Why would Bryan Dutton not pick Jelsma Stadium’s south end zone to play the overtime? After all, that’s where BlueJay dreams come true.
2011 Photo
The top-ranked BlueJays remained unbeaten with an overtime win over the third-ranked Deer Creek Antlers, 42-35, on Senior Night inside Jelsma Stadium. Guthrie is now 8-0 and 5-0 in district play and Deer Creek falls for the first time and is left with a 7-1 and 4-1 records.
The BlueJays have now won 22 games in a row, 20 straight district games, 21 home games and head coach Rafe Watkins improves to 12-0 on Senior Nights. The win also marks the fifth straight win over Deer Creek and have won six of the eight games played in the series.
Guthrie needed another heroic late minute drive just to send the game into the extra period to not only save the streaks, but gives the Jays an opportunity to control their own destiny with a district title and at least one home playoff game. Both have not been secured with another marquee match-up next week with fourth-ranked Bishop McGuinness (7-0, 4-0) in Oklahoma City.
McGuinness and Deer Creek will play in the final week of the season.
Check out these post game interviews and highlights from Guthrie BlueJay Radio: Rafe Watkins | Kelly Beeby | Scott Mick | Radio Highlights | Bryan Dutton | Conner Howard | Jarvis Moore
After an Antler score to go up 35-28, Guthrie proceeded in a work man like effort and marched 75 yards in nine plays to tie the game. Dutton hit fellow senior teammate Cody Reihs for a 9-yard score over the middle with just two seconds left in the game.
2011 Photo
The game-tying drive was similar two weeks ago against Carl Albert. Guthrie went seven plays and 68 yards in 1:12 to score the game winner in the south end zone with just eight seconds left in the game.
Once in overtime, Dutton scored on the first play from 10 yards to give his team their first lead of the night.
With Deer Creek needing to score a touchdown, the Antlers fumbled inside the five-yard line on the second play from scrimmage and Guthrie secured the ball for the win.
Dutton, once again, proved to be a difference maker with the game in the balance. The state champion quarterback finished the game with three rushing scores, two passing score and 263 yards passing.
The four-year starter is now 41-7 as the starting quarterback and is 33-2 since his freshmen season.
Dutton’s receivers were huge.
Junior Donovan Jordan hauled in a 76-yard score and finished with a 100-yard plus receiving night. Reihs brought in four catches, including the crucial game tying score. Perhaps, the silent weapon was senior Jarvis Moore, who had three catches for 32-yards with two of those catches coming on the final drive in the fourth quarter. In the first seven games, Moore collected eight grabs.
2011 Photo
As expected, Deer Creek was impressive on the offensive side, but Guthrie defensive coordinator Kelly Beeby made some adjustments in the halftime locker room, that proved to be a critical in slowing down the no-huddle, up tempo offense.
The defensive line (Trevor Blassingame, Conner Howard, Payton Haynes, Richard Brothers, L’Liott Curry, Blaze Hastings, Vincent Norris, Brent Berryhill) were crucial in stopping the run and forcing the Antlers to face third down and long.
Equally impressive was junior kicker Luis Morales as he finished a perfect 7-for-7 on point after attempts, including the high pressure, game-tying PAT to force overtime.
The Antlers held a halftime lead of 21-7, including two scores just before the end of the second quarter, but the Jays outscored the Antlers 35-14 in the second half.
WTG JAYS!