As promised, the Ponca City football program continues to makes strides under third-year head coach Josh Allen, but his Wildcats were unable to solve the puzzle against the Guthrie BlueJay offense and defense as the Jays never once trailed on Friday evening.
Guthrie jumped out to a 7-0 lead on their opening drive and would never surrender the lead enroute to a 24-6 win. The Jays are now 2-0 on the year and extend their win streak to 16 straight games. Ponca City falls to 0-2 on the young season.
With the win, Guthrie has now won all five meetings with the ‘Cats dating back to 2010.
Listen to head coach Kelly Beeby’s post game radio interview.
The BlueJays were a balance team with 123 yards through the air and and 153 more on the ground.
Junior quarterback Zane Maltz was almost perfect on the night as he completed 15 of his 16 passes, but the lone incomplete pass was a drop. His favorite target was senior L’liott Curry, who finished with 11 grabs for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
Listen to L’liott Curry’s post game radio interview.
The Guthrie defense forced the Wildcats to a three-and-out to begin the game before going on a 3:57 drive that covered 72 yards on eight plays. The drive was set up with back-to-back runs from senior Idea Alexander for 34 yards and Guthrie was in business when Curry made a diving catch at the one-yard line. On the following play, senior Kelyn Hinds scored to begin the scoring.
Following the kick-off, Ponca City took one play to get on the board when quarterback Connor Larson spotted a wide-open Logan Champlin for a 74-yard score. The extra point was no good and the Jays lead 7-6.
The score would stay the same until :59 left in the half.
The Guthrie defense setup the offense with near perfect field position at the Ponca 25 yard line and the offense needed just four plays to find the end zone.
Maltz on a scramble play somehow found a wide-open Curry for a 9-yard pass and catch to send the Jays into the locker room with a 14-6 lead.
Both teams started the second half with 3-and-outs, but the Jays would then go on a nice 10 play drive for 80 yards in just less than five minutes to go up 21-6. Again, it was Maltz finding Curry in the end zone for a 21-yard reception.
The game’s lone turnonever came on the following possession for Ponca City giving the Jays ball at the 7-yard line. The offense suffered two penalties, including one at the 1-yard line, and were forced to settle with a 24-yard field goal from Natanel Luevano to finish the scoring on the evening.
Luevano has now connected on both field goals and all extra point attempts through two weeks.
Guthrie’s defense controlled the Wildcats offense throughout the entire evening.
The ‘Cats finished with 178 yards of total offense, but were held to just 14 yards on 15 rushing attempts.
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