Numbers Important To Sandites

By Kyle Dierking, NewsOn6.com

SAND SPRINGS, OK -- Sand Springs players don't need Geometry or Algebra II books to find the equation to season success. Simple math will suffice.

"I keep it very realistic with our kids," said Sand Springs Coach Dustin Kinard. "We need four district wins and I don't care who they're against. Get us in the playoffs and we'll go compete."

Simply put, the Sandites season comes down to a game of numbers: four and 11. Four districts wins and they're in. Eleven years since Sand Springs last playoff berth.

"For the longest time everyone just put us under the radar and put us as their homecoming games or senior night because they expect to beat us," said Sandite linebacker Znick Ferrell. "I think getting a win, knocking somebody off in the playoffs and being number three in the district would open their eyes a little bit and know we're for real."

6A District 3 has often been dominated by the big three: Broken Arrow, Jenks and Muskogee and the Sandites would like to be factored in the equation.

"It's a really tough district," said Sandite quarterback Johnny Deaton. "Any win we can get is good for us."

"We need to win as many games as we can," said Ferrell. "We need to knock off someone big. That's our goal right now and that's what I hope everybody out here plans to do."

But right now the number's at zero. To get to one and beyond, it begins with the district opener against Memorial.

"We want to get this first one under our belts," said senior offensive lineman Michael Bowie. "The first one's big."

"Memorial's the same as Sand Springs," said Kinard. "They're fighting for that fourth spot in 6A District 3."