Published: August 21, 2008 10:20 pm         

Parker: Scrimmage test for EHS

Enid football coach Tommy Parker hopes to get some questions answered when the Plainsmen scrimmage defending Class 5A state champion Guthrie and Ponca City tonight at Langston University.

The ninth graders will scrimmage at 6, followed by the junior varsity at 7 and the varsity at 8.

“There’s some questions to be answered and this is a good setting to get it done,’’ Parker said. “We’re pretty excited about it. By the time the first scrimmage comes around, we’re ready to hit somebody other than ourselves.’’

The first scrimmage, Parker said, is a time for evaluation.

“We’re going to take a long, hard look at some guys that we’re unsure of, whether they can compete at the varsity level,’’ Parker said. “By the second scrimmage, you start settling in tighter on races for positions.

“The first scrimmage you’re going to have some mistakes. What we’re looking for is guys on the offensive and defensive lines that can step in and play and help us with depth.’’

Wide receiver-defensive back Donnie Fuston, linebacker-wide receiver Tyler Barnes and sophomore center Toby Scott have caught Parker’s attention early.

“We definitely have had some guys step in and make a move,’’ Parker said.

Veterans Trent Dupy, Colton Chelf, Brett Kenaga, Jess Ring and Jon Burton have played well, Parker said.

“We expect a little more out of those guys,’’ Parker said.

The scrimmage will have a 12-play per team format on offense. Defenses will rotate every three plays.

Guthrie was ranked No. 2 in 5A in the preseason High School Sports magazine.

“It’s going to be an awfully good matchup for us,’’ Parker said. “Guthrie is going to be very athletic.’’

Parker said scrimmaging a district rival like Ponca City “is not my favorite situation.’’ He pointed out, however, the two teams don’t play until Week 9.

“That’s 12 weeks down the road,’’ Parker said. “We’ll both be different teams by then.’’

Parker reports no major injuries. Everyone is expected to play.



Cool temperatures good, bad for CHS



Chisholm coach Dan Maly has mixed feeling about cool temperatures as his team readies for a scrimmage at Oklahoma Christian School at 6 tonight with the host Saints and Bethel.

The 70-to-80-degree temperatures have hurt his team’s conditioning, he said. On the other hand, it’s made for better practices.

“We’ve been practicing hard,’’ Maly said. “You should be able to have those kind of practices in cool weather. I’m just afraid it’s going to turn hot again one of these days.’’

Linemen Bryant Jackson, Austin Hula and Leighton Skinner, fullback-linebacker Jesse Stewart and wide receiver-defensive back Lonnie Ford have all stood out so far.

Maly’s first goal tonight is to evaluate personnel. He said players can be evaluated better on blocking and tackling at game speed.

Both OCS and Bethel run spread offenses. CHS offense will be attacking two different defensive alignment —the Saints’ 3-3-5 and Bethel’s 4-4.

“It’s good to be able to see a lot of different stuff,’’ Maly said. “It’s all about us getting our stuff together and be heading in the right direction. We’ll run our basic plays to try to get better and to see where we’re making mistakes to be able to get that straighten out before we start playing games.’’

Chisholm will host Fairview in a scrimmage Aug. 28.



Mustangs host OBA, Yale



Pioneer will host Oklahoma Bible Academy and Yale in a 6 p.m. scrimmage tonight in the Mustangs’ first 11-man action since 1987.

“The kids have had no problems adjusting to 11-man,’’ said Pioneer coach Ron Sunderland. “Our goals are going to be evaluating some personnel and trying to find some good backups. We want to find guys who really want to play and can step up and do the job.’’

Sophomore linemen Tyler Woolley and Joe Long “have been making a difference,’’ Sunderland said. Kingfisher transfer tight end-linebacker Issac Forbes has stepped up as a leader.

Pioneer received a boost when linebacker-fullback Jordan Tate was cleared to play. He suffered a neck injury in a game last season against Pond Creek-Hunter.

“The guys we expected to stand out are doing a good job for us,’’ Sunderland said. “We’re really pleased with the progress we have made.’’

OBA and Yale, Sunderland said, will be a good test for Pioneer. Both have been playing 11-man for two seasons after moving up from 8-man.

“Their size and personnel are about the same as we are,’’ Sunderland said. “It will give us a good idea of what we need to work on.’’

Pioneer will scrimmage at Cashion next week.

Admission will be a towel or laundry soap.