Jays looking for first win against El Reno

Both Guthrie and El Reno will hit Jelsma Stadium Friday night coming off not so great efforts in Week 1, but the difference from the two is the Indians will be 1-0.

The cliché is often said that teams make their most improvements from Week 1 to Week 2 and the BlueJays are hoping that is true on Homecoming. For that matter, so does El Reno.

Guthrie dropped their opener to McGuinness, 12-7, and had opportunities to pull the victory out, but instead lost their fifth season opener in 9 seasons. Meanwhile, El Reno is looking to go 2-0 for the first time since 2005.

El Reno, who were 5A-1 district champions in '08, made the trip up to Western Oklahoma last week without defensive linemen and center Cody Dauphin as well as cornerback Matthew Pruitt and needed two scores in the final quarter to pull the win over the Woodward Boomers, 28-18.

Woodward did not help their cause with four turnovers and allowed three touchdowns of 49-yards or more. The Boomers have now lost 8-straight season openers.

The Indians are now winners 10 of their last 12 games dating back to last season's state semi-final team. Booker T. ended both Guthrie's and El Reno's seasons in the quarterfinal and semifinal respectively.

El Reno, who finished 10-3 last year, had 44 varsity players report this season and of that amount 17 are seniors and those seniors are being heavily relied on.

Senior quarterback Jakeil Everheart (5-9, 160) is a 4-year starter at the position is coming off a season where he rushed for over 700-yards, passed for over 1300-yards, and finished with 26 scores. He is the most dangerous when the play breaks down and he can scramble with the ball.

"Outstanding football player that is their piston that runs their offense and is the emotional leader of their football team," defensive coordinator Kelly Beeby said about Everheart.

"Over the course of his career he has become a more efficient passer and is a dangerous player if allowed time. He's a dual threat quarterback," Beeby concluded.

Senior running back Cory Dauphin and junior running back Devante Moore solidifies the running game for head coach Tom Cobble. The duo combined for over 120-yards and two scores against Woodward.

"Both are physical backs and both have good speed and are capable of gathering yards and driving the football," Beeby said of the running backs.

El Reno piled on 345-yards of offense on the Boomers, but allowed 351 total yards, including 187-yards rushing.

Everheart did not have the opening game that he was wanting to start his senior campaign after throwing two interceptions and both in the end zone. Everheart was a respectable 11 of 21 passing for 174-yards and finished with a rushing and passing touchdown.

El Reno, who runs the spread offense, will utilize multiple wide receivers including senior Jovia Franklin (5'10, 160) and sophomore Raymond Little (5'9, 150). Little was the recipient of the Everheart touchdown pass last week and finished with 95-yards receiving, but Franklin is the go to guy.

"Both those kids (Franklin and Little) have already put up 70-yard plus touchdowns in either games or scrimmage formats," Beeby said of the receiving threats.

The offensive linemen average out 6'1 and 227 pounds and are anchored by center Cody Dauphin. Cody and brother Cory Dauphin, are toughed nose athletes, who are superior on the wrestling mat.

The Jays have had success in the past with the Indian offense and El Reno in general. In the past three meetings, Guthrie has outscored El Reno 128-7. The lone score was by Everheart, in 2007, inside Memorial Stadium.

However, that is not the same Guthrie nor El Reno team's that we will see Friday night.

Coach Cobble's 4-2 defense allowed the 18-points last week, but in the 10-3 campaign last year his team was even more stingy by allowing just 11-points a contest.

Cobble now in his second stint as the El Reno coach turned the program around in quick work. Quick, as in 3-7 in 2007 to 10-3 in 2008 and ranked high in all publications and rankings in 2009.

The Indian's 10-3 record was the best season since 1981when Cobble and El Reno finished as state runner-ups.

The game can be heard on Triple Play Sports Radio 105.1 FM, and streaming live on Guthrie Sports Page Radio. GSP is also making it available to all fans to listen to the game inside the stadium on their radio players on 105.1 FM all season long. The pre-game is set for 7:00. The radio broadcast will be played back on Sunday nights on GSP Radio.

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