UNION-JENKS PREVIEW

For the 19th straight year, either Union or Jenks will take home the gold ball in Oklahoma's largest class, and for the 10th time in those 19 years, they will play each other in the title game.

Union won the first matchup between these two teams in the Backyard Bowl. The last time the Redskins won both matchups against Jenks in the same season was in 2011.

Union has kept the scoreboard operator busy in the postseason, scoring 111 points.

Jenks is trying for its third straight state title.

Carson Epps, who recently broke the school record for catches and receiving yards, will be a big target tonight. The Trojans have been doing it on defense this year as well, giving up only 13 points per game.

Jenks has a 5-4 edge over union in state title games. In those matchups Jenks averages 29 points, while Union averages 28 points. Both teams have had an extra week off to prepare, but neither coach saw that as an advantage.

Jenks head coach Allan Trimble said, “The kids in a game of this magnitude will be fired up. They'll be emotionally ready. You hope that their emotions are channeled into performance. There is a great deal of familiarity, but you add to that two weeks of practice. We'll get to see some things we haven't seen in a while on both sides." He also said, “I know we have to lean on what we do well, and what our system is, but again, in a game where everyone knows everybody, it's those little tendency breakers and those little nuance breakers that can make big plays."

"This week we've gone full circle. We had a game plan, then you start erasing some plays, and then you come right back to them. When it all comes down to it, it's fundamentals. You've got two good teams that are coached very well, and kids are going to execute. It'll come down to four or five plays, like a typical Union-Jenks game does," stated Union head coach Kirk Fridrich. "It's Union and Jenks. Any time that we meet it's an awesome game. Of course the state championship is really a big deal, and now we've had two weeks to think about it. In [the] eight years I've played them, this will be the 16th time. It's a pretty important game."

There have been a few blowouts, but Jenks enjoys a slight advantage when they face off for the state title.