Welcome to the final week of the high school football regular season. This second year has gone by much more smoothly and quickly for yours truly. It's been a wild season that started with blowouts during the first half followed by extremely close games in the second half.
So, strap in because it is sure to be a wild ride this week and during the postseason for area teams good enough to find themselves there.
District B-2 showdown
Central High and Cyril enter tonight's contest with equal 6-3 overall records and equal 5-3 records in District B-2. The winner will make the playoffs for sure. Both could make it but it would take a massive upset from 1-8 Geary over 5-4 Paoli and a win by Oklahoma Christian over Waurika to create a crazy tie-breaker scenario for the loser to get in.
Central High's losses this season are to 9-0 Fox, 8-1 Alex and Paoli. The loss to the Pugs was a heartbreaker, 48-46. The prognosis before the season for Central was a fourth-place finish and the Bronchos are alive for not only that spot but third place as well.
"There has been a lot more positive than negative for us this season, if we had won that Paoli game we would already be in the playoffs," Central High head coach Darren Lamar said. "I'm pleased with our progression this season and that we have our destiny in our hands. We are two pretty evenly matched teams and it will come down to who capitalizes the most on the other's mistakes.
We can't give them gifts. We're playing for the same thing so I think it will be a close and hard-fought game."
Junior Kevin Harris, the state's 7th leading rusher according to The Oklahoman's web site, has been leading the way for Central High this season having rushed for 1,522 yards and 23 touchdowns this season. Those are staggering numbers even for 8-man football. His average per carry is 9.8 yards. Simply put, Harris is the key to the offense.
"He's done everything this season: rushing, receiving, interception returns for touchdowns, kick returns for touchdowns; he's special," Lamar said. "We didn't know what we had with him when we got here, but we found out quickly in practice and our scrimmages. He doesn't get down on himself or his teammates if the we have a bad play. I'm looking forward to having him again next year."
Tuesday May 21st, 2013 • 7:05:00am
