Stretch Run

Two Okmulgee County varsity football teams are sitting in the proverbial driver's seat, as it comes to the playoff race.

One other county squad still has a chance at the postseason, but their hopes of a playoff berth are currently on thin ice with three games remaining in the regular season.

The other three county football teams had their playoff dreams dashed with losses last week and will look to finish their regular-season schedule on high notes.

The two county teams that are sitting high in their respective playoff hunts are the Beggs Golden Demons and Dewar Dragons, who have both reached the postseason the past five years. Beggs has earned a spot in the playoffs the last 10 seasons under two different head coaches - Bob Craig (2008-2012) and Lee Blankenship (2013-2017). Dewar has earned playoff appearances in 13 of 15 seasons under current head coach Josh Been and five-straight.

Currently, the Demons and Dragons sit atop their respective districts with spotless records. Beggs is 4-0 in 2A-3 action and is tied with Sperry for the top spot in district standings. Dewar is 2-0 in B-6 action and is tied with Keota for the top spot in that district.

The only other county that currently has any chance of earning a playoff berth this season is the Morris Eagles. The Eagles are 1-3 in 2A-3 and will need at least two wins in their last three regular-season games to punch their ticket to the postseason.

The three county squads that will miss out on the playoffs this season and will look to close out their regular-season schedule on a high note are the Okmulgee Bulldogs, Henryetta Golden Knights, and Wilson Tigers. All three teams have earned one win each this season. Wilson is 1-7 on the season and will conclude their regular-season schedule next Friday at Midway.

Okmulgee and Henryetta are 1-6 on the year and have three games remaining in their respective regular-season schedules.

The Bulldogs' final three opponents are against three of the four teams currently at the top of the 3A-3 standings - Lincoln Christian, Stigler, and Seminole, while the Knights' final three foes of 2018 will be against Jones, Chandler, and Meeker, respectively, with Jones and Meeker currently sitting in two of the top three spots in 2A-2.

Below are the offensive and defensive keys to the game for the six Okmulgee County teams that are competing in Week 8.

Henryetta vs Jones

Henryetta Offensive Keys

The Knights need to get back to being balanced offensively this week against the talented Jones defense that has given up an average of 13.3 points per game this season. The Henryetta offense will need to move the ball down the field effectively, sustaining long, time-consuming, drives that keeps the high-powered Jones off the field as much as possible. The Knights cannot afford to have drives stall because of negative yardage plays, turnovers, or penalties if they are to come away with an upset victory over a Jones team that won the 3A state championship in 2016 and were a semifinal team last season.

Henryetta Defensive Keys

The Henryetta defense will need to set their sights on stopping a Jones offense that has put up an average of 35.1 points per game this season, including 50 or more points in the last two games. The Knight defense will need to find a way to contain the running game, which is led by senior running back Dylan Weiher (6-0, 200) and junior quarterback J.D. Head (6-2, 165). Both backfield weapons have the ability to break off lengthy gains in the run game if not contained at the line of scrimmage, while Head is skilled in the pass game for the Longhorns, firing passes to his wide receivers with precision and finesse. If the Knights are to have any chance against the Longhorns this week, they will need to find ways to get the Jones offense off the field as quickly as possible without giving up any points. If Jones is allowed to move the ball effectively down the field, it could very well result in the Henryetta squad having to play catch-up the entire contest.

Dewar vs Gans

Dewar Offensive Keys

The Dragons will need to continue moving the ball down the field effectively this week, as they continue their hunt for a second-consecutive district championship. The Dewar offense will need to continue getting production from its weapons in quarterback Joey Fowler, running backs Tristan Melder, Kameron Wadley, and Shawn Maxwell, and receivers Braxton Loyd and Rhett Whitlow. The Dragons cannot allow scoring drives to falter due to penalties, turnovers, or negative plays. The Dewar offense will need to take care of the football this week and jump out to a sizeable lead in the first quarter if they are to stay at the top of the B-6 standings with two games remaining in the regular season.

Dewar Defensive Keys

The Dewar defense will need to stay disciplined this week and not be fooled by the Grizzlies' play-action passing and quick slant passes. The Dragons will need to find a way to contain the Grizzlies' no-huddle offense that is guided by junior QB Jameson Henry (6-1, 180). Henry is as dangerous at running the football as he is putting the ball in the air. Other weapons in the run game for the Grizzlies are sophomore Tyler Role (5-8, 145) and senior Dalton Forsland (5-10, 150). Two other offensive weapons for Gans this year are senior Braxton Lee (5-11, 170) and junior Dallas Crofton (5-10, 150). If the Dragons can find a way to contain Henry and slow down the fast-tempo offensive gameplan of the Grizzlies, they could very well find themselves still at the top of the B-6 district standings.

Wilson vs Graham-Dustin

Wilson Offensive Keys

The Tigers will need to find a way to grab an early lead this week and remain in front throughout the contest - something the Wilson squad has failed to do the last seven games. The Wilson offense will also need to find a way to be balanced this week, as they continue their search for their very first district win. The Tigers need more production from tailback Michael McKinney and quarterback Cobey Sellers this week, finding ways to put the ball in the end zone each time the offense steps onto the field. The Wilson offense will need to avoid making costly mistakes, such as penalties, turnovers, and negative-yardage plays, if the Tigers are to end their current 6-game losing streak.

Wilson Defensive Keys

The Wilson defense's main focus this week will be to slow down Chieftains' dual-threat quarterback Derrick Jennings (5-10, 160, Jr.), who threw for more than 1,500 yards and rushed for another 500-plus yards last season in Graham-Dustin's first full season of high school football. The Tiger defense will also need to find a way to contain Graham-Dustin's other three offensive weapons in Austin Fife (5-10, 155, Jr.), Kekoa White (6-0, 160, Jr.), and Gage Cornwell (5-11, 150, So.). If these four talented athletes are not contained at the line of scrimmage, it could result in the Wilson squad having to play catch-up throughout the contest. The Wilson defense will need to find a way to come away with takeaways this week, as well as force the Cheiftains into several punting situations if they are to come away with an upset victory in their next-to-last regular season game in 2018.

Okmulgee at Lincoln Christian

Okmulgee Offensive Keys

The Bulldogs will need to utilize both facets of their offensive gameplan this week if they are to come away with the upset win over the talented Lincoln Christian squad. In the last two games, the Okmulgee offense has thrown for 626 yards on 37 of 68 passing. That total is 336 yards more than the Bulldogs have in the rushing department this season. The Okmulgee offense will need to be a little more balanced this week if they are to earn a crucial district win over one of the top teams in the 3A-3 standings. The Bulldogs need to cut down on the penalties this week if they are to have any chance against Lincoln Christian. In the last two weeks, the Okmulgee squad has been flagged a total of 32 times, including a season-high 17 penalties last week against Tulsa Webster.

Okmulgee Defensive Keys

The Okmulgee defense will need to find a way to disrupt the Lincoln Christian passing game that is led by junior quarterback Chase Ricke (6-0, 170). Last year, Ricke threw for more than 3,000 yards and 25 TDs in guiding the Bulldogs to the postseason for the 10th-straight year. Ricke's main aerial target this season is junior wideout Sam Brueggemann (6-3, 170), who is coming off a 1,000-yard receiving season in 2017. Other targets for Ricke in the passing game this season have been junior wideout Keegan Parker (6-0, 165) and senior tight end Jace Ward (6-2, 215). When Lincoln Christian goes to the run game, the Bulldogs have looked to senior tailback Brendyn Harris (5-9, 170) to handle the bulk of the running duties. The Okmulgee defense will need to find a way to get into the backfield and apply tons of pressure to Ricke and not allow the LC signal caller the time to locate one of his targets downfield. The Okmulgee defense will also need to force several three-and-out situations, as well as find a way to create turnovers that get the high-powered Lincoln Christian offense off the field without any points being put on the scoreboard.

Beggs at Kiefer

Beggs Offensive Keys

The Beggs offense will need to continue moving the ball effectively down the field if they are to stay atop the district standings after the road meeting with the Trojans. The Demons will have to continue to be balanced offensively this week, getting running production from its three-headed rushing monster in Jared Sutter, Kayson Toliver, and T.J. Austin, while continuing to have success in the pass game with QB Dalton Spring having time in the pocket to complete passes to his many targets in the passing game. The Beggs offense will also need to continue to avoid costly turnovers and penalties this week if they are to move closer to the 2A-3 district championship.

Beggs Defensive Keys

The Beggs defense will need to find a way to contain the Kiefer offense at the line of scrimmage and not allow the Trojan offensive weapons - quarterback Tanner Folsom (6-1, 170, Jr.), running back Luke Adams (6-0, 175, Jr.), and wide receivers Hayden Cooper (6-1, 160, So.) and Moises Martinez (5-10, 160, Sr.) - to break off big plays. If these dangerous athletes are not contained at the line of scrimmage, it could result in a long night defensively for the Demons. The Beggs defense will also need to create several three-and-out situations and turnovers that get the Kiefer offense off the field as quickly as possible.

Morris at Haskell

Morris Offensive Keys

The Morris offense will need to find a way to jump out to an early lead against the Haymakers if they are to have any chance of earning a playoff spot this season. The Eagles will need to find a way to be a little balanced offensively this week, mixing in run and pass plays that keep the Haskell defense guessing every time the ball is snapped. The Eagles will need to move the ball effectively down the field and not have promising drives get bogged down by negative yardage plays or penalties. The Morris offense will also need to take care of the football this week and not allow drives to end because of turnovers.

Morris Defensive Keys

The main focus for the Eagles on defense this week will be to contain Haskell quarterback Tayden Lucero (5-10, 200, Sr.) and not allow the talented signal caller to dictate the pace of the game. Lucero is a dual-threat quarterback, who can throw the football down the field with precise effectiveness and is not afraid to tuck the football and run for lengthy gains if not contained in the backfield or at the line of scrimmage. The other offensive weapons the Morris defense will need to look at containing are running back Damontre Stafford (6-1, 190, Sr.) and wide receiver Jakoby Gouldsby (5-8, 160, Jr.). The Eagles will need to find a way to force the Haymakers into several three-and-out situations, as well as create turnovers that keep the Haskell offense from putting up points on the scoreboard.