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By: Chris Evans
The Guthrie BlueJays and Deer Creek Antlers will once again go up against each other on the gridiron for the fifth straight year, but none will be as big as the one on Friday night in the first round of the Oklahoma high school play-offs.
The series, which began in 2004, as become a rival game for both schools and not just on the football field, but the football field is where it all starts.
Guthrie enters the game with a 9-1 record and winners of their last three games and Deer Creek is coming off a lost to Lawton MacArthur, but finished the season with an impressive 7-3 record.
The Antlers will showcase an offense that leads Class 5A in rushing with 253-yards a game and is highlighted by 4-year starter at quarterback in Dax Dilbeck. Dilbeck, who committed to Oregon State to play college football, has rushed for over 1400-yards and has 20 scores in his senior campaign.
Dilbeck, who more then likely will play defensive back on the next level, looks to take advantage with his ridiculous 4.27 speed with different offensive formations by the Antlers.
Deer Creek averages just 58-yards passing the ball, but if given time Dilbeck can deliver and has by completing 50% of his passes for 630-yards with 7-passing scores and 3-interceptions. However, he is at his best when running the ball. The Antlers will also look to utilize sophomore running back Colten Sander. Sander has piled up 752-yards along with 10 scores and displays good speed in the back field.
Dilbeck is not the only Division 1 player on the roster for the Creek. Senior Zac Trujillo has committed to play at Kansas State next season and will line up as a tight end, but will also be utilized as a slot receiver and wide receiver. Trujillo has accounted for 50% of Dilbeck's completions with 21-catches for 317-yards and 4-touchdowns.
The Guthrie defensive line will match up against an Antler O-line that averages 245-pounds across and according to the Jays coaching staff will be the best line they will have seen this season. The line is led by left tackle in senior Jantz Haan and his 6'4" 290 pound frame. Junior and younger brother of Dax, Leighton Dilbeck, will contain the left guard spot next to the center Chandler Osborne. The right side of the line is Chase Buck and Cale Coshow.
Perhaps the difference, Friday night, will be how the Jays contain the running game of Deer Creek. Guthrie ranks among the best in 5A in stopping the run by allowing 107-yards a game and just 193 total yards which ranks as third best in the state's second largest class. Guthrie continues to be the stingiest team in the class when it comes to points allowed with seven.
Meanwhile, the BlueJay offense continues to be one of the elite with an average of 359-yards a game. To go along with one of the best offense's in the state, the Jays are doing it with a balance attack. The running game has been good for 169-yards a game and the passing game is better with 189-yards passing per game.
The focus and key ingredient of the Jays offense has been senior quarterback Keaton Callins and his ability to find receivers. Callins finished the regular season with 1894-yards passing and 26-passing scores and led 5A in both categories. Callins favorite targets have been seniors Donte' Foster and Laron Parker and sophomore Kentrell Brothers.
Foster leads the class in receiving yards with 714 and has added 12-receivng scores. Parker is in the Top 10 in Class 5A and Brothers is just on the outside of the top 10 at No. 11 with 22-catches for 375-yards.
Deer Creek will use a three man front in attempt to help against the Jays passing game which may open up the running lanes for running backs Clayton Smith, JP Bruner, and Josh King. Both seniors (Smith and King) are both healthy for the play-off run.
In the last meeting, Guthrie dropped Deer Creek 58-0 last season at Jelsma Stadium, but the Antlers gave the Jays their worse loss in several years in 2006, at Deer Creek, 19-7. In the play-offs over the last eight seasons, Guthrie has a winning percentage of 73% with an 11-4 record. In the same time frame, Guthrie has lost twice in the first round in 2003 on the road (Ardmore) and 2001 at home (Altus) and are 4-1 in first round games at Jelsmsa.
The game broadcast can be heard on the Triple Play Sports Radio Network on 105.1 FM, or streaming live on Guthrie Sports Page. The pre-game show starts at 7:00 and will have an extended post-game show.
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