High school football notebook: Metro Christian rolls past Henryetta
BY BARRY LEWIS & ZAK PATTERSON World Sports Writers
Sunday, November 11, 2012
11/11/12 at 6:47 AM
Senior quarterback Matt Woolslayer accounted for 278 total yards and three TDs to help lead No. 5 Metro Christian past visiting Henryetta 41-8 in a Class 3A playoff opener on Friday.
The Patriots (9-2), who advance to host Keys (7-3) in the second round, racked up 210 rushing yards, with the help of junior right tackle Bewley Wales.
"Bewley is playing real well," Metro coach Jared McCoy said. "He's been solid every week."
Eyan Graybill had eight carries for 76 yards and a TD. Cash Jackson added 56 yards on seven carries and a touchdown. Danny Burke had three catches for 35 yards and a TD.
Metro's defense got a touchdown from Josh Nosan's fumble recovery and allowed only one first down in the second half. Henryetta quarterback Zach Speer completed 8-of-21 passes for 128 yards - with 80 coming on a fourth-quarter touchdown to Devin Longan.
The Patriots, who led 27-0 at halftime, received an inspirational boost from senior starting linebacker-running back Michael Brothers' return to the sideline. Brothers suffered a compound fractured ankle and dislocated tibia in a Week 8 game against Sperry, and was able to be on the sideline for the first time since the injury.
"He had been in a wheelchair, but he was hopping around on his crutches and trying to be an encourager," McCoy said.
McAlester rallies: Down 9-0 going into the second half, the 10th-ranked McAlester Buffaloes rallied past No. 8 Collinsville 29-9 in a 5A playoff opener at McAlester. After just 80 yards of total offense in the opening half, the Buffaloes rumbled for 280 in the second half.
"The first half was the worst half offensively we've played in quite some time," said McAlester coach Bryan Pratt. "But our defense kept us in the game, and at halftime we made some adjustments, and started playing the way we're supposed to play."
Quarterback Caden Pratt had 20 carries for 179 yards and three touchdowns, including an 85-yard burst, and running back Jarome Smith had 13 carries for 134 yards.
No. 10 McAlester (7-4) will visit No. 3 Edmond Deer Creek in the quarterfinals.
Gandara powers Fort Gibson: Jake Gandara rushed for 211 yards and three TDs to lead No. 6 Fort Gibson past No. 10 Oologah 38-20 in a 4A playoff first-round game at Fort Gibson on Friday.
"Oologah did a great job on defense giving us a look we weren't used to, so we had to put some extra blockers in there," said Fort Gibson coach James Singleton. "Our defense made them one-dimensional, and we got control of the game in the fourth quarter."
Defensive lineman Andrew Brestel had two fourth-and-1 stops for the Tigers (10-1), who will visit third-ranked Anadarko (11-0) in the quarterfinals.
Cardinals romp: Although Morris entered the playoffs allowing only 18 points per game, third-ranked Verdigris didn't have any problem solving the Eagles' defense in a 50-7 victory in a 3A first-round game on Friday at Verdigris.
Tanner Smith, one of the state's leading rushers, had 19 carries for 145 yards and six touchdowns. J.D. Hanslovan had 12 carries for 139 yards and a score to go with a 25-yard field goal. The Cardinals' defense allowed 28 yards in the opening half.
"The whole defense deserves a pat on the back," said Verdigris coach Dan Nickles. "We feel good about where we're at, but we're taking it one step at a time. Now we have to focus on Hilldale."
Verdigris (10-1) hosts Hilldale (10-1) in the second round.
Long-distance kicking: Sallisaw's Sinue Rodriguez, the World's all-state kicker as a sophomore last year, set a personal best with the state's longest field goal of the season - a 55-yarder - in a 41-10 loss at 4A No. 2 Wagoner on Friday. His previous best was 50 yards.
Associated Images:
Sand Springs quarterback Cody Hale (right) is brought down by Michael Bell (top left), Justin Perkins (center) and Alex Bradley (bottom) during a 6A playoff football game against Broken Arrow at Broken Arrow High School on Friday. MATT BARNARD / Tulsa World
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