Rivalry game to open the Guthrie Bluejay Season

By: Chris Evans

 

            The Friday night lights will be lit up for the second ranked Guthrie Bluejays as they prepare to open up the 2007 season in Shawnee to take on the ninth ranked Wolves inside Jim Thorpe Stadium.

            Guthrie won this rivalry game a season ago inside Jelsma Stadium, 19-7, after trailing 7-6 at halftime. Shawnee quarterback Brett Davis had an 80 yard touchdown run as he showed off his 4.5 speed into the end zone. Davis will start the first two weeks of the season as fifth year senior Tucker Brown sits out after earning a medical hardship waiver to return this semester.

            “He (Davis) got a lot of experience a year ago. He is a great athlete and is every bit the athlete of Tucker. The difference is the game savvy. Tucker is like a coach on the field for them,” head coach Rafe Watkins said as he gets set to begin his seventh season at the helm of the Bluejays. Watkins has a 52-19 record since arriving in 2001.

            Davis, also a great defensive secondary player, compiled 655 yards rushing with eight rushing touchdowns. Davis is also an accurate passer with 1,119 passing yards, seven touchdown passes and six interceptions last year as a sophomore.

            Davis’s counterpart is Bluejay senior quarterback Kye Staley. In the game last year, Staley had over 200 yards in total offense including 178 yards rushing. Staley said when he goes out there for the first time he may have a few jitters.

            “Honestly, at the beginning I am always hyped, but the first play I will have jitters, but after that I will be relaxed and ready to play,” Staley said. “

            Another key factor for the Wolves offense will be tailbacks Jon Wright and Daniel Torres. Wright has shined in the two Shawnee scrimmages, particularly the scrimmage last week against Carl Albert, but Torres is the one that has caught the attention of Watkins.

            “He’s probably made the most improvement to me. He took a 60 yarder against Carl Albert in their scrimmage and we know what speed they have. He’s dropped a little weight and has slimmed up and is very impressive,” Watkins explained about the 195 pound Shawnee tailback.

            Another weapon for the Wolves will be two-way starter Josh Lennox. Lennox is a 6-3 junior, and Watkins believes he may be the best tight end they see all season. However, the one question that Shawnee has offensively is the same question the Bluejays will have entering tonight and that is the offensive line.

            “They have three new starters at the offensive line position. I always talk about the offensive line and how important that is for a team and that is a big concern for them as well,” Watkins said.

            At the receiver spot, Shawnee will be led by senior Tajhler Phillips. Phillips had 14 catches with six of those for touchdowns to go along with 402 receiving yards in his junior campaign.

Shawnee head coach Billy Brown said that his 4-4 defense this season has a chance to be the best defense they have had at Shawnee during his tenure. The Shawnee defensive coordinator is Scott Dawson.

            The leading tackler from a year ago returns in junior linebacker Ethan Acock. The linebacker’s as a group are overall young, and the secondary is led by senior Forrest Reed. Reed is being recruited and was the team’s second leading tackler last season. Lennox will be a force at the defensive end.

            Watkins said he will be moving players in and out of both the offensive and defensive lines and getting a feel for what they have on the line of scrimmage, and what group will give them the best chemistry which will be tough considering Shawnee may be the toughest opponent of the season outside of Carl Albert.

            “We want to win every ball game, but yet from a coaches view point you want to go out and improve each week,” Watkins said.

            As far as the atmosphere on Friday night Watkins believes it will be one of the best in the state.

“Shawnee puts on a great atmosphere for a high school football stadium. It will be the first time that I have been here that it wasn’t over 100 degrees at kick off, but its going to be a tough ball game. They are very well coached and have an outstanding team,” Watkins said. “If we play like we are capable of playing I think we are the better football team tonight, but that does not mean the better football team always wins the football game.”

            No doubt when these two teams get together it is a clash of great athletes and great coaches who believe in their players. Friday night looks like a typical Guthrie-Shawnee Showdown once again.

 

Notes:

 

-Because of construction on the new performing arts center and gymnasium at the high school, two parking rows just east of the high school have been lost. Shawnee Athletic Director Steve Fluke said parking will also be available near the softball field and on the west side of the high school. Fluke advised fans to arrive early.

 

-The Guthrie Booster Club is “Sending off the Bluejays” at the park and ride on Highway 33. The team buses will be departing at 4:30 with a police escort.