District play has arrived for 11-man squads
The real season, you might say, has now arrived — that being district play for the 11-man teams in Classes 4A, 3A, 2A and A.
The real season, you might say, has now arrived — that being district play for the 11-man teams in Classes 4A, 3A, 2A and A.
Sallisaw will begin District 4A-4 play tonight with a road game in Muskogee against Hilldale.
The Muldrow Bulldogs will get District 3A-3 play underway with a road game to the team the Black Diamonds played last week — the Eufaula Ironheads.
New districts for Roland and Vian in Class 3A and Central and Gore in Class A will begin tonight.
The Rangers entertained Okmulgee in one of four games in District 2AII-3 on Thursday night, while the Wolverines got its new district season underway Thursday night with a District 2AII-4 road game at Spiro.
Both the Tigers and Pirates will have road games in their new District AI-3 as Central will visit Wewoka in a battle of Tigers, while Gore will hit the road to face one of its non-district foes a season ago — the Mounds Golden Eagles.
The two 8-man teams, the Gans Grizzlies and the Webbers Falls Warriors, will not start District BII4 play until Oct. 11. The Grizzlies were slated to have played Porum tonight, but the Panthers had to drop football due to lack of numbers, so the Grizzlies were idle.
The Warriors went just across the Sequoyah-Adair county line Thursday night to meet Cave Springs.
THE REASON FOR SO MANY NON-FRIDAY GAMES
If you’ve noticed, there seems to be a lot more non-Friday football games this season. Vian coach Gary Willis mentioned the main reason for that.
“There’s a lot of referee shortages,” Vian coach Gary Willis said. “They put this game (Vian at Spiro) on Thursday a while back.”
In fact, the Heavener-Hugo game is now taking place on Saturday for the same reason.
As they say, “You gotta do what you gotta do.”
WEEK 3 HIGHLIGHTS 100-YARD RUSHERS
Masyn Wright, Vian — 310 yards.
Braxin Goodson, Central — 251 yards.
DeShawn Willson, Muldrow — 169 yards.
Taeshawn Achan, Gans — 161 yards.
Jackson Harris, Sallisaw — 154 yards.
Jasper Green, Gans — 116 yards.
Draighton Fletcher, Vian — 110 yards.
100-YARD PASSERS
Brutus Robinson, Webbers Falls — 172 yards.
Teaguen Collins, Muldrow — 165 yards.
Braxin Goodson, Central — 122 yards.
SCORING (12 POINTS OR MORE)
DeShawn Willson, Muldrow — 18 points.
Braxin Goodson, Central — 18 points.
Draighton Fletcher, Vian — 16 points.
Masyn Wright, Vian — 14 points.
Jackson Harris, Sallisaw — 12 points.
Jacob Brannick, Vian — 12 points.
Taeshawn Achan, Gans — 12 points.
DEFENSIVE HONOR ROLL
Jace Holman, Sallisaw — 12 tackles, three solo.
Alex Brant, Roland — 12 tackles, two solo, and two tackles for loss.
Jacob Gregory, Muldrow — 11 tackles.
Braxton Prewett, Roland — 11 tackles, three solo, and two tackles for loss.
Preston Bennett, Gans — 11 tackles and two quarterback hurries.
Ryker Miller, Central — 10 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a caused fumble.
Teaguen Collins, Muldrow — Nine tackles.
Dalton Crossno, Roland — Eight tackles, three solo, two tackles for loss and 1.5 QB sacks.
Drew Simpson, Roland — Eight tackles, four solo.
Caden Cowan, Sallisaw — Seven tackles, one solo, and three QB hurries. Cole Mayfield, Sallisaw — Seven tackles, three solo, and one half of a QB sack.
Gabe Miller, Muldrow — Seven tackles.
Wesley Thornell, Gans — Seven tackles, a tackle for loss, and a caused fumble.
Austin File, Sallisaw — Six tackles, two solo.
Aiden Ruiz, Sallisaw — Six tackles, one solo.
Joe Brooks, Central — Six tackles and a QB sack for a safety.
Hunter Smith, Sallisaw — Five tackles, two solo, and two QB hurries.
Noah Briley, Sallisaw — Five tackles, one solo.
DeShawn Willson, Muldrow — Five tackles, with a tackle for loss.
Cason Perryman, Roland — Five tackles, three solo, 1.5 tackles for loss and a QB sack.
Cash Bobbitt, Roland — Five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one-half of a QB sack.
Xhaiden Mosby, Central — Five tackles, a tackle for loss, and a QB sack.
Kash Keepes, Sallisaw — Four tackles, three QB hurries and a pass break-up.
Tae Muskrat-Flynn, Sallisaw — Three tackles, a QB hurry and a pass breakup.
Rowdy Ward, Sallisaw — Three tackles, two solo, and a pass break-up.
Kenyon Hill, Sallisaw — Three tackles, one solo, two pass break-ups and an interception.
Aidan Sainer, Central — Three tackles, a caused fumble and a fumble recovery.
Cooper Carter, Sallisaw — Two tackles and a QB hurry.
Cole Holcomb, Central — Two tackles, a QB sack and a fumble recovery.
Trace Sanders, Vian — 50-yard INT return for a touchdown.
Jacob Brannick, Vian — An INT. Paul Johnson, Roland — An INT and a tackle.
Uriah Phillips, Roland — An INT and three tackles, one solo.
Connor Green, Sallisaw — One half of a QB sack and a tackle.
CONGRATULATIONS TO MY CLASSMATE
My 40th Enid High School Class of 1984 Reunion is today and tomorrow, so I won’t get to be at any games tonight — but I’ll be there in spirit with all of you.
One of my high school classmates is getting a big-time honor in my hometown of Enid as Lydell Carr is officially getting a street in Enid named for him. The street signs have been up for several months now, but there will be a formal dedication this afternoon as a way to kick off our 40th reunion.
When I tell people I went to school with Lydell Carr, people’s eyeballs open wider and/or their jaws drop — especially if they happen to be Oklahoma Sooners fans.
Carr played for OU from 1984-87, being a part of the 1985 national championship team. He then was a fourth-round selection by the New Orleans Saints in the 1988 National Football League Draft. He played with the Saints in 1988 and with the then Phoenix Cardinals in 1989.
Then, Carr went to play for the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe in the 1991 season, then saw his professional career end with the Ohio Glory in the 1992 season of NFL Europe.
I tell people I’ve known Carr since the 1978-79 school year when we both started going to Waller Junior High School (now known as Waller Middle School) when we each started seventh grade.
I’ve been looking forward not only Carr’s special moment this afternoon, but the entire weekend. It would appear that at least some 40 to 50 old classmates — emphasis on old, LOL!!! — will be back in town.
PRAYING FOR BRETT FAVRE
It was disclosed Wednesday morning that Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
It seems like athletes are susceptible to illnesses such as this. Take famed boxer Muhammad Ali, who although passed in 2016 due to septic shock, said his Parkinson’s disease was related to his boxing.
Late National Football League San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark — known for “The Catch” against Dallas in the 1981 NFC Championship Game to begin the 49ers dynasty with Joe Montana and coach Bill Walsh — passed in 2018 from Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS).
Let’s keep Brett in our thoughts and prayers. He forever will be one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
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David Seeley is sports editor for Your TIMES. He can be reached by telephone at (918) 775-4433, Ext. 139 or by email at davids@cookson.news.