Oologah Believes in the Power of 11

"11" has become a significant number for Oologah as they prepare for a first round matchup with Poteau.

Thursday, July 28th 2011, 5:21 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Nov 10, 2009 6:38 PM CDT

Class 4A Playoff Coverage on Oklahoma Sports
- Oologah Believes in the Power of 11 (11/11)
- Top 3 Class 4A Playoff Matchups – First Round (11/11)
- Class Breakdowns: Class 4A (11/9)
- View the full playoff bracket
- Oklahoma Sports High School Football Playoff Discussion

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Reporter

OOLOGAH, Oklahoma -- The 2008 Tampa Bay Rays and 2009 Oologah Mustangs have something in common. During Spring Training last season Rays manager Joe Maddon presented his team with t-shirts that read “9=8”, signifying that nine players battling for nine innings will eventually mean making it to the playoffs as one of eight teams standing at the end of the regular season.

The Rays not only made it to the playoffs, but they came within three wins of a World Series Championship. On a much smaller sporting scale, the Mustangs are trying to duplicate that success with a numerical motto of their own.

Head coach Brandon Craig and his team decided this season’s motto would be the number eleven. Players and coaches have worn t-shirts with “11” on the back since the beginning of the year, to prove that if eleven guys play as one, good things will happen.

“We want eleven guys playing hard on the field and then we wanted to get to the eleventh game,” said Craig.

That motto stayed strong during the Mustangs run to a second seed in this year’s playoffs. After finishing 7-4, it will take, you guessed it, eleven wins to claim a gold ball in Oologah.

“It’s going to take eleven victories to win a state championship, so it fell our way,” said Craig.

The Mustangs host Poteau (8-2, 5-2) in the first round this Friday night and like playing at home.

“Just the crowd, the field, we know it,” said lineman Josh Wilson. “We don’t have to drive to Poteau.”

Kickoff is set for 7:30 in Oologah. The winner will play the winner of Star Spencer and Elk City.