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By: Chris Evans
It took Guthrie High School 100 years to win their first ever state title, in 2002, but it took just five more years to win their second state championship. That was the case Friday night, inside The Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, with Guthrie defeating Bixby, 16-3, for the Class 5A State Championship.
Guthrie finishes the 2007 season unbeaten and the unanimous No. 1 team with a perfect 14-0 record to go along with the Gold Ball. Head Coach Rafe Watkins, the all-time winingest coach in Guthrie history, has led both Guthrie state championship teams.
Meanwhile, the Bixby Spartans, 11-3, finishes runner-ups for the sixth time in their school history and had a tremendous defensive game plan for the Kye Staley and the Bluejay offense.
The Guthrie offense entered the title game averaging over 57 points throughout the year, 55 points in the play-offs and almost 400 yards of offense was held to just 16 points and 255 yards of offense, but it was the consistent and stubborn Bluejay defense that proved to be the difference, again.
Bixby was unable to get anything going offensively all night and was stopped for just 95 yards of offense and just six first downs on the night. Two of those six were on Bluejay penalties and all of the first downs were in the second half.
The Spartans were able to muster just three points, but that was gift wrapped due to a Bluejay fumble, but Bixby was unable to move the ball and settled for a 35-yard field goal by Will Maxwell. Bixby averaged over 30 points in their three play-off wins.
Guthrie took a 10-0 halftime lead into the locker room with scores from junior running back Clayton Smith and senior kicker J Hensley.
Smith would take a hand off for a 2-yard touchdown in the South end zone to give the ‘Jays a 7-0 first quarter score.
Hensley, who was a game time decision to kick, connected on a 29-yard field goal and Guthrie had a two score advantage. Hensley injured his kicking foot in the semi-final win over East Central last week and was in a walking boot throughout the week.
Guthrie would get the final score on the board when senior wide out Kent McDonald took a senior Kye Staley pass to the house from 35-yards out to increase the Bluejay lead to 16-0 and for the most part secured the game due to the play of the Bluejay defense.
Hensley's point after was no good when the ball hit the left post and fell short. College goal posts are smaller then those of high school. If played with high school goal posts the point after would of been good.
Guthrie held the Spartans to just 44 yards rushing on the evening and picked off Spartan sophomore quarterback Matt Lamb twice and recovered two Spartan fumbles. The ‘Jays lost two fumbles in the contest as well, but finishes the season with a plus 37 turnover ratio.
Lamb, feeling pressure all night for the ‘Jays defense, and the two Spartan running backs Dalton Irvin and Dewitt Jennings could not find any seams in the line of scrimmage. The duo running back would combine for nine carries and negative six yards rushing.
Staley finished the night with a game high 83 yards rushing on 23 carries, but maybe more impressive was his 6-8 passing for 114 yards to go with the TD pass to McDonald. Keaton Callins was a perfect 4-4 passing for 54 yards.
Guthrie struggled at times with the blitzing Spartan defense and would sack Bluejay quarterbacks four times on the night, but Guthrie was still able to manage 14 first downs in the win.
Watkins now in seven seasons at Guthrie had recorded a 66-19 record, two state championships, a district title, and has won more games then any other Guthrie coach.
In the meantime, Guthrie graduates 16 seniors from this championship team and in their four years at Guthrie have compiled a 39-10 record and go out as the all time winingest class ever in Guthrie High School history. In the past three seasons, the senior class has racked up a 33-6 record.
If you like to hear game, state championship, and season thoughts from Guthrie players and coaches please visit our podcast page at www.guthriesportspage.mypodcast.com.
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