANEY VALLEY 7 MILLWOOD 56, Crooked Oak 6 Davis 34, MARIETTA 22 LINDSAY 32, Dibble 14 LEXINGTON 20, Elmore City 16 WALTERS 28, Frederick 21 WASHINGTON 35, Hobart 7 STROUD 38, Holdenville 13 ADAIR 52, Kansas 8 Kingston 44, TISHOMINGO 12 VIAN 35, Liberty 6 LUTHER 56, Northeast 6 Okemah 28, PRAGUE 24 Oklahoma Christian 42, WELLSTON 7 NOWATA 33, Oklahoma Union 6 HARTSHORNE 27, Panama 22 WYANDOTTE 21, Pawhuska 20 PAWNEE 28, Perry 14 ANTLERS 28, Pocola 16 Salina 31, HULBERT 21 HENNESSEY 34, Tonkawa 18 Wewoka 38, CHANDLER 34 ATOKA 33, Wilburton 13 Class A MOORELAND 30, Burns Flat-Dill City 6 Cashion 49, OKEENE 7 RUSH SPRINGS 32, Central Marlow 6 Central Sallisaw 42, QUINTON 14 Cordell 42, CARNEGIE 35 CROSSINGS CHR. 21, Crescent 14 HEALDTON 38, Empire 13 Fairview 28, BEAVER 24 AFTON 35, Foyil 8 TALIHINA 42, Gore 0 HOLLIS 44, Hinton 13 Hominy 41, BARNSDALL 20 Hooker 35, SAYRE 14 Ketchum 28, REJOICE CHR. 24 Kiefer 49, YALE 6 STRATFORD 56, Konawa 7 Mounds 22, DRUMRIGHT 16 Oklahoma Bible 28, OKLA. CHR. ACA. 21 Quapaw 21, BAXTER SPRINGS, ARK. 17 MANGUM 34, Snyder 24 FAIRLAND 28, Summit Christian 14 THOMAS 21, Texhoma 14 Velma-Alma 42, WILSON 7 Warner 22, PORTER 14 COMMUNITY CHR. 28, WAYNE 27 MINCO 32, Wynnewood 28 Class B Alex 60, BRAY-DOYLE 6 Allen 54, STROTHER 8 KEOTA 52, Arkoma 6 Caddo 42, GANS 22 DEWAR 56, Canadian 6 WAURIKA 58, Cyril 12 GARBER 54, DC-Lamont 48 Geary 40, MAUD 28 Maysville 48, MACOMB 8 Merritt 52, CANTON 6 Pioneer 48, SEILING 44 Pond Creek-Hunter 42, LAVERNE 40 Porum 38, HAILEYVILLE 34 DAVENPORT 48, South Coffeyville 12 Turpin 56, KREMLIN-HILLSDALE 6 WELCH 28, Watts 22 Waukomis 60, RINGWOOD 12 OAKS 42, Wesleyan Christian 28 WELEETKA 50, Wetumka 20 DEPEW 44, Woodland 34 Class C WAYNOKA 46, Balko 42 Boise City 34, MELROSE N.M. 28 CAVE SPRINGS 48, Bokoshe 0 Bowlegs 28, PAOLI 22 MEDFORD 50, Copan 20 Corn Bible 48, MT. VIEW-GOTEBO 28 BLUEJACKET 34, Covington-Douglas 24 Grandfield 56, DUKE 6 COYLE 48, Regent Prep 8 BUFFALO 56, Sharon-Mutual 44 CHEROKEE 34, Shattuck 28 FOX 60, SW Covenant 14 RYAN 34, Temple 20 Thackerville 56, MIDWAY 8 Timberlake 54, PRUE 8 Webbers Falls 36, SASAKWA 16 Independent OKC PATRIOTS 56, Cement 6 HOLLAND HALL 28, Dallas Greenhill 7 WRIGHT CHRISTIAN 60, Destiny Chr. 48 CLAREMORE CHR. 54, Eagle Point Chr. 6 CASADY 35, Fort Worth County Day 14 Immanuel Christian 38, LIFE CHR. 8 TULSA NOAH 34, Lighthouse Christian 21 Saturday's Games Independent Mississippi Deaf 48, OSD 28 *Home team in CAPS
The Oklahoman's Week 4 high school football picks
Sep 25, 2015
See how your favorite team is expected to fare this week.
The Oklahoman's Week 4 high school football picks
BY SCOTT WRIGHT | Sep 25, 2015Every week, The Oklahoman's Scott Wright will predict the score of every game in the state. Last week's record: 133-37 (78.2 pct.) Overall record: 422-120 (77.9 pct.) Thursday's Games Class 6A Lawton 35, PC West 20 Class 3A Heritage Hall 56, CENTENNIAL 6 Class 2A Colcord 28, TAHLEQUAH JV 21 Millwood 35, OCS 28 Wellston 42, NORTHEAST 28 Class C Ryan 44, CEMENT 20 Independent Osd 60, KANSAS DEAF 22 CAPITOL HILL 35, SeeWorth Aca. 14 Friday's Games Class 6A Bixby 35, CLAREMORE 21 Broken Arrow 50, YUKON 17 Choctaw 28, ENID 14 EDMOND SANTA FE 24, Ed. Memorial 21 MUSTANG 35, Edmond North 14 Jenks 49, PUTNAM CITY 21 Midwest City 44, LAWTON IKE 6 Muskogee 28, SAPULPA 21 OWASSO 35, Norman North 34 TULSA UNION 56, PC North 12 BARTLESVILLE 27, Sand Springs 24 Southmoore 38, MOORE 20 Tulsa Washington 42, PONCA CITY 21 STILLWATER 55, U.S. Grant 6 Westmoore 35, NORMAN 7 Class 5A DUNCAN 28, Chickasha 14 COLLINSVILLE 35, Coweta 20 ARDMORE 42, Del City 38 ALTUS 44, El Reno 16 Grove 28, TULSA NOAH 21 Guymon 35, SOUTHEAST 28 Lawton MacArthur 55, NW CLASSEN 8 McAlester 42, DURANT 20 GUTHRIE 14, McGuinness 10 DEER CREEK 35, Piedmont 10 Shawnee 28, NOBLE 21 Tahlequah 21, TULSA EAST CENTRAL 20 Tulsa Edison 31, PRYOR 28 SKIATOOK 49, Tulsa Hale 0 TULSA KELLEY 20, Tulsa Memorial 14 CARL ALBERT 42, Western Heights 14 Class 4A Broken Bow 27, TULSA CENTRAL 22 Cache 21, NEWCASTLE 14 Cascia Hall 35, MIAMI 24 Catoosa 28, TULSA McLAIN 13 WEATHERFORD 27, Clinton 20 ANADARKO 35, Elk City 28 ADA 24, Glenpool 17 HARRAH 42, McLoud 14 WAGONER 28, Oologah 21 Poteau 30, MULDROW 20 Sallisaw 14, FORT GIBSON 7 METRO CHR. 44, Stilwell 16 Tuttle 35, TECUMSEH 7 CLEVELAND 42, Vinita 35 Woodward 28, ELGIN 20 Class 3A HILLDALE 24, Beggs 21 Berryhill 28, SEQ.-CLAREMORE 14 MOUNT ST. MARY 34, Bridge Creek 22 MARLOW 28, Comanche 13 SULPHUR 27, Dickson 21 Heavener 20, EUFAULA 17 Idabel 42, CHECOTAH 28 Jay 28, KEYS (PARK HILL) 27 John Marshall 30, BLANCHARD 14 Kingfisher 42, MANNFORD 14 Lincoln Christian 49, VERDIGRIS 6 LONE GROVE 48, Madill 14 BETHANY 35, Meeker 28 TULSA ROGERS 30, Morris 12 BLACKWELL 20, Pawnee 16 CUSHING 32, Perkins 20 DOUGLASS 34, Plainview 22 Purcell 21, PAULS VALLEY 20 Seminole 28, LITTLE AXE 21 Seq. Tahlequah 22, INOLA 18 Sperry 20, KELLYVILLE 12 ROLAND 21, Spiro 14 Star Spencer 20, BETHEL 18 Stigler 34, VALLIANT 6 DEWEY 16, Tulsa Webster 14 Victory Christian 48, OKMULGEE 14 LOCUST GROVE 49, Westville 21 Class 2A Adair 42, SALINA 14 PANAMA 26, Antlers 20 PAWHUSKA 20, Caney Valley 13 Chandler 48, HENRYETTA 28 Chelsea 22, OKLAHOMA UNION 18 HASKELL 35, Chouteau 16 Hartshorne 34, LIBERTY 7 Hennessey 28, ALVA 21 Hollis 30, HOBART 14 ATOKA 14, Hugo 13 Hulbert 28, KANSAS 7 Lindsay 42, FREDERICK 16 Luther 44, CHR. HERITAGE 31 KINGSTON 34, Marietta 12 CHISHOLM 35, Newkirk 7 Nowata 21, COMMERCE 6 Okeene 34, CROOKED OAK 28 WARNER 21, Pocola 20 Prague 28, WEWOKA 27 Stroud 21, OKEMAH 14 Tishomingo 24, COALGATE 20 Tonkawa 26, PERRY 21 Vian 28, WILBURTON 14 Walters 34, DIBBLE 20 Washington 49, LEXINGTON 13 Wyandotte 35, AFTON 34 Class A KIEFER 49, Barnsdall 7 Beaver 42, BURNS FLAT-DILL CITY 6 Carnegie 34, SNYDER 28 Community Christian 21, ELMORE CITY 20 Cordell 40, HINTON 28 Crescent 42, CRESCENT 35 Crossings Chr. 28, OKLAHOMA BIBLE 21 HOMINY 21, Drumright 7 Empire 20, CENTRAL MARLOW 14 FOYIL 14, Fairland 7 VELMA-ALMA 24, Healdton 21 Ketchum 35, SUMMIT CHR. 6 APACHE 34, Mangum 24 Minco 35, WAYNE 21 Mooreland 38, FAIRVIEW 18 Morrison 28, MOUNDS 7 WATONGA 29, Okla. Christian Aca. 23 CENTRAL SALLISAW 42, Porter 12 Quinton 28, GORE 6 Rejoice Christian 21, QUAPAW 7 TEXHOMA 24, Sayre 14 Stratford 48, RUSH SPRINGS 8 Talihina 28, SAVANNA 7 Thomas 27, HOOKER 20 RINGLING 42, Wilson 6 Wynnewood 35, KONAWA 0 Class B ALLEN 52, Bray-Doyle 6 POND CREEK-HUNTER 48, Canton 12 Davenport 54, WOODLAND 8 Depew 48, WATTS 0 Dewar 58, WETUMKA 12 Gans 34, CANADIAN 28 SOUTH COFFEYVILLE 30, Garber 24 CADDO 56, Haileyville 12 Keota 60, PORUM 6 WAUKOMIS 42, Kremlin-Hillsdale 26 LAVERNE 38, Laverne 30 ALEX 60, Macomb 6 MAYSVILLE 34, Maud 30 Oaks 40, WEBBERS FALLS 20 MERRITT 32, Ringwood 28 TURPIN 44, Seiling 34 CYRIL 28, Strother 20 Waurika 42, GEARY 36 WESLEYAN CHR. 38, Welch 20 Weleetka 44, ARKOMA 28 Class C Bluejacket 42, COPAN 6 Boise City 48, ROLLA, KAN. 0 BALKO 44, Buffalo 8 THACKERVILLE 38, Cave Springs 28 Cherokee 64, WAYNOKA 18 COV.-DOUGLAS 48, Claremore Chr. 30 Coyle 54, TIMBERLAKE 6 Fox 50, BOWLEGS 0 DUKE 48, Life Christian 0 Medford 42, WRIGHT CHR. 34 Mt. View-Gotebo 34, TEMPLE 26 OKC Patriots 38, SHARON-MUTUAL 34 Paoli 28, MIDWAY 24 DC-LAMONT 50, Prue 0 Sasakwa 28, BOKOSHE 16 SW Covenant 48, CORN BIBLE 42 GRANDFIELD 44, Tipton 24 SHATTUCK 64, Tyrone 30 Independent Casady 31, DALLAS ST. MARKS 28 Holland Hall 35, TRINITY VALLEY 27 Regent Prep 48, IMMANUEL CHR. 20 *Home team in CAPS
High school notebook
Sep 22, 2015
EDMOND NORTH'S RUN GAME SHINES IN WIN Even without its top running back Friday, Edmond North found a way to establish its run game in a 26-14 win over Stillwater. The Huskies (1-2) were forced to turn to sophomore Alex Smith and Darius McGlothin when starter Jerry Minnifield re-injured his hamstring on the game's opening play. McGlothin finished with a touchdown and 68 yards, and Smith rushed...
High school notebook
BY JACOB UNRUH AND SCOTT WRIGHT | Sep 22, 2015EDMOND NORTH'S RUN GAME SHINES IN WIN Even without its top running back Friday, Edmond North found a way to establish its run game in a 26-14 win over Stillwater. The Huskies (1-2) were forced to turn to sophomore Alex Smith and Darius McGlothin when starter Jerry Minnifield re-injured his hamstring on the game's opening play. McGlothin finished with a touchdown and 68 yards, and Smith rushed for 69 yards and two touchdowns. "He came in and did a good job," Edmond North coach Scott Burger said of Smith. "It's always nice to establish the run. That opened up some things in the passing game, but it was good to see that." Edmond North scored two touchdowns in the third after Stillwater tied the game at 14, including Smith's 2-yard score that sealed the win. Edmond North travels to Mustang this week to open district play. "We hope to keep a little momentum going," Burger said. "I keep telling the kids it's consistency on both sides of the ball. We'll practice hard and get read for Mustang, which is obviously a really good football team. We'll be ready to go on Friday." EDMOND MEMORIAL'S DECKER LIKELY OUT FOR SEASON Edmond Memorial quarterback Grant Decker suffered a broken bone in his throwing elbow late in the Bulldogs' 28-24 loss to Mustang last week. Decker, a junior, is expected to miss the remainder of the season, according to Memorial coach Justin Merideth. "Grant was making huge, huge improvements every week and he was really becoming a big-time playmaker for us," Merideth said. Senior Jonah Weltzheimer will take over at quarterback. Merideth said he has full confidence in Weltzheimer moving forward. "We always made sure to give Jonah reps in games and scrimmages just for this season," Merideth said. "He's been prepared. He watches more film than any player on our team; he prepares himself mentally to go in every game. He'll know exactly what to do and where to go with the ball. He's going to be well prepared." Edmond Memorial plays Edlam rival Edmond Santa Fe at 7 p.m. Friday at Central Oklahoma's Wantland Stadium WAYNE STARTS STRONG, MINCO NEXT While compiling six wins over the past two seasons combined, Wayne coach Brandon Sharp had to rely on a lot of freshmen and sophomores. But now, those players are growing up, and the results are beginning to show in the win column with the Bulldogs' 3-0 start. "The kids have gained some confidence, and that's a big deal," Sharp said. "It's definitely a lot more fun being 3-0 than 0-3." Running back Braden Smith has rushed for more than 100 yards in all three games and the Bulldog defense has been much improved this season. Of course, the road gets much tougher for Wayne in District A-4. Among the opponents on Wayne's district schedule are No. 1 Stratford, unbeaten Community Christian, Wynnewood and fifth-ranked Minco — Wayne's first opponent in district play Friday. "We're fixing to find out how good we are," Sharp said. "Jumping into our district, man, it's a monster." EDMOND NORTH'S HINTON COMMITS TO OKLAHOMA The Oklahoma golf program continues to focus heavily on in-state recruiting, locking up another of the state's top young players. Edmond North junior Laken Hinton announced on Twitter recently that he had verbally committed to the Sooners. He joins Yukon junior Lane Wallace in OU's 2017 recruiting class. ZANGARI FINISHES FIRST PRO SEASON STRONG Former Carl Albert star baseball player Corey Zangari recently put a nice finishing touch on his first professional season. The White Sox prospect hit .376 with eight doubles and three home runs in 28 games for the Arizona League White Sox and Great Falls Voyagers, another rookie league team. He helped the AZL team reach the league championship — which it won without Zangari — and then played the final six games for Great Falls. Zangari finished his first pro season with a .316 average, six homers, 41 RBIs and 15 doubles. Zangari, who was The Oklahoman's All-State Player of the Year last season, was selected in the sixth round of the MLB Draft by Chicago in June. He chose the White Sox over Oklahoma State, where he had signed his National Letter of Intent.
Bill Young talks about his days at OU
Sep 18, 2015
For the Friday Oklahoman, I wrote about old war horses Larry Coker and Bill Young. Both have been coordinators at all three Oklahoma schools — OU, OSU and Tulsa — as well as myriad other stops. Coker, 67, returns to Stillwater on Saturday as head coach at Texas-San Antonio. Young, 69, returns to Norman on Saturday as defensive coordinator at Tulsa. You can read that column here. But my...
Bill Young talks about his days at OU
Berry Tramel | Sep 18, 2015[img width="" height="" style="" render="w620"]3831485[/img] For the Friday Oklahoman, I wrote about old war horses Larry Coker and Bill Young. Both have been coordinators at all three Oklahoma schools — OU, OSU and Tulsa — as well as myriad other stops. Coker, 67, returns to Stillwater on Saturday as head coach at Texas-San Antonio. Young, 69, returns to Norman on Saturday as defensive coordinator at Tulsa. You can read that column here. But my conversations with them included a variety of subjects I couldn't squeeze into my column, so I thought I would share them. Here is Bill Young: Young on if he knew Tulsa coach Phillip Montgomery before hired to coach the TU defense: "Just playing against him (at Baylor), which wasn't a lot of fun. I knew Phil Bennett and some other people on that stuff, but didn't know Coach that well." Young left Yukon High School after one season to take a position on the SMU staff, then left after a few weeks for Tulsa: "It was really this being my home. I grew up in Oklahoma City. My wife's from here in Tulsa and has two sisters and a brother here. Just felt much more comfortable here. I initially took the job just as a position coach. Felt it was a good fit. Really like Tulsa. Heck of a town, great place to live. I've lived here most of my life. Really like Oklahoma. Great high school coaches, and high school football is really, really good. I really enjoy the people. Tulsa, gosh, hard to find a nicer town to live in." Young on when he'll retire: "I don't have a lot of things to do as far as hobbies. Not a golfer or fisherman or things of that nature. Kind of boring. Young on the Tulsa job: "It's a great opportunity. People in the western part of the state don't really understand about the University of Tulsa. I coached here in the '80s. We won five Missouri Valley championships. Beat Texas Tech, beat Oklahoma State, beat Kansas, beat Kansas State. Played Arkansas off their feet. Three- or four-point game at least three of those games. Just a heck of a program. Obviously, the third team in Oklahoma, but at the same time, we get some awfully good players." Young on how he's been received at TU: "They've been fantastic. The attitude and work ethic of our guys has been outstanding. Having a 2-10 team last year has really motivated this group. We've won a lot of championships in the past. Potential's there for us to do well. Work hard, do a great job recruiting, keep our nose to the grindstone." Young on the 2015 Sooners: "They're a really good football team. Done a super job recruiting. Offensive line's enormous, two of the better running backs in the country, and the quarterback really played well last week. I remember when he was the starter there at Texas Tech. They've got at least one wide receiver as good as there is. Others seem to be really good." Young on his time at OU, as John Blake's defensive coordinator in 1996 and 1997: "It was a transition time. They were redoing the facilities, we were in a double wide trailer. Wasn't a real nice time to be at Oklahoma. Two coaching changes in two years, things were kind of in upheaval, if you understand what I'm saying. But it was a fun time. Obviously the tradition at the University of Oklahoma is second to none." Young on how Tulsa can win: "We'll have to play error-free football. Step it up and play much better than we played in our first two ballgames. Have to get some turnovers. Offense will have to control and move the football and score some points. It's a great challenge for us."
Coker & Young have seen half a century of our state's football
Sep 17, 2015
Coker and Young are still on the stage. The two men who more than anyone would vie for the title of Mr. Oklahoma Football still are coaching. The old war horses are front and center Saturday. Coker will be in Stillwater, as head coach of the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners. Young will be in Norman, as defensive coordinator of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
Coker & Young have seen half a century of our state's football
BY BERRY TRAMEL | Sep 17, 2015The year Larry Coker graduated high school, 1966, he enrolled in summer school at OSU. Planned to go out for Henry Iba's basketball team. Bill Young already was on campus. A linebacker on Phil Cutchin's football team. Played on the '65 team that ended the Cowboys' 19-game Bedlam losing streak and on the '66 team that beat OU again. Long time ago. Half a century ago. Lot of ballgames under the bridge in 50 years. The game has changed. Uniforms have changed. Stadiums have changed. Twenty-year-olds have changed. This has not changed. Coker and Young are still on the stage. The two men who more than anyone would vie for the title of Mr. Oklahoma Football still are coaching. The old war horses are front and center Saturday. Coker will be in Stillwater, as head coach of the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners. Young will be in Norman, as defensive coordinator of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Both Coker and Young have served as coordinators at all three major schools in Oklahoma. Both coached memorable high school teams in the '70s, Young as Mike Little's defensive coordinator at Putnam West and Coker as head coach of Fairfax's back-to-back Class B state champions. Both went on to coach at schools like Miami (both, different times) and Ohio State (both, same time). Young coordinated an Orange Bowl defense at Kansas. Coker was head coach of Miami's 2001 national champions, as good a pick as any as the greatest college team of all time. Both have had their disappointments. Young has the dubious distinction of being fired by both OU and OSU; the former by the incompetent John Blake in 1997, the latter by Mike Gundy in 2012 a year after the Cowboys won the Big 12 title. Coker was fired by Gary Gibbs in 1992, then fired by Miami in 2006 despite a 60-15 record. It happens. Stay in coaching half a century, you're going to get dinged. They've retained their dignity the entire way. Young is a low-key stoic in a world of wild-man defensive coaches. Coker ranks with Bill Hancock as the nicest guy in state sports history. To these guys, it's well worth it to still be in the game. "I really enjoy it," said Young, who was at Yukon High School last season, his only head coaching job in 47 years in the profession. "I enjoy the camaraderie with other coaches and players. It's a challenge. I was off there for 11 months (much of the 2013 season). Gosh, I was bored to tears." Coker was off for three years, did a little television work, then jumped at the chance to return to the sport he embraced that summer of '66. Coker found out he had no business trying to play hoops for Henry Iba, so he transferred to Connors Junior College. Connors dropped football while Coker was there, so he transferred to Northeastern State in Tahlequah. Played football, went into coaching and soon enough was turning the Fairfax Red Devils into a state power. "Wouldn't trade my experience at Fairfax for anything," Coker said. "Been a terrific journey for me. Wouldn't trade it for much of anything." These guys have seen it all in Oklahoma football. Coached with or against most of the biggest names on our state's gridirons. Young played against OU teams coached by Gomer Jones, Jim Mackenzie and Chuck Fairbanks. Coached against OU teams led by Barry Switzer and Bob Stoops. Coached with Blake. Young played for Cutchin. Coached for Jim Stanley. Coached against Jimmy Johnson, Pat Jones, Bob Simmons, Les Miles and Gundy. Coached with Gundy. Coker coached against Switzer and Gibbs, coached for Gibbs and Jones, coached against Johnson and Jones, and coached for Gundy. And both Young and Coker coached for John Cooper in the salad days of Tulsa football in the 1980s. "I've been here a long time, so I know a little bit about" football in the state of Oklahoma, said the understated Young, who graduated from U.S. Grant High School in 1964. Coker, of course, coordinated the great OSU offense of 1988, which featured the eventual Heisman Trophy winner in Barry Sanders and a brash junior quarterback named Mike Gundy. Coker brought his Roadrunners to Stillwater last season, an afternoon that he admits was a little weird. After all, a guy who remembers Gallagher Hall circa 1966 and old Lewis Stadium would be transfixed by the palaces in place today. "It was a strange feeling," Coker said of that 43-13 OSU victory. "Things are so different now. Got such a great facility. Last time I was there, I had Mike as a quarterback. Seeing him on other side as a head football coach was a strange feeling. I have a special feeling in my mind for Stillwater." And all Oklahomans who have a fondness for the gridiron should have a special feeling for these ancients, the 67-year-old Coker and the 69-year-old Young, who have experienced a half century of Oklahoma football and have done it not just with success, but with class. Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at (405) 760-8080 or at email@example.com. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including FM-98.1. You can also view his personality page at newsok.com/berrytramel.
The Oklahoman's Week 3 high school football picks
Sep 16, 2015
Every week, The Oklahoman's Scott Wright will predict the score of every game in the state. Last week's record: 131-45 (74.4 pct.) Overall record: 289-83 (77.7 pct.) Thursday's Games Class 6A Moore 28, NORMAN 21 Class 3A JOHN MARSHALL 63, Crooked Oak 0 Class A KIEFER 42, Beggs JV 14 Quapaw 28, JOPLIN, MO. JV 14 Class C GRANDFIELD 54, Walters JV 6 ...
The Oklahoman's Week 3 high school football picks
BY SCOTT WRIGHT | Sep 16, 2015Every week, The Oklahoman's Scott Wright will predict the score of every game in the state. Last week's record: 131-45 (74.4 pct.) Overall record: 289-83 (77.7 pct.) Thursday's Games Class 6A Moore 28, NORMAN 21 Class 3A JOHN MARSHALL 63, Crooked Oak 0 Class A KIEFER 42, Beggs JV 14 Quapaw 28, JOPLIN, MO. JV 14 Class C GRANDFIELD 54, Walters JV 6 Friday's Games Class 6A Bixby 35, SPRINGDALE, ARK 28 SILOAM SPRINGS, ARK. 31, Claremore 27 Deer Creek 34, YUKON 27 MUSTANG 38, Edmond Memorial 24 SOUTHMOORE 35, Edmond Santa Fe 14 BARTLESVILLE 28, Enid 7 Guthrie 27, SAND SPRINGS 24 Lawton 35, SAPULPA 14 Lawton Mac 44, LAWTON IKE 17 Midwest City 34, DEL CITY 32 FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. 24, Muskogee 20 JENKS 34, Owasso 10 PUTNAM CITY WEST 28, Putnam City 27 CHOCTAW 27, PC North 14 Shawnee 35, PONCA CITY 31 Stillwater 21, EDMOND NORTH 20 TULSA WASHINGTON 42, T. East Central 14 Tulsa Union 24, BROKEN ARROW 21 NORMAN NORTH 42, Westmoore 28 Class 5A Ada 28, DURANT 14 Altus 32, ELK CITY 24 Cache 24, CHICKASHA 17 TULSA KELLEY 20, Coweta 14 Dalhart, Texas 35, GUYMON 13 CARL ALBERT 21, Duncan 18 WESTERN HEIGHTS 35, El Reno 27 ARDMORE 22, Gainesville, Texas 14 CATOOSA 27, Grove 13 McAlester 28, PRYOR 12 Noble 42, PIEDMONT 24 COLLINSVILLE 28, Skiatook 27 Tahlequah 21, SALLISAW 14 Tulsa Central 42, NORTHWEST 7 TULSA EDISON 45, Tulsa Hale 6 Tulsa Memorial 48, TULSA NOAH 12 SOUTHEAST 35, U.S. Grant 22 McGUINNESS 28, Weatherford 21 Class 4A Blanchard 21, NEWCASTLE 20 CUSHING 20, Cleveland 17 Clinton 34, PLAINVIEW 21 VINITA 28, Dewey 14 WAGONER 42, Fort Gibson 21 OOLOGAH 28, Glenpool 20 Hilldale 35, TULSA McLAIN 12 Locust Grove 49, STILWELL 20 BRISTOW 20, Mannford 13 SEMINOLE 28, McLoud 20 NOWATA 21, Miami 14 CASCIA HALL 27, Millwood 22 Muldrow 30, HEAVENER 14 HARRAH 35, Perkins 21 Poteau 28, CAMPUS, KAN. 6 METRO CHR. 41, Seq. Claremore 16 BROKEN BOW 24, Seq. Tahlequah 20 MEEKER 42, Tecumseh 21 WOODWARD 34, Tulsa Rogers 14 Tuttle 35, ELGIN 13 Class 3A Adair 35, VERDIGRIS 14 BERRYHILL 28, Beggs 21 TONKAWA 16, Blackwell 14 SULPHUR 28, Bridge Creek 21 TULSA WEBSTER 35, Capitol Hill 12 WYNNEWOOD 34, Centennial 14 Chandler 48, LITTLE AXE 28 Checotah 21, EUFAULA 20 Comanche 27, FREDERICK 21 HERITAGE HALL 49, Davis 26 Haskell 21, SPIRO 7 EVANGEL CHR. (LA.) 35, Idabel 20 GRAVETTE, ARK. 28, Jay 18 Jones 35, HENNESSEY 21 Kellyville 20, LIBERTY 14 BETHANY 27, Kingfisher 14 Kingston 28, MADILL 13 PURCELL 30, Lexington 20 Lone Grove 38, SANGER, TEXAS 31 WASHINGTON 34, Marlow 21 Mount St. Mary 20, DICKSON 16 Okemah 42, MORRIS 14 LINCOLN CHR. 41, Oklahoma Christian 20 LINDSAY 28, Pauls Valley 27 Prague 30, BETHEL 18 Roland 27, OKMULGEE 7 VICTORY CHR. 48, Shiloh Christian 28 Sperry 21, INOLA 20 DOUGLASS 40, Star Spencer 21 Stigler 20, HENRYETTA 16 HUGO 27, Valliant 7 Vian 28, KEYS (PARK HILL) 12 Westville 42, KANSAS 7 Class 2A Alva 28, HOBART 14 Antlers 34, ATOKA 12 DRUMRIGHT 21, Caney Valley 6 Chouteau 20, PORTER 14 Chr. Heritage 30, TALIHINA 24 HARTSHORNE 35, Coalgate 7 Commerce 42, COLCORD 12 Holdenville 28, WELLSTON 21 CASHION 42, Luther 35 Marionville, Mo. 28, WYANDOTTE 14 HULBERT 21, Mounds 14 OKEENE 20, Newkirk 7 OKLA. CHRISTIAN ACA. 35, Northeast 28 Oklahoma Union 28, FAIRLAND 8 HOMINY 22, Pawhuska 16 STROUD 30, Perry 12 QUINTON 13, Pocola 7 Ringling 20, MARIETTA 0 Salina 22, CHELSEA 6 CHISHOLM 28, Thomas 27 Tishomingo 32, HEALDTON 28 Walters 35, SNYDER 13 PANAMA 21, Warner 14 Wayne 28, DIBBLE 21 STRATFORD 38, Wewoka 20 Wilburton 22, SAVANNA 16 PAWNEE 28, Yale 6 Class A REJOICE CHR. 35, Barnsdall 7 CORDELL 28, Burns Flat-Dill City 7 CARNEGIE 34, Central Marlow 8 Central Sallisaw 42, FOYIL 16 APACHE 44, Crossings Christian 34 HINTON 21, Empire 14 Fairview 28, WATONGA 21 KETCHUM 42, Gore 8 Hollis 48, BEAVER 6 Hooker 35, SYRACUSE, KAN. 12 Mangum 30, SAYRE 6 Mooreland 35, CRESCENT 14 Morrison 28, OKLAHOMA BIBLE 16 MINCO 42, Rush Springs 6 COMMUNITY CHR. 38, Summit Christian 12 Texhoma 24, VEGA, TEXAS 20 Velma-Alma 28, ELMORE CITY 6 KONAWA 21, Wilson 20 Class B ALEX 42, Allen 14 DEWAR 56, Arkoma 6 CADDO 44, Canadian 6 Cyril 50, BRAY-DOYLE 16 DAVENPORT 54, Garber 8 Geary 42, STROTHER 12 Keota 60, HAILEYVILLE 6 Maud 54, MACOMB 8 Maysville 48, WAURIKA 28 KREMLIN-HILLSDALE 42, Merritt 22 POND CREEK-HUNTER 38, Pioneer 34 WELEETKA 48, Porum 0 Ringwood 34, CANTON 14 OAKS 44, South Coffeyville 20 LAVERNE 56, Turpin 44 WOODLAND 38, Watts 18 SEILING 56, Waukomis 6 COYLE 64, Welch 12 DEPEW 54, Wesleyan Christian 8 Wetumka 52, GANS 6 Class C DESTINY CHR. 48, Bokoshe 8 WEBBERS FALLS 54, Bowlegs 6 Cherokee 48, TYRONE 0 TIPTON 48, Corn Bible 12 Covington-Douglas 42, COPAN 16 DC-Lamont 54, MEDFORD 8 CAVE SPRINGS 48, Midway 12 SHARON-MUTUAL 38, Mt. View-Gotebo 28 FOX 54, Paoli 0 CLAREMORE CHR. 48, Prue 0 THACKERVILLE 56, Sasakwa 6 Shattuck 48, BOISE CITY 34 SW Covenant 28, RYAN 24 Temple 44, DUKE 6 BLUEJACKET 50, Timberlake 14 Waynoka 38, BUFFALO 26 Independent Arlington Oakridge 31, HOLLAND HALL 21 EAGLE POINT CHR. 28, Cement 20 WRIGHT CHR. 42, Life Christian 14 OKC PATRIOTS 28, SeeWorth Aca. 8 CASADY 21, Trinity Valley 14 Saturday's Games Independent Immanuel Chr. 34, CORNERSTONE CHR. 22 OSD 40, Louisiana Deaf 28 *Home team in CAPS
High school football: Cameron Hardesty throws for 311 yards as Norman North routs Yukon
Sep 11, 2015
Hardesty completed 17 of 32 passes for 311 yards and four scores, three to wide receiver Charlie Kolar covering 17, 9 and 23 yards.
High school football: Cameron Hardesty throws for 311 yards as Norman North routs Yukon
BY TIM WILLERT | Sep 11, 2015YUKON – Norman North coach Brent Barnes intended to rotate quarterbacks Cameron Hardesty and Brandon Marquardt on Friday night against Yukon. But Hardesty got rolling early and Barnes stayed with the hot hand in a 59-24 rout at Miller Field. Hardesty completed 17 of 32 passes for 311 yards and four scores, three to wide receiver Charlie Kolar covering 17, 9 and 23 yards. Marquardt, who played sparingly, also threw a touchdown to Collin Klein that went for 82 yards. Klein also caught a 59-yard scoring pass and finished with three catches for 151 yards. "It's such an advantage to have multiple guys who can make plays," Hardesty said. Norman North amassed 578 yards of total offense in a game that featured 11 touchdowns and more than 1,000 yards of total offense. "I felt like we were in a rhythm with Cameron, the way he was playing," said Barnes, who played both quarterbacks in the opener against Norman High, a 56-13 win. "He was hot." The Timberwolves (2-0), also got three rushing touchdowns from Quan Hogan in the second half, when the game got away from Yukon for the second straight week. The Millers (0-2) trailed 31-21 at halftime but were outscored 28-3 after the break. Yukon also kept it close in the first half of its opener against Mustang, but gave up a Hail Mary to Mustang on the final play of the first half and never recovered, losing 72-36. Hardesty's counterpart, Trevor Smith, threw for 314 yards and two touchdowns, completing passes to 11 different receivers. But the Millers couldn't overcome four turnovers and 15 penalties for 115 yards. Twice the T-Wolves' defense stopped Yukon on fourth down, including once from the 2-yard line. Cade Mashburn was one of the stars on defense for Norman North with an interception and a fumble recovery that led to touchdowns. Yukon coach Brian Sauser urged his team to keep fighting despite the two lopsided wins "Tonight, we gave up way too many points, obviously," he said. "But we had a lot of missed opportunities on offense. We had opportunities in the red zone that we didn't capitalize on in the beginning of the second half."
Friday Night Lights: Yukon defensive end Blake Davis is not the same person he was before basic training
Sep 10, 2015
After joining the National Guard and enlisting in the Army earlier this year, Davis spent 10 weeks this summer being indoctrinated into the military lifestyle. He was pushed physically. He was tested mentally. He was stretched to the limit in every way possible.
Friday Night Lights: Yukon defensive end Blake Davis is not the same person he was before basic training
BY JENNI CARLSON | Sep 10, 2015YUKON — Blake Davis didn't do any offseason football workouts at Yukon High this summer. Didn't lift any weights. Didn't run any sprints. Didn't study any plays. But talk to teammates and coaches, and they'll tell you that he does everything he's supposed to do, that no one works harder, that he is a leader. So, why didn't he do summer workouts? The answer is basic. Basic training, that is. After joining the National Guard and enlisting in the Army earlier this year, Davis spent 10 weeks this summer being indoctrinated into the military lifestyle. He was pushed physically. He was tested mentally. He was stretched to the limit in every way possible. And he loved it. Basic training was the latest step in realizing a lifelong dream. "I've always wanted to be in the military," Davis said, "and I've always wanted to be a pilot." Still, Davis had no way of knowing how much basic training would change him. He's not the same person now. Not the same football player, either. *** Blake Davis has been around flying machines since Day 1. That's not some sort of hyperbole; he was born at the hospital on Tinker Air Force Base. His grandparents worked on base, and they were always telling stories about flying or offering to drive little Blake around the base to watch the planes. One day at Tinker, he saw a plane bigger than any he'd remembered. He was awed. Inspired, too. "That's what I want to do," he decided. He was only 4 years old. Still, his youthful declaration held. He soaked up as much information about the military and aviation as possible. He read books. He watched documentaries. Everything was geared toward his goal. Ryan Andraszek, now Davis' best buddy, remembers going to Davis' house for the first time in middle school and seeing a giant poster of a helicopter. It wasn't something he saw at other friends' houses. "What's this?" Andraszek asked. "I've always wanted to be an aviation pilot," Davis explained. Andraszek shook his head. "You're crazy," he said. Davis never wavered. Last year as a junior when he had the opportunity to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery — ASVAB for short — he studied as much as possible. The results determine not only if you're allowed to enlist but also if you're qualified for certain specialties. Score well on the ASVAB, and it would increase Davis' chances of flying one day. After taking the test, he felt like he'd done well. "But when they started offering me jobs," Davis said of the military recruiters who contacted him after getting his test results, "I was surprised at the kind of stuff they were offering." First up: cryptologic linguist. Crypto what? "Yeah," Davis said, smiling, then explaining that the job involves listening to audio transmissions, then translating, decrypting and analyzing them. It sounded interesting. So did many of the opportunities mentioned by recruiters, but he chose the Army's offer to become an aircraft mechanic. He would be able to eat, sleep and breathe helicopters. And when the time came to apply for flight school, he'd have quite the background and experience. His dream seemed so much closer. Then, someone suggested he could go ahead and enlist, do basic training the summer before his senior year and put himself ahead in his military career. Blake Davis didn't have to think twice. *** Having joined the National Guard as a 17-year-old, Davis had a sense of what basic training might be like. Attending training every month, he'd gone through some of the drills and heard stories from some of the guardsmen. It couldn't prepare him completely for 10 weeks of basic training at Fort Sill in Lawton. "But it definitely helped out when I got there," he said. "It wasn't a big culture shock." Still, the challenges were many. Even though Davis wasn't doing Yukon football's summer program, he was pushed to the limit physically. He didn't touch a weight or do a sprint, but there were hundreds of push-ups and sit-ups and lots of running. Lots and lots of running. "Now, I might not be the fastest person," he said, smiling, "but I can run forever." Despite all the physical challenges, Davis said what stretched him most was mental. Listening to superiors who'd been deployed. Hearing about experiences they'd endured. He tried to wrap his mind around the struggles, the horrors and the difficulties faced by many in the military. It changed the way Davis thought about lots of things. Having a cell phone. Being around people. Getting to play football. "You definitely learn," he said, "how much you take things for granted." *** Only a few days after returning home from basic training, Blake Davis started football practice. There have been rough patches along the way. Remembering plays. Recognizing formations. After all, the lanky defensive end couldn't have his playbook at basic, where the only kind of outside reading material allowed was religious. Still, Davis doesn't regret the decision to go to basic training this summer. "I would never, ever change the decision," he said. "It's probably set me up for the rest of my life." His coaches at Yukon were supportive, too. Everyone from head coach Brian Sauser on down had no concerns about him going to basic. "Blake does everything he's supposed to do," said Montey Mayfield, Davis' position coach. "He's a joy to have." Football coaches aren't always so gung-ho. National Guard staff sergeant Nicholas Coleman, who is Davis' recruiter, said he has a few high school players who go to basic every summer and their coaches often grumble about it. Davis was set on going regardless. Basic training was the first step to realizing his dream. Next up is aircraft mechanic job training next summer in Alabama, then he'll start working toward an aerospace engineering degree at Oklahoma State, where the National Guard will pay for him to get his degree. But even though he's already planted both feet into the military world, he wasn't afraid to step back into football. Those around him say he's working as hard as ever. He helps younger players. He motivates everyone. "If we could have a Blake at every position," Andraszek, his friend who plays linebacker, said, "we'd be ... dominant." Blake Davis chalks up his outlook to the newfound appreciation he has for all sorts of things since going to basic training. He knows there are lots of men and women who sacrificed for his freedom. They gave him the chance to pursue his dream to fly one day. But they also gave him the opportunity to play football now. He intends to make the most of his Friday nights under the lights. Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at (405) 475-4125 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok or view her personality page at NewsOK.com/jennicarlson.
2016-2017 high school football districts
Sep 9, 2015
After a month-long delay, the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association Board of Directors officially approved the football districts for the 2016 and 2017 seasons on Wednesday. Here is each district: Class 6A Division I District 1 Broken Arrow Edmond Memorial Edmond Santa Fe U.S.
2016-2017 high school football districts
Jacob Unruh | Sep 9, 2015After a month-long delay, the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association Board of Directors officially approved the football districts for the 2016 and 2017 seasons on Wednesday. Here is each district: Class 6A Division I District 1 Broken Arrow Edmond Memorial Edmond Santa Fe U.S. Grant* Jenks Norman Westmoore Yukon District 2 Edmond North Moore Mustang Norman North Owasso Putnam City North Southmoore Tulsa Union Class 6A Division II District 1 Choctaw Deer Creek Enid Lawton Midwest City Putnam City Putnam City West Stillwater District 2 Bartlesville Bixby Capitol Hill* Muskogee Sand Springs Sapulpa Tulsa Washington Ponca City Class 5A District 1 Altus Ardmore Del City Duncan El Reno Lawton MacArthur Southeast Western Heights District 2 Carl Albert Guthrie Guymon Lawton Eisenhower McGuinness Northwest Classen Piedmont Woodward District 3 Coweta Durant Glenpool McAlester Noble Shawnee Tulsa East Central Tulsa Edison District 4 Collinsville Claremore Pryor Skiatook Tahlequah Tulsa Hale Tulsa Kelley Tulsa Memorial Class 4A District 1 Cache Chickasha Clinton Elgin Elk City Heritage Hall Newcastle Weatherford District 2 Ada Bethany Blanchard Cleveland Harrah Tecumseh Tulsa Central Tuttle District 3 Cascia Hall Catoosa Grove Miami Oologah Tulsa McLain Vinita Wagoner District 4 Broken Bow Fort Gibson Hilldale Metro Christian Poteau Sallisaw Stilwell Tulsa Rogers Class 3A District 1 Blackwell Centennial Chandler Kingfisher Mount St. Mary Oklahoma Christian Perkins District 2 Bethel Douglass Jones Little Axe McLoud Prague Star Spencer District 3 Anadarko Bridge Creek Comanche John Marshall Lexington Marlow Purcell District 4 Dickson Lone Grove Madill Pauls Valley Plainview Seminole Sulphur District 5 Berryhill Dewey Mannford Sequoyah-Claremore Sperry Tulsa Webster Verdigris District 6 Beggs Bristow Checotah Cushing Kellyville Morris Okmulgee District 7 Inola Jay Keys Lincoln Christian Locust Grove Sequoyah-Tahlequah Westville District 8 Eufaula Heavener Idabel Muldrow Roland Stigler Class 2A District 1 Alva Chisholm Hennessey Newkirk Pawhuska Perry Tonkawa District 2 Christian Heritage Crooked Oak Luther Meeker Millwood Northeast Stroud District 3 Community Christian Dibble Frederick Hobart Lindsay Walters Washington District 4 Atoka Coalgate Davis Kingston Marietta Stratford Tishomingo District 5 Haskell Henryetta Holdenville Okemah Vian Wewoka District 6 Antlers Hartshorne Hugo Panama Spiro Valliant Wilburton District 7 Chouteau Colcord Holland Hall Kansas Ketchum Salina Victory Christian District 8 Adair Caney Valley Chelsea Commerce Nowata Oklahoma Union Wyandotte Class A District 1 Beaver Fairview Hooker Mooreland Okeene Texhoma Thomas District 2 Cordell Hinton Hollis Mangum Merritt Sayre Watonga District 3 Apache Elmore Cityl Empire Healdton Ringling Rush Springs Velma-Alma District 4 Crossings Christian Konawa Minco Oklahoma Christian Academy Wayne Wellston Wynnewood District 5 Cashion Crescent Drumright Morrison Oklahoma Bible Pawnee Yale District 6 Hominy Kiefer Liberty Mounds Porter Summit Christian Woodland District 7 Afton Barnsdall Fairland Foyil Hulbert Quapaw Rejoice Christian District 8 Central Sallisaw Gore Pocola Quinton Savanna Talihina Warner Class B District 1 Canton Laverne Seiling Shattuck Turpin District 2 Cherokee Garber Pioneer-Pleasant Vale Ringwood Waukomis District 3 Alex Burns Flat-Dill City Carnegie Cyril Geary Snyder District 4 Bray-Doyle Central Marlow Fox Ryan Waurika Wilson District 5 Allen Caddo Macomb Maud Maysville Strother District 6 Canadian Dewar Haileyville Weleetka Wetumka District 7 Davenport Depew Prue Oaks South Coffeyville District 8 Arkoma Cave Springs Gans Keota Porum Watts Class C District 1 Balko Boise City Buffalo Kremlin-Hillsdale Sharon-Mutual Timberlake Tyrone Waynoka District 2 Cement Corn Bible Duke Grandfield Mountain View-Gotebo Southwest Covenant Temple Tipton District 3 Bluejacket Copan Covington-Douglas Deer Creek-Lamont Medford Pond Creek-Hunter Regent Prep Welch District 4 Bokoshe Bowlegs Coyle Midway Paoli Sasakwa Thackerville Webbers Falls *-Will not compete as part of district.
High school notebook: OSSAA approves 2016-17 Class 6A, 5A baseball districts
Sep 9, 2015
OSSAA APPROVES BASEBALL DISTRICTS The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association board of directors unanimously approved the Class 6A and Class 5A baseball districts for the 2016 and 2017 spring seasons on Wednesday. Here is a breakdown of each district: Class 6A District 1 Capitol Hill, Edmond Memorial, Mustang, Norman, Norman North, Putnam City, Putnam North, Westmoore District 2...
High school notebook: OSSAA approves 2016-17 Class 6A, 5A baseball districts
BY JACOB UNRUH AND SCOTT WRIGHT | Sep 9, 2015OSSAA APPROVES BASEBALL DISTRICTS The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association board of directors unanimously approved the Class 6A and Class 5A baseball districts for the 2016 and 2017 spring seasons on Wednesday. Here is a breakdown of each district: Class 6A District 1 Capitol Hill, Edmond Memorial, Mustang, Norman, Norman North, Putnam City, Putnam North, Westmoore District 2 Choctaw, Edmond Santa Fe, Lawton, Midwest City, Putnam West, Southmoore, U.S. Grant, Yukon District 3 Broken Arrow, Deer Creek, Edmond North, Jenks, Ponca City, Sapulpa, Stillwater, Tulsa Washington District 4 Bartlesville, Bixby, Enid, Moore, Muskogee, Owasso, Sand Springs, Tulsa Union Class 5A District 1 Del City, Guthrie, Guymon, Noble, Northwest Classen, Piedmont, Shawnee, Woodward District 2 Altus, Ardmore, Carl Albert, Duncan, El Reno, Lawton Eisenhower, Lawton MacArthur, Western Heights District 3 Coweta, Durant, McAlester, Pryor, Tahlequah, Tulsa East Central*, Tulsa Edison, Tulsa Kelley District 4 Claremore, Collinsville, Glenpool, McGuinness, Skiatook, Southeast, Tulsa Hale, Tulsa Memorial *Tulsa East Central is not playing baseball in 2015-16 school year. Should it return in 2016-17, it would be placed in District 3. JOHN MARSHALL PLANNING REUNION FOR 1995 TITLE TEAM At halftime of its game against Centennial on Friday night at Taft Stadium, John Marshall will honor its 1995 state championship team. The 1995 Bears, coached by legendary Clyde Ellis, defeated Lawton MacArthur 21-7 for the Class 5A state title. Justin Matthews, who rushed for 310 yards and all three John Marshall TDs in the title game, is among the players expected to be in attendance. Also among the former Bears expected to attend are Willie Grissom, Tango McCauley, Sean Love, Jeff Leep, Lee Lee Sutter, Antonio Jones, Antonio Fuller, Joshua Coats, Toby Heinrich, Julian Lewis and Bernard Rhome. The 1995 title was the second of the school's two football championships, the first coming in 1963. Friday's John Marshall-Centennial game is scheduled to kick off at 7. OSSAA EXTENDS AGREEMENT WITH SPECIAL OLYMPICS The OSSAA extended its agreement with Special Olympics Oklahoma for one more year and made a donation of $2,500 to the organization. An agreement was reached last year with the organization to make the donation along with donating equipment such as soccer balls left over from state championship events. EDMOND MEMORIAL'S MAMMEN COMMITS TO EMPORIA STATE Edmond Memorial senior linebacker Zeke Mammen verbally committed to Division II Emporia State (Kan.) earlier this week. Mammen announced his decision on Twitter, saying he was "very blessed" to commit to the school. Mammen had 80 tackles, two sacks and an interception as a junior. As a sophomore, he had 34 tackles and two sacks in a limited role. In last week's loss to Southmoore, he recorded 14 tackles and a sack.
The Oklahoman's high school football picks for Week 2
Sep 9, 2015
Every week, The Oklahoman's Scott Wright will predict the score of every game in the state. Last week's record: 142-36 (79.8 pct.) Overall record: 158-38 (80.6 pct.) Thursday's Games Class 6A PUTNAM CITY 28, Choctaw 27 Del City 56, LAWTON EISENHOWER 42 Edmond Santa Fe 28, MOORE 21 Class 5A Elk City 48, SOUTHEAST 8 Class 4A Nowata 35, VINITA 20 Class 3A LOCUST...
The Oklahoman's high school football picks for Week 2
BY SCOTT WRIGHT | Sep 9, 2015Every week, The Oklahoman's Scott Wright will predict the score of every game in the state. Last week's record: 142-36 (79.8 pct.) Overall record: 158-38 (80.6 pct.) Thursday's Games Class 6A PUTNAM CITY 28, Choctaw 27 Del City 56, LAWTON EISENHOWER 42 Edmond Santa Fe 28, MOORE 21 Class 5A Elk City 48, SOUTHEAST 8 Class 4A Nowata 35, VINITA 20 Class 3A LOCUST GROVE 54, Adair 42 Okmulgee 28, U.S. GRANT 22 STAR SPENCER 42, SeeWorth Aca. 20 Class 2A COMMERCE 21, Afton 14 Poteau JV 27, POCOLA 22 Class B Geary 48, BRAY-DOYLE 16 DEPEW 52, Osd, 42 Class C CHEROKEE 44, Buffalo 22 Friday's Games Class 6A Broken Arrow 27, COPPELL, TEXAS 20 MIDWEST CITY 21, Carl Albert 20 BARTLESVILLE 24, Cascia Hall 21 Claremore 20, ROGERS, ARK. 14 EDMOND MEMORIAL 21, Edmond North 17 Jenks 35, TULSA UNION 32 Lawton 27, LAWTON MAC 24 OWASSO 28, Muskogee 8 Mustang 45, STILLWATER 13 DEER CREEK 27, Norman 10 Norman North 42, YUKON 24 GUTHRIE 31, Ponca City 27 PC NORTH 34, Putnam West 31 Sand Springs 30, ENID 13 BIXBY 33, Tulsa East Central 12 SAPULPA 42, Tulsa Hale 6 Tulsa Washington 49, TULSA CENTRAL 8 SOUTHMOORE 35, Westmoore 28 Class 5A ALTUS 28, Anadarko 27 NOBLE 42, Chickasha 31 Collinsville 24, CATOOSA 21 McALESTER 35, Coweta 28 Duncan 28, SHAWNEE 17 ARDMORE 35, Durant 13 WOODWARD 27, El Reno 12 Grove 20, JAY 6 LIBERAL, KAN. 33, Guymon 14 Northwest 20, NORTHEAST 16 Oologah 28, SKIATOOK 24 WEATHERFORD 38, Piedmont 14 STILWELL 28, Tahlequah 27 McGUINNESS 24, Tulsa Kelley 21 TULSA EDISON 42, Tulsa Memorial 35 Wagoner 34, PRYOR 20 Western Heights 49, CAPITOL HILL 6 Class 4A Ada 34, MADILL 16 GLENPOOL 27, Beggs 22 STROUD 35, Bristow 7 IDABEL 42, Broken Bow 28 Cleveland 28, MANNFORD 6 Elgin 14, MARLOW 13 Harrah 27, JONES 23 Heritage Hall 42, CLINTON 28 FORT GIBSON 28, Hilldale 21 CACHE 24, Hobart 22 Metro Christian 21, OCS 7 TUTTLE 28, Newcastle 12 Perkins 27, McLOUD 16 Sallisaw 35, STIGLER 14 Spiro 20, MULDROW 13 SEMINOLE 32, Tecumseh 14 Tulsa McLain 21, TULSA NOAH 20 Van Buren, Ark. 30, POTEAU 14 Verdigris 35, MIAMI 7 Class 3A Bethel 21, OKEMAH 12 Blanchard 28, CASADY 24 JOHN MARSHALL 55, Centennial 6 Colcord 28, WESTVILLE 21 Comanche 17, TISHOMINGO 14 Cushing 30, BERRYHILL 26 EUFAULA 36, Hartshorne 34 KINGFISHER 28, Hennessey 27 CHECOTAH 21, Henryetta 6 LINCOLN CHR. 35, Holland Hall 17 LONE GROVE 49, Hugo 7 Inola 22, SALINA 20 Kellyville 34, CANEY VALLEY 8 Keys (Park Hill) 35, LINCOLN, ARK. 17 Kingston 35, VALLIANT 7 Lexington 28, BRIDGE CREEK 8 Lindsay 34, DICKSON 6 Little Axe 49, CROOKED OAK 6 CHANDLER 44, Meeker 34 HASKELL 28, Morris 8 CHR. HERITAGE 28, Mount St. Mary 24 BLACKWELL 21, Newkirk 14 DEWEY 30, Pawhuska 16 Plainview 28, PAULS VALLEY 24 ROLAND 35, Seq. Tahlequah 14 SEQ.-CLAREMORE 17, Sperry 14 DAVIS 28, Sulphur 21 TULSA ROGERS 42, Tulsa Webster 14 Vian 21, HEAVENER 14 Victory Christian 56, LIGHTHOUSE CHR. 6 Washington 28, PURCELL 21 Class 2A Atoka 31, HOLDENVILLE 28 FOYIL 21, Chelsea 20 FAIRVIEW 28, Chisholm 24 Crescent 20, PERRY 14 Dibble 27, RUSH SPRINGS 22 Elmore City 33, MARIETTA 20 Frederick 28, MANGUM 21 Hulbert 38, WARNER 34 WYANDOTTE 30, Kansas 18 Ketchum 21, CHOUTEAU 20 WEWOKA 35, Konawa 14 SUMMIT CHR. 14, Liberty 7 Luther 35, PRAGUE 28 ALVA 28, Oklahoma Bible 14 BARNSDALL 22, Oklahoma Union 16 Panama 34, CENTRAL SALLISAW 24 Pawnee 21, HOMINY 20 WILBURTON 20, Quinton 13 COALGATE 14, Savanna 12 Talihina 28, ANTLERS 21 Tonkawa 22, MORRISON 17 Walters 35, EMPIRE 20 Wellston 14, YALE 7 Class A Apache 34, WILSON 12 Cashion 42, MOORELAND 14 Community Christian 28, CARNEGIE 21 Cordell 32, CENTRAL MARLOW 18 MOUNDS 20, Gore 16 Hinton 26, SAYRE 20 HOLLIS 34, Hooker 14 QUAPAW 14, Humboldt, Kan. 12 Minco 34, CROSSINGS CHR. 28 DRUMRIGHT 20, Porter 14 KIEFER 35, Rejoice Christian 14 Snyder 45, BURNS FLAT-DILL CITY 8 Stratford 42, HEALDTON 6 BEAVER 35, Syracuse, Kan. 7 Texhoma 28, BOOKER, TEXAS 24 Thomas 28, OKEENE 7 Wayne 44, OKLAHOMA CHR. ACA. 6 Wynnewood 21, VELMA-ALMA 20 Class B Alex 58, CYRIL 8 WETUMKA 38, Caddo 32 PIONEER 42, Canton 12 Davenport 56, WATTS 8 Dewar 52, PORUM 6 ARKOMA 42, Gans 34 CANADIAN 44, Haileyville 16 Kremlin-Hillsdale 34, RINGWOOD 28 Laverne 36, WAUKOMIS 18 ALLEN 42, Macomb 20 GARBER 38, Oaks 28 Pond Creek-Hunter 42, TURPIN 28 Seiling 48, MERRITT 12 MAYSVILLE 52, Strother 6 MAUD 34, Waurika 28 Welch 36, SOUTH COFFEYVILLE 24 KEOTA 44, Weleetka 36 Woodland 50, WESLEYAN CHR. 34 Class C DC-LAMONT 54, Bluejacket 48 Boise City 42, TYRONE 6 Bokoshe 30, BOWLEGS 24 Cave Springs 44, PAOLI 12 DUKE 42, Cement 8 REGENT PREP 56, Copan 6 Grandfield 52, THACKERVILLE 24 COVINGTON-DOUGLAS 36, Medford 28 Midway 42, SASAKWA 38 Mt. View-Gotebo 48, SW COVENANT 20 COYLE 60, Prue 6 BALKO 44, Rolla, Kan. 14 Ryan 38, CORN BIBLE 12 SHATTUCK 56, Sharon-Mutual 20 Tipton 42, TEMPLE 34 Waynoka 50, TIMBERLAKE 38 FOX 56, Webbers Falls 6 Independent LIFE CHRISTIAN 48, Eagle Point Chr. 20 WRIGHT CHR. 34, Immanuel Christian 16 DESTINY CHR. 44, OKC Patriots 24 Saturday's Games Class 3A Douglass 28, Millwood 27 *Home team in CAPS
Week 1 high school football picks
Sep 4, 2015
Every week, The Oklahoman's Scott Wright will predict the score of every game in the state. Last week's record: 16-2 Friday's Games Class 6A Bartlesville 28, TULSA EAST CENTRAL 24 Broken Arrow 21, OWASSO 20 EDMOND SANTA FE 31, Edmond North 17 Enid 27, PONCA CITY 20 Jenks 42, BIXBY 13 Lawton Ike 34, FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. 28 McAlester 20, MUSKOGEE 14 Midwest City 16, TULSA...
Week 1 high school football picks
BY SCOTT WRIGHT | Sep 4, 2015Every week, The Oklahoman's Scott Wright will predict the score of every game in the state. Last week's record: 16-2 Friday's Games Class 6A Bartlesville 28, TULSA EAST CENTRAL 24 Broken Arrow 21, OWASSO 20 EDMOND SANTA FE 31, Edmond North 17 Enid 27, PONCA CITY 20 Jenks 42, BIXBY 13 Lawton Ike 34, FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. 28 McAlester 20, MUSKOGEE 14 Midwest City 16, TULSA WASHINGTON 13 WESTMOORE 28, Moore 27 CLAREMORE 17, Pryor 10 PUTNAM CITY 30, Putnam North 28 LAWTON 44, Salina, Kan. Central 14 CHOCTAW 28, Sapulpa 20 TULSA UNION 38, Southlake Carroll 35 DEER CREEK 34, Stillwater 27 MUSTANG 31, Yukon 20 Class 5A Altus 35, VERNON, TEXAS 20 Anadarko 45, CHICKASHA 14 Ardmore 21, ADA 20 Carl Albert 30, EL RENO 6 Fort Gibson 42, TAHLEQUAH 16 Guthrie 28, DUNCAN 24 GUYMON 21, Hugoton, Kan. 14 John Marshall 49, NORTHWEST 12 McGuinness 28, SHAWNEE 27 Miami 17, GROVE 13 Noble 21, TECUMSEH 7 SKIATOOK 42, Piedmont 10 Poteau 27, DURANT 7 WEATHERFORD 35, Southeast 20 TULSA EDISON 21, Tulsa Kelley 20 Tulsa Memorial 34, TULSA CENTRAL 6 Wagoner 28, COWETA 27 Western Heights 44, U.S. GRANT 12 Class 4A Berryhill 21, GLENPOOL 17 IOWA PARK, TEXAS 28, Cache 7 Cascia Hall 27, HOLLAND HALL 10 SALLISAW 33, Catoosa 20 Cushing 38, BRISTOW 7 HENNESSEY 28, Elgin 6 Kingfisher 24, WOODWARD 12 McLoud 40, BETHEL 10 Metro Christian 28, TULSA NOAH 24 NEWCASTLE 27, Pauls Valley 24 HARRAH 32, Seminole 28 Stilwell 36, SPIRO 31 Tulsa McLain 28, MANNFORD 6 Tuttle 34, BLANCHARD 18 BROKEN BOW 30, Valliant 8 Vinita 24, JAY 6 Class 3A Adair 48, SPERRY 8 HEAVENER 28, Atoka 24 Bethany 35, MARLOW 20 PERRY 17, Blackwell 14 Checotah 28, KEYS (PARK HILL) 14 MOUNT ST. MARY 34, Crooked Oak 12 NOWATA 28, Dewey 6 KINGSTON 28, Dickson 7 BEGGS 21, Eufaula 14 Henryetta 21, MORRIS 20 Idabel 42, HUGO 8 Inola 35, CHELSEA 12 Kiefer 42, KELLYVILLE 14 WESTVILLE 28, Lincoln, Ark. 24 Lone Grove 35, MARIETTA 7 TISHOMINGO 17, Madill 14 SEQ.-TAHLEQUAH 21, Okemah 14 CHANDLER 48, Okmulgee 28 MEEKER 27, Prague 22 LINDSAY 21, Purcell 20 Sanger, Texas 42, PLAINVIEW 34 Seq. Claremore 26, PERKINS 20 HILLDALE 28, Stigler 12 Verdigris 27, PAWHUSKA 6 Victory Christian 49, KANSAS 7 Wynnewood 35, SULPHUR 12 Class 2A COLCORD 28, Afton 8 THOMAS 31, Alva 7 Antlers 21, SAVANNA12 Barnsdall 33, CANEY VALLEY 6 Central Sallisaw 17, POCOLA 14 STRATFORD 34, Coalgate 12 MINCO 44, Dibble 16 WELLSTON 22, Drumright 14 Electra, Texas 28, FREDERICK 20 WYANDOTTE 42, Fairland 12 Haskell 27, KETCHUM 22 Hobart 10, MANGUM 7 Hulbert 33, PORTER 12 Morrison 30, PAWNEE 14 Mounds 18, LIBERTY 6 CHISHOLM 28, Okeene 14 Quapaw 20, OKLAHOMA UNION 12 Oklahoma Chr. 35, RINGLING 18 Stroud 28, COMMERCE 6 LUTHER 42, Tonkawa 7 TALIHINA 45, Wilburton 16 WALTERS 35, Wilson 0 Class A Beaver 35, STANTON CO. KAN. 6 Cashion 56, YALE 6 SNYDER 28, Central Marlow 7 HOOKER 20, Elkhart, Kan. 14 ELMORE CITY 31, Empire 12 Healdton 17, WAYNE 12 Hinton 28, WATONGA 20 Hollis 30, WELLINGTON, TEXAS 17 Konawa 14, QUINTON 7 COMMUNITY CHR. 24, Okla. Christian Aca. 17 FAIRVIEW 28, Oklahoma Bible 14 CROSSINGS CHR. 34, Rejoice Christian 28 APACHE 35, Rush Springs 12 CORDELL 35, Sayre 7 BOOKER, TEXAS 28, Texhoma 21 SUMMIT CHR. 22, Warner 20 Class B Alex 56, CADDO 6 Allen 42, WETUMKA 28 Bluejacket 52, WELCH 6 ARKOMA 54, Bokoshe 8 MT. VIEW-GOTEBO 46, Bray-Doyle 0 WAUKOMIS 38, Buffalo 8 STROTHER 42, Canadian 12 Depew 56, HAILEYVILLE 6 OAKS 44, Gans 16 Garber 48, COVINGTON-DOUGLAS 34 Laverne 48, BOISE CITY 28 CYRIL 34, Life Christian 6 Merritt 40, CORN BIBLE 18 CHEROKEE 50, Pioneer 0 TIMBERLAKE 34, Ringwood 32 Sasakwa 28, MACOMB 20 SEILING 46, Sharon-Mutual 36 South Coffeyville 56, CLAREMORE CHR. 6 TURPIN 34, Tyrone 14 RYAN 30, Waurika 24 Webbers Falls 40, PORUM 12 DAVENPORT 56, Weleetka 32 DEWAR 52, Woodland 6 Class C Balko 34, MOSCOW, KAN. 6 SW COVENANT 48, Destiny Christian 34 WAYNOKA32, Duke 20 TIPTON 28, Fox 24 WRIGHT CHR. 42, Midway 38 Regent Prep 42, PRUE 8 Shattuck 56, OKC PATRIOTS 14 Thackerville 38, TEMPLE 34 Wesleyan Christian 34, COPAN 12 Saturday's Games Class 3A Lincoln Christian 35, Davis 21 (at Choctaw) Jones28, Vian 13 (at Choctaw) *Home team in CAPS
High school football: Jenks, Tulsa Union, Mustang top Class 6A rankings
Sep 4, 2015
1. Jenks (11-2): With third-year starter Cooper Nunley at QB, the Trojans are looking for their fourth straight title. 2. Tulsa Union (11-2): Combined with Jenks to win the last 19 Class 6A titles. Can the dominant duo make it 20? 3. Mustang (8-4): A veteran defense will support one of the state's most potent offenses. 4. Broken Arrow (7-4): RB Jamall Shaw and OL Rowdy Frederick lead a power...
High school football: Jenks, Tulsa Union, Mustang top Class 6A rankings
BY SCOTT WRIGHT | Sep 4, 20151. Jenks (11-2): With third-year starter Cooper Nunley at QB, the Trojans are looking for their fourth straight title. 2. Tulsa Union (11-2): Combined with Jenks to win the last 19 Class 6A titles. Can the dominant duo make it 20? 3. Mustang (8-4): A veteran defense will support one of the state's most potent offenses. 4. Broken Arrow (7-4): RB Jamall Shaw and OL Rowdy Frederick lead a power offense. 5. Owasso (10-2): Caleb Colvin and Kavon Graham anchor a defense with lots of size up front. 6. Southmoore (4-7): Sophomore QB Casey Thompson leads the rise at Southmoore. 7. Norman North (5-5): The Timberwolves hope to overpower opponents with RB Quan Hogan and a big offensive line. 8. Edmond Santa Fe (5-5): Coach Kyle White has 17 returning starters to lean on in his first season. 9. Edmond Memorial (5-6): Linebacker Zeke Mammen leads a defense that will key the Bulldogs' success. 10. Yukon (4-6): New coach Brian Sauser is trying to put his imprint on the Miller program. 11. Westmoore (7-4): Must replace the bulk of their offensive production, but the Jaguars have some talent to work with. 12. Putnam City (3-7): Former Union offensive coordinator Preston Pearson brings a championship mentality as the Pirates' new leader. 13. Edmond North (3-7): Jordan Prince and Antonio Williams anchor an experienced secondary. 14. Moore (0-10): The Lions continue to take big steps forward under coach Paul Hix. 15. Putnam City North (4-6): Andre Harris Jr. and Jamal Barkus anchor the offensive and defensive lines, respectively. 16. Norman (2-8): Sophomore Ryan Peoples steps in to quarterback a young group of Tigers.
High school football: Blake Williams' first career TD catch sparks Mustang's rout of Yukon
Sep 4, 2015
Williams hasn't been able to play more than a few varsity snaps in the last two years because of a rare medical condition that disrupts the automatic functions of his nervous system.
High school football: Blake Williams' first career TD catch sparks Mustang's rout of Yukon
BY SCOTT WRIGHT | Sep 4, 2015MUSTANG — An expertly used timeout by Mustang coach Jeremy Dombek just before halftime set up a momentum-swinging touchdown, and a moment Blake Williams will never forget. Dombek called timeout with two seconds left in the first half, and as Yukon's players jogged toward the locker room, referees called them back to the field for one more play. Mustang quarterback Chandler Garrett's pass to the end zone was tipped by a Yukon defender and caught by Williams — his long-awaited first high school touchdown that propelled Mustang to a 72-36 rout of its rival Friday night at Bronco Stadium. "I've been waiting three or four years for this moment," said Williams, who hasn't been able to play more than a few varsity snaps in the last two years because of a rare medical condition that disrupts the automatic functions of his nervous system. "This is the best feeling I've felt. Coming out here and bonding with my brothers and finally getting in the rhythm and doing the thing that I love to do is the best feeling." Williams, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound tight end, earned a scholarship offer from North Carolina with an impressive camp performance over the summer, and his first varsity game will aid his recruiting cause, finishing with seven catches for 136 yards. His 39-yard touchdown catch was huge for the Broncos as well, answering back-to-back Yukon TDs in the final two minutes of the half and giving Mustang a 35-21 lead at the break. The defense turned in a strong third quarter to help the Broncos pull away. "Nobody had to get up and give a big speech at halftime," Mustang senior safety Kiante Miles said. "We all knew it was time to hook up." Mustang showed offensive balance, throwing for 357 yards and rushing for 236. Garrett finished 21-of-26 for 322 yards and five passing touchdowns, completing passes to nine receivers. He added a rushing TD in his first win over Yukon as a starting quarterback. "It's crazy how time flies, and before you know it, you're playing against Yukon for the last time," said Garrett, who is verbally committed to Wyoming. "I tried to soak it in and we had a lot of fun, but we know we still have a lot of work to do. The season is just getting started."
Media notes: Cox releases high school football telecast schedule
Aug 13, 2015
Tulsa Union and Broken Arrow will make three appearances each on the Cox Communications high school football telecast schedule, which was released Thursday. Tulsa Union will face Jenks on Sept. 11 at the University of Tulsa in perhaps the state's biggest rivalry. Edmond Memorial, Edmond Santa Fe, Jenks, Owasso, Putnam City, Southmoore, Norman and Yukon are scheduled to make two...
Media notes: Cox releases high school football telecast schedule
By Mel Bracht Staff Writer email@example.com | Aug 13, 2015Tulsa Union and Broken Arrow will make three appearances each on the Cox Communications high school football telecast schedule, which was released Thursday. Tulsa Union will face Jenks on Sept. 11 at the University of Tulsa in perhaps the state's biggest rivalry. Edmond Memorial, Edmond Santa Fe, Jenks, Owasso, Putnam City, Southmoore, Norman and Yukon are scheduled to make two appearances. Games for Sept. 24-25 have not been determined. Veteran Oklahoma City sportscaster Steve Marshall will call the games with analyst Mike Ziegenhorn, who is beginning his third year on The Cox Channel, and sideline reporter Deion Imade, a former OSU linebacker. The games will air on The Cox Channel (channels 3 and 703) and coxhshub.com. Cox high school football schedule: Sept. 3: Edmond Memorial at Southmoore, 7 p.m. Sept. 4: Broken Arrow at Owasso, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10: Choctaw at Putnam City, 7 p.m. Sept. 11: Jenks vs. Tulsa Union, 7 p.m. at TU's H.A. Chapman Stadium. Sept. 17: Moore at Norman, 7 p.m. Sept. 18: Tulsa Union at Broken Arrow, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24-25: TBA. Oct. 1: Yukon at Edmond Memorial, 7 p.m. Oct. 2: Bartlesville at Bixby, 7 p.m. Oct. 8: Yukon at Edmond Santa Fe, 7 p.m. Oct. 9: Norman North at Mustang, 7 p.m. Oct. 15: Tulsa Union at Owasso, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22: Southmoore at Edmond North, 7 p.m. Oct. 23: Broken Arrow at Jenks, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29: Norman at Putnam City, 7 p.m. Oct. 30: Sand Springs at Tulsa Washington, 7 p.m. Nov. 5: Norman at Edmond Santa Fe, 7 p.m. Nov. 6: Berryhill at Lincoln Christian, TBA. Nov. 13: Playoffs. Nov. 20: Playoffs. Nov. 27: Playoffs. Dec. 4-5: State championships. Dec. 11-12" State championships. Tillman joins Fox Sports Spencer Tillman, a longtime studio analyst for CBS's "College Football Today," is moving to Fox Sports 1 to cover games with longtime colleague Tim Brando. The pair worked together for 15 years on "College Football Today" until Brando joined Fox Sports 1 last fall. Tillman, a running back on OU's 1985 national championship team who played eight seasons in the NFL, will make his FS1 debut at 9 p.m. Sept. 5 with the Mississippi State at Southern Miss game. Steve Hutchinson, a former Michigan and Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman, has been hired to rotate as an analyst with Petros Papadakis, working with Justin Kutcher. Short takes •Fox Sports also has announced its primary broadcast teams for the Big Ten Network: Kevin Kugler, Matt Millen and reporter Lisa Byington; Eric Collins, Glen Mason and reporter Rebecca Harlow. •The next edition of HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel," which debuts at 8 p.m. Tuesday, includes a profile of new Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan and revisits the successful Pulaski Academy High School football team in Little Rock, Ark., that never punts. •ESPN's "Outside the Lines," 9 a.m. Sunday, will have an all-access look at Chicago Cubs manager Joe Madden.
Media notes: KSBI-52 to air high school football telecasts for the first time since 2010
Aug 11, 2015
For the first time in five years, KSBI-52 plans to air a schedule of high school football telecasts.
Media notes: KSBI-52 to air high school football telecasts for the first time since 2010
By Mel Bracht | Aug 11, 2015For the first time in five years, KSBI-52 plans to air a schedule of high school football telecasts. Griffin Communications, which owns KWTV-9 and Tulsa's KOTV-6, purchased the station last fall from Family Broadcasting LLC, which had dropped the prep football telecasts. All but the first game, Norman North vs. Norman at OU on Sept. 3, will air live at 7 p.m. That game will air on delay following the Kansas City Chiefs at St. Louis Rams preseason game at 7 p.m. Joey McWilliams, an OSU graduate who is the owner of OklahomaSports.Net and a radio personality at Durant's Mix 96.1, will handle the play-by-play. Zach Ladner, a recent OU graduate and former Norman High School linebacker, will be the analyst. Ladner, who played college football at Drake, has spent the past two seasons coaching defensive backs at Norman High School. KSBI's high school football schedule: Sept. 3, Norman North vs. Norman at OU, tape delay. Sept. 4, Yukon at Mustang. Sept. 11, Carl Albert at Midwest City. Sept. 18, Edmond Memorial at Mustang. Sept. 25, Clinton at Weatherford. Oct. 2, Deer Creek at Bishop McGuinness. Oct. 9, Edmond Memorial at Putnam City. Oct. 15, Bethany at Douglass. Oct. 23, Carl Albert at Deer Creek. Oct. 30, Midwest City at Lawton. Nov. 6, Deer Creek at Guthrie. Short takes •Charles Davis, Fox's lead college football analyst from 2007 to 2014, will shift to the NFL this fall, working with Thom Brennaman and on-field analyst Tony Siragusa, according to Fox's roster of NFL broadcasters announced Tuesday. Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Erin Andrews return as the No. 1 team. The rest of Fox's NFL broadcast teams include Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch and Pam Oliver; Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Laura Okmin; Chris Myers, Ronde Barber and Jennifer Hale; Dick Stockton, David Diehl and Kristina Pink; Sam Rosen, (rotating analysts) Chris Cooley/Matt Millen/Kirk Morrison/Brady Quinn, (rotating reporters) Peter Schrager/Holly Sonders/Danielle Trotta. •NBA TV will announce the 2015-16 NBA schedule during a one-hour special at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Rachel Nichols will host the special with analyst Dennis Scott. •Showtime plans to chronicle Notre Dame's "quest for a national championship" with a weekly, all-access series at 9 p.m. Tuesdays. "A Season With Notre Dame Football" will debut at Sept. 8, three days after Notre Dame's opener against Texas. •New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will be featured in a Showtime documentary film, which will debut in the fall. "I Am Giant: Victor Cruz" will chronicle Cruz's comeback from a devastating knee injury.
High school football practice primer: Five things to watch in August
Aug 9, 2015
Football practice opens for high school teams on Monday morning — and for some, that meant 12:01 a.m. With the return of football, here are a few story lines to keep an eye on in the coming weeks as teams prepare for the season. 1. Contact limits take effect For the first time, a limit will be placed on the amount of full-contact practice that is allowed. Teams can have 90 minutes per week of...
High school football practice primer: Five things to watch in August
BY SCOTT WRIGHT | Aug 9, 2015Football practice opens for high school teams on Monday morning — and for some, that meant 12:01 a.m. With the return of football, here are a few story lines to keep an eye on in the coming weeks as teams prepare for the season. 1. Contact limits take effect For the first time, a limit will be placed on the amount of full-contact practice that is allowed. Teams can have 90 minutes per week of full-contact workouts, a limit that was recommended by the Oklahoma Football Coaches Association, and approved in March by the OSSAA. It's part of a national movement to help prevent head trauma and concussions, and Oklahoma is among the first group of states to put written rules on the books dictating contact limits. Many coaches, particularly in the smaller classes, have said they generally don't hit more than 90 minutes in a week during the season anyway, because they don't want to risk injury. But in August, when bodies are fresh, and everyone's excited for the first sound of pads on pads, monitoring the 90-minute clock will be crucial. 2. New coaches in high-profile places Coaching changes happen everywhere, every year. Yet the Oklahoma City area saw a higher-than-usual number of changes this offseason, especially considering that many of the jobs were filled by internal promotion, or the hiring of assistants from another school, rather than a head coach leaving one place to take over at another. Nearly 20 schools in the OKC metro open practice with new head coaches, some at places with high expectations. Edmond Santa Fe (Kyle White) and Norman North (Brent Barnes) are trying to return to the elite level, while Yukon (Brian Sauser) and Putnam City (Preston Pearson) are trying to rebuild their programs. Heritage Hall's Andy Bogert handed the defending Class 3A champs over to his son, Brett. Scott O'Hara takes over a Purcell program that was on the verge of a district title last year. Derrick Perkins is in charge at Mount St. Mary, a program working hard to put years of mediocre football behind it. U.S. Grant and Capitol Hill both got new coaches as they enter the second year of their four-year independence from the OSSAA. 3. Heat watch A mild but humid summer saw temperatures finally spike into triple-digits in the last few days, but forecasts for the first week of practice project highs in the mid-90s. However, if the heat index and humidity numbers remain high, the chances for dehydration and heat-related illness are still significant. Wise coaches will still have the water flowing, regardless of what the temperature gauge says. 4. The season begins in… Week Zero? In a new rule adopted by the OSSAA last spring, teams can now schedule a game the week before the regular Week 1 of the season. So on Aug. 27-28, when most Class 5A and 6A teams are prepping for their second scrimmages of the preseason, some teams will be hitting the field for live action. To be clear, teams aren't allowed to schedule an 11th regular-season game, but the additional week makes it easier for some to build their non-district schedules. It will be particularly popular in the middle classes, which have an odd number of teams in most districts and thus, have a difficult time finding a 10th game. There aren't a ton of games scheduled for Week Zero so far, but there are a few interesting ones already set up. Bethany will host Lone Grove, with nationally recruited running back Jeremy Lewis making a rare appearance in the metro area. And a couple of notable small-school programs are set to square off that week with Class 4A Tuttle hosting defending 2A champ Davis. 5. Seeking the west's best Let's go ahead and begin the annual conversation about which team from the Oklahoma City metro area has a shot to overtake Jenks and Tulsa Union to win the Class 6A Division I title. Mustang gets the spot at the top of the list, because they've at least proven they can stay on the field with the east-side powers — though Union handled the Broncos when it really counted in last year's semifinals. Southmoore is the sexy pick, because of all their young talent and a couple of close losses to tough teams last year. Others like Edmond Santa Fe, Norman North and Westmoore have to replace some vital players, so the jury is still out on the rest of the field. Let the conversation begin.
District 6A-I-1 preview: Edmond Memorial working to replace Wand
Aug 2, 2015
The biggest question surrounding Edmond Memorial this season is how the Bulldogs will replace the production and star power of former running back Warren Wand. Wand is now at Arkansas State after rushing for more than 5,000 yards and 45 touchdowns in his career. He was the focus of Memorial's offense. Now, Bulldogs coach Justin Merideth said people will be surprised with his replacement. "No...
District 6A-I-1 preview: Edmond Memorial working to replace Wand
BY JACOB UNRUH AND SCOTT WRIGHT | Aug 2, 2015The biggest question surrounding Edmond Memorial this season is how the Bulldogs will replace the production and star power of former running back Warren Wand. Wand is now at Arkansas State after rushing for more than 5,000 yards and 45 touchdowns in his career. He was the focus of Memorial's offense. Now, Bulldogs coach Justin Merideth said people will be surprised with his replacement. "No one player can replace him," Merideth said. "Our whole team has got to step up and do a good job. We lost a bunch of great players last year, but with that being said, Tate Troxell has had a great summer and I think he's going to surprise some people with the type of football player that he is." Troxell played H-back last season, which led to just 10 carries. But at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Merideth feels Troxell can handle the bulk of the carries as Memorial looks to make the playoffs for a third straight season. JENKS REMAINS HEAVY FAVORITE The unanimous favorite for the distirct title according to the coaches, Jenks is aiming for its fourth straight state championship and second in Class 6A Division I. Another title would be the Trojans' 13th since 1996. They return talented players such as The Oklahoman's Super 30 members Dillon Stoner and Austin Quillen. Stoner is verbally committed to Oklahoma State, while Quillen is committed to Vanderbilt. SANTA FE'S O-LINE COMING TOGETHER Edmond Santa Fe had one of the top rushers in Class 6A last season with Darran Williams, who is No. 30 on the Super 30. And that success started up front with a talented offensive line. With two new starters this season — Josh Richardson and Zach Clouse — the Wolves feel like they can continue improving and compete even more with big lines such as Jenks and Broken Arrow. "Every time we've played them, it's been up front on the offensive and defensive line," first-year Santa Fe coach Kyle White said. "I think when you play those guys it's a physical, physical game. It affects you not only that week, but the next week too. I definitely feel we have the depth and the strength." Santa Fe returns Dustin Anthony at right tackle, Jacob Goss at right guard and Justin Richardson at left guard. Williams rushed for 1,913 yards and 22 touchdowns, accounting for around 90 percent of the Wolves' offense. WESTMOORE RETOOLING Second-year Westmoore coach Adam Gaylor has been pleased with the progress of his team during the offseason. The Jaguars are looking to replace their secondary, quarterback, receivers and more from a talented team that went 7-4 last season. Gaylor said one move he is making is adding the safety position to DeShawn Lookout's duties. Lookout, who is verbally committed to Oklahoma for baseball, played only receiver last year and missed part of the season with an elbow injury. YUKON NOT FEELING TRANSITION EFFECTS WITH COACHING CHANGE Brian Sauser is Yukon's third head coach in as many seasons, but the impact of the transition has been minimal for the Millers this offseason. Sauser was the offensive coordinator under Bill Young last year, so there's nothing new on offense. Jamie Thompson and Bruce Phillips are co-defensive coordinators, both of whom were on staff with Young and will continue to run his basic schemes with a little of their own flavor. "It's not a totally different system, so the transition hasn't been bad," senior cornerback/receiver Zach Johnson said. "Whenever you work as hard as we do, you have high expectations coming into the season, so excitement's really high around here." Yukon tied for the fourth playoff spot last season but was left out of the postseason because of the district points tiebreaker. PUTNAM CITY'S PEARSON READY FOR CHALLENGE Preston Pearson spent the last 15 seasons at the state's two largest schools, Broken Arrow and Tulsa Union. As Putnam City's new coach, he knows he's taking over a program at a school less than half the size of those two Tulsa-area powers, but he's excited about the challenge that awaits. "This has been a very good football program that has fallen on some hard times of late," said Pearson, who coordinated Union's offense the last four years. "I knew that it was a program that wanted to win and has the capability to win. I knew it would be a challenge, but those factors really aided in my decision. "The people around here want to compete, and I wanted to be somewhere where I knew it was important." NORMAN TURNING TO SOPHOMORE QB With a trio of quarterbacks getting an opportunity last season, Norman is turning to sophomore Ryan Peoples, who was one of the three to play during last year's 2-8 campaign. "Obviously, he played some last year, which is going to help, but he's going to find out when he's the guy making the signal calls and plays it takes a little bit more," Norman coach Greg Nation said. "As far as how his development's gone, it's gone really well." Nation classified Peoples as an "athlete." One play last season in which he kept the ball on an option and broke loose for nearly 40 yards before stepping out of bounds was enough proof to anoint him the quarterback of the future. "It's a ninth-grade kid in a varsity game and he had field presence enough to read the end and then got up field to get his gain and got out of bounds," Nation said. "It was really smart." BROKEN ARROW'S SHAW PRIMED FOR BIG YEAR Last season was a breakout year for Broken Arrow running back Jamall Shaw with 1,426 yards and 16 touchdowns. With an additional 15 pounds added in the offseason, he could be in for an even bigger year. "I know he is," Broken Arrow coach David Alexander said. "Just from his approach to the weight room, his approach to running, everything he's done this summer has been with a purpose." Shaw now weighs 195 pounds, up from 180. He'll have a talented offensive line led by Rowdy Frederick leading the way, though Alexander believes Shaw has the physicality to punish defenders. "He's obviously been a really, really good running back, but he's a grown man now," Alexander said. "With that extra 15 pounds behind him, if you tackle him more than a couple times it's going to hurt."
Former Oklahoma State wrestler Yojiro Uetake Obata lives in Japan, but his heart lies in Stillwater
Jul 28, 2015
Obata — who went 58-0 in three seasons as a Cowboy — will be inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame on Monday.
Former Oklahoma State wrestler Yojiro Uetake Obata lives in Japan, but his heart lies in Stillwater
By Kyle Fredrickson | Jul 28, 2015At least once a year for the past four decades he's boarded a plane in his native Japan and crossed the Pacific Ocean. When he peers out the window near the end of his long journey, the ground beneath is a sign he's almost made it — home away from home. "There's the red dirt," Yojiro Uetake Obata says. "Oh boy, I'm back in Oklahoma." Uetake will once again make the trip this week for a special occasion. Although he's spent the majority of his 72 years living in Japan, winning two Olympic gold medals for his country, Uetake will be inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame on Monday. So, what makes him worthy of sports enshrinement in a foreign land? It's because Uetake's development into one of the most accomplished wrestlers of our time began in Stillwater. "I feel very honored about this prize," he said. "They recognize me as a proud citizen of Oklahoma." Uetake is the only Cowboy to finish his career undefeated in the storied history of Oklahoma State wrestling. From 1963 to 1966, he amassed a 58-0 record with three individual Big 8 and national championship titles at 130 pounds. He went on to become the first Japanese wrestler to win consecutive golds (1964 and 1968) in the Olympic Games. Today, Uetake coaches wrestling at the high school he graduated from in Gunma, Japan, and helps run his family's hotel business. But the story behind Uetake's deep Oklahoma love goes far beyond those accomplishments. It goes back to his very first days on campus, the friendships and lessons learned along the way. "Going to school at Oklahoma State for four and a half years influenced the rest of my life quite a bit," he said. "In a good way, in many ways." The stiff language and cultural barriers Uetake faced upon arriving in Stillwater were lessened by the relationships he established with fellow athletes living in Bennett Hall, like Cowboy football players Tim Havern and Walt Garrison. Neither had seen a college wrestling match before watching Uetake dominate on the mat with his speed and relentless attack. "He's one of the greatest athletes that I ever saw," Garrison said. Added Havern: "He was sort of our little hero. (Uetake) and his gang were quite the celebrities on campus." That sparked close friendships, and before long, Uetake was as Americanized as any other student at OSU. He learned to ride horses out in the country with teammates, was given rare permission to watch the Cowboy football team practice and enjoyed the Stillwater nightlife. "I could tell you a couple more memories," Garrison laughed, "but you probably couldn't print them." Uetake moved back to Japan after spending two years as an assistant coach at OSU, but his influence continues in the Cowboy wrestling program even today. "He was not just the greatest wrestler in the state of Oklahoma, he was at the time the greatest wrestler in the world," OSU wrestling coach John Smith said. "His skill and technique, the philosophy behind what he did, we still do today … it took a lot of coaches years to catch up. "He loves Oklahoma State and he loves Oklahoma State wrestling. That's never changed." After Uetake's plane lands in Oklahoma City this weekend, he'll stick to a tight schedule to ensure he can make all his favorite Oklahoma stops — the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, an authentic Native American gift shop in Yukon, all his favorite restaurants — before heading back to Japan. But Uetake wants to savor the moment. "I am very appreciative that the people of Oklahoma remember me," Uetake said, "and accept me as part of Oklahoma."
Northwest Oklahoma travelblog: How I made it to Longdale
Jul 27, 2015
NASCAR veterans Kenny Schrader and Kenny Wallace will compete Tuesday night at the Longdale Speedway, which is on Highway 58 in the northwest corner of Blaine County, between Fairview and Canton. Longdale Speedway runs International Motor Car Association series, and Wallace and Schrader are scheduled to compete against local drivers. And how I know all this is a good story. At least to me. You...
Northwest Oklahoma travelblog: How I made it to Longdale
Berry Tramel | Jul 27, 2015[img width="" height="" style="" render="w620"]3746730[/img] NASCAR veterans Kenny Schrader and Kenny Wallace will compete Tuesday night at the Longdale Speedway, which is on Highway 58 in the northwest corner of Blaine County, between Fairview and Canton. Longdale Speedway runs International Motor Car Association series, and Wallace and Schrader are scheduled to compete against local drivers. And how I know all this is a good story. At least to me. You can learn a lot by getting in your car and getting out of town. A week ago Friday, I took a road trip to a section of Oklahoma I rarely see but always enjoy. The grandfather of our man Jacob Unruh died, and his funeral was in Cherokee, which is about 20 miles east of Alva. We call Jacob "Virgil" for reasons that are a mystery to me, but we think the world of Virgil and wanted to make sure he knew we were thinking of him. So three of us were able to break away to make the 21/2-hour drive to the service. High school editor Darla Smith, sports web editor Erik Horne and myself. We also gave a ride to Virgil's wife, who is in nursing school, had some business in OKC that morning and needed a ride to meet her husband. So we launched off from Northwest Expressway and away we went. Out to Okarche and onto Highway 81 north through Kingfisher, Dover, Hennessey, Waukomis and Enid. Darla's a life-long Yukon gal, so she's been all over the state, but Erik the Red is from Louisiana and hadn't been past Okarche. So we gave him an educated tour of that region and eventually gave all of us an educated tour of that region. I always build up Okarche and Kingfisher as my favorite small towns in Oklahoma. Okarche as my favorite tiny town — 2,000 or less population — and Kingfisher as my favorite small town. I just love their feel and their pride. Both are well-kept. Cool, old houses. Not a bunch of shabby homes and buildings falling down. Not every place is spit-shine, but no place, home or business, is a dump. At least from what you can see. A few months ago, I went through Davis, down in southern Oklahoma, and was reminded that Davis can give Kingfisher a run for best small town above 2,000 population, but still, Kingfisher is a cool place. And Erik was duly impressed. We built it up, and Kingfisher delivered. Dover has a better setting, with more trees lining the little town, but it's run down. Hennessey is a solid town but isn't quite as well maintained. Not much to Waukomis to maintain. Driving through Enid was fun. For such a big place — population in the 50,000 range — I rarely make it up there. We drove past the Plainsmen's football field, where Lydell Carr and PJ Mills and Austin Box and Clint Chelf starred, and I should have driven Erik the Red over to the downtown area where Mark Price Arena sits. Enid has to have one of the most unique high school basketball coliseums in America. A civic auditorium, named after an NBA star. Enid's a lot like Ponca City and Bartlesville, other northern Oklahoma towns that once were the headquarters of major oil companies. Phillips in Bartlesville, Conoco in Ponca, Champlin in Enid. All are big versions of Kingfisher. Well-kept. Lots of pride. Lots of history. Good places to live, if you don't need a metropolitan city. Champlin was closed in 1984, and Enid has found its footing without a major anchor. The guys in the car made fun of me, because I drew a rough map of our trip. I hate following GPS, or even phone maps, because they don't give you a big picture. I couldn't find an old-fashioned road map, so I drew one before we left. Darla made fun of it, took a picture of it and put it on FaceBook. Dirty Rotten Scoundrel. Anyway, north of Enid, I had planned to turn west on Highway 45 and go through Carrier, where my pal Richard Mize recently pastored a Congregational Church, and Goltry and Helena, towns which formed a consolidated school. But I missed that turn, so we went on north and then west on U.S. 64. That took us through Jet and Nash, two more towns that long ago consolidated schools. Not much to Jet or Nash, but I remember from the '70s, looking at the scores of Jet-Nash and Helena-Goltry. Now, those two schools and four towns have consolidated into one school. The elementary school is in Jet, the high school is in Helena. It's 20 miles from Nash to Helena, so that's a fair drive. But it's the truth of western Oklahoma. Diminishing population, schools trying to survive. My only knock on Timberlake is the name. Where's the timber? There's no timber in northwestern Oklahoma. The lake, I sort of get, since the Great Salt Plains Lake sits just north of Jet. But Timberlake is a good name for a school in Little Dixie or Green Country. How about Salt Plains High School? Or Big Sky High School? Oh well. Driving along U.S. 64, you see Great Salt Plains Lake off to the north. At least you think it's the lake. It might be the shimmering selenite crystals that form part of the shoreline. The saline content is perhaps a quarter that of ocean water, and the crystals are unique to the area. Visitors dig for the crystals, and Oklahoma maintains a state park as part of the lake. It's a little like Little Sahara, which is one county over from Alfalfa, in Woods County, between Woodward and Alva, and has magnificent sand dunes that attract motorcycle riders. Barren territory that suddenly draws people. Sand dunes, salt lakes. Oklahoma is an interesting place. Anyway, we drove on into Cherokee and found complete charm. Great small town. Some cool old houses. A good-sized grocery store. Some small businesses. A couple of neat churches. Alfalfa County courthouse. And way more trees than you'd expect in northwest Oklahoma. I seemed to remember that Cherokee had a downtown movie theater that famously burned some years ago. We found a storefront that seemed like it could have been the theater, but I couldn't be sure. I forgot to ask anyone, and I couldn't find anything on the Internet, so maybe I'm mixed up. Anyway, Cherokee was a great little town. The service at the First Baptist Church was nice. Virgil spoke about his grandfather and did a great job. A men's quartet sang, and the four men produced beautiful harmony on both "How Great Thou Art" and "It Is Well With My Soul." First off, you can't miss with good material. Two of the top five songs of all-time, and I might be short-changing them. Add in quality voices, then touch it off with the endorsement of Jehovah himself, and it was riveting. I'm not kidding around. It started raining a little as we arrived in Cherokee, and it was raining pretty good when we got out of the car. During the service, it started storming. And I swear, when the quartet sang the first verse of "How Great Thou Art," at the very point when they belted out "I hear the roaring thunder," the skies boomed with thunder that shook everyone in the sanctuary, both physically and spiritually. It was the darndest thing. We paid our respects to Virgil, then headed out. I was determined to go home a different way, see more stuff, and it didn't take us long. I went south out of Cherokee and hooked up with Highway 8. I wanted to go through Fairview, a decent-sized town that I had never visited. We went through Cleo Springs, not much there, but north of Fairview, we passed another Oklahoma jewel — Gloss Mountain. We saw in the distance, off to the west, some beautiful mesas. Didn't know what they were but eventually found out. The Gloss Mountains, sometimes called the Glass Mountains, according to travelok.com, have a high selenite content that mimics a shiny glass exterior. There's a state park at Gloss Mountain, with hiking trails, and spectacular scenery. Let me promise you. The landscape in northwestern Oklahoma is underrated. Now you know why they call it Fairview. I had never been to the Major County seat, which has a population of about 2,500. But Fairview had a good football program in the 1980s, and I sort of always followed the Yellowjackets. Plus, I had an extra reason for going. A few years ago, at Mike Gundy's kickoff golf tournament in Stillwater, I ran into a guy I once knew. Todd Smith played football at Norman High, graduating in 1983, and went to OU on a football scholarship. I covered that 1982 Norman team, and I lost track of Todd after that. But there he was at Karsten Creek that day. Turns out he married a Fairview girl and was running his father-in-law's car dealership in Fairview. The father-in-law was an OSU booster, so here was an ex-Sooner, at the Gundy Invitational. I enjoyed seeing Todd and told him I'd stop in if I ever was in Fairview. And so I was in Fairview. Todd runs Jensen's Buick-GMC dealership. It's a great old art deco building, with lots of vintage signs. Alas, Todd was not in the office, so I left him a note and we were on our way. Fairview seemed like a nice place. Not quite up to Kingfisher's standards, I'd say, but livable. They've got a Sonic, a Pizza Hut and a Taco Mayo. Fairview probably is like much of western Oklahoma, in that it is reeling a little from the oil bust after the great oil boom that created a housing shortage. In Cherokee, we saw a sign for dorm-style lodging that could house 60 workers. But until the price of oil bounces back, that demand has weakened. Fairview actually has three car dealerships. Jensen's Buick-GMC, Eischen's Chevrolet (don't know the relationship to the Okarche landmark) and Vinton Baker Ford. Any place with three new car dealers has something going for it. Leaving Fairview, I was going to go east on Highway 58, then jog back south to Okeene, because going south out of Fairview veered west and was out of the way. But before we turned around, I saw a mileage sign. Longdale 13. And my heart leaped. I swear. I try not to be too sentimental. But I got all fired up. Longdale is where my dad coached high school basketball in the 1950s. I had heard him talk about Longdale all my life, but I had never been there. I knew it was close to Canton, and I once thought about trying to go through Longdale on the way home from Colorado, but it was out of the way, and everybody was tired. So I told Darla and Erik the Red. We're going to Longdale. Longdale High School is long since closed. I think in the '70s. The elementary school closed in 1991. My impression of Longdale was as a ghost town. That nobody and nothing would be there anymore. But I was wrong. Longdale still lives. It's got a population just under 300, with a couple of gas station/convenience stores and quite a few houses. And the gymnasium still stands. The Longdale gym looks like an old WPA project — heck, it is an old WPA project, we found an inscription — but on the north end is painted a huge mural detailing the history of Longdale. The gym is locked up, but it was cool to walk around the place where my dad coached 60 years ago. We snapped a few pictures, then we were on our way. Seems like in the '70s, when I was a kid, some guys from Longdale that had played for my dad dropped by the house, the morning of an OU football game. My dad died in 2007; how I wish I had made the trip to Longdale with him. Anyway, back to NASCAR. As we left Longdale, there suddenly appeared a race track. Glittering. New. I've passed a bunch of Oklahoma dirt tracks, and none of them stood out like this. We were stunned. We had no idea what it could be or why it would be. But Darla looked it up on that FaceBook machine of hers, and there came the news. Longdale Speedway. Home of regular racing. Hosting Kenny Schrader and Kenny Wallace on July 28. Turns out, Longdale Speedway is thriving with local racers from all over zipping into town to race on most Saturday nights. Our adventure was mostly over. We drove down to Canton, hit Highway 51 and took it east through Okeene, which I had been to recently. I showed Darla and Erik the Red the great spires atop the St. Anthony Catholic Church. You can't believe it. Looks like something you'd see in Italy. Then we drove south to Watonga, east back to Kingfisher and finally we were backtracking. We stopped in Okarche at the Popcorn Station, a popcorn store that sits on the north side of the road that runs through Okarche and separates Kingfisher and Canadian counties. Eischen's Bar, home of the world's greatest fried chicken, actually is in Canadian County. Then it was back down Highway 3, which becomes Northwest Expressway and the city that seems far removed in more than just miles from Cherokee and the Great Salt Plains Lake and art deco Buick dealership and the old gymnasium where my dad coached 60 years ago. Quite an adventure for a summer's day.
Hobart's Brad Dalke, Yukon's Lane Wallace in U.S. Junior Amateur
Jul 16, 2015
Two golfers with ties to Yukon will be in the field for next week's U.S. Junior Amateur, set to begin Monday at the Colleton River Plantation Club in Bluffton, S.C. Yukon junior Lane Wallace and Brad Dalke of Hobart — who was born in Yukon and lived there briefly until his father, Bill, took a football coaching job in Texas — each qualified for the 156-player field. Wallace, who was sixth in...
Hobart's Brad Dalke, Yukon's Lane Wallace in U.S. Junior Amateur
Jul 16, 2015Two golfers with ties to Yukon will be in the field for next week's U.S. Junior Amateur, set to begin Monday at the Colleton River Plantation Club in Bluffton, S.C. Yukon junior Lane Wallace and Brad Dalke of Hobart — who was born in Yukon and lived there briefly until his father, Bill, took a football coaching job in Texas — each qualified for the 156-player field. Wallace, who was sixth in the Class 6A state tournament in May, will be making his first U.S. Junior appearance, while Dalke is one of two players in the field making his fourth appearance. Dalke accelerated his high school graduation, completing it one year early, and will begin college golf in the fall at Oklahoma.
High schools: Jeff Brickman's return going well for Southmoore
Jun 24, 2015
The former Southmoore offensive coordinator and head coach left the SaberCats for one season to serve as the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee.
High schools: Jeff Brickman's return going well for Southmoore
BY SCOTT WRIGHT AND JACOB UNRUH | Jun 24, 2015Jeff Brickman's new job is his old job. The former Southmoore offensive coordinator and head coach left the SaberCats for one season to serve as the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee. But Brickman returned to Southmoore in the spring as offensive coordinator under Jeremy Stark, the man who succeeded him as the SaberCats' head man last year. "It's awesome having him back," Stark said. "We've known each other for 20-plus years. We don't have egos involved. We both have the same goals, to help produce good young men and win football games. "He knows what it's like to do what I do, so he helps pick up the slack and make my job easier. He's one of the best offensive minds around. With defensive coordinator Greg Bryant, I've got two great coordinators who take a lot off my plate, and I feel very comfortable letting them do what they do." Brickman said he enjoyed the experience at OBU, and the offense had success last season. But he missed high school football, and wanted to work closer to his family in Blanchard. CASADY'S WARIBOKO-ALALI TO PICK COLLEGE MONDAY Casady defensive back Max Wariboko-Alali will announced his college choice Monday after announcing Wednesday his top three choices. Wariboko-Alali said on his Twitter account he will choose between Louisville, Iowa and UCLA, where his older brother Josh signed in February. Max recently visited Iowa. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior also has offers from SMU and Tulsa. Wariboko-Alali is a member of The Oklahoman's Super 30 list of the top high school prospects in the state. A series of profiles on the Super 30 players begins Saturday in The Oklahoman. OSSAA'S SHEAKLEY NAMED TO NFHS BOARD Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association executive director Ed Sheakley was recently named to the board of directors for the National Federation of State High School Associations. The board meets four times a year and Sheakley will serve a four-year term. He has been with the OSSAA since 1992. He was named executive director in May 2009. YUKON'S LANE WALLACE AMONG RECENT JUNIOR GOLF WINNERS It's been a busy time for junior golfers around the state, with some big tournaments in recent days. Yukon's Lane Wallace, who just completed his sophomore season, won the USGA Junior Amateur sectional qualifier held at Karsten Creek in Stillwater Monday. Wallace shot 75-79 to earn a spot in the Junior Amateur scheduled for July 20-25 in South Carolina. Jenks' Garrett Jelley and Plainview's Katie Finley won the South Central PGA Players Tour Stillwater Championship at Stillwater Country Club on Monday. Jelley's rounds of 73-72 were good for a two-storke victory over Newalla's Joseph Lemieux. Finley shot 80-85 to defeat Choctaw's Lauren Barnes by one.
Scholar-Athlete: Bios of all the school winners
Jun 20, 2015
BETHANY: KYLE DUKE Athletics: First-team Little All-City and coaches' all-state in football as a senior. Second-team all-conference in soccer. Also played varsity baseball. Academics: Weighted grade point average of 4.1. ACT score of 24. National Honor Society. Special Olympics volunteer. College: Oklahoma Also nominated: Dustin Bielich, Maddie Flemmons BETHEL: CLINT SIMMONS Athletics:...
Scholar-Athlete: Bios of all the school winners
BY JENNI CARLSON | Jun 20, 2015BETHANY: KYLE DUKE Athletics: First-team Little All-City and coaches' all-state in football as a senior. Second-team all-conference in soccer. Also played varsity baseball. Academics: Weighted grade point average of 4.1. ACT score of 24. National Honor Society. Special Olympics volunteer. College: Oklahoma Also nominated: Dustin Bielich, Maddie Flemmons BETHEL: CLINT SIMMONS Athletics: Honorable mention Little All-City and honorable mention Class 3A All-State in basketball as a senior. Varsity letterwinner in baseball and football, too. Academics: Grade point average of 3.9. National Honor Society. Presidential Academic Excellence Award. Student council. College: Undecided Also nominated: Rylee Steward BLANCHARD: DAVID UMMEL Athletics: Second-team all-district in football as a senior. Member of state championship teams in football and powerlifting. Academics: ACT score of 32. Grade point average of 4.0. National Honor Society president. Student council. Class officer. Fellowship of Christian Athletes. College: Undecided Also nominated: Sierra Bailey BRIDGE CREEK: RAEGAN ROGERS Athletics: First-team All-City softball as a junior, second-team as a senior. Coaches' all-state. One season varsity basketball. Will play softball at Oklahoma. Academics: Weighted grade point average of 4.1. National Honor Society. Spanish Club. Helmets of Hope volunteer. College: Oklahoma Also nominated: Jimmy Wynne CARL ALBERT: KALEY HALLMARK Athletics: Honorable mention Big All-City in basketball as a junior and senior. All-state in cross country as a senior. One season varsity soccer. Academics: ACT score of 30. Fellowship of Christian Athletes. National Honor Society. Eco Club. College: Undecided Also nominated: Harrison Hightower, Justin Humphrey CASADY: ELLEN PAYNE Athletics: Four-sport athlete who earned 16 varsity letters combined in field hockey, soccer, softball and track. Will play field hockey at North Carolina. Academics: ACT score of 29. National Science League Award. Youth Leadership Oklahoma. Student council. College: North Carolina Also nominated: Yogaish Khastgir CASHION: BRETT WILSON Athletics: Coaches' all-State and honorable mention All-State in football as a senior. Member of state runner-up teams in football and baseball. Will play football at Oklahoma State. Academics: ACT score of 31. Academic Team captain. Student council. College: Oklahoma State Also nominated: Peyton Maroney, Alix Robinson CHOCTAW: JACOB RAPP Athletics: Coaches' all-state, honorable mention All-State and honorable mention Big All-City in football as a senior. Honorable mention Big All-City baseball. Academics: ACT score of 27. Weighted grade point average of 4.2. National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award. College: Oklahoma State Also nominated: Mackinsey Jo Archer CHRISTIAN HERITAGE ACADEMY: CREED HENDRICKSON Athletics: All-district football as a senior. Crusader Award, the school's highest athletic award. Academics: ACT score of 27. Christian Citizenship Award, the school's highest honor. Salt & Light Leadership Program. Will spend a gap year with Impact 360. Also nominated: Jacquelyn Holdridge CLASSEN: TYLER DANG Athletics: Three-time honorable mention All-City tennis . Placed eighth in lightweight 8+ at U.S. Rowing Youth National Championships. Academics: ACT score of 36, a perfect score. Weighted grade point average of 4.5. National Merit Finalist. Youth Council of Oklahoma City. Debate Club. College: Oklahoma Also nominated: None DEER CREEK: BRYCE BALENSEIFEN Athletics: Three-time state cross country champion. All-City cross country runner of the year as a senior. Multi-time state track champion. Three-time Big All-City. Won eight total team titles. Will run at Oklahoma State. Academics: Weighted grade point average of 4.2. College: Oklahoma State Also nominated: None DESTINY CHRISTIAN: DALLAS BIDDLE Athletics: Honorable mention Little All-City in football as a junior and senior. Oklahoma Christian Schools Athletic Association all-state twice in football, three times in baseball. Academics: Grade point average of 3.7. National Honor Society. Robotics Club. College: Central Oklahoma Also nominated: Kylie Bowdler, Lynsi Stanley DOUGLASS: CHRISTIAN LUPER Athletics: All-district and all-conference football. All-conference baseball. Two years varsity track and soccer. Team captain football and baseball. Academics: Weighted grade point average of 4.0. National Honor Society. Student council. Yearbook. Douglass Youth Leaders. Special Olympics volunteer. Gates Millennium Scholarship. College: Oklahoma Also nominated: La'Di'ne Thompson EDMOND MEMORIAL: JACLYN HUMMEL Athletics: Two-time first-team All-City cross country. Honorable mention Big All-City track. Member of state championship teams in cross country and track, state runner-up in soccer. Academics: Grade point average of 4.0. Food Bank volunteer. Bulldog Mentor. College: Oklahoma Also nominated: Jordan Reed, Kayla Utsch EDMOND SANTA FE: JOBI HEATH Athletics: Second-team Big-All City softball. First-team All-City golf. Member of state title team and state runner-up in basketball. Will play softball at Central Oklahoma. Academics: ACT score of 26. ACE Program, working with special needs students. College: Central Oklahoma Also nominated: Tanner Kliewer, Jake Martin GUTHRIE: ALEX NELSON Athletics: State wrestling runner-up at 138 pounds as a senior. Second-team All-City wrestling as a freshman, honorable mention as a sophomore, junior and senior. Four-time state qualifier. Academics: Grade point average of 3.9. National Honor Society. Student council. College: Undecided Also nominated: Beau Davis, Bailey Shaffer HARRAH: RYLAN BOYER Athletics: Three-time state swimming qualifier, two-time finalist. Member of state runner-up team. Academics: ACT score of 30. Weighted grade point average of 4.2. Scholars Club president. Reading Club founder and president. Mu Alpha Theta math club. College: Rose State Also nominated: Jena Graves, Rachael Wright HERITAGE HALL: CONNOR McGINNIS Athletics: Little All-City defensive player of the year and first-team All-State in football. Second-team All-City soccer. Won state titles in football and soccer. State basketball qualifier. Will play football at Oklahoma. Academics: ACT score of 27. Spanish Honor Society. College: Oklahoma Also nominated: Jessica Borsky, Avery Niemann KINGFISHER: BROOKE BOECKMAN Athletics: Honorable mention Little All-City and honorable mention Class 4A All-State basketball as senior. Multiple top-five finishes at state track. Two seasons varsity tennis. Academics: Grade point average of 4.0. National Honor Society. National English Honor Society. Student council president. College: Oklahoma State Also nominated: Garrett Yost LIBERTY ACADEMY: KELSEE CRAWLEY Athletics: Four-time Oklahoma Christian Schools Athletic Association all-state in basketball and volleyball. Won three OCSAA state basketball titles, two volleyball. Varsity track. Varsity golf. Academics: Weighted grade point average of 4.2. National Honor Society. Choir. Gordon Cooper STEM Scholar Award. College: Oklahoma Baptist Also nominated: None LITTLE AXE: KEITH ROBERTSON Athletics: Coaches' all-state in football. Played three years of varsity football, one year each of varsity basketball and baseball. Voted school's athlete of the year. Academics: Grade point average of 3.4. Business Professionals of America. Geography Bee. College: Undecided Also nominated: Katherine Johnston, Nik Storm MACOMB: SHANIA PACE Athletics: Honorable mention Little All-City and honorable mention Class A All-State in basketball as a junior. Three-time all-conference. Four-year varsity starter in basketball and softball. Academics: Grade point average of 3.6. National Honor Society. Student council. College: Undecided Also nominated: Jose Chavez McLOUD: AUSTIN ROOKS Athletics: All-district in football. State qualifier in powerlifting. Varsity football three years. Varsity powerlifting two years. Academics: Grade point average of 4.0. National Honor Society. Oklahoma Honor Society. Student council treasurer. People to People ambassador. Envision National Youth Leadership Forum. College: Central Oklahoma Also nominated: None MINCO: ASHER BAADE Athletics: Coaches' Class A all-state football as a senior. Honorable mention Class 2A All-State basketball as a senior. Two-time honorable mention All-State baseball. Academics: Grade point average of 3.6. National Honor Society. Gifted and Talented. Student council. Yearbook. College: Southwestern Oklahoma State Also nominated: None MOORE: COLBY MOATES Athletics: Three-time honorable mention All-City wrestling. Four-time state qualifier. Three-time state placer, including third as a senior. Academics: Scored 32 on ACT. Weighted grade point average of 4.7. Academic All-State. Award of Excellence Scholar. FIRST Robotics Team. Campfire USA volunteer. College: Oklahoma Also nominated: None MOUNT ST. MARY: JOE CASTIGLIONE JR. Athletics: Two-time honorable mention Little All-City football. Three years varsity football. Four years varsity baseball. Academics: Scored 26 on ACT. Grade point average of 3.9. Oklahoma National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete. National Honor Society. Student council. College: Oklahoma Also nominated: Diana Andrade, Tesa Danusantoso MUSTANG: JAYDEN CHESTNUT Athletics: Big All-City softball player of the year as a senior when her team won state. Gatorade Oklahoma player of the year. Will play softball at Oklahoma. Academics: Grade point average of 3.9. National Honor Society. Students Assisting Students. College: Oklahoma Also nominated: Lance Frost, Brandi Hutchison NEWCASTLE: PARKER BOLLES Athletics: Coaches' all-state and second-team Little All-City in football as a senior. Two-time state qualifier in powerlifting. Two years varsity soccer. Academics: Grade point average of 3.8. Scored 27 on ACT. National Honor Society. College: Undecided Also nominated: Madison Granger, Shane Martin NOBLE: BRADY BRADSHAW Athletics: Second-team Big All-City baseball as a senior, two-time reserve. Three-time honorable mention All-State. Honorable mention Big All-City football. Two years varsity basketball. Will play baseball at Crowder (Mo.) College. Academics: Grade point average of 3.8. Boys State. DECA. College: Crowder (Mo.) College Also nominated: Kodi Holloway NORMAN: GRACIE KOONCE Athletics: Coaches' all-state and honorable mention All-City in soccer. Honorable mention All-City cross country as a sophomore. One year varsity track. Will play soccer at Oklahoma. Academics: Scored 28 on ACT. Grade point average of 4.0. Youth Leadership Oklahoma. Student Congress president. College: Oklahoma Also nominated: None OKARCHE: MADISON LEE Athletics: Coaches' all-state and first-team Little All-City in basketball as a senior. Played for state title every year, winning two. Three years varsity slow-pitch. Two years varsity softball. Academics: Grade point average of 4.0. National Honor Society treasurer. Student council vice president. College: Oklahoma State Also nominated: None OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: EMILY ROBERTS Athletics: Two-time honorable mention All-City in volleyball. Honorable mention All-City tennis as a junior. Academics: Scored 34 on ACT. Grade point average of 4.0. National Honor Society. National French Exam Honor. Academic Team. Book Club. Band. Baylor President's Gold Scholarship. College: Baylor Also nominated: None PAULS VALLEY: KAYLIE UPTON Athletics: Coaches' all-state alternate and honorable mention Little All-City in softball as a senior. State qualifier in cross country and track. Academics: Grade point average of 4.0. National Honor Society. Oklahoma School of Science and Math Regional School. College: Northern Oklahoma Also nominated: Treston Williams PERKINS-TRYON: BAILEY WENSLER Athletics: Coaches' all-state basketball as a senior. Two-time honorable mention Little All-City and honorable mention Class 3A All-State. Honorable mention Little All-City track. Will play basketball at South Carolina Upstate. Academics: Grade point average of 4.0. Student council. Academic Team. College: South Carolina Upstate Also nominated: None PIEDMONT: CONNER ST. JOHN Athletics: Five-time state swimming champion. Coaches' all-state. First-team All-City as a junior, second-team his three other seasons. Will swim at Saint Louis University. Academics: Scored 27 on ACT. Key Club. USA Swimming Central Diversity High Point Award. College: Saint Louis University Also nominated: Brody Largent PUTNAM CITY: BOLU ONIFADE Athletics: Second-team Big All-City football as a senior. Earned three varsity football letters, four track, one wrestling. Will play football at Abilene (Texas) Christian. Academics: Grade point average of 3.8. Senior class president. Elementary school mentor. College: Abilene (Texas) Christian Also nominated: Logan Jegelewicz, Zachary Moore PUTNAM CITY NORTH: KATRINA DWYER Athletics: Four-year state swimming qualifier. Honorable mention All-City. Will swim at Beloit (Wisc.) College. Academics: Scored 31 on ACT. Grade point average of 3.9. National Honor Society. Band. Received $100,000 President Scholarship from Beloit College. College: Beloit (Wisc.) College Also nominated: Casey Herndon, Dylan Rodolf PUTNAM CITY WEST: EASTON RODGERS Athletics: Oklahoma City Area Baseball Coaches Association All-Star. Four-year starter in baseball. Three-year starter in football. Academics: Weighted grade point average of 4.1. Scored 24 on ACT. National Honor Society. DECA. Mr. Patriot finalist. College choice: Undecided Also nominated: None SHAWNEE: GARRETT McDANIEL Athletics: State golf champion as a senior. Led team to first title since 1934. Coaches' all-state. First-team All-City. Will play golf at Northeastern State. Academics: Grade point average of 3.9. National Honor Society. Junior Investor's Challenge Team. Christmas Connection volunteer. College: Northeastern State Also nominated: None SOUTHEAST: PAULA CARDENAS Athletics: All-conference in cross country. Voted "most dedicated" by the soccer team. Three years varsity soccer, two years varsity cross country. Academics: Grade point average of 3.6. National Honor Society. Key Club. Business Professionals of America. Student council. College: Central Oklahoma Also nominated: None SOUTHWEST COVENANT: JOSH McMINN Athletics: Two-time first-team Little All-City and Class B All-State in basketball. First-team All-State baseball as a senior. Two-time first-team Little All-City. Will play baseball at Oral Roberts. Academics: Scored 29 on ACT. Grade point average of 3.5. Yearbook Club. College: Oral Roberts Also nominated: None TUTTLE: TYLER LESTER Athletics: Little All-City Player of the Year and Class 4A All-State in basketball as a senior. Led Tuttle to its first state appearance. Will play at Oklahoma Baptist. Academics: Scored 29 on ACT. National Honor Society. Alternative Education math tutor. College: Oklahoma Baptist Also nominated: Lexi Rumbaugh WASHINGTON: KAILEE ORR Athletics: First-team Little All-City in both softball and slow-pitch as senior. Won back-to-back state titles in both, too. Member of two state basketball teams. Academics: Scored 29 on ACT. Weighted grade point average of 4.3. National Honor Society president. Science Club. College: Oklahoma Also nominated: Kyler Barker WELLSTON: BEAU DANKER Athletics: Basketball team captain senior year. Earned four varsity letters. Started one season. Academics: Weighted grade point average of 4.1. National Honor Society. Class president. Family Career and Community Leaders of America vice president. Coached middle school basketball and little league soccer. College: Undecided Also nominated: None WESTERN HEIGHTS: ALI MIX Athletics: Coaches' Class 5A all-state and honorable mention All-City in soccer as a senior. Will play at Bethany Lutheran (Minn.) College Academics: Ranked in top third of class. Class officer. Business Professionals of America officer. Choir. Elementary reading volunteer. College: Bethany Lutheran (Minn.) College Also nominated: None WESTMOORE: REBECCA RANDOLPH Athletics: Coaches' all-state soccer as a senior. Two-time honorable mention All-City. Two-time cross country state qualifier. Will play soccer at Adams (Colo.) State. Academics: Scored 31 on ACT. Weighted grade point average of 4.6. Class officer. Scholastic Team. College: Adams (Colo.) State Also nominated: Calvin Miller, Savannah Waddell YUKON: KEEGAN MEYN Athletics: Reserve All-State, first-team Big All-City and coaches' all-star in baseball as a senior. Two seasons varsity football. Will play baseball at Arkansas-Little Rock. Academics: Scored 28 on ACT. Weighted grade point average of 4.3. Ferguson Jenkins Outstanding Student-Athlete Award. College: Arkansas-Little Rock Also nominated: None
High schools: Boys Big All-City Track first-team athlete capsules
Jun 15, 2015
Demeco Wright, Midwest City Event: 100 meters Class: Senior The story: The speedster, who also played a vital role for the Bomber football team, took third at state with a time of 10.74. Robert Charlton, Edmond Memorial Event: 200 meters Class: Senior The story: One of the state's fastest athletes the last two years, Charlton medaled at state in the 100 and 200, taking silver in the 200...
High schools: Boys Big All-City Track first-team athlete capsules
BY SCOTT WRIGHT | Jun 15, 2015Demeco Wright, Midwest City Event: 100 meters Class: Senior The story: The speedster, who also played a vital role for the Bomber football team, took third at state with a time of 10.74. Robert Charlton, Edmond Memorial Event: 200 meters Class: Senior The story: One of the state's fastest athletes the last two years, Charlton medaled at state in the 100 and 200, taking silver in the 200 at 22.18. He turned down Division I football offers to run track at Central Arkansas. Malique Lytle, Shawnee Event: 400 meters Class: Senior The story: Previously an 800 specialist, the Iowa State signee jumped into the open 400 and won state in both, with a 400 time of 48.90 and 800 time of 1:52.79. Calvin Miller, Westmoore Event: 800 meters Class: Senior The story: The Oklahoma signee nearly broke the 800-meter state record earlier in the year with a 1:51.83 and capped his season with a state meet victory in 1:54.98. Bryce Balenseifen, Deer Creek Event: 1,600 meters Class: Senior The story: Headed to Oklahoma State, Balenseifen won three golds and a silver at state, completing his career with four team championships in track and four more in cross country. He won the Class 5A 1,600 in 4:22.35 Athlete of the Year Ben Barrett, Norman North Event: 3,200 meters Class: Senior The story: The North Carolina State signee won the 1,600 and 3,200 at 6A state, but more impressively, he set the state record in both events. He ran 4:09.97 in the 1,600 in late April and ran 8:59.97 in the 3,200 at the Meet of Champions. Micah Fontaine, Edmond Memorial Event: 110 hurdles Class: Senior The story: The gifted hurdler won the state meet with a time of 14.02, less than two-tenths of a second off the state record. Clarence Simpkins, Moore Event: 300 hurdles Class: Senior The story: A top contender all year long, Simpkins ran a 38.66 to win state, following a third-place finish in the 110 hurdles. Vernon Turner, Yukon Event: High jump Class: Sophomore The story: In front of his hometown crowd at state, the Yukon youngster cleared 6- feet, 8-inches to win gold. Cassius Hill, Westmoore Event: Long jump Class: Senior The story: Went out with a gold medal at state with a jump of 23-feet, 41/2-inches. Christian Patterson, Shawnee Event: Pole vault Class: Sophomore The story: Despite matching the previous 5A state meet record, Patterson had to settle for a silver medal with a vault of 15-feet, 6-inches. Jude Richardson, Norman North Event: Shot put Class: Junior The story: The powerful junior claimed gold with a throw of 53-feet, 73/4-inches. Mark Bryant, Edmond Memorial Event: Discus Class: Junior The story: Continuing a line of strong Bulldog throwers, Bryant won state with a toss of 170 feet. Coach of the Year Chris Lowrey, Edmond Memorial The story: Edmond Memorial faced a new obstacle seemingly at every turn at the state meet, but Lowrey kept his team focused through injuries and mistakes to come out with the Class 6A title.
North American Soccer League files suit against Energy FC owner
Jun 11, 2015
Professional soccer league seeking $2.5 million for alleged breach of contract
North American Soccer League files suit against Energy FC owner
By Chris Brannick | Jun 11, 2015Oklahoma City Energy FC owner Tim McLaughlin is being sued by the North American Soccer League LLC for $2.5 million for what the NASL calls a breach of contract. The NASL filed last Friday in the Commercial Division of the New York Supreme Court in New York County a complaint that McLaughlin was in breach of a contract he signed in July of 2013 when McLaughlin and OKC Pro Soccer were in the process of being awarded a NASL franchise. McLaughlin informed the NASL in a letter in February 2014 that OKC Pro Soccer was withdrawing consideration for a franchise. According to documents presented in the NASL's case against McLaughlin, McLaughlin paid the league more than $2.1 million to break away from his deal. The league rejected his offer then and is now asking the courts to force McLaughlin to pay an exit fee of $2.5 million. "I am aware a lawsuit was filed in New York," McLaughlin told The Oklahoman in statement. "While I haven't read the actual suit, I know enough to clearly state it is pure nonsense." The NASL in its complaint states that McLaughlin's withdrawal should be deemed improper. Since it happened last February, McLaughlin has not complied with the league's withdrawal policy and has broken several of those requirements, the NASL alleges. The league contends that teams are not allowed to cease operations effective immediately and part of the contract, which McLaughlin signed, is to complete financial and operational obligations for the remainder of the calendar year. In a letter to the league dated Feb. 21, 2014, Terry Pool, an attorney for McLaughlin, stated funds were being paid to the NASL for the following amounts: $500,000 for a final entry fee payment, the same amount for a withdrawal fee, $1 million for a buyout fee and $145,154 for remaining 2014 league dues. Two weeks later the league responded with a letter back to McLaughlin's attorney's office rejecting their money. Oklahoma City FC as operated by Sold Out Strategies was still reportedly set to begin play in 2015 and secured a lease agreement with Yukon Public Schools to play at the high school football field. Later in 2014, Sold Out Strategies announced it wouldn't begin play until the spring of 2016. In the NASL's letter to McLaughlin's attorney in March 2014, the league offered to settle the dispute by McLaughlin not only paying the $2.5 million but also allowing the "Assignment of the lease for the Taft Stadium to an entity designated by NASL." Oklahoma City courts awarded McLaughlin a lease to Taft Stadium in the summer of 2013 and it appeared then that an NASL team would play there. Energy FC now plays its home games there.