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Friday, August 1, 2008
Friday Night Notes
Central Oklahoma, OK
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Your quick guide to high school football this season
PowerPoll The 10 best teams in the area
Norman North
The Timberwolves are loaded on offense with quarterback Tyler Tettleton and running back Beau Blankenship..
Midwest City
The Bombers have speed, speed, and then more speed. 3. Carl Albert Coach Gary Rose has the luxury of giving the ball to the best running back in the state – David Oku.
Bishop McGuinness
28 straight wins, 2 straight Class 4A state championships and counting. Doubtful anyone will challenge the Fighting Irish in 4A this year.
Guthrie
The Bluejays have some talented, exciting players returning to defend their Class 5A state championship.
Lawton MacArthur
The Highlanders know how to run the ball well and score points.
Putnam City
Running the ball and playing stingy defense. Few teams do that better than the Pirates.
Edmond Santa Fe
The Wolves return some talented players from injury a year ago and have quality depth.
Tuttle
Just give the ball to running back Paco Moore and get out of the way.
Heritage Hall
The Chargers will score a lot of points this year with running back Tanner France leading the way.
Surprise teams
These 5 teams could make big improvements this year after missing the playoffs last year:
Edmond Santa Fe
The Wolves had a disastrous year last year when they had to play numerous young players because of a rash on injuries to key players. Those players are back and the Wolves have quality depth this year.
Millwood
The Falcons were rebuilding last year after losing 11 players to graduation in 2006 who are currently playing for Division I schools. The experience for the young players, led by quarterback Kevonte Richardson, will make a big difference.
Deer Creek
The Antlers have four year starting quarterback Dax Dilbeck and another year of getting used to Class 5A after numerous years in 4A. They just missed the playoffs a year ago with five wins.
El Reno
The Indians won just three games a year ago after making the playoffs two seasons ago. But they have a talented quarterback in sophomore TaQeal Everhart running the offense.
Pauls Valley
Pauls Valley has one of the better running backs in Class 3A in Tyler Harding. With a strong running game, this team could be trouble.
Highlight Reel
These players have jaw-dropping moves every time they touch the ball:
RB/DB Josh King, Guthrie – It’s scary to think that this guy is going to be playing on offense a lot more this year considering he scores nearly every time he touches the ball on special teams and defense.
RB/DB Tim Flanders, Midwest City – He is one of the fastest players in the state. One move or broken tackle and he is off to the races. Teams avoid throwing his way on defense.
QB/DB Turner Peterson, Heritage Hall – He was one of the best wide receivers in the state a year ago. Now he is moving to quarterback. He touches the ball a lot more and he just knows how to make a play with the ball in his hands.
QB/WR/DB Brett Davis, Shawnee – He is just a great athlete. He can play quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back. He plays that many positions because he knows how to make big plays happen.
QB/DB Darwin Rideau, Star Spencer – He rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and 20 touchdowns last year while also collecting six interceptions on defense.
Carrying the load
These running backs know how to carry a team on their back: Beau Blankenship, Norman North – The Iowa State commit is the key to the best team on the West side of the state. He is just 5-foot-8, but he packs a punch and runs by defenders.
Josh Zimmer, Washington – He leads a talented Washington offense. The Warriors are usually a dual threat offense, but with a talent like Zimmer in the backfield, they run the ball a lot more. He scored 39 touchdowns last year.
Bryce “Paco” Moore, Tuttle – The best running back in Class 3A gets a lot of carries and collects a lot of yards. He had nearly 2,000 yards last year and will carry the ball a lot again for a talented Tigers team.
David Oku, Carl Albert – The best running back in the state has all the tools – speed, power, elusiveness. That’s why nearly every college in the country is recruiting him, and every Class 5A team fears him.
Auggie McCulley, Hennessey – The physical runner should improve on his nearly 1,600 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns a year ago in Class 2A (second in the class), especially with the team in Class A this year.
Protect this house
These defenders know how to stop offenses and lay a big hit:
TE/DE Gabe Ikard, Bishop McGuinness – He is a standout on both sides of the ball, defensive end and tight-end. He is being heavily recruited by some of the best colleges in the country for either position.
LB Nathan Badger, Norman North – The linebacker hits hard and hits often. His talent for making tackles has garnered him national attention. He is the leader of the underappreciated Timberwolves defense.
DB Daytawion Lowe, Carl Albert – Teams have learned quickly not to pass his way. He is the example of a shutdown corner. He is quick, has good instincts and is a big hitter.
DE Kenneth Garrett, Crooked Oak – His favorite player is former Sooner and current Chicago Bears’ Tommie Harris. That’s pretty good considering Garrett plays much like Harris. Garrett plays both the pass and run well.
LB Graham King, Heritage Hall – He is “The King” of the Chargers defense and of the top defenders in the area. The linebacker runs down ballcarriers with the best of them. He had 98 tackles and six sacks a year ago.
Remember Me
Take notice of these players who should make a splash this season
QB Tyler Tettleton, Norman North – All eyes in Class 6A are on him, waiting to see how the strong armed quarterback does after severely injuring his knee and missing all of last season.
RB Randy Ponder, Edmond Santa Fe -- It’s no coincidence that Santa Fe’s season fell apart last year when the he suffered a knee injury midway through the season. He can carry a team with his running.
RB/DB Javon Harris, Lawton MacArthur – He doesn’t get much attention because he plays in southwest Oklahoma. But teams sure take notice when they play against the Highlanders. He has verbally committed to Oklahoma to play in the secondary.
QB/DB Dax Dilbeck, Deer Creek – He has experience, toughness and talent. Yet the four year starter, who has orally committed to Oregon State, sometimes gets lost in the discussion of best players in Class 5A because of the talent in the class and where he plays.
QB Kyle Webster, Mustang – He started the last four games of last year, helping the Broncos make the playoffs after collecting nearly 1,600 total yards offense. Imagine what he could do with an entire year as the starting quarterback.
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