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By: Chris Evans
What was anticipated as one of the most competitive games of the season for the, second ranked, Guthrie Bluejays quickly turned the game into another Bluejay stampede.
Noble entered Week 8 with a 5-2 record and were dominating the same opponents as Guthrie was, but the Bears would quickly find out the other side of a lopsided game. Guthrie defeated Noble 69-0 inside Jelsma Stadium where 16 seniors were honored on Senior Night.
Many times throughout the season, Guthrie has shown a quick strike offense and Thursday night proved no different.
Noble would go three and out and would give the ‘Jays the ball on their own 49-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, junior Josh King would take a reverse pitch down the west sideline and into the North end zone for a 49-yard opening drive touchdown for a 7-0 lead.
The Bears would get the ball back, but would give the ball back to Guthrie when senior Justin Chappell would recover a Bear fumble on the 35-yard line. Two plays later, junior Clayton Smith would show off a long run of his own from 35-yards out to give Guthrie a 14-0 lead just 3:27 into the game.
Noble would be force to punt again and would give the ball back to Guthrie. The Bluejays would then go on a three play drive capped off by Kye Staley’s 1-yard run to send the score up 21-0.
Guthrie on the season was averaging 21 points in the first quarter alone, would put 28 points against Noble when junior quarterback Keaton Callins found senior Kent McDonald for a 10-yard pass to make it 28-0. The score was set-up by an Israel Escoe interception.
As impressive as the first quarter was for Guthrie, the ‘Jays would score four more times in the second frame with three of those drives taking two plays to score and the other was a three play drive.
The first second quarter score came on a 61-yard touchdown pass from Staley to junior Donte’ Foster on a beautiful pass and catch play.
Junior D.J. Hughes would make the next play for the tough, aggressive Guthrie team when he would get to the Noble punter and block his second punt of the season to set-up Smith’s second score of the night with a 1-yard run to make it 41-0.
Again, the Guthrie defense would be hitting the Noble offense with big hits and allowing few yards on each play. Noble would run 29 plays in the first half and would only manage 36 yards of offense and zero passing yards. Meanwhile, Guthrie had 259 yards of offense with a short field that included 111 passing yards and 148 rushing yards.
McDonald would get his second receiving score of the half when Staley found the tall, good hands receiver with a 12-yard touchdown to push the score 48-0.
The final first half score would, again, be set-up with a Bear turnover. This time Foster would come away with the INT and at the Bears 40 yard line and Guthrie’s quick striking offense would score two plays later on Staley’s 11-yard run with 41 seconds left and Guthrie was in the locker room with a half time lead of 55-0.
Guthrie would put two more scores on the board in the second half. Senior Ashton Morgan would score on an impressive 37-yard run and Callins would score from 21-yards out to round out the scoring for Guthrie.
Noble was riding a five game winning streak going into the match-up with Guthrie, but was dominated perhaps before the game even started mentally by the superior Guthrie athletes.
Final numbers had the ‘Jays with 373 total yards of offense, which was 24 yards below their season average. Although, their average field position for the night was the Noble 38 yard line. Noble would run a total of 43 plays and could only manage 53 yards of total offense, including just 38 rushing yards.
Guthrie defense has now allowed an opponent to score in two of the team’s 28 quarters played this season. Guthrie continues to lead the state in many defensive categories including total points and allowing fewest points allowed.
Guthrie will travel to Carl Albert on Friday night for what appears to be for the district title. Something that Guthrie has not been able to accomplish under coach Rafe Watkins.