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By: Chris Evans
Perhaps, when the Guthrie BlueJays and Booker T. Washington Hornets kick off their game, at 1:30 Saturday, it will have the state championship feel? Why not? It has the last two times.
The Jays and Hornets meet up in the second round of the Oklahoma high school play-offs with the winner advancing on to play either El Reno or Miami in the state semi-finals. Guthrie (10-1) travels to SE Williams Stadium winners of their last four games and takes on the top ranked Hornets for a Class 5A showdown. Washington (10-1) will carry an 8-game winning streak with impressive wins over Carl Albert, Tulsa East Central, and Bixby. Their only loss came back in Week 3 against 6A Broken Arrow.
Guthrie defeated Washington, 16-13, in 2002 to claim the school's first ever state tile and then on the hardwood Guthrie claimed their fifth basketball title over the same Hornets inside the Ford Center, last season. Robert Meachem and Felix Jones, both NFL first round draft picks, along with current Oklahoma Sooner wide-out Quenten Chaney were on the 2002 Hornets team.
Washington, who has won six football titles with the last one coming in 1984, averages 47-points a contest and has scored at least 28-points in all of their games that they have won, including last week's play-off win over Ada (46-14).
Head coach for the Hornets, Antwain Jimmerson, who also serves as the schools athletic director has compiled a 90-20 record in his 9-seasons at BTW.
Jimmerson's team has three of the Oklahoma's Top 30 recruits according to NewsOK.com. Offensive lineman Keenan Taylor is first on the list at No. 23. Taylor has committed to Kansas State and will lead an offensive line that averages 250 pounds across.
Washington's running back and defensive back, Michael Doctor, ranks at No. 24 on the list and is heading to Oregon State to play next season. Doctor, who also wears No. 24 jersey, is dangerous in the open field and is part of the dangerous special teams by averaging 25-yards on punt returns.
Hornets wide receiver and kick returner, Justin Skillens, averages 25-yards a kick return is headed to Tulsa to play college football and ranks as the 25th overall recruit in the state.
However, perhaps, the biggest weapon for Jimmerson is junior quarterback Eric Bennett. Bennett (5'11" 171 lbs) missed six games, during the regular season, due to a broken hand, but return in Week 9 and left off where he started the season.
Bennett and the Hornets offense will use multiple formations with the spread, Power-I, and multiple I-Formations to attack the Jays defense, who allow just 98-yards rushing a and 180-yards total. The prior week, Bennett had over 200-yards rushing against a traditional, tough Bixby defense.
Washington's strength is running the ball with Bennett and Doctor, but proved to be a balance team last week in the win over Ada. Bennett threw for nearly 200-yards and has speedy receivers to go to in Skillens, Tyler Lockett, and Tony Daniels Jr.
Jimmerson, when interviewed on the High School Huddle, talked about containing Guthrie's signal caller Keaton Callins as the top priority for Washington. Callins, who leads Class 5A in yards thrown and touchdown passes, leads a BlueJay offense that averages 360-yards a game and leads the Class with 195-yards a game in the passing department.
Callins favorite target this season has been best friend Donte' Foster. Foster, who is ranked at No. 22 as the best recruit in the state, leads the class in touchdown receptions and yards. Foster has piled up 893 receiving yards to go along with 14 scoring catches, and 2-rushing scores.
However, Guthrie head coach Rafe Watkins and offensive coordinator Scott Mic have said they must be able to rush the ball to have a chance. The Jays enter the game with a 165-yard average per game and is led by seniors Clayton Smith and Josh King.
Washington displays great speed on the defense with junior defensive end Ray Stovall and senior linebackers Shamiel Gary and Chris Horn Jr. in their 4-3 defense. Horn is the teams leading tackler and as a team allow 110-yards rushing and 79-passing to their opponents.
The game can be heard on the Triple Play Sports Radio Network, 105.1 FM, 1020 AM, and 1580 AM, as well as right here on Guthrie Sports Page. The pre-game show starts at 1:00 p.m. from Tulsa. The broadcast can also be heard inside SE Williams Stadium on 105.1 FM.
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