Barry Lewis: Jenks' offense surges with Jordan Smallwood
BY BARRY LEWIS World Sports Writer
Monday, September 24, 2012
9/24/12 at 3:46 PM
It wasn't a coincidence that Jenks' offense moved into high gear in Week 4 at the same time wideout Jordan Smallwood returned to the lineup.
Smallwood, a University of Oklahoma commit who missed two games due to an injured shoulder, scored on two of his three catches as Jenks set its modern-era scoring record in an 82-7 win over Edison on Thursday.
The Trojans scored more points in the first half, 62, than they had in the first three games combined, 54.
"It's good to see him back and moving around better," Jenks coach Allan Trimble said. "He's still got a ways to go on his shoulder issues, but practiced well and we wanted to start working him back in."
Smallwood's return also helped the Trojans move from No. 3 into the top spot in the Tulsa World's Class 6A rankings, leapfrogging No. 2 Broken Arrow after previous-No. 1 Union lost 38-35 to Owasso.
Thursday's first TD catch for Smallwood came on Kyle Alexander's 39-yard bomb as he got behind the Edison secondary. That was Smallwood's first trip to the end zone this year after having 11 touchdowns in 2011.
"It wasn't tough at all getting back in the groove, dusting off some rust," said Smallwood, who was injured in a season-opening loss to Union. "It felt good coming back. I was enjoying it."
Smallwood had 50 catches for 763 yards last season and bigger numbers were projected for this year before the injury.
"I know he's been dying to get back out there," Trimble said. "It's tough when you're a senior and have been working as hard as he has been."
Trimble is hopeful that another member of the World's preseason top-10 receivers list, Trey Michalczewski, will return to action on Friday in Jenks' home opener against Sapulpa. Michalczewski has been sidelined since suffering an injury in the Trojan Preview at the end of the preseason. Last year, he had 31 catches for 619 yards and eight TDs.
"Trey has been practicing (in the past week), but with a hamstring you've got to be really cautious," Trimble said.
Logan Prince, a senior who has been seeing more action at receiver with Smallwood and Michalczewski sidelined, scored his first varsity TD against Edison with a dazzling run-after-the-catch on a 49-yard pass from Alexander.
Alexander was 5-of-7 for 177 yards and four TDs.
"Kyle threw the ball well and made some good checks in the running game early," Trimble said.
And the Trojans' offense also is helped by a healthier Trey'Vonne Barr'e, who had TD runs of 68 and 62 yards against Edison. Barr'e, who had 2,110 rushing yards last year, suffered a knee injury in the Week 2 loss to DeSoto (Texas).
"He's still got a little tenderness in his knee, but he's getting better each day," Trimble said.
After opening 0-2 for the first time since 1986, Trimble sees bright days ahead for his top-ranked team, which beat Owasso 20-7 in Week 3.
"We've told our boys we had four road games in a row," Trimble said. "Union's got a great football team, DeSoto's got a great football team. That's only going to make you better if you handle it right.
"As I've told them, sometimes even if you can't see the bank from the other side, you've still got to keep swimming. We're swimming, getting better and playing pretty good defense right now. We've got a chance. I like where we're at."
Sorting out 6A: In the nine seasons that I have been in charge of the World's high school football rankings, the biggest challenge I've faced was sorting out the order of teams in 6A this week after Owasso's win over Union. That left all of the top four teams in the preseason rankings with two losses after beating up on each other. And that leaves three undefeated 6A teams that have played solid schedules but not as tough as Union, Jenks, Owasso and Broken Arrow.
As a result, for the first time, I conducted a poll to determine this week's 6A rankings.
Ten members of the World's staff voted. Jenks received four first-place votes and 89 out of a possible 100 points. Broken Arrow had 77 points. Owasso was third with 74 points, followed by Union (70 points), Edmond North (62), Sand Springs (51) and Lawton (50). Edmond North received three first-place votes, while Broken Arrow, Union and Sand Springs received one each.
Week 4 stars: McLain's Demetri Walker completed 21-of-28 passes for 321 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-15 victory over Miami. Jaelen Bledsoe had eight catches for 134 yards and Thurman Smith led the McLain defense with 11 tackles, including two sacks. ...
Sapulpa's Sam Gottsch completed 17-of-30 passes for 247 yards and four TDs in a 35-20 victory over Putnam City. He also had seven rushes for 91 yards. ...
Lincoln Christian's Justin Flewellen had 22 rushes for 171 yards and three TDs in a 48-20 victory over Springfield (Mo.) Lighthouse Christian. His teammate, Anthony Wilkinson, had five receptions for 105 yards and three TDs. ...
Tahlequah's Mason McMillan had 24 carries for 224 yards and three TDs in a 35-20 win over Grove. ...
Verdigris' Dakota Brasher accounted for five TDs while sophomore linebacker Seth McLaughlin had nine solo tackles in a 55-20 win over Blackwell. ...
Holdenville's Dakota Fish had 31 carries for 237 yards and a touchdown in a 29-27 loss to Hugo. ...
Bluejacket's T.K. Francis passed for 325 yards and five TDs in a 62-46 loss to Deer Creek-Lamont. ...
Enid's Chance Pryor passed for 252 yards and accounted for six TDs in a 44-42 loss at Bartlesville. ...
Keith Driver accounted for 299 total yards and four TDs to help 5A No. 8 Memorial set a school scoring record in a 77-37 win over Shawnee.
Original Print Headline: Jenks adds spark with Smallwood
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Associated Images:
Jenks wide receiver Jordan Smallwood runs for a touchdown past a host of Edison players Thursday night at LaFortune Stadium. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World
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