Barry Lewis: Bishop Kelley ready for big game with Memorial
BY BARRY LEWIS World Sports Writer
Thursday, October 25, 2012
10/25/12 at 5:30 AM
Go to Barry Lewis' BlogOriginal Print Headline: Kelley ready for big game
MUCH ATTENTION has been given to Memorial having a chance to win its first district football title since 1982. The sixth-ranked Chargers can take a major step toward that goal of capturing District 5A-3 with a win at No. 7 Bishop Kelley on Friday night.
Memorial is 8-0 and has clinched its first winning season and playoff berth since 1989. But the Battle of Hudson Avenue also is an opportunity for the host Comets, who can clinch the 5A-3 title with a victory.
"This is a pretty big game for us," Kelley senior running back-safety Austin Morris said on Tuesday while attending the Tulsa World's Winter Sports Photo Day at Union. "We haven't won a ton of district titles in our history so it's a big week for us, our coaching staff and the Kelley community."
Although the Comets are a perennial playoff team, they have only one district title - in 2009 - since 1985.
Kelley is coming off a 26-22 win at McAlester last week that avenged a 28-27 loss to the Buffaloes last year. Memorial, even with a win over Kelley, will still likely need a victory at McAlester next week to win the district title.
The Comets are 6-2, but have won six in a row since Morris returned to the starting lineup in Week 3 after coming back from knee surgery.
"We started off real slow this year, but we had all new starters on the line and they've really come together a lot," Morris said. "We've come together as a team and have been playing a lot better lately although we have some stuff from last week that we will need to correct."
Morris, who says he got back to 100 percent in Week 5, has made a big difference for the Comets. He has rushed for 713 yards and eight touchdowns. He also has 18 receptions for 274 yards and three TDs. On defense, where he is used in key situations, he has two interceptions. He looks to see more action than usual on defense against Memorial.
"A lot is riding on this game so I am expecting to go both ways." Morris said. "Memorial is undefeated and it will be a great game. We're excited, the community is excited, so it will be fun."
Playoff berth at stake: Holland Hall (3-5 overall) needs a win to clinch a Southwest Preparatory Conference playoff berth when it hosts Dallas Episcopal on Friday night. The Dutch, with a win over Episcopal, will play at Houston Kinkaid in the semifinals next week. Holland Hall's season will end if it loses to Episcopal.
"This basically is a playoff game for us," Dutch senior tight end Zack Rogers said at the World's Photo Day. "After going 10-0 before losing in the championship in 2010, and then winning only one game last year, it would be exciting to make it back to the championship game and I think we can if we can get one Friday. Our record may not show it, but we are so much improved over last year. I think the team will be great next year."
The 6-foot-7 Rogers also is a basketball standout and has received recruiting interest from several schools, including Dartmouth, Brown, Lehigh and Bucknell. Rogers is confident the Dutch also can contend for a SPC basketball title under new coach Brandon Maddux.
Thursday's games: Top-ranked 4A Cascia Hall will meet Rogers at Webster's Milton Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Cascia's only previous meeting with Rogers was a 49-14 victory over the Ropers junior varsity in 1987. Cascia has not played at Milton Stadium since a 24-0 loss to Webster in 1985. Also on Thursday's schedule is Grove against Central at Booker T. Washington's S.E. Williams Stadium.
Regent wins title: Regent Prep won its third consecutive Oklahoma Christian Schools Athletic Association volleyball title on Oct. 12-13 at Destiny Christian in Del City.
Regent's Alison Ramsey and Paige Panter were named to the all-tournament team. Ramsey had 59 kills and 16 serving aces. Panter had 28 serving aces. Other standouts included Sarah Minnich (40 kills), Emilee Sullivan (17 kills), Maddie Shapleigh (16 aces) and Aly Smith (13 aces).
"I am really proud of the way our girls came together at the state tournament," Regent coach Mike Christie said. "I believe by playing a hard regular-season schedule, it made them mentally tough and therefore they were able to handle the pressure of the tournament with ease.
"They came to the tournament focused and determined to bring home the title. Throughout the tournament, they played great defense and had lots of energy."
Perfect year for BA freshmen: The Broken Arrow Black freshman football squad went undefeated for the first time since the 1999 team that included record-setting quarterback Mick Majors and current Wyoming assistant Jason Ray, who led Broken Arrow to the 2002 6A title game. A 9-0 season and Frontier Valley Conference title was capped by a 30-0 victory over Owasso Red on Tuesday. The BA Black freshmen are coached by Scott Morgan and Mark Lenhart. Broken Arrow Black outscored opponents 290-23 with five shutouts.
Basketball scrimmages set: Edison and East Central are hosting preseason girls basketball scrimmages from 8:30 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. at both schools Saturday. Other teams participating include Sapulpa, Broken Arrow, Memorial, Muskogee, Verdigris, Midwest City, Oklahoma City Millwood, Roland and Keys. Admission is $3.
Also on Saturday is the girls portion of the second annual Zigs Hoops Classic at Coweta High School. The event starts at 8 a.m. and runs all day.
Early success for Kiefer: In its first cross-country season with a complete team, Kiefer's boys finished second in the 2A regionals, fifth in the state meet and Thomas Bacon finished sixth in the individual standings. Kiefer also won the state academic title for 2A boys cross country.
Thanks, Union: Thanks to Union and athletic director Emily Warren for hosting the Tulsa World's Winter Sports Photo Day on Tuesday. A record turnout of 400 area players and coaches participated in the event.
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