Sand Springs Advances In State Playoffs After COVID-19 Concerns

Sand Springs is moving on in the state playoffs for the first time since 2017. 

Sand Springs fans and its head coach told News on 6 they are thrilled to have even played at all on Saturday.

The Sandites’ game against Edmond Deer Creek was initially canceled Wednesday and later rescheduled, making this Sandite victory even more special.

Jay Smith, the father of an Edmond Deer Creek player, said Saturday was its own win because he was able to see his son take the field.

"We’re just excited to be able to get out here and we are also relieved that we can actually come out and play a game,” Smith said. “Grateful that players are healthy and they were able to do this. Especially all the seniors that they get a chance to come out to play, especially when they didn’t think they get to,” Smith said.

Smith said his son received a letter on Wednesday, saying that some players were potentially exposed to COVID-19. A number of players were required to quarantine which resulted in a cancellation for Friday’s scheduled game against Sand Springs.

Deer Creek Public Schools said Thursday that those players were not exposed and rescheduled the gamed for Saturday. Sand Springs fans filed in the stadium in support. 

As a safety precaution, the drumline took the place of the full 70-member band.

Bass drummer Hunter Carroll was happy to make plenty of noise for his team. 

"We weren’t even sure if this was going to happen until yesterday (Friday), so we were just really surprised,” Carroll said. “As soon as we heard the news, we grabbed our drums and we headed here.”

After the game, Sand Springs coach Bobby Klinck said that his team was missing 20 players, including some starters due to them having to quarantine for possible COVID-19 exposure. 

Klinck also said he was happy to see Edmond Deer Creek get to play. 

"As a football coach, you never want to have that conversation with your kids, so I was very happy that the kids got to come out and play,” Klinck said. “On our end, our kids handled it great.”

Sand Springs is scheduled to play Stillwater next Friday.