District 4A-2 Football Preview

<h4>District 4A-2</h4> District Prediction 1. Glenpool 2. Tecumseh 3. Mannford 4. Blackwell 5. Cushing 6. Tulsa Webster 7. Cleveland 8.

Wednesday, August 23rd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

District 4A-2

District Prediction

1. Glenpool
2. Tecumseh
3. Mannford
4. Blackwell
5. Cushing
6. Tulsa Webster
7. Cleveland
8. McLoud

Six Players to Watch

1. Patrick Cobbs- Tecumseh- Running Back- 5â€™10â€ 185 lbs. Very strong and very fast, ran 4.5 second 40 yard dash at summer camp. Rushed for 1,800+ yards in 1999.
2. Marc Gouldsby- Tulsa Webster- Running Back- 6â€™0â€ 175 lbs. Moves to RB from QB for this season. Probably the best pure athlete in the district.
3. Courtney Tennial- Glenpool- Running Back- Is it too early in this sophomoreâ€™s career to consider him a top player in the state? Not according to opposing coaches. His 1,500+ yards as a freshman back them up. Heâ€™ll likely be top recruit in the state in 2002.
4. Dane Tannehill- Blackwell- Defensive End- 6â€™1â€ 220, 245 or 265 pounds, depending on who you ask. Regardless of his true weight, his real asset is great speed on the pass rush.
5. Will Aherberg- Cushing- Quarterback- 6â€™4â€ 200 lbs. He has college size and had a very good summer at the camps. He will throw more under a new offensive system.
6. Paul Hix- Mannford- Qaurterback- 6â€™2â€ 180 lbs. Any coach in the state that would like to have a three-year starter at QB raise their hand. Mannford has that luxury. Hix has thrown for 1,000+ yards in each of his first two seasons.

Six â€œCanâ€™t Missâ€ Games

1. September 1st- Tecumseh at El Reno- Cobbs vs. El Reno defense. El Reno RB Marshall Chiles vs. Tecumseh defense. It should be fun to watch.
2. October 13th- Tecumseh at Glenpool- Preseason district 1 vs. 2 face off in a late-season matchup.
3. November 3rd- Mannford at Blackwell- Both teams have legitimate playoff aspirations. The season-ender could be very meaningful.
4. September 8th- Glenpool at Bixby- Bixby has high hopes in class 5A and a good offense. The early test will be good for Glenpool.
5. September 14th- Tulsa Memorial at Tulsa Webster- Strong city rivalry game will be played the same night a Jenks-Union. If you donâ€™t want to stand in line at Skellyâ€¦
6. September 1st- Bristow at Cushing- Can Aherberg get the passing game working against a solid Pirate defense.

Team Capsules

Glenpool
Head Coach: Steve Edwards
Last Year: 10-2
Strength: Team speed. This team is loaded with talented skill players.
Question Mark: Offensive line must replace two graduates.
Outlook: Tennial will have his brother Earl blocking at fullback and Jay Bible moving to tight end. Heâ€™ll rack up the yards and Glenpool will rack up the wins.

Tecumseh
Head Coach: Chris McMullen
Last Year: 7-3
Strength: Thereâ€™s experience at most positions as the Savages return 14 starters from last year.
Question Mark: Lost a very good tight end and two outside linebackers from last year.
Outlook: This district is loaded with good running backs and Cobbs is the best. Heâ€™ll carry Tecumseh to the playoffs and will compete for district champs.

Mannford
Head Coach: Kurt Boomer
Last Year: 6-5
Strength: Returning starters have plenty of game experience. Linebackers are strong with senior Ryan Woody and three terrific juniors.
Question Mark: Thereâ€™s not much depth, especially on the lines. Must find new tailback and fullback.
Outlook: Boomer will try to prove that he really has this program turned around. It looks like he does.

Blackwell
Head Coach: Steve Langdon
Last Year: 2-8
Strength: Eight starters return to the defense.
Question Mark: Thereâ€™s a lack of tradition at Blackwell. Do the players know how to win?
Outlook: The move from 2-8 one year to the playoffs the next is not easy. There is enough talent on this squad to get it done.

Cushing
Head Coach: Joey Witcher
Last Year: 1-9
Strength: Defense returns eight starters. The skill positions are fast and deep.
Question Mark: The offensive line lost four starters. Projected starters arenâ€™t extremely big.
Outlook: New staff should help morale and quality of play. Aherbergâ€™s adjustment to new offense is too unknown to pick the Tigers for a playoff spot. That doesnâ€™t mean they canâ€™t do it, though.

Daniel Webster
Head Coach: Jim Harper
Last Year: 2-8
Strength: 13 seniors and 15 starters return from last yearâ€™s team.
Question Mark: Offensive line play was not so hot in â€™99.
Outlook: Thereâ€™s a lot of experience on this team. District coaches are leery about last seasonâ€™s results.

Cleveland
Head Coach: Jim Frazier
Last Year: 3-7
Strength: Returning starters at skill positions had very good years in â€™99.
Question Mark: Offensive line doesnâ€™t have great overall size.
Outlook: There are good underclassmen at key positions. Next year could be big for Cleveland.

McLoud
Head Coach: Wayne Jaggars
Last Year: 1-9
Strength: Many of the skill players are young, but experienced.
Question Mark: Lost a senior QB, but Bryan Hack is a junior move-in from California.
Outlook: Hack is too big a question mark right now to get a good read.

District Previews

Eight-man Districts
Class A Districts
Class 2A Districts
Class 3A Districts
Class 4A district 4
Class 4A district 3

Class 5A district 4: Friday, August 25
Class 5A district 3: Monday, August 28
Class 6A district 4: Tuesday, August 29
Class 6A district 3: Wednesday, August 30