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By: Chris Evans
For the Guthrie BlueJays the keys were to: jump out early on a 4-5 Noble team, stay healthy, and pay close attention to the final score of three different games in Duncan, Deer Creek, and Chickasha.
Check, check, check, check, and check.
Guthrie (9-1) jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead and a 35-7 halftime advantage to make quick work of the Noble Bears and resulted in a 45-7 win. Soon after the game, the Jays had learned that El Reno won their game, Lawton Mac took down Deer Creek, and that Altus won meaning the Jays would entertain the Deer Creek Antlers in the first round play-off game at Jelsma Stadium next week.
The Jays were forced to punt on their opening drive, but then would score often in the first half. The scoring started with senior Donte' Foster's 28-yard touchdown score from fellow senior Keaton Callins. The pass and catch would be Foster's 11th receiving score.
Callins on the next possession found senior Laron Parker on a 25-yard pass and catch to go up 14-0 midway through the opening quarter. Both scoring drives took just 2-plays each.
Guthrie found the end zone just before the end of the first quarter on a fake punt. In punt formation, Callins took the direct snap and immediately lofted the ball to Foster who took it in for the score and go up 21-0.
Senior Josh King on the next Jays possession, once again, was in punt formation and took the snap and saw an opening and picked up a first down inside the 10-yard line where Callins sneaked in from 1-yard to cap off a 14-play drive that took 4:20.
Noble (4-6) got their sole touchdown in the second quarter on a 1-yard run by senior quarterback Chad Davidson to finish off a 10-play drive. However, it would not be the last score of the half.
The Jays got the ball back with just :25 left in the half on their own 25-yard line and three plays later Callins found Parker wide open at the goal line from 30-yards out to go into the half.
The second half would see Guthrie emptying the bench and many Jays seeing lots of playing time in the two quarters. King scored from 2-yards out and junior Hank Hudson hit his first career field goal from 34-yards to finish the scoring.
Callins finished the night with 4-passing scores and 1-rushing score.
Guthrie continues to be balance offensively with 209-yards passing and 214-yards rushing. Meanwhile, Noble finished with 208-yards of total offense.
The entire offensive line (Stanton Stevenson, Bryce Sullivan, Dustin Bowman, Reese Hand, Mason Metcalf, and Jacob Woods in addition of Mikey Johns was awarded the Huddle House Players of the Game. Also, Blaine Smedley and Rachel Roberts were awarded the Tyler Nichols Heart of a Champion Award.
The Jays now turn their focus to the Deer Creek Antlers and the play-offs. Deer Creek dropped their last regular season game to Lawton MacArthur, 27-9, to finish the regular season at 7-3. The three losses for the Creek were Shawnee, El Reno, and MacArthur.
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