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By: Chris Evans
Perhaps some questions were answered, Friday night, when the 5A top-ranked and undefeated Guthrie Bluejays took down the Durant Lions 41-15, on Homecoming night, and then again some things just never change.
First the questions going into the game with Durant. Could the Jays offensive line play with the big and quick Durant defensive line and could junior J.P. Bruner fill the shoes of injured Clayton Smith at running back?
The offensive line saw their fourth different starting line-up this season, in four games, and with their performance, on this night, we may see the same group up front start next week's game with Ardmore. The boys in the trenches helped the Jays pile up 429-yards of offense including 145-rushing yards.
Smith, who may miss the next two weeks with a knee injury, watched his back-up Bruner rush for 95-yards on 22-carries. Bruner followed the foot steps of Smith running hard and physical.
And as far as some things not changing.
Keaton Callins was nearly perfect against the Lions defense by completing 15 of his 18 passes for 286-yards and four passing touchdowns. Callins was 11-14 in the first half for 201-yards and three TD passing scores. The offensive line allowed Callins plenty of time to find Jays receivers and the Jays receivers were getting open. Wide open.
Leading the way was senior Donte' Foster with seven catches adding up to 147-yards and two scores. Foster added a 35-yard rushing touchdown on a reverse option play to finish the night with 182-yards of offense. The reverse option play has led to two touchdowns for Foster in the last two weeks.
Sophomore Kentrell Brothers continues to impress his coaches with his ability to go and catch the football. Brothers finished with 86-yards, four catches, and one score with his longest catch coming on a 31-yard grab.
Guthrie punted the ball just once and was two of three on fourth down conversions including 2-2 in the first half. On third down conversions, the Jays were 3 for 7 while Durant was 3 of 13. Guthrie committed 9 penalties for 79-yards.
Durant put a brief silence on Jelsma Stadium as they open the game up with an 82-yard drive to go up 7-0 after the 10-play drive that took just over 4:00. The score marked for the first time this season that Guthrie has trailed in the season.
That would last for 1:42. That is because the Jays would need just four plays to go 62-yards that was highlighted by Foster's and Callins first scores when Callins hooked up with Foster for a 44-yard touchdown. Foster made numerous of moves to get into the end zone to tie the game at 7-7.
The Jays would not waste any time getting back on the scoreboard. After holding the Durant defense, Guthrie would go on a five play 38-yard drive with Bruner scoring from 5-yards out with 2:57 remaining in the first quarter.
The next score for Guthrie came on a 4th down and 15 play. Callins found Brothers wide open and Brothers found the end zone on the 31-yard pass connection and just before the half Callins found best friend Foster for a 14-yard score and the Jays had a 28-7 halftime lead.
The Jays defense allowed 224-yards of Lions offense, but after the opening 82-yard drive the yards came by a lot harder. In fact, Durant could manage just 80-yards in the second half.
Lions stand-out and all-around player Max White finished with186-yards of offense with 70 of those on the ground.
However, the start of the second half got interesting quick. Durant on the kick-off went with an on-side kick in front of their bench and would recover the ball. The Lions would then go 45-yards on seven plays and with the 2-point conversion Durant pulled within 13, 28-15.
The Lions, again, would go for another on-side kick, but this time the Jays recovered and then responded with another score five plays later.
Laron Parker was caught in stride with a Callins pass from 30-yards out and the Jays built their lead back up 34-15. The extra point was blocked.
The win improves the Jays record to 4-0 and now begin district play 1-0 and collected the maximum amount of district points with 15.
Guthrie now travels to Ardmore for yet another key district game on the road. In the last meeting, Guthrie defeated Ardmore 61-0 in the first round of the play-offs last season in Jelsma Stadium. Guthrie has won two of the three games with the Tigers. Ardmore, in 2003, shut out the Jays, 23-0, in a first round game.
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