5A Football Year in Review

Originally Published: Dec 9, 2009 8:34 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis & Kyle Dierking
Oklahoma Sports Reporters

OKLAHOMA –This past high school football season saw a familiar team at the top when the dust settled. The Carl Albert Titans, losers of last year’s state championship, reclaimed the dominance it has enjoyed for much of the past two decades by winning another gold ball. 2009 was an exciting year in 5A. Here’s a breakdown of how the season played out:

CHAMPION: CARL ALBERT TITANS (12-2, 6-1)
Beat Bixby 21-7 to win the state championship

Carl Albert ended its season on a nine game winning streak and only gave up more than 14 points twice in that span. The Titans man-handled the competition all season long en route to a tenth state title. Trevante Porter and J.T. Realmuto led the Titans to a 21-7 win over Bixby in the title game. Carl Albert averaged over 38 points and allowed less than two touchdowns per game in 2009.

BIGGEST SURPRISE: BISHOP KELLEY COMETS (11-1, 7-0)
Quarterfinals loss to Carl Albert

The best game of the season in any class may have been the only game the Comets lost all season. It took two overtimes and a handful of dramatic plays for Carl Albert to take down the Bishop Kelley on the road, 34-31. J.T. Realmuto scored the game winning touchdown on a quarterback sweep, sending the surprising Comets home early. The Comets’ hadn’t won a playoff game in four years, so a perfect regular season surprised a lot of fans in the Tulsa area. J.J. Tappana’s team allowed 14 points or less in every game but three this season, and couldn’t be stopped at times on offense, averaging 32 points per game in 2009.

BIGGEST LETDOWN: BOOKER T. WASHINGTON HORNETS (5-5, 3-4)
Missed the playoffs

The Hornets players aren’t to blame for being selected as this year’s biggest letdown in 5A. The school administrators dropped the ball on OSSAA rules, leading to multiple forfeits and head football coach Antwain Jimmerson’s subsequent demotion from his coaching and athletic director duties. On the field, the Hornets were very competitive, showing similar desire to last year’s state championship squad. The team had plenty of talent and moxie, but the administration’s lack of knowledge or dismissal of the eligibility rules for high school sports in Oklahoma, drops the Hornets into the letdown category for 2009.

*HONORABLE MENTION: A QUARTET OF WINLESS TEAMS (0-10, 0-7)
The lack of parity in 5A gleamed like a beam from a lighthouse at midnight this season. Four teams failed to win a game, more than another other class from 6A to 3A. The Northwest Classen Knights finished with five losses by 40 or more points. The Capital Hill Redskins lost to Carl Albert 69-12, their highest point total of the season. The Will Rogers Ropers went five weeks without finding the scoreboard, getting outscored 173-0 in that span. Finally, the Edison Eagles scored more than just seven points twice, en route to their winless record. Two teams barely missed out on trading places with someone on this list. Skiatook and Noble both ended their seasons 1-9, only beating Will Rogers and Capital Hill respectively.

5A OFFENSIVE MVPs: DeMARCO COBBS, Tulsa Central Sr. QB
J.T. REALMUTO, Carl Albert Sr. QB

There was no way to avoid co-MVPs on the offensive side of the ball this season in 5A. Demarco Cobbs and J.T. Realmuto split the honor this season after posting impressive individual numbers.

Cobbs was a one-man wrecking ball for the (8-3) Braves. The University of Texas commit put a scare into defenses with his arm and his legs, combining for 2,041 yards and 24 scores. His season ended early against Bixby in round one of the playoffs after injuring his ankle on a quarterback scramble.

Realmuto was a dual-threat talent for the 5A state champions as well. The numbers are impressive but the reason Realmuto makes the list is the determination he played with to lead the Titans to a tenth title in 21 years. Realmuto scored multiple touchdown in every postseason game this season and was a leader in the huddle for the state’s top team. That’s why Realmuto and DeMarco Cobbs are this season’s Oklahoma Sports 5A OFFENSIVE co-MVPs.

5A DEFENSIVE co-MVPs: A TRIO OF GUTHRIE DEFENDERS
Another tough call for MVP in 5A. The combination of Landry and Jaden Chappell in the Blue Jays’ defense carried the Guthrie duo over the top. Landry, a senior, led the way on the stat sheet with 157 total tackles, good enough to tie for tops in 5A. Jaden didn’t fare much worse. The sophomore registered 133 tackles, tied for sixth in 5A. If those totals don’t impress you, Kentrell Brothers’ will. The junior defensive end racked up 16 sacks on the season, tops in 5A. The trio shut down opposing offenses all season and into the playoffs. The Blue Jays allowed just 15 points per game, and that’s why those three players are this season’s Oklahoma Sports 5A DEFENSIVE co-MVPs.