Published: December 07, 2005 12:00 am            

Enid lands 4 players on all-district team

By Mark Rountree Sports Editor



Four Enid High football players have been named to the 6A-3 All-District Team.

Wide receiver John Baudendistel, linebacker Jamarr Perry, center Matt Tapia and cornerback Marques Odom were selected on the seniors-only all-star team.

Baudendistel caught 41 passes this season and finished his career with 1,002 yards receiving, one of only six Enid players ever to surpass 1,000 yards in a career.

Perry set a single-season record with 154 tackles and tied a school record with 25 tackles in the season opener against Choctaw.

Tapia was one of Enid's top offensive linemen, grading out at 85 percent, and Odom provided one of the top plays of the season when he returned a punt for a score against Stillwater.

Tulsa Union all-purpose player Dominique Franks and Ponca City running back Josh Johnson shared Player of the Year honors.

Sapulpa wide receiver Michael Cashon and Tulsa Union receiver Jake Borgsmiller were the Offensive Players of the Year. Ponca City defensive end Rashawn Parker and Tulsa Union defensive end Chase Nelson were the Defensive Players of the Year. Sapulpa's Mike Hainzinger and Tulsa Union's Bill Blankenship shared Coach of the Year honors.



Blankenship's resignation



Enid coach Tom Cobble said the sudden resignation of Tulsa Union coach Bill Blankenship on Monday "was a surprise to everyone. It was a well-kept secret."'

"I would imagine being the athletic director and head coach at a school like Tulsa Union is a big-time, time-consuming job,'' said Cobble.

Blankenship led the Redskins to two straight Class 6A state titles. Union finished 13-1 this season after beating Mustang 33-7 on Friday in the Class 6A state championship game at Owen Field. Blankenship spent 14 seasons at Union, and his teams were 154-26. He was a high school coach for 22 seasons, including stops at Edmond Memorial and Spiro.

Blankenship's teams were 205-68 overall.

Cobble said Union assistant Steve Spavital may be a top candidate to replace Blankenship. If the school goes outside the district to find a replacement, Cobble said former Union assistant and current Stillwater coach Kirk Fridrich may be a candidate.

Cobble said the Blankenship resignation may lead to a domino effect in the coaching ranks as coaches move to vacated positions. But he said Enid's staff will remain intact.

"We have a job underway here and we'd like to get it finished,'' he said.



Extra points



The Plainsmen are doing offseason weightlifting four days a week at Honigsberg Fieldhouse. After the Christmas break, the team will begin an intense six-week weightlifting session. ... Cobble said the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association will allow full pads in spring practice this season. The 10-day session will begin after the state baseball tournament and must end before May 31. ... College recruiters from Northeastern Oklahoma A--M, Texas Tech, Southwestern Oklahoma State and Southwest Missouri State have scheduled visits with Cobble in the coming weeks to watch film of the Plainsmen. ...