By Mike Kays
Friday’s still a few days off but at least early this week, there hasn’t been a drop in focus around Indian Bowl and Muskogee Roughers practice that one might expect after a big win.
And that’s coming off a week’s worth of intensity, not just the game effort, that all led to a 25-22 win over previously No. 1 Broken Arrow. Coaches donning pads to pop offensive linemen? That’s old news now. Give a guy like Muskogee assistant coach Josh McMillan scout team of the week honors. It’s time to move on.
“That’s our job right now, to keep their egos in check but at the same time, keep them motivated and make sure they have just as spirited practices this week as we did last week,” Muskogee coach Matt Hennesy said.
Sneering, he added, “We won’t let them think they’re special yet.”
At 3-2, 2-0 in District 6A-3, the Roughers are in a good position — much better than Broken Arrow at least. The Tigers, who lost on wideout Cole Chapman’s touchdown catch from quarterback Archie Bradley on the game’s final play, went from atop the poll to No. 6 in the latest Associated Press poll, one spot behind No. 5 Muskogee.
More to the point — the Tigers must regroup before traveling to Jenks on Friday, needing a win to have any shot at a district title or a home playoff game in the first round. A Jenks win would set up a potential 6A-3 showdown for the title with Muskogee on Halloween night at Indian Bowl.
If business between now and then is taken care of first, that is.
“If we don’t win every game up to Jenks, the win over Broken Arrow is for naught,” Hennesy said. “It gives us a chance to control our own destiny and at least get a home playoff game to start the postseason. But BA could go up there and beat Jenks and it changes a lot of things.”
It might make significant not only Chapman’s leaping grab in the corner of the end zone, but running back Vernon Scott’s two-point conversion. With the game decided, officials had to let the conversion play out because of the points rules governing tiebreakers, where a team is credited up to 15 points for margin of victory.
“That was so important, which is why we took a timeout at that point to get the right play in,” Hennesy said. “I’ve seen these ties broken by a single point. You’d expect BA and Jenks to have a close game. If it’s under three points difference, that two points we got will be huge.”
Sand Springs sits in a three-way tie for the lead with Muskogee and Jenks. The Sandites (4-1, 1-0) are averaging 43 points per game, tops in the district and 6A. Quarterback Johnny Deaton and running back Znick Ferrell are the keys to their offense. Ferrell, a middle linebacker, is the top defender.
“Ferrell plays like a fullback. He lines up next to Deaton and is a blocking back for Deaton, but he can carry the ball well too,” Hennesy said.
Deaton was with graduated Roughers quarterback Trae Cook at Tahlequah two seasons ago, battling for the Tigers starting job. Deaton’s father joined the Sand Springs staff last year and Deaton had a decent showing in the Roughers’ 48-21 at Indian Bowl last year, throwing for 269 yards and two touchdowns while running for another. Muskogee’s secondary intercepted him three times.
The 21 points is four more allowed than the goal established for this year’s defense by defensive coordinator David Heath.
“Coach Heath likes a challenge and they’ll provide the defense with one,” Hennesy said. “They’ll be motivated to reach that goal.”
Hennesy also expects the offense to be motivated to keep its momentum going. They’ve had a good balance of running and passing the past two weeks, but the effort against Broken Arrow, particularly in its consistency in moving the ball on drives, was the real confidence boost they’ve needed.
“They’ve had two good weeks but they proved themselves against one of the better defenses we’ll face,” Hennesy said. “Hopefully, they’ve gained confidence.”
The Roughers got some additional good news when the speedy Brenton Bogar, who clocked a hand-held 4.1 during preseason drills, returned to practice on Monday for the first time since he suffered a high ankle sprain when he blocked a punt against Owasso in the season opener. That sparked a second-half comeback from a 17-0 deficit. Hennesy hopes it sparks flexibility on both sides of the ball for his team.
“We’ll move Vernon Scott back to free safety which is what we’ve been wanting to do,” Hennesy said. “Victor (Williams) coming on as the freshman at corner has changed my mind-set. We can move YJ (Jordan Brown to strong safety where he’s better than at free safety and let Nico (Cubit and (Angelo) Shipp concentrate at receiver and we’re dang near becoming one-way players with the advancement of (Allen) Starks at running back,” he said.
Starks had 96 yards rushing last week, a season high. Kiki Smith, a junior who like Starks is a more physical-type runner, could see some increased action behind Starks, Hennesy said. All of this would allow the two fastest Roughers, Bogar and Scott, to mix in as receivers to stretch the field.
