Published: August 29, 2007 02:13 pm         

Okeene looks to follow title season with another

OKEENE — What do you do for an encore after a 15-0 state championship season?

If you’re the Okeene Whippets, you try to add more hardware to the trophy case.

The Whippets, despite heavy graduation losses, are picked to repeat as the District A-1 champions by The Kickoff Magazine. Okeene was ranked No. 7 in the preseason Class A statewide rankings.

Whippets coach Jeff Wardlaw listed team quickness, experience on defense and togetherness as the team’s strengths.

He didn’t list any weaknesses.

The Whippets return eight players with starting experience. Okeene had the benefit of having an extra half-season of practice last year and the chance to play its backups in most games.

Matt Benham, who rushed for 1,323 yards last season, is the heir apparent to Brady Wardlaw, last season’s Enid News & Eagle Northwest Oklahoma Player of the Year, at quarterback.

Benham completed 5 of 14 passes for 96 yards last season.

Ryan Boeckman (329 yards), Ryan Long (186 yards) and Grant Detrixhe (45 yards) are expected to carry the load on the ground.

Benham, despite the loss of all-star receivers Drew Westfahl and Sean Fuller, will have a proven group of receivers to throw to.

Brock Wardlaw, a returning starter, caught 15 passes for 257 yards. Taylor Hooper caught 20 passes for 203 yards. Tight end Morgan Reinert had one reception for eight yards.

The Whippets return three starting offensive linemen in guard Karson Turnham, a 225-pound senior; guard Kaleb Turnham, a 225-pound senior; and tackle Kyle Felder, a 300-pound senior.

Felder was a first-team Class A all-state preseason selection by The Kickoff magazine.

Benham, a linebacker, had 80 tackles last season.

Chase Lamle, a 185-pound senior, had 31 tackles last season before going out with injuries in the middle of the season.

Other top returning tacklers are Brock Wardlaw (41), Reinart (36), linebacker Wager Schiska (30), Felder (30), defensive end Ryan Haffner (13), Hooper (21), Long (19), and Karson Turnham (15).

Chase Lamle intercepted two passes last season, while Chance, Hooper, Long, Aaron Nault and Wardlaw each had one.

Others who coach Wardlaw is counting on include Jacob Parrish, a 250-pound junior tackle; Ryan Eutler, a 140-pound sophomore quarterback; Tanner Heffel, a 170-pound sophomore end; Tim Ott, a 180-pound senior split end-cornerback; Taylor Burghardt, a 180-pound sophomore running back-defensive end; Jacob Montez, a 170-pound sophomore guard-linebacker; Caleb Westfahl, a 180-pound junior guard-defensive tackle; and J.D. Nevels, a 210-pound sophomore tackle.

The championship was the second in school history.

The Whippets also won the Class A state basketball championship and were second in the Class A state track meet.

Okeene beat Velma-Alma 24-14 for the state championship.