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By: Chris Evans
The Guthrie BlueJays improved to 2-0 on the season with a 35-0 win over El Reno, inside Memorial Stadium, on Friday night.
Despite the Jays balance offensive attack and the defense pitching a shut-out, head coach Rafe Watkins was not pleased with the effort his second ranked Jays played with.
Guthrie allowed long kick returns, dropped what would have been two touchdowns, two first downs, and according to Watkins did not play BlueJay football.
"We expect to go and execute and we did not execute very well tonight," Watkins said. "I will certainly take 12 more ugly wins, but he kids know we can not go out and play like we did tonight in our district if we expect to even make the play-offs, or get very deep in the play-offs."
Guthrie special teams led to the Jays first 14-points on the night with the first score coming from senior Josh King.
King fielded a Jakeil Everheart punt from the Indian 38-yard line and would score to give the Jays a 7-0 lead with 1:25 to play in the first quarter.
The next special teams play came from senior Skyler Smith, who blocked a punt and the Jays recovered at the Indian 25-yard line. Guthrie would not waste any time to get back on the scoreboard.
On the very first play from scrimmage, Jays quarterback Keaton Callins found Laron Parker in the end zone for a 25-yard scoring reception to push the score to 14-0. The score was assisted by the offensive line who allowed Callins time in the pocket to deliver the pass.
Parker finished the night with three touchdowns, caught seven total balls for 111-yards, and was awarded the Huddle House Player of the Game.
Parker got his second score, in the same quarter, this time coming from 21-yards out to cap off a six play 77-yard drive as the Jays went into the half leading 21-0.
The BlueJay defense looked tremendous at times by applying pressure on the quarterback Everheart, but also gave up some big plays that the coaching staff and fans are not accustom of seeing.
El Reno finished the night with 130 total yards with just 57-yards rushing and compiled just six first downs, but added 10 penalties that made up 55-yards. Quarterback Everheart finished the night 9 of 17 passing for 73-yards.
"Kentrell Brothers was probably the top guy tonight. He played every play on defense and every play of offense and excelled at it," Watkins said.
Guthrie found the end zone twice in the fourth quarter with Kentrell Brothers bringing in a 20-yard touchdown and Parker collecting a 16-yard score for his third on the night. Brothers added three catches for 40-yards.
Callins finished the night 16 of 30 passing, despite starting 0-3, for 189-yards with one interception. Callins and the Jays were unlucky throughout the game with the drop balls by the 'Jays receivers.
Guthrie remained a balance team with 137-yards on the ground to go along with the 194-yards in the air and piled up 16 first downs.
Senior running back Clayton Smith did not play in the game due to a toe injury, therefore, Guthrie used a running back by committee to replace the injured Smith.
Leading the way in the running department was J.P. Bruner with 44-yards on 11 carries while Callins added 32-yards. Freshmen Luke Davis contributed with four carries in his varsity debut along with sophomore Derrick Kelly. King had a few amount of carries in the first quarter.
"I thought he played really well and was a bright spot and stepping in for Clayton. He carried the load for us," Watkins said referring to Bruner.
Junior kicker Hank Hudson finished the night 5-5 on point after attempts and improves to 8-8 on the season.
Guthrie returns back to Jelsma Stadium, Friday night, when they entertain the Piedmont Wildcats. Piedmont was winless a year ago and has a 1-1 record this season with a 22-10 win over Harrah last Friday night.
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