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By: Chris Evans
The largest attended game inside Jelsma Stadium witness a classic battle between the defending state champions with the home team extending their winning streak.
The Guthrie BlueJays extend their winning streak to 15 games, but more importantly got win No. 1 in the 2008 season with a 21-3 win over the two time defending 4A state champions Bishop McGuinness.
The defending 5A champions used a balance offensive attack to snap the 28-game winning streak of the Irish. Guthrie rushed for 122-yards and piled up 158-yards through the air with 34 of those yards coming on the catch of the year?
Senior wide-out Donte' Foster corralled a one-handed catch at midfield, over a would be defender, that rivals any catch you will ever see. The 34-yard reception from senior quarterback Keaton Callins help set-up the Jays first score of the night.
Senior running back Clayton Smith took a hand off and scampered into the end zone from 10-yards out to cap off an 84-yard drive. The Jays had a 7-0 lead with 1:04 in the first quarter and surprisingly that would be the score at the half with the extra point coming from junior Hank "Hammering" Hudson.
McGuinness would go on a nice drive themselves to get on the board in the third quarter. The Irish drive started at the Jays 13-yard line and would settle for a 32-yard field goal from Seth Tonseth to draw within four of the Jays, 7-3.
On the first play in the fourth quarter Clayton Smith fumbled at his own 45-yard line and the Irish recovered in Guthrie territory. The lost fumble marks the first fumble lost for Smith in his varsity career. But redemption is a good thing and for Smith it came 1:09 later.
Smith, who was inserted early and often into the defensive front, recovered an Irish fumble to give the ball back to the Jays at the 41-yard line.
From there, the Jays would put together a 59-yard drive to go up 14-3 on an unusual connection. Callins to Skyler Smith.
The 4:57 drive would be capped off with an 8-yard reception from Skyler Smith. Skyler Smith had three catches on the night and was awarded the Huddle House Player of the Week. The senior tight end was big on the defensive side that held the Irish defense to just 169 total yards.
Guthrie had a 14-3 lead with 6:18 left in the game and would get the games final score of the night coming off Guthrie's special teams.
The Irish offense stalled out and was forced to punt. Senior punter Gabe Ikard's attempted punt was blocked by DJ Hughes, who came crashing from Ikard's left side untouched, and the Jays recovered at the McGuinness 13-yard line.
On third down 15, Callins found Foster in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown connection to finalize the score and game.
Callins finished the game passing eight of nine passing for 158-yards and two passing scores.
Guthrie now takes the show on the road when they travel to El Reno Friday. The Indians defeated Woodward 19-7.
Notes:
- Guthrie lost two turnovers including the opening series on the veer option play. Guthrie lost all of five turnovers on the entire season a year ago.
- The Tyler Nichols Heart of a Champion Award was presented to the community of Guthrie. Each week the award is given to a player, or group who shows a lot of heart in the week. The Award is given out every post game on the radio broadcast by Phil Nichols and Casey Porter.
- Media outlets at the Game of the Week: Triple Play Sports Radio 105.1 FM, GuthrieSportsPage.com, The Oklahoman, Guthrie News Leader, KOCO, KFOR, KWTV, Vype Magazine, and Max Preps.
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