For the first time since 2009, the Altus Bulldogs are in the Class 5A playoffs and are not only happy to be back, but plan to make The Rock their home away from home. Altus travels to Guthrie for a first round playoff game in a win or go home scenario.
The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and can be heard on Triple Play Sports Radio 105.1 FM and streamed at Guthrie Sports Page and Guthrie News Page. The pre-game show begins at 7 p.m. inside Jelsma Stadium.
The Bulldogs enter with an 8-2 overall record and winners of five in a row, including a 21-14 overtime win against then number one ranked Ardmore three weeks ago.
In the previous three years, Altus managed only nine wins total.
First year head coach Jeremy Reed has brought the winning spirit back to Altus and the community has responded with their support.
“The town of Altus is buzzing with excitement right now. It’s been a great season and its sure a lot of fun to watch everybody be so excited and rally behind this group of young men,” Reed said on the Guthrie News and Sports Report show.
The coach’s words sound eerie familiar to the Guthrie community when they saw their football team rise to prominence a decade ago.
“It will be a very physical game. Altus will travel extremely well. I don’t how many seats you (Jelsma Stadium) have, but I bet there won’t be an open one. I think it will be as good as high school environment as there will be offered in the playoffs for week one,” Reed said.
To listen to the entire interview with Coach Jeremy Reed follow the link.
Reed has installed the flex bone offense that has led to an average of 284 yards rushing per game. While the Bulldogs don’t throw the ball often, they have caught teams selling out to the run and finding open receivers.
Bulldog quarterback Jayden Benway is averaging 53 yards rushing while his running back, TJ McGill, matches the same per game. The duo has combined to score 16 touchdowns on the ground to help their team average 26 points per game.
However, both Guthrie and Altus pride themselves on the defensive side of the ball.
Guthrie (9-1) enters with the number one defense when it comes to stopping the run by allowing just 28 yards per game.
Against three playoff teams in their district (Lawton Mac, Ardmore and Del City), the Bulldogs allowed their opponents to under three touchdowns.
Benway, a coach’s son, also plays on the defensive side and has hauled in five interceptions.
Guthrie fans erupt as the Jays score the final points of the game to pull out the win. Photo By Jeff Chappell
Altus article believes Guthrie fans may stay home
With game temperatures expected to be below freezing for the entire night, an Altus sports writer says the home fans may stay home in the warmth.
“Bad weather tends to reduce local fan support. Fewer people attend the games when the weather is bad, and the ones that do tend to be less vocal. Therefore, after the Bulldog contingency arrives in Guthrie, the game might feel like more of a home game for the Bulldogs.”
The BlueJay fans have traditionally filled the stadium home and away, but appears will be challenge this week from the visiting Bulldog fans.
Not the first time for Guthrie and Altus
This will be the third meeting since 2001 between the two programs.
In 2001, the Bulldogs defeated the Jays, in Guthrie, 21-0 in Rafe Watkins’ first year as the Jays coach. Ironically, 2001 was the last time Altus won a postseason game.
The last meeting between the two schools came back in 2005 when the Jays shut-out the Bulldogs, 20-0, in Langston.
Guthrie streaking
The BlueJays had their school record 23-game winning streak snapped last week in Edmond, but will continue a few other streaks into Friday. The Jays have won a school record 33 consecutive home games and have also won nine straight opening round playoff games.
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