Guthrie proves to be royal in Homecoming win over Sand Springs

The Guthrie football coaching staff preached all summer long how tough their week three match-up with Sand Springs would be. The Jays and their fans held their breath until the final seconds of the fourth quarter before exhaling in what was one the most exciting games inside The Rock.

The BlueJays jumped out to a 14-0 lead before the Sandites answered to tie the game, but the Jays held on for a 23-20 Homecoming win in front of an over-flow Jelsma Stadium.

Listen to the radio highlights.

Guthrie improves to 3-0 heading into next week’s district game at Bishop McGuinness. The Class 6A Sandites suffers their first loss and falls to 2-1.

Listen to head coach Kelly Beeby’s post-game radio interview.

Sand Springs out gained the Jays on offense (325-255), but the Jays defense were outstanding in key situations. The Sandites were held to 2-of-12 on third down conversions and 0-1 on fourth down.

The Jays capitalized on three Sandites turnovers by scoring 21 points, including a Sand Springs fumble on the second play from scrimmage to lead to the Jays first seven points.

The fumble gave Guthrie the ball at the 24-yard line and on the fifth play from scrimmage, quarterback Zane Maltz scored on a 5-yard run.

Maltz, who finished with three touchdown runs, found the end zone two possessions later in the second quarter. The junior scored from 4-yards out to give the Jays a 14-0 lead. The highlight of the 7-play drive came when Maltz found L’liott Curry for a 45-yard pass connection over two defenders.

Curry finished the game with four catches for 58 yards.

Listen to sophomore Cal Davis’ post-game interview.

However, Sand Springs executed two passing scores of 12 and 72-yards to tie the game at halftime.

Kicker Nathanel Luevano gave the Jays the lead back, 17-14, for good with his third field goal of the season from 35-yards out.

On the ensuing kickoff, junior Kevin Blue reached in and stripped the ball away from the return man and immediately jumped on the ball to give the Jays the ball right back. Statement of the Game.

Four plays later, Maltz was back in the end zone. This time with a 7-yard run to go up 23-14 with 10:24 to play in the game.

Again, Sand Springs responded by opening up the playbook.

Running back Davey Thayer connected with receiver Trace Fleischman for a 42-yard touchdown to pull the Sandites to within 23-20 with 4:50 remaining after the failed extra point.

Guthrie was able to melt majority of the game clock, but left the Sandites one last opportunity with 45 seconds in the game, but an intentional grounding call halted the drive.