It was a quick start for the Guthrie High School football team in their week zero contest with Enid. The boost was needed for the Bluejays to hold on and win with a 23-21 win over the Class 6A Plainsmen.
Guthrie jumped out to a 16-0 first quarter lead and held the lead the entire night inside Jelsma Stadium, but needed a defensive stand in the closing minutes to secure win.
The Bluejays have now won three of their last four meetings with the Plainsmen and 6-2 dating back 2010.
Jelsma Stadium has been kind to the Jays when beginning the season. Guthrie has won nine their last 10 season openers inside one of the nation’s top high school stadiums.
On the opening drive, Enid fumbled the ball away to set the Jays up with a short field. Three plays later, Jays quarterback Kaiden Ballard-Stevenson scored from 1-yard out.
Less than five minutes later, Enid snapped the ball over the punter’s head and into the back of the end zone to give the Jays a 9-0 lead.
On the ensuing drive, Guthrie marched 50 yards in seven plays that was capped off by a 1-yard run by Jays running back Josh Rains.
The entire evening appeared was going to be a one-sided game after a 16-0 start in the first quarter, but Enid did not go away.
A 50-yard touchdown strike just before the half cut the Guthrie lead down, 16-7, at the half.
Rains and the Jays got back on the scoreboard in the third quarter when the junior scored his second 1-yard run. The 63 yard drive was impressive on nine plays in just over four minutes.
Rains finished the night with 141 rushing yards on 21 carries to go with the two scores.
Enid added two fourth quarter touchdowns, including one with 3:47 to play.
On the final drive, with the Plainsmen needing only a field goal to take the lead, the Guthrie defense got one final stop on fourth down to secure the win.
Enid out gain the Jays in total yards (242-215) with 17 additional offensive snaps than the Jays.
Guthrie travels to Shawnee next week for week one of the season. Game time is set for 7 p.m. and can be heard on 93.7 FM.
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