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By: Chris Evans
After an emotional, 21-3, win last week over McGuinness, the Guthrie football team must prepare for another strong task ahead with the first road game of the season in El Reno. The Indians defeated Woodward 19-7 on the same field where this Friday's Homecoming game takes place.
The Jays travel to Canadian County to take on the Indians, who will have a new coach on the sidelines, but is not a stranger to the El Reno program.
Tom Cobble returns back to the tribe after coaching stays at Chickasha and Enid. In Chickasha, Cobble coached three seasons and won distrtict 5A-1 all three years (2000-2002) before moving on to Enid. Cobble led El Reno to their best season ever back in 1981 as state runner-ups to Tulsa Kelly and an 11-3 season. In fact, two of those 11-wins came against the Jays and on of those wins in the semifinals.
Cobble inherits a team and program that was 3-7 a season ago and dropped their first seven games to start the season which included a 51-7 setback by the Jays, in Week 6, at Memorial Stadium.
Cobble profiles an athletic junior class that will start eight on offense and six on defense. El Reno has just of six seniors on the entire roster, but senior Colby Hudson leads the senior class with his pass catching abilities and defensive play.
The Indians proved to be balance as the Jays were in Week 1. El Reno compiled 114-rushing yards and 199-passing yards in the win over Woodward. The tribe had two rushing touchdowns and one passing score.
El Reno's offense will be led by junior quarterback Jakeil Everheart and junior running back Cory Dauphin. Everheart took over quarterback duties last season and is a shifty, speedy quarterback with his 5'9 160 pound body frame. Everheart does not have a strong passing arm despite passing for over 200-yards last week, but is dangerous on the run.
Everheart scored in last years game from 8-yards out to snap the BlueJays quarter shut-out streak at 19.
Dauphin shares the same explosive running style at 170 pounds and is the same height as Everheart, but runs a lot stronger and is one of the top wrestlers in the state. Joining Dauphin in the back field will be senior Bryan Soloman and his 220-pound frame.
The Indian offensive line averages out at 218 pounds, returns four starters, and is led by center Cody Dauphin.
The El Reno homerun threat, in the spread offense, is junior wide receiver Jovia Franklin along with Terry Hubbard, Hudson, and Matthew Pruitt.
Defensively, El Reno will start four offensive players with Everheart and Hudson in the secondary, Cory Dauphin at linebacker, and Cody Dauphin on the defensive line. El Reno may play with a total of six two-way starters, but anchoring the Indians defense is senior linebacker Austin Fedderson.
The defense only allowed 7-points to the Boomers and those came late in the fourth quarter after jumping out to a 13-0 lead after two scores in the second quarter and held Woodward to 73-yards on the ground and an average of 2.7 yards a carry. The Boomers did account for 130-yards through the air and a touchdown.
Guthrie senior quarterback Keaton Callins threw for 187-yards and completed eight of nine passes in the win last season.
The game can be heard on Triple Play Sports 105.1 FM, www.eteamradio.com, and www.GuthrieSportsPage.com. The pre-game show begins at 7:00 pm.
For thoughts and comments of BlueJay head coach Rafe Watkins about the contest you can watch the El Reno preview video and his podcast.
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