THIS WEEK is a big reason why Broken Arrow football coach Ron Lancaster took his team on a more than 200-mile round trip for an August scrimmage at Southmoore instead of staying at home.

Third-ranked Broken Arrow (9-2) visits No. 5 Midwest City (9-2) in the Class 6A quarterfinals on Friday night. Last year in the quarterfinals, Broken Arrow lost 28-23 at Mustang.

"Last year we didn't travel much until that playoff game," Lancaster said. "And we didn't travel very well to Mustang.

"I try to cover all the angles so I thought it was important for us to get on the bus to Oklahoma City for that first scrimmage this year. I think it well help us."

Broken Arrow enters the quarterfinals with a five-game winning streak and has scored 90 points over the past two games.

"We're in real good shape physically and also in a very good frame of mind," Lancaster said: "We had some injuries early in the year but our kids have progressed pretty well. And the injuries allowed us to develop some depth. Our defense is playing real well."

One of those early injuries sidelined senior tailback Steven Hopper and gave playing time to sophomore Andrew Griffin. They have combined for 1,690 yards.

"Andrew had a few fumbles early in the season and as a young player, received more wrath from me than he probably deserved, but when the ball comes out of your hand, something has to be done," Lancaster said. "We've changed how he handles the ball and he's improved a lot. He's a terrific runner with a great sense of balance. I like him a lot.

"Steven is a good senior running back with strength and power, and elusiveness. Steven also has taken Andrew under his wing. Each one has his role in our offense."

Tigers quarterback Archie Bradley, in his first year at Broken Arrow, has passed for 1,301 yards and 19 TDs with only three interceptions.

"Archie is getting our system down pretty good," Lancaster said. "He's a lot like (Union's) Chase Boyce, they can both make great plays even when things go awry."

Lancaster will retire from coaching after this season — his third as the Tigers' coach. He has led teams to at least the semifinals in all four of his previous Oklahoma coaching stops and needs a win Friday to accomplish that at Broken Arrow.

Lancaster is impressed by Midwest City linebacker Emmanuel Maxwell, whose uncle, Vernon Maxwell, was a star tailback who helped Midwest City win state titles in 1994 and '95. That was the last time a team other than Jenks and Union won the 6A gold ball.

"Maxwell is the best football player I've seen this year," Lancaster said. "It seems like he makes 25 tackles a game."

Lancaster's last game as Jenks' coach was a 34-31 overtime loss in the semifinals to Midwest City in 1995. But Lancaster also came away with a 13-12 victory over Midwest City in the 1993 semifinals en route to leading Jenks to a state title. Both of those games were played at Oklahoma State, but Lancaster has coached in several games at Midwest City.

"Playing at Rose Field is always a challenge — I haven't been there in a while, but they'll probably boo me, its been deafening when they've done it before, " Lancaster said with a chuckle. "I would like one more win at Rose Field. Your last go-round should have a sweet, not sour ending."

Beggs relishes challenge: Beggs coach Bob Craig is looking forward to the challenge of visiting top-ranked Lincoln Christian in 2A's second round on Friday.

"It's always a great opportunity to play the No. 1 ranked team," Craig said. "I don't know how much sleep our staff is going to get this week, but we'll have the rest of the winter to sleep after our season is over."

Jenks hosts fundraiser scrimmage: The annual Trojan Hoops vs. Cancer scrimmage is set for Saturday at Jenks' Frank Herald Gym. Girls teams participating will be Jenks, Booker T. Washington and Yukon from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Boys teams scrimmaging from 1:30 to 5 p.m. will be Jenks, Union, Edison and East Central.

Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for students. All proceeds from ticket sales and concessions, along with funds donated from Cancer Treatment Centers of America, will go to the families of Colleen VanZee and Truman Hedrick.

VanZee, who died this year from cancer, was an employee at Jenks West Elementary and her husband, Eric VanZee, is a Jenks High School assistant principal. Hedrick, a 9-year-old student at Jenks Southeast Elementary, is battling osteosarcoma and recently had his right leg amputated to the knee. Former Oklahoma and Booker T. Washington basketball standout Wayman Tisdale, who died in May, also was diagnosed with osteosarcoma.

TPS schools tip off season: There are two basketball season openers involving Tulsa Public Schools boys and girls teams on Friday night — Hale at Memorial and Rogers at Webster.

Forms needed: Tulsa World All-State football questionnaires were mailed to all state high schools this week. Coaches who have not already mailed the form back to us are urged to return the completed forms as soon as possible. If you did not get a form, or need a new one sent, please contact mark.foster@tulsaworld.com.