Johnny Deaton, Sand Springs Wants to Make Playoff Push

Originally Published: Sep 2, 2009 10:3 AM CDT

Kyle Dierking
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

SAND SPRINGS, Oklahoma - The buzz is building in Sand Springs.

“Everybody talks more, ‘you guys don’t suck’ around school and they’re like, ‘we’re going to come watch the game,’” said senior quarterback Johnny Deaton. “It’s cool to me that we’re building up fans around town.”

The Sandites had a small scare when Deaton, who is verbally committed to Oklahoma State, twisted his ankle this summer – but the senior says he’s good to go.

“It’s a lot better – it’s close to 100% -- it’s just stiffer that the other one, but they said that was going to happen because as bad as I messed it up,” Deaton said. “I probably had some slight tears in my ligaments, but it’s a lot better than it was.”

The newly renovated stadium here at Sand Springs played host to the 5A state semi-finals and championship game last season. The Sandites, though, have set a bar of their own: having a home playoff game, which means getting a top two seed in its very tough district.

“I want to be able to host a game here so myself and the team can get to the next round,” Deaton said. “That’d be the biggest thing – having a first round home playoff game on our field.”

“We step up defensively I’m positive we can be a one or two seed,” said Sand Springs coach Dustin Kinard.

Sand Springs has to replace six starters on defense and Kinard says those guys can compliment a solid offense.

“If we get some guys to step up and play in the secondary a little bit and some linebacker play and stop some guys because we’re going to score,” Kinard said.