The Buzz: Week one goes the way of the upset

By Sean Mossman Just when you think you had the world of high school football figured out, they actually play the games. Iâ€™ll admit, I thought I knew who would win all of those big

Tuesday, September 5th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

By Sean Mossman

Just when you think you had the world of high school football figured out, they actually play the games. Iâ€™ll admit, I thought I knew who would win all of those big games this past week. I just knew Bristow would handle Cushing. I put a win in the bank for Vinita over Jay. I was sure David Bowie would run East Central past Hale.

I suppose thatâ€™s why the games arenâ€™t played on paper or in chat rooms. Most every impartial observer thought each of those games would end the way I did. Only true fans of Jay, Cushing and Hale believed they could win their games. Wellâ€™ not only true fans, the players obviously believed and pulled off three of the biggest â€œupsetsâ€ in the state for week one.

Jay held down Vinitaâ€™s dynamic duo of Jermaine Landrum and Wes Hartley on their way to a season-opening win. Now Mannford has shown up on the Bulldogs radar. The Pirates let a handful of scoring opportunities get away from them in a 17-7 loss to Collinsville. The Mannford defense faces a more explosive team in Jay, led by 6â€™4â€ wide receiver Chad Palm. Mannford heads to Jay Friday for a game that might mean a lot more to the pirates at this point in the season.

Upset number two came when Class 3Aâ€™s preseason number one team, Bristow, fell to Cushing 24-9. Actually, the Pirates lost to the Tigers defense and the right foot of Will Aherberg. Aherberg came into the season as one of the top quarterbacks in the state. In week one it was his leg and not his arm that helped Cushing pull it off. Aherberg kicked three field goals, all three from inside 30 yards, in the win. The Tiger defense was the big story. For more on their game, check out the Prime Time Players section below. The win was the first for new head coach Joey Witcher, and matches the number of total wins the Tigers posted in 1999.

East Central suffered the third big upset of week one, 21-17 to Hale. Total yard statistics between the two teams were nearly equal, Hale led 189-178. The difference in this game was East Centralâ€™s inability to hold onto the ball. The Cardinals fumbled nine times in the game, seven of which were recovered by the Rangers.

Prime Time Players

Here are ten great individual performances from week one:

1. Josh Fields- Stillwater- The Pioneers QB threw for 307 yards and three touchdowns against three-time defending state 5A champ Carl Albert. He teamed with favorite target Leonard Jones for 116 yards and all three TDâ€™s. Stillwater won 42-30.
2. Thursday Night Stars- Two of the stateâ€™s biggest football recruits put on a great show Thursday night. Owasso beat Booker T. Washington 42-26. Each teamsâ€™ big star played as advertised. Hornet LB Mike Wilson tallied 14 tackles, sour for losses, and scored a rushing touchdown on offense. Ram RB Lamont Moore tallied exactly 300 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. More impressively, both men solidified their standings as fastest linebacker and tailback in the state respectively. The live television audience watched two terrific performances.
3. Tyler Redden- Foyil- In recent yearâ€™s, fans have gotten desensitized to huge eight-man football numbers. Reddenâ€™s 294 yard six TD rushing game against Oaks is worthy of awe. Heâ€™ll likely post a 2,000-yard season, but wonâ€™t get the respect heâ€™s due because he plays eight-man.
4. Cushing Defense- The Tiger offense could only muster three field goals against a strong Bristow defense. Thatâ€™s all they would need, as the D scored on two interception returns for touchdowns and a safety in the 24-9 upset.
5. Chris Barnes and Jerome Janet-Union- The Redskins offense usually gets most of the headlines. In the Friday win over Clovis, CA, it was Unionâ€™s defense and special teams that dominated. Barnes posted four of the seven sacks from the defense. Janet partially blocked three Clovis punts.
6. Chucky Amos-Claremore- Anyone that runs for 278 yards against an Oologah defense deserves praise. Amos added two touchdowns in the 38-21 win.
7. Brett Bynum-Tahlequah- It was a solid debut for the Tiger signal-caller. Bynum threw for 261 yards and rushed for 101 more in the 33-12 win over Ponca City.
8. Avery Shine-Eufaula- Shine is the brightest of all stars in a very talented district 2A-7. Best known as a superb defensive back, Shine popped Checotah for 270 yards rushing and three scores.
9. Ross Spencer- Metro Christian and Colby Wright- Sperry- The dueling tailbacks put on a show Friday night. Spencer posted 266 yards and four TDâ€™s. Wright rushed for 190 yards and three TDâ€™s. Metro Christian won 34-33 after Sperry failed on a two-point conversion late in the game.
10. Victory Christian- Impressive debut to big-time high school football. Victory played OSSAA teams last year, but this is the first serious campaign for the Conquerers. They held Picher-Cardin to 39 total yards in a 28-0 win Thursday.

Power Poll #2

1. Jenks-(1-0, 1 last week) Very workmanlike in opening win against Bixby, 49-14. Host Ft. Smith Northside in this weekâ€™s tune-up for Union.
2. Union-(1-0, 2 last week) Did Oklahoma football very proud against Clovis, CA. Opens Broken Arrowâ€™s new stadium Thursday.
3. Stillwater-(1-0, 5 last week) Win over Carl Albert will propel you in any poll. Travels to Muskogee Friday.
4. Broken Arrow-(1-0, 6 last week) Union is the first real test after opening win at Sapulpa.
5. Cascia Hall-(1-0, 8 last week) 48-14 win over Holland Hall may have been the biggest statement game in the state.
6. Bishop Kelley-(0-1, 3 last week) Loss to Springdale, AR is nothing to be ashamed of. Travels to McGuinness, 21-7 winners over Western Heights.
7. McAlester-(1-0, 10 last week) The Buffaloes donâ€™t miss a beat under new coach John Homer. Win 21-12 over Okmulgee. Hosts former coach Mike Loyd and Ardmore this week. Ardmore beat Ada in week one.
8. Owasso-(1-0, unranked last week) Impressive in opening win over Booker T. Washington, 42-26. Trip to Ft. Smith Southside awaits the Rams this week.
9. Claremore-(1-0, unranked last week) Amos ran through very large holes in Thursday night win over a good Oologah team, 38-21. Staying power will come with a win at East Central this week.
10. Seminole-(1-0, unranked last week) Tight win on the road against a very good Wewoka team. Hosts Tecumseh and star running back Patrick Cobbs this week.
Falling out: Bristow (9 last week), Ada (4 last week), Glenpool (7 last week)
On The Fringe: Fort Gibson, Sallisaw, Collinsville, Nowata, Eufaula, Pawhuska, Morrison, Tahlequah, Miami

August 31st, 2000
August 29, 2000