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By: Chris Evans
It was not a secret heading into the season that, the second ranked Guthrie Bluejays were going to have weapons all over the field so it should not be surprising they lead the state in scoring.
As we are now past the midway point of the regular season, Guthrie is averaging a cool 59.8 points a game. However, that number is not very reflective of the Bluejays dominance. That 59.8 average very easily could be closer to 70 if the coaches would allow it.
Guthrie has called off the dogs in three of the five games this season: Piedmont, Harrah, and Southeast. In fact, after scoring 41 first quarter points, Guthrie called off the dogs in the second quarter against Southeast. The Bluejays have had three running clocks this season in the second half.
In 2006, Guthrie scored 450 points to average out 34 points a game over their 13 game season. In 2005, Guthrie scored 313 points to average 26 points in the 12 game season. Thus far in 2007, Guthrie has scored 299 points and most of them in the first half of each contest.
If you were to combine the last three seasons, Guthrie is outscoring their opponents 1,062 to 271, which averages out to 35.4 to 9. Maybe more impressively, is the fact that Guthrie has scored 32 touchdowns on five plays or less this season on 42 offensive drives. Their longest touchdown drive was 10 plays, 55 yards and took 4:53 against Shawnee.
Yes, there are some weaker opponents that have appeared on the district schedule, but there have been points scored on Shawnee and Deer Creek, both ranked teams when they faced Guthrie this season.
Outside of Logan County people may have the notion that Guthrie is running up the score with all the points that are adding up on the scoreboard, but consider this: of the 299 points on the season 214 of those have occurred in the first half to leave the remaining 85 in the second half. To break it down further, Guthrie has scored 103 first quarter points, 111 second quarter points, 71 third quarter points, and 14 fourth quarter points.
Guthrie quarterbacks have been flawless this season. Kye Staley and Keaton Callins have combined to throw 42 passes with 33 completions (78%) for 508 yards, which averages out 101 yards a game, so, the passing game can not be blamed for running up the score. How about Staley getting too many carries? Nope.
Staley, in 13 games a year ago, had 200 carries for an average of 15 carries per game, and so far this season has 44 rushing attempts, which averages out to 4.8 carries a game. In 2006, Staley averaged 10 pass attempts a game, and in 2007 both quarterbacks have combined for an average of 8 pass attempts per game. In fact, maybe more so then anything, the lopsided numbers, statistically, have hurt Staley and company. If nothing else it has not allowed them the opportunity to play all four quarters.
Understand that Guthrie coaches and players have stated numerous times this season that they do not care about individual numbers or team numbers, instead, all they care about is winning football games and a state championship.