5A Title Preview: Carl Albert vs. Bixby

Originally Published: Dec 2, 2009 6:7 PM CDT

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Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Reporter

STILLWATER, Oklahoma -- Familiar foes meet again Saturday in the 5A state title game. Saturday’s meeting between the Carl Albert Titans (11-2) and Bixby Spartans (9-4) will mark the third time in three years the two squads have faced-off in the playoffs.

The Titans knocked Bixby out in the quarterfinal round of last year’s postseason push, a year after Bixby cut Carl Albert’s bid for back-to-back championships short. Both teams hope to close the deal in 2009, and hoist the gold ball.

“We’ve got our hands full,” said Titans head coach Gary Rose. “They’re a really good football team.”

Bixby enters the title tilt off a thrilling 27-20 win over Guthrie. Both teams played well on defense, but Spartans quarterback Kevin Lamb made big plays in the second half to pull away from the Blue Jays. Bixby has won three playoff games by a combined 18 points. Running back Dewitt Jennings has had a solid postseason for Bixby as well.

Carl Albert likes to throw the football. The Titans have plenty of talent in the wide receiving corp and a very capable arm in quarterback J.T. Realmuto. The senior has led Carl Albert to consecutive title games after the Titans reached the gold ball round a year ago with the Booker T. Washington Hornets. Realmuto can beat defenses with his legs as well. He rushed for multiple scores last week against El Reno and in the second round against a previously undefeated Bishop Kelley squad.

“Their kids expect to win it,” Bixby head coach Pat McGrew said of Carl Albert. “We’re going to have to play our best games to win that gold ball.”

The gold ball is up for grabs Saturday afternoon at T. Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.