Barry Lewis: Metro Christian peaking at right time for 3A playoff run

BY BARRY LEWIS World Sports Writer
Monday, November 19, 2012
11/19/12 at 4:05 AM

Metro Christian lineman Zach Webb has an interesting travel itinerary planned for next weekend.

On Friday night, Webb and his teammates will visit top-ranked Seminole (11-0) in a Class 3A quarterfinal matchup.

About eight hours after that game ends, Webb will be on a flight to take a recruiting visit to Penn State, where he will see the Nittany Lions face Wisconsin.

"I'm hoping it's going to be a happy drive from Seminole to get back for that 6 a.m. flight," Webb said on Sunday.

Fifth-ranked Metro (10-2) appears to be peaking at the right time as it has outscored its first two playoff opponents 83-22.

"A lot of things are clicking for us offensively and defensively," Webb said. "We're playing with a lot of confidence. Some of that is from the success we've had in the playoffs the last two years, and it also helped us beating (then-No. 2 ranked) Berryhill in the last week of the regular season to win the district championship."

Webb, who is 6-foot-2 and 280 pounds, is part of a senior class that has won four straight district titles for the first time in school history. He has been a big factor on both sides of the ball.

"We have a lot of confidence when we run to Zach's side," Metro coach Jared McCoy said about his left tackle. "And I can't remember when he last gave up a sack."

The Patriots' offense is ignited by quarterback Matt Woolslayer, who completed 18-of-23 passes for 236 yards, had 17 rushes for 106 yards and accounted for four TDs in a 42-14 win over Keys on Friday. According to McCoy, Woolslayer threw only one errant pass as he had three dropped and an interception was taken out of a receiver's hands.

On defense, Webb has 77 tackles and six sacks at noseguard.

"Zach is a key cog on defense," McCoy said. "He usually draws double and triple teams that allow others to make plays."

Those others include linebackers Josh Nosan and Hayden Hillenburg, who is the Patriots' leading tackler.

"Hayden is our hardest hitter," McCoy said.

Metro reached the 2010 semifinals, and in 2011 lost in the quarterfinals at eventual champion Anadarko.

"Seminole is big and strong up front," McCoy said. "They also have fast athletes and have been well-coached for many years.

"They're well-respected across the state and I agree they are the team to beat."

McCoy believes the Patriots are playing better at this point in the playoffs than they ever have in the past.

"We're a well-seasoned team," McCoy said.

Webb is looking forward to the challenge of playing the No. 1 ranked team.

"We're excited about the game," Webb said. "It should be a fun environment, like when we played at Tahlequah Sequoyah and Anadarko, and those experiences should help us. We want to keep this going."

Webb, who began receiving interest from Louisville during the past week, is being recruited by several other schools, including Tulsa, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Arizona and Missouri State. Major colleges are looking at him primarily on defense, while others are projecting him on offense.

Patterson propels Jenks: Jordan Smallwood and Trey Michalczewski aren't the only big-play receivers that Jenks quarterback Kyle Alexander can look for in key situations. Last Friday, Garrett Patterson caught his first TD pass of the season, a 19-yarder, in top-ranked 6A Jenks' 34-12 quarterfinal win over Edmond North.

Patterson ran straight down the field and was wide open at the goal line. The TD gave Jenks a 20-9 lead after Edmond North had dominated the third quarter, kicking two field goals to make it 13-9. Patterson also had a leaping grab on a third-down conversion earlier in the game.

"Obviously he's not our main weapon, but he contributes just like everyone else, and the coaches had a great call on that play," Alexander said about the TD.

Jenks will face No. 3 Union in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Broken Arrow's Memorial Stadium.

Union will sell advance tickets for that game from 3-7 p.m. Tuesday and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students.

Wagoner's Thomas sidelined: Wagoner senior cornerback-Z back Kerwin Thomas, who was in the All-World rankings of the top area players most of the season, is sidelined for the playoffs after suffering a dislocated collarbone in a Week 8 win over Cleveland. Thomas' last game of 2012 was his best as he had 240 total yards and four touchdowns. Thomas is being recruited by several schools, including Tulsa, Wyoming and Arkansas State.

Week 12 stars: Stigler safety Ryan Echelle had 21 tackles, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 42-21 victory over 3A No. 5 Berryhill. ...

Vian quarterback Landon Decker had four touchdowns in the 2A No. 1 Wolverines' 76-26 win over Kansas. ...

Clark Austin had 110 rushing yards and two TDs for Class A No. 10 Talihina in a 29-8 win over No. 6 Warner.

Original Print Headline: Metro Christian clicking in 3A playoff run

World Sports Writer Mike Brown contributed to this column.

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