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By: Chris Evans
El Reno entered Friday nights game against the Guthrie Bluejays with the stack against them, but the Indians were able to do something that no other team in the last four weeks were able to do. Score.
Guthrie, having recorded 18 straight shut out quarters a year ago, saw this years 19 straight scoreless quarter streak come to an end, as the Indians found the end zone. Guthrie, however, was too explosive and dominated their way to a 51-7 blow out win over the Indians.
The ‘Jays improve their win streak by winning their sixth straight game and are now 6-0 and 3-0 in the district.
Bluejay coaches and players don’t make much out of the straight scoreless quarter streak, but in the fourth quarter, when the Indians were on the march toward their goal line, Guthrie fans, who outnumbered the El Reno fans, were found standing up and cheering as if the ‘Jays were in an overtime game.
Indian sophomore quarterback Jakeil Everhart scored from 8-yards out in the fourth quarter and left Bluejay fans in disbelief. Despite the lone score, Guthrie put eight scores on the board themselves.
Guthrie received the opening kick-off and went on a nice opening drive, but the Bluejay offense would stall on the El Reno 1-yard line, and turned it over on downs. On the first snap for El Reno, linebacker Jack Dumas crashed into the backfield and would score a safety, which gave Guthrie a 2-0 lead.
The Indians then kicked from their own 20-yard line and Guthrie took possession at the 48-yard line. It would take one play for the quick striking Bluejay offense to score.
Senior Kent McDonald would take a pass from quarterback Kye Staley and dart into the end zone for a 48-yard touchdown. At that moment, it would be McDonald’s fourth touchdown of the season, as Guthrie pushed their lead to 9-0 with 8:33 to play in the opening quarter.
Guthrie entered the game averaging 20 points in the first quarter, and would get their final seven points on a 6-yard run by Staley, which was set up nicely by offensive coordinator Scott Mick’s screen pass play call.
El Reno came on a jail break blitz, but Staley stayed calm and found Clayton Smith on the screen pass that went for 36-yards to set-up Staley’s tenth rushing touchdown. Guthrie had a 16-0 first quarter lead.
Junior quarterback Keaton Callins, and the Bluejay offense took all of 53 seconds to score in the second quarter. Callins would hook-up with McDonald for an 11-yard touchdown pass, and McDonald registered his fifth touchdown of the season. McDonald finished with six catches for 94-yards to go along with his two TD receptions.
Callins would not waste much more time to find Staley, streaking down the middle, catching Staley in stride for a 92-yard touchdown. For Staley, it was his second touchdown receiving of the season, and Callins eighth touchdown pass. The score gave the ‘Jays a 30-0 half time lead.
Callins had a career night with eight of nine passing for 187-yards, and on the season has thrown for a ridiculous 25 of 30 and 440 yards with eight TD passes and zero interceptions. Callins and the Bluejay passing offense took advantage of El Reno’s defensive scheme of stacking the box to try and stop the Bluejay rushing game.
At the half, the Bluejay offense totaled 316 yards, while El Reno had just 35 yards of their own on 27 offensive plays.
The ‘Jays would get two third quarter scores. The first score coming from Smith on a 17-yard run to push the Bluejay lead to 37-0. But, the next touchdown, had fans, players, and coaches cheering as if Guthrie had won a play-off game.
Staley would drop back, on the fourth play of the drive, and find senior tight end James Day in the center of the field. Day would scamper into the end zone for his first catch and touchdown on the season. The pass was good for a 31-yard score and made it 44-0, with 7:01 to play in the third.
El Reno would respond with a five play, 65-yard drive capped off by Everhart’s 8-yard run.
Guthrie had an answer of their own as Smith would score his second touchdown of the night from 7-yards.
Guthrie now moves forward to week seven to take on the John Marshall Bears. John Marshall High, suffering a drop in attendance due to splitting into Centennial High School, will drop down to Class 3A next year. The Bears will come to Jelsma Stadium for Friday night’s contest.
Notes:
To get head coach Rafe Watkins thoughts be sure to click his banner and listen to his post game interview with Casey Porter, or go to www.guthriesportspage.mypodcast.com.
Scores inside District 5A-2: Carl Albert 63-14 over Southeast, Woodward 51-6 over John Marshall, and Noble over Harrah 27-7.