Owasso, Jenks Kickoff Football Season As 'Game Of The Week'

After months of waiting, spring and fall practice, high school football is back.

Our first ‘Game of the Week’ features two teams eyeing a gold ball in the state's largest class - Owasso and Jenks.

Bill Blankenship returns to Green Country after winning a state title at Fayetteville last season. He takes over an Owasso team that won three games last year, but features several Division 1 prospects.

Since he landed the head coaching job at Owasso, Blankenship has seen his players change their mindsets.

"These guys have been bought in. They're trying with everything they can, they're being coachable, not dealing with prima donnas, not dealing with guys that think they're too good, or they like the way it's been. They want to find a way to go to another level, so they're doing what we ask them to do," he said.

Jenks is coming off a state semifinal loss to Union.

The Trojans have state title expectations again despite needing to replace about half of the starting lineup.

Head coach Allan Trimble said it will take time for the new players to adjust.

"Lot of new guys, especially at the receiving corps and our offensive side of the ball. Just a lot of practice trying to get Ian Corwin, our quarterback, in time with the new guys. In many cases, some of the receivers learning more of our system because they didn't play a lot last year. And, again, a lot of it is just going to take game reps and practice reps, going to have to work our way into it," Trimble said.