 |
|||||||||||||||
|
By: Chris Evans
Sometimes a lot of things do not add up. When you look at the numbers of the John Marshall football team and the Guthrie Bluejays squad they really don’t add up. The two teams will get together for a 7:30 p.m. kick off, inside Jelsma Stadium, on Friday night.
John Marshall High School split into Centennial High School, prior to the season, and has left the Bears with few players and a tough schedule. JMHS was forced to play the second year of the two year district schedule, in which case, left the Bears with Class 2A numbers to compete against 5A schools.
With 24 players listed on the JMHS roster, many could project the struggles the Bears would have coming off a 0-10 season. On the year, the Bears are 0-6 and have scored just 20 points.
“You have to feel sorry for those kids. It is really tough for them and to play the same 5A schedule is brutal for them,” Bluejay head coach Rafe Watkins said as he looks for his 59th win since arriving in 2001.
Despite the low numbers, Watkins says the Bears still have some talented players, but are simply not surrounded by enough players to be as effective as they possibly could be.
���They have some great athlete’s. Their tailback and full back are both are as good as we have seen this year at their positions. It is just they have nobody to block for them,” Watkins said.
The Bears defense has allowed 282 points which averages to 47 points a contest. Guthrie enters the game with an average of 58 points a game, which is the best in the state. Despite what the score may appear like, Guthrie will enter the game with the same intensity and mind set.
“As bad as we feel for them and the situation that they are in, we are also not going to go out there and have pity. We are going to go out and play our football game, Watkins said.
Watkins quickly stated his team will have focus despite, what his players know about the situation that Bears are currently in.
“Our kids are smart enough about the football and the things that are going on in the state. We told them the situation. They were very good on Tuesday and Wednesday practices, and it was a good week for us to continue to do get better at what we do, “ Watkins explained.
Guthrie defeated JMHS last season 47-0, with a running clock in the second half, at Taft Stadium.
Be sure to listen to the game on Hot 93.7 FM KSPI as Chris Evans, Casey Porter, Chris LeGrande, and Craig Fleck bring you all the exciting action. The pre-game show starts at 7 p.m. and the extended post game show follows the conclusion of the game.
Game Notes:
