The Guthrie Bluejays and the Deer Creek Antlers will meet for one final time in Jelsma Stadium to conclude the regular season. Naturally, the rival game will decide a home field playoff game.
The Bluejays (6-2) enter on a five game winning streak while the Antlers (6-3) have pulled out three in a row. The winner will likely host Ardmore while the loser must make the travel to Altus for the first round of the playoffs.
The game will once again feature a high-tempo, no huddle Deer Creek offense led by quarterback Clayton Sims. The senior has already thrown over 2,100 yards, 21 touchdown tosses and a 61 percent completion rate. In the win against Carl Albert, Sims found nine different receivers when he completed 20 of his 29 passes for nearly 300 yards.
Sims played a crucial part in the Antlers win (26-21) over the Jays a year ago in Edmond.
The Antlers offense, who has seven senior starters and nine who play significant time, enter Friday night’s game averaging 138 yards on the ground and 241 yards through the air.
Along with Sims, wide receivers Zach Kerstetter and Noah McGraw have proven to be the top playmakers.
McGraw, who has been hampered with an injury all season, has played in only two games, but a year ago collected over 800 yards and 13 scores and is expected to be in uniform.
Kerstetter leads the Antlers with 111 yards per game and 11 touchdown receptions. The quick wide-out has brought in 54 catches and 889 yards.
This year, the Antler offense has found other weapons with Vernon Bills and Cameron Long. The two seniors have combined to bring in 56 catches, 800 yards and five touchdowns.
As soon as defenses have set out to stop the potent passing game, the Antlers have proven they can run the football behind Tahj Davidson. The senior running back is averaging 94 yards per game and has found the end zone 12 times.
Game Notes:
– McGuinness interrupted the Jays and Antlers streak of winning the district title this season. The two rivals combined to win five straight (Guthrie 2010, 2011, 2013 and Deer Creek (2012 and 2014).
– This will be the 11th meeting and likely the final time the rivals will play for an unknown amount of time with the Antlers making the move to 6A-II next season. The Jays have won seven of the 10 meetings that dates back to 2004, including four of the five game played inside Jelsma Stadium.
– The Jays are in danger of not winning at least 10 games since 2009. In the past five seasons, Deer Creek has had only one 10-win season in 2012 (10-2). Since 2010, Guthrie is 65-8 with two state titles while the Antlers have racked up a 44-22 record and searching for their first semi-final appearance in Class 5A.
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