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Catching up with Bishop Kelley football
Published: 8/23/2012 3:41 PM
Last Modified: 8/23/2012 3:41 PM

Zak Patterson, our fall intern from the University of Tulsa, caught up with the Bishop Kelley football team last week.

Take a look at what he had to say about the Comets, who are hosting their final scrimmage Friday night.

By ZAK PATTERSON
Bishop Kelley coach J.J. Tappana is optimistic about this season, despite having lost nine starters from last year's team, including three-year starting quarterback Donnie Walton.

The 2011 finished 8-3 and lost to eventual state runner-up Lawton MacArthur in the state quarterfinals.

“This is a real blue-collar style team, they just go to work. There are no disciplines issues, there is no whining. They are really efficient in everything that they do,” said Tappana.

Walton’s replacement at quarterback will likely be sophomore Ryan Martin. Brady Goforth, another candidate for the job, suffered a dislocated hip in May.

Tappana is convinced the team won't miss a beat with a young quarterback thanks in part to veteran leadership from other key positions.

“We are really confident in Ryan," Tappana said. "We are certainly not worried about the position.”

A load will be taken off Martin’s shoulders by the Comets' duo at running back -- senior Austin Morris, who ran for 1,114 yards with 10 touchdowns last year, and senior Cory Bright.

Bright plays safety on defense and had four interceptions last year. Despite losing senior running back Alex Maguire, who ran for 834 yards last season, the Comets plan to have another strong running game.

“We always run the ball. We are not a pass-centered team. I know a lot of people like to throw the ball 60 or 70 times a game, but in 5A and 6A, the teams that win run the ball well,” said Tappana.

Tappana is excited to watch the seniors develop because of what many of them have been through.

“We have a core of kids that in 2010 were thrown to the wolves as sophomores, and we are hoping the dividends will pay off,” said Tappana.

“Austin and Corey mean everything to us. As far as young men go, they are awesome. On top of that, Austin is one of the most explosive players I’ve had in awhile, and Cory is one of the most underrated kids I’ve had.”

Seniors Andrew McNulty and Dakota Stowe form what Tappana says is “as talented a tandem as we have had at linebacker.”

Another important piece for the Comets is senior Zach Washington, a three-year starter at corner and wide receiver. Washington had three interceptions last season and was also one of the top punt returners in the state, averaging 16.7 yards a return.

In scrimmages and practices, the Comets have been fighting the heat this summer with their own unique solution, the freeze pop. Players assault a couple coolers filled with popsicles halfway through practice each day.

Dog days of August? Not when you have popsicles.

“A few years ago, a mom brought some popsicles and everyone was like ‘Oh my gosh! What are these?!’ So now the mom’s drop popsicles off for practice, and we take a popsicle break halfway through," Tappana said. "It rejuvenates practice and reinvigorates things. It is a grind out here in this heat so we do everything we can to make it fun for the kids out here. It works for us.”

While Bishop Kelley has struggled to make it deep in the state playoffs in recent years, Tappana believes this team has what it takes to advance in the post-season.

“It is not easy to get to the playoffs," Tappana said. "We have made the state tournament 14 straight years, and hopefully this will be 15. I think this could be our year to break through. Last year the team that beat us got to the state championship. We all want to get to that next level, but the teams that have beaten us have been loaded with Division I talent."

Tappana is 10 wins away from breaking the all-time wins record at Bishop Kelley.

“That is cool,” he said. “If I get 10 wins this year that would be a great season for us.”

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