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By: Chris Evans
The much talked about showdown between the Guthrie BlueJays and Carl Albert Titans has arrived and just like years past this game will showcase numerous of great athlete's and district standings.
The 2008 edition of the Jays and Titans takes place on Harris Field, in Midwest City, with a 7:30 kick-off. The game will be broadcasted by Triple Play Sports 105.1 FM and on cable TV with Cox Communications (channel 7 locally). Both pre-games shows start at 7:00.
Guthrie (6-0) enters the game with a 20-game winning streak and ranked No. 1 in Class 5A, while Carl Albert (5-1) is ranked at No. 3 according to the 5A head coaches.
The Titans only loss came in Week 1 to Booker T. Washington, 40-7, when the Titans came out in a spread offense. Quickly, Carl Albert went back to the I-formation offense and have not a had a problem since. The formation is highlighted by senior David Oku, who is considered one of the top players in the state and is a national prep recruit.
Oku has battled nagging injuries the last two seasons, but continues to put up impressive numbers with his quickness and great speed. Oku, who has 10-touchdowns so far this year, has rushed for 616-yards and nearly 7-yards a carry. A season ago, Oku piled up 1628-yards on the ground with 182-carries to average out to almost 9-yards a carry. He finished the season with 20 rushing scores and 1-receiving score that came against Guthrie.
Although, the offense is primary goes through Oku, Carl Albert has shown the ability to throw the ball with junior quarterback JT Realmuto. Realmuto took advantage last week of Noble stacking the box to stop the run by throwing for 3 touchdowns on 11 of 19 passing for 189-yards. Oku finished the night with just 13-carries and 90-yards. In some games in his career, Oku has carried the ball 30 plus times a game.
Realmuto has completed 39 of his 63 attempts for 578-yards to go along with four passing scores and four interceptions. Realmuto battled for the starting QB job, but was outlasted by Robert Kizer. Realmuto is a stand-out on the baseball diamond for the Titans.
Carl Albert enters the game averaging 221-yards rushing and 109-yards passing and are aided by the two tackles, on the offensive line, with junior Tyler Still (5'10" 201lbs) and Kyle Croak (6'0" 230 lbs). Carl Albert will use multiple tight ends on the line of scrimmage to help block for Oku and the Titans running game.
Oku is just one of many threats and skill kids that Carl Albert possess. In fact, senior Daytawion Lowe is getting the same attention Oku has if not more from college coaches. Lowe (6'1" 183lbs) is the top defender for the Titans, but many expect him to see his fair share of offensive duty. Lowe has six catches for 85-yards and does have four rushes for 29-yards.
Junior Trevante Porter leads the wide receiver group with just eight catches, but averages over 20-yards a catch. Sophomore wide-out Dwight Dobbins also has eight grabs.
Lowe, leading tackler a year ago and so far this season, leads perhaps the best secondary in the state with senior Ozell Littleton, junior Porter, and junior Markell Walker. All four members of the secondary will have a great chance of playing Division-I football. They will match-up against the Jays talented receivers in senior Donte' Foster, Laron Parker, and Kentrell Brothers. Guthrie is tops in 5A in passing and in the Top 10 in the state.
Carl Albert's second leading tackler a season ago and on pace to be near the top, again this season, is senior linebacker Zach Aylor (5'11" 194lbs). Aylor was credited with 93 tackles last year and has 46 through six games.
The Titans will look for defensive end Christian Smith (6'2" 235lbs) to apply pressure to BlueJays quarterback Keaton Callins to help the Titans secondary. Guthrie head coach Rafe Watkins says Smith is not talked about much , but is a threat for the Titans and BlueJays.
The Jays will work through the air with Foster, who leads 5A in receiving yards with 489-yards and eight touchdowns. Parker is third with 330-yards and Brothers comes in 10th in 5A with 220-yards. The three wide-outs have a combine 17-touchdown receptions.
Callins, in his first full season under center, has a completion rate of 60% and has thrown for 1191-yards with a 3-to-1 ratio of touchdowns to interception rate with 18-passing scores.
Guthrie won last years game, 24-21, to capture the first district title under Watkins and has won five of the last seven against the Titans. Carl Albert leads the series with Guthrie, 20-16.
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