One felt they were at a national tournament at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College’s 5-4 win over LSU-Eunice. Both teams had large cheering sections, giving it a little bit of a high school state tournament atmosphere. Starting pitchers T.J. Gentry of Scottsdale and Stefan Comeaux had command of their pitches and didn’t waste time on the mound, making for a fast-moving game. The two teams were effective in answering each other. Brock Brodeaux’s three-run homer which gave LSU Eunice a 3-1 lead in the fifth was matched by Mike Petello’s two-run shot for Scottsdale the next inning. R.J. Etchenbarren gave Scottsdale a 4-3 lead with a home run in the seventh, only to see LSU-Eurnice answer back in its half with a manufactured run. Kyle Huard’s sac fly would give Scottsdale the deciding run in the eighth but the end didn’t lack drama. A hustling play by Etchenbarren robbed LSU Eunice’s Seth Granger of a base hit with runners on first and second with two outs. Trey Watkins added to the drama for the Bengals when he reached third with two out, but Scottsdale reliever Daniel Zapata struck out Jordan Borque to end the game. “This was better than any movie that I saw this year,’’ said a press box observer. It sure was.
Randy Turney is a basketball junkie. When his Burlington Elks aren’t playing, he’s scouting. That could pay off for him when his Elks face Fargo at 8 p.m. Thursday in the Class B Area I losers bracket quarterfinals at Woodward. He scouted or played four of the five other teams at the Area. The one school he missed (Hammon) he’ll see at 3 p.m. when the No. 13 Indians face No. 18 Vici in the other losers bracket game. He scheduled open dates late in the season for his team to (1) give the Elks some rest and (2) to scout. Turney watches a lot more film during playoff time, but there’s nothing like eyeing an opponent live. “Film is pretty deceiving,’’ Turney said. “I’ve found out it’s a lot better if you watch them in person.’’ Turney, by either method, came away impressed with the No. 9-ranked Bearcats (23-5), who beat Keyes 66-32 in the regional losers bracket finals at Arnett Saturday. Luke Moyer, at 6-foot-5, is a load inside. Guard Trevor Long “is about as good a guard as I’ve seen on film,’’ Turney said. “They have a lot of good experience,’’ Turney said. The Elks will have to keep Moyer from catching the ball and be able to keep Long from having open 3-point shots. “They always have an inside-outside threat,’’ Turney said of Fargo. “When you can do both like that, it makes it tough to stop.’’ The 10th-ranked Elks are coming off a 64-42 loss to Garber in the regional finals at Vici. That game was long awaited because Wolverines coach Dusty Torrey is a Turney protege. “I had a lot of people asking me if I figured out a way to beat myself,’’ Turney said with a chuckle. Turney said he hoped the Elks would play better than they did Saturday. He made no excuses except Garber was just better. “We were just outmanned,’’ Turney said. “We could play them 20 times and they would beat us 20 times,. That’s just a fact. Dusty has good guards and good post players. They play good defense and are fundamentally sound.’’ The Elks (25-4) have already exceed expectations. Burlington, 11-14 last season, was unbeaten in sweeping both the Orient and Cherokee Strip Conferences. Turney was hoping to win 18 or 19 games. “It’s phenomenal how far they came this year from last year,’’ Turney said. Freshman Garrett Butler, who had 15 20 or more points games this season, ignited the Burlington offense. Ben Hudgens, a 5-foot-8 senior, has averaged 19.7 points over the last three playoff games. He’s shot the ball well from 3-point range and has been an effective ballhandler. “As a point guard, he’s played as well as any kid at his position,’’ Turney said. “The rest of our kids need to step up and play to his level.’’ No. 3 Garber and No. 8 Forgan play for the area championship at 8 p.m. Friday. The loser faces the survivor of the losers bracket at 8 Saturday. With six teams in the top 18, the tournament will have a state tournament-like atmosphere. “It will be an atmosphere you won’t forget,’’ Turney said. “It will be exciting.’’ Especially for the Elks, who haven’t been to area since 2005. “Making memories is all what it’s about,’’ Turney said. “It’s (Woodward) fun for them. The playoffs are fun because you get to play in different places. It’s where all those practices and hours you spent in the gym or watching film pays off.’’ Those memories won’t fade if Burlington loses Thursday. “This is one of the most enjoyable years that I’ve had in a long time,’’ Turney said. “All four seniors have been good leaders. They have taken control in practice. I would take 25-5 almost every year.’’
OU's patience paying off against determined Cowboys
Oklahoma may not be earning style points but the Sooners did show patience in leading arch-rival Oklahoma State 21-13 at halftime Saturday. The Cowboys have done an excellent job of slowing down the Sooners holding OU to its fewest points in a half. However, the Sooners have been taking what OSU is giving them. OU’s two touchdown drives were both 14 plays. That’s the most plays OU has had to go to in a touchdown drive this season. Sam Bradford has been a clutch performer on third down threading the ball to well-recovered receivers. He was playing better than his stats (18 of 28 for 171 yards) would indicate. OU tight end Jermaine Gresham made two catches only an athlete 6-6 could make on the Sooners’ second touchdown drive. OSU has down a good job of stopping OU on first down. OSU quarterback Zac Robinson has frustrated the Sooner defense with his scrambling. Kendall Hunter has run the ball well. OU is basically bending but not breaking, forcing OSU to kick two field goals. There didn’t appear to be 10,000 to 15,000 empty seats as predicted. Most of the empty seats were on the upper levels. It should be an interesting second half.
Texas has brought its campaign for a high BCS ranking to Boone Pickens Stadium. A plane is roaring the skies before the OU-OSU game saying 45-35, the score which Texas beat Oklahoma on Oct. 11 in Dallas. Enough. Texas’ 45-35 win over OU is a legitimate argument the Longhorns should be ahead of the Sooners in the BCS. But it’s a three-way tie for first. Using the same logic, Texas Tech should be rated ahead of the Longhorns since the Red Raiders beat UT 39-33 on Nov. 1. So instead of the BCS, let’s use the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association Arkansas plan as the tiebreaker. Under this system where a team gets up to 15 points for a win and minus for 15 points for the loss depending on the final score, here’s how the tiebreaker would come out. Texas has a plus 83. Texas Tech went into Saturday’s game with Baylor with a plus 52. OU went into the OSU game with a plus 79. Always remember the Sooners have to win tonight or all bets are off anyway. If OU loses ,another argument. Who would go to the Cotton Bowl as the Big 12 rep — OU or OSU? OSU would have the head-to-head argument. OU would have the argument of bringing better TV ratings and more fans. Would OSU rather go to Dallas or San Diego and the Holiday Bowl? Impressed with my first look at Boone Pickens Stadium.
Oklahoma introduced its 20 seniors before its home season finale with Texas Tech Saturday. But one has to speculate about the futures of two OU underclassmen — quarterback Sam Bradford and tight end Jermaine Gresham. Both are eligible to declare for the NFL Draft having completed their third year of eligibility. Bradford has two years left while Gresham will have a year’s eligibility left. Bradford is ranked No. 2 on the ESPN Scouts Inc. list for the 2009 Draft prepared for by Todd McShay, ESPN’s director of scouting. Gresham is No. 22. Bradford, a 6-foot-3 1/2, 218-pounder, is ranked only behind Alabama tackle Andre Smith. That’s quite a leap from where he was only 15 months ago when he was battling Keith Nichol and Joey Halzle for the starting job with the Sooners. Bradford appears to be enjoying the college experience so one would tend to believe he would be back with the Sooners in 2007. Many felt USC’s Matt Leinart made the wrong decision when he chose to return to Southern Cal for the 2005 season after winning the 2004 Heisman Trophy. Instead of going No. 1 overall in the draft (by the San Francisco 49ers), Leinart went No. 10 overall to the Arizona Cardinals the next season where he’s currently backing up Kurt Warner. Some estimated the decision cost Leinart some $10 million. There were only two other quarterbacks rated in the top 32 by McShay — Georgia’s Matthew Stafford, No. 3 and USC’s Mark Sanchez, No. 14. Again, it never hurts a quarterback to stay in school. It certainly didn’t hurt Peyton Manning to stay in school. He ended up as the No. 1 overall pick and eventually would lead the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl victory. Alex Smith left Utah after three seasons. With Leinart staying in school, he was the No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft by the 49ers. He has struggled and could be out of the NFL next season. He is currently on the injured reserve list. Ryan Leaf, who was the No. 2 overall choice behind Manning, was a flop after leaving Washington State after three years. His immaturity might have been the biggest reason. If Bradford doesn’t win the Heisman, he would be in a good position to be one of the favorites in 2009. Being a high pick in the first round would be good financially, but would he want to be on a terrible team. Leaving OU early was a good choice for Kingfisher’s Curtis Lofton, who is the starting middle linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons. It wasn’t for Malcom Kelly (Redskins) and Reggie Smith (49ers), who didn’t go until the second and third rounds. Draft projections aren’t always accurate. Remember Kelly was once projected as the top returning receiver and he didn’t go until late in the second round. No one can blame anyone for taking the money and running either. One draft’s status can determine their future worth the rest of their careers. Bonus are especially important in football where there are no guaranteed contracts. Among those 20 seniors were five offensive linemen — Phil Loadholt, Duke Robinson, Jon Cooper, Brandon Walker and Branndon Braxton. They have done an excellent job of keeping Bradford’s uniform clean the last two years. Texas quarterback Colt McCoy struggled some after he was playing behind a rebuilt line as a sophomore in 2007. If Bradford won both the Heisman and a national championship this year, what could he do for an encore. Gresham, at 6-foot-6 and 261 pounds, is a tight end one would order out of a catalogue. He is strong and fast. He has an occasional case of the drops. He is becoming a better blocker but his big play skills are evident. It’s difficult to project what a 20-year-old would. Lofton said in December he wouldn’t go unless he was certain he would go in the top 15 in the first round. That changed as declaring for the draft came closer.
ESPN’s Skip Bayless is going to have to change his definition of putrid. That’s how he described the Oklahoma defense during a First-and-10 segment of the popular First Take program Friday. If OU’s defense was putrid in the first half in taking a 42-7 lead against Texas Tech Saturday, we all should be. The Red Raiders, who were averaging 566.3 yards in total offense going into the game, had only 170 yards at halftime — 16 yards rushing and 154 passing. The Sooners were getting a strong rush on Tech quarterback Graham Harrell and were not allowing the big plays which have haunted them this year. Harrell was sacked twice in the first half. Tech had allowed only five sacks going into the game. Enid’s Austin Box did his part with five tackles — four unassisted and one assisted. He helped set the early tone of the game when he tackled Tech Tramain Swindell for a two-yard loss on a second and seven from the Tech 47 on the Red Raiders’ opening series. OU was dominating the game on both sides with 226 yards rushing and 176 passing. The Red Raiders came into the game allowing 351.4 yards a game.
One could tell the OU-Texas Tech game was big by looking at the OU student section. The student section was nearly filled an hour before the game. Usually students are late arriving. The fans were loud in the pregame. No. 2 Texas Tech is the highest ranked team to visit Norman since No. 1-ranked Nebraska came to Owen Field in 2000.
A little defense for the Oklahoma defense. Forget the high numbers opponents have put up against the Sooners. Concentrate on the turnovers. The Sooners have recovered 11 fumbles and intercepted 13 passes. OU has thrown only seven interceptions and lost one fumble. That’s a plus 16 turnover margin. The defense has given the offense good field position. Most coaches will say who wins the turnover battle will win the game. OU lost the one game it didn’t force a turnover — 45-35 to Texas. Turnovers will obviously be the key to slowing Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell, who has thrown only six interceptions. The Red Raiders have a plus 10 on turnover margin. Both teams will need turnovers to stop each other. OU leads the Big 12 in scoring offense averaging 51.4 points a game and that’s with the Sooners going conservative in the fourth quarter in most games. The Red Raiders are right behind at 47.9. Let’s go to the supposedly high numbers OU has given up. The Sooners lead the Big 12 in total defense, allowing 345.6 yards per game. They have allowed the fewest first downs (184) and have the best third down percentage (44 of 146 for 30.1 percent). OU is third in rushing defense (107.5 yards) and fourth in passing defense (238.1 yards per game). The Sooners are fourth in scoring defense (23.6). Those aren’t numbers that would compare to the days of the Selmon brothers, but they are respectable in trying to stop today’s offenses. If the defense gets a few turnovers against Tech, it deserves to get some credit for the win. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables has the track record most would be proud of. He’s had to do without his best defensive player (Ryan Reynolds) for half of the season. Heisman talk: How the Heisman can turn so quickly. How many times does a Heisman contender’s stock fall after throwing for five touchdowns as Sam Bradford did against Texas? Was it fair for Colt McCoy’s Heisman stock to drop because Texas Tech scored in the last second in a win over Texas? Tonight’s winning quarterback will have a strong shot at the Heisman. Look at the recent history and the quarterback on the nation’s No.1 or No. 2 team are always the Heisman favorite. Would Bradford’s stock dropped if OU beat Tech but lost to OSU?
Laverne coach Tim Allen, in the preseason, said he wouldn’t be surprised if District B-1 teams swept to the Class B football semifinals. Canton coach Robby Davis said the same thing last week before B-1 teams went 4-0 in the round. An All-District B-1 semifinal next week? Could be. All four of the northwest Oklahoma area teams did look good last week. They are playing with a swagger that befits a team whose fourth-place finisher was ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP rankings. Garber, 11-0, could have the toughest test when the Wolverines face Depew, which upset No. 5-ranked Porter 26-20 in the first round. With Zac Powell healthy and Dylan Postier throwing the ball to a number of receivers, the Wolverines will be difficult to stop. Canton seems to be thriving under the pressure of its first playoff appearance in 24 years. The Tigers have the incentive of getting a second shot at Garber, whom they lost to Oct. 31. Davis has made sure his team is savoring the moment. Beating No. 3 Weleetka on the road will be a difficult challenge, but the Tigers go in confident, knowing this isn’t their first rodeo anymore. Laverne has to benefit from hosting Davenport, who may feel a little travel fatigue. Anyone who beats a district champion (44-12) like the Tigers did B-2 kingpin Fox last week might be peaking at the right time. Ringwood’s defense might have played its best game of the season in a 46-0 shutout of Alex last week. The senior-dominated Red Devils have been playing with a purpose, knowing this is the last chance for most of them to be playing for the gold ball. Who knows what the Oklahoma Secondary School Activity Association is thinking, but one has to think Enid could be hosting the semifinals if the B-1 teams sweep. If not, Mustang is always a good site. In Class C, Deer Creek-Lamont is dangerous with Eli Reese but Shattuck is Shattuck. Timberlake’s defense will be too stiff for Corn Bible setting up a long-awaited meeting between the Indians and Tigers in next week’s Class C semifinal. Seiling should benefit by having a home game with Temple. The Wildcats are beginning to play like the team which was ranked No. 3 in Class C at one time. Covington-Douglas and Thackerville could be a classic. This may sound like a northwest Oklahoma bias, but Thackerville hasn’t faced the competition Covington-Douglas has. The Wildcats have only lost to unbeaten Timberlake and unbeaten Garber. Covington-Douglas is playoff tested and should hand Thackerville its first loss. Look for the Class C semifinals to be at Weatherford again.
Canton coach Robby Davis predicts District B-1 will be filling all four spots up for the Class B Final Four football playoffs. He has an argument there. All four of the district’s playoff teams — Garber, Ringwood, Canton and Laverne have been ranked in the top four in the weekly Associated Press rankings this season. Garber, the lone unbeaten team in Class B, is ranked No. 1 going into the playoffs/ The Wolverines’ could have one of the toughest roads to make it to the semifinals. Porter, ranked No. 5 in the final rankings, would play the Wolverines in the second round of they can get past Depew, another team which has been highly rated in various Class B rankings. Laverne was ranked No. 1 in the Class B rankings, but finished fourth in the district. The Tigers face Fox, which was ranked No. 3 in the preseason, but fell out of the top five for good with an opening 52-6 loss to Thackerville. If Laverne gets past Fox, they would face the Davenport-Welch winner. Davenport has been ranked No. 2 in Class B the last three weeks. Ringwood, the B-1 runner-up, faces Alex in the first round. The Red Devils were ranked No. 4 in the preseason and have been ranked as high as No. 3. They fell out of the top five after a 46-0 loss to Timberlake in which coach Doug Seely held out several starters because of injuries. Fox has been ranked only once this season — No. 5 after Week 7. The Red Devils, with a win, would face the Copan-Keifer winner in the second round. Copan was ranked No. 4 in Class B before a Week 10 loss to Copan. Canton, ranked No. 4 in the final poll, travels to Ryan, which has been out of the AP top five since the fourth week of the season. Canton, with a win, would face the Weleetka-Watts winner in the second round. Weleetka was ranked No. 3 in the final AP poll. Weleekta was in the rankings the final five weeks. To show how much respect B-1 had in the preseason consider, this. Pond Creek-Hunter was ranked No. 5 in the preseason poll. The Panthers were 5-5. Waukomis was ranked No. 8 ahead of No. 9 Garber in the preseason poll. The Chiefs, hampered by injuries, finished the season 1-9. Don’t be surprised if B-1 goes 4-0 in the first round. Shattuck has been No. 1 in Class C for 11 straight weeks, including the preseason Timberlake has been No. 2 the past six weeks. Thackerville has been No. 3 the past six weeks. Waynoka has been No. 4 the past four weeks. Corn Bible Academy has been No. 5 the past four weeks. Shattuck and Timberlake appear to be heading for a semifinal showdown. Deer Creek-Lamont could be a roadblock in Week 2 for Shattuck if the Eagles can get by Midway. DCLA has been ranked as high as No. 4. Timberlake won’t have an easy game in the second round either. The Tigers, with a win over Sasakwa, would be facing the Corn Bible Academy-Buffalo winner the second week. Buffalo has been ranked as high as No. 3. Corn Bible has been ranked as high as No. 2. Remember, many felt Timberlake would be rebuilding after losing a strong senior class. The Tigers were ranked No. 9 with Buffalo in the preseason showing we in the media aren’t always right. Covington-Douglas, with a win over Claremore Christian, would be facing the Thackerville-Boise City winner. Has anyone ever traveled as far to a first-round playoff game as Boise City will Friday? Reaching the semifinals is a realistic dream for the Wildcats, whose only losses have been to unbeaten Garber and Timberlake. Seiling could be the team to watch. The Wildcats are beginning to look like the team that was ranked No. 3 in the first two polls. Seiling travels to Maud, which hasn’t been ranked in the top five all year, in the first round. If the Wildcats can win that game, they would host the Waynoka-Temple game. Waynoka is another team to watch. They gave Shattuck a good game before falling 28-12 and the Rails gained valuable playoff experience last season. Another reason not to trust preseason polls. Grandfield was ranked No. 2 in Class B in the preseason. They didn’t make the playoffs. Don’t be surprised if District C-3 goes 4-0 in the first round and District C-1 goes 3-1.
Check out this lab oppportunity at Perry Memorial! LAB MT/MLT Full Time. Competitive Salary Perry Memorial Hospital www.pmh-ok.org 580-336-3541...>MORE
CHECK OUT THESE OPPORTUNITIES @ NOC!!! Northern Oklahoma College Adjunct Instructor/ Social Science Division Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa or ...>MORE
JOB FAIR @ NWOSU, Enid Campus Northwestern Oklahoma State University is having a Job Fair on Friday, November 13, 2009 at the Enid Campus from 10...>MORE
Business and Industry Services Coordinator Autry Technology Center seeks a Business and Industry Services Coordinator to strengthen the companies assigned by provi...>MORE
CHECK OUT THESE OPPORTUNITIES @ NOC!! Northern Oklahoma College Adjunct Teacher/ Language Arts Division
