Not in the Cards: East Central falls to MWC Carl Albert for 5A state football title
BY MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer
Sunday, December 02, 2012
12/02/12 at 6:34 AM
STILLWATER - Midwest City Carl Albert's late-arriving football juggernaut left East Central's top-ranked Cardinals spinning in a fourth-quarter daze and the Titans, behind junior quarterback Steven Thompson, raced to a 24-8 win in the Class 5A final Saturday night to claim their 11th state championship.
Thompson, who carried the load for the Titans most of the reason, rushed for 189 yards on three touchdowns on 33 carries and made almost every meaningful play.
Carl Albert (9-5) capped a most improbable rise to the title, winning its final eight games after a 1-5 start.
Titans coach Gary Rose said the Titans' pass defense got better after Thompson, who averaged almost 20 rushing attempts per game, took over double-duty as a full-time cornerback after the team's fourth game.
Thompson intercepted his fourth and fifth passes of the postseason in the fourth quarter and scored on short runs after each one to put the game out of reach.
Carl Albert stymied the Cards' explosive passing game by getting after sophomore quarterback Tre'von Cherry, who threw 25 touchdown passes this season.
The Titans sacked Cherry six times and allowed him just 110 passing yards, without a scoring toss. Cherry's longest passing play was a 34-yarder to University of Oklahoma commit Stanvon Taylor early in the third quarter, good for a first down at the 50.
But like so many of their other drives, the Cards couldn't sustain it. They reached the Titans' 23, but Cherry was sacked for a 10-yard loss on second down, and under pressure, threw wide and low to an open Taylor on fourth down.
East Central, also finishing 9-5 after forfeiting its first four victories because of an ineligible player, failed to add a second title to its first in 2005.
Cards coach Bobby Klinck was denied in his bid to become one of a handful of Oklahoma prep coaches to win state titles in his first year. Rose won his ninth title at the Carl Albert helm.
East Central led 8-0 after Taylor's 34-yard pass to Demontre Youngblood set up Cherry's 1-yard run on the second play of the second quarter, and Taylor's throwback pass to Cherry for the two-point conversion.
The Cards rarely kick for extra points. This time, Taylor went right on a fly sweep before pulling up long enough to throw back to the left to Cherry, who evaded a defender and got into the end zone.
But Carl Albert answered quickly with Bryan Williams' 50-yard kickoff return setting up a 14-yard scoring run by Thompson to the East Central 30. The Titans covered the remainder in six rushing plays, including five for 29 yards by Thompson.
On fourth-and-3 from the 23, Thompson got 7 for a first down. On second down, he went over the right side for the remaining 14 yards and stretched the ball over the pylon on the left side for his 34th rushing touchdown of the season.
Thompson, averaging 133.2 yards per game, had 80 on 15 carries in the first half.
Carl Albert took the lead for good when Thompson bolted 56 yards late in the third quarter, setting up Blake Walker's 34-yard field goal, good for a 10-8 lead, early in the fourth quarter.
Thompson's interception return set up his own touchdown with 6:29 left and the Titans led 17-8. Another Thompson interception and score and the Titans started celebrating.
The Cards had trouble protecting for Cherry. The Titans sacked him six times, getting 2 1/2 sacks and a fumble recovery from Robert Lolofie.
Cherry, who totaled 2,116 passing yards in his first 13 games, finished with just 110 yards with no touchdowns and the two interceptions.
East Central opened the third quarter with a surge into Titans territory, using Taylor's 34-yard pass to Cherry off a double-reverse to reach the Carl Albert 22. But the Titans' fourth sack cost the Cards 10 yards, and Cherry threw low and wide of an open Taylor over the middle on fourth down from the 22.
The Cards threatened on their next possession, reaching the 43 before being called for illegal procedure on third-and-3. Cherry threw incomplete under heavy pressure and the Titans started at their 21 after Taylor's 34-yard punt and a seven-yard return.
Carl Albert 24, East Central 8
| Carl Albert |
0 |
7 |
0 |
17 |
- |
24 |
| East Central |
0 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
- |
8 |
E: T. Cherry 1 run (T. Cherry pass from S. Taylor) 11:22
C: S. Thompson 14 run (B. Walker kick) 8:15
C: FG B. Walker 34, 10:26
C: S. Thompson 3 run (B. Walker kick) 6:29
C: S. Thompson 2 run (B. Walker kick) 3:02
| CA | EC |
| First downs | 9 | 8 |
| Rushes-yards | 44-190 | 22-2 |
| Passing yards | 7 | 178 |
| Passing | 1-3-0 | 13-24-2 |
| Punts-avg | 5-31.6 | 3-45.3 |
| Fumbles-lost | 0-0 | 2-1 |
| Penalties-yards | 8-60 | 11-48 |
INDIVIDUAL
Carl Albert
Rushing: Thompson 33-189, Asher 7-2, Toney 1-11, Team 3-minus 12.
Receiving: Asher 1-7.
Passing: Thompson1-3-7.
East Central
Rushing: Goree 3-8, Walker 2-5, Youngblood 1-3, Taylor 1-minus 1, Cherry 15-minus 13.
Receiving: Youngblood 4-73, Taylor 6-71, Cherry 1-34, Burkhalter 1-10, Walker 1-0.
Passing: Cherry 11-22-110, Taylor 2-2-68.
Coaches with the most titles
Jenks, Carl Albert, Clinton, and Tipton all won state championships in football this weekend. It is not the first for any of those schools, nor was it the first for any of the coaches.
Allan Trimble extended his state record number of coaching championships to 10 (all at Jenks since 1996), Mike Lee won his ninth Saturday afternoon (all at Clinton since 1996), while Gary Rose won his ninth Saturday evening (all at Carl Albert since 1997), and Jim Kerbo won his second at Tipton (the other was in 1997.
Of the 21 coaches who have four or more titles, seven coached this season - Trimble, Lee, Rose, Cascia Hall's Joe Medina, Morrison's Cory Bales, Union's Kirk Fridrich, and Woodland's Joe Sindelar.
Here is the list of most state football championships won by coaches:
10: Allan Trimble (Jenks in 2012, 2007, 2006, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996)
9: Mike Lee (Clinton in 2012, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1997, 1996)
9: Gary Rose (Carl Albert in 2009, 2006, 2004, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997)
7: Troy Bullard (Shattuck in 2011, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003)
7: Dennis Casey (Morrison in 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1986, 1984)
7: Larry McBroom (Ada in 1995, 1994, 1993, 1991, 1988, 1986, 1980)
7: Joe Ross (Thomas in 1961, 1957, 1956, 1955, 1951, 1950, 1947)
6: Craig McBroom (Ada in 1974, 1970, 1965, 1964, 1962, 1959)
5: Elvan George (Ada in 1957, 1956, 1955, 1952, 1951)
5: Ed Lacy (B.T. Washington in 1973, 1971, 1969, 1968, 1967)
5: Woody Roof (Elk City in 1998; Weatherford in 1992, 1991; Watonga in 1977, 1978)
4: Cory Bales (Morrison in 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005)
4: Kirk Fridrich (Union in 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008)
4: Ray Hall (Duncan in 1978, 1977; Broken Bow: 1973, 1972)
4: Ed Jones (Frederick in 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993)
4: John Kerr (Pioneer in 2000, 1999, 1997, 1996)
4: Robert Kramer (Balko in 1990, 1967, 1966, 1965)
4: Tom McVay (Beaver in 1962, 1960, 1959; Maysville: 1953)
4: Joe Medina (Cascia Hall in 2009, 2008, 2007, 1999)
4: Steve Richards (Crescent in 1990; Davenport in 1974, 1973, 1972)
4: Joe Sindelar (Woodland in 2010; Morrison in 2003, 1994, 1993)
Original Print Headline: Not in the Cards
Mike Brown 918-581-8390
mike.brown@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
East Central quarterback Tre'von Cherry is pursued by Carl Albert nose guard Quinton Gentry (64) during the 5A state championship Saturday night at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World
Carl Albert quarterback Steven Thompson is tackled by East Central defenders Demontre Burkhalter and Josh Herman (right) Saturday. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World
Carl Albert running back Garrett Asher is tackled by East Central defensive back Brendan Ennis during Saturday's 5A state championship game in Stillwater. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World
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