Jays make a statement win in Week One with 25-0 win

By: Chuck Chaney
Special to GuthrieSportsPage.com

Guthrie started the 2010 football season with high expectations and welcomed No. 4 Duncan to The Rock, in what was being built as one of the best week one match ups across the state. However, when it was all said and done, the BlueJays sent the Demons back to Duncan with a 25-0 shutout loss inside a jam-packed Jelsma Stadium.

On Guthrie’s first possession, Jays senior running back Alphnso Wilcots set the table with runs of four and 5-yards to start the game and followed that with an impressive 17-yard run. From there, sophomore quarterback Bryan Dutton hit his first pass of the season for a 54-yard touchdown pass to senior stand-out Kentrell Brothers. Brothers ran in the two point conversion, making the score 8-0 in just 1:47 of the game.

Duncan on their first play from scrimmage picked up a 7-yard run by quarterback Brandon Wilson to push it to the 44-yard line to set up a second and short play. However, a stingy Guthrie defense stopped them on third down and was able to get the ball back.

Duncan managed just 113 yards of offense in the entire night, including just 25 yards rushing. The Demons led Class 5A a season ago with 240 yards rushing per game. In fact, were in the top three in the entire state in the category.

Guthrie made quick of their change on their second possession. Dutton found junior Luke Davis for a 30-yard shuffle pass pushing the ball up to the 48-yard line. After a short run by Wilcots, Dutton hit his favorite target again, Brothers on a short comeback route. Brothers then turned it into a huge gain with stiff arms and breaking would be tackles for a 50-yard touchdown reception. Senior Derrik Kelly, who is battling an ankle injury, added the point-after and Guthrie led 15-0 with 6:42 to play in the opening quarter.

The vaunted BlueJay defense, who sacked Wilson 12 times, got a forced a fumble by Brothers, and then Davis intercepted a deep third down pass giving Guthrie the ball back.

After punting and giving the ball back to the Demons, Guthrie’s Brothers came up huge once more by batting down an option pitch, and then recovering his own fumble.

Wilcots, who finished the night with 103 rushing yards, played a key role after the fumble, as he was able to churn yard after yard, and get into field goal range, where Kelly chipped in a 27-yard field goal, pushing the Guthrie lead to 18-0 and the end of the first quarter.

Late in the second quarter, with the clock winding down, the BlueJays drove down the field to the Duncan 49-yard line, where Coach Rafe Watkins threw in some trickery. He brought in freshman, Kai Callins, younger brother of former BlueJay quarterback Keaton Callins, and hit brothers on a 49-yard half back pass for pay dirt. Brothers, who was wide open, ran into the end zone. Guthrie’s half time lead was 25-0.

Brothers finished the half with three receptions for 153 yards and three touchdowns. Brothers finished the night with four catches, three for scores, and 172 yards receiving. On the defensive side, he collected five sacks, forced a fumble, and recovered a fumble. Brothers, who was named the Farmers and Merchants Bank Player of the Game, led the state in sacks a season ago with 17.

Guthrie made a big stand to open the third quarter. After a steady progression by Duncan, a holding penalty set them back, deep on a third and 31. The defense held up on third down, and forced Duncan to give the ball back to the Jays.

The second half was a defensive struggle. Brothers, combined with Davis, set the tone early by forcing Duncan to punt every possession of the second half.

Guthrie went to the running game to protect the 25-0 lead in the second half, throwing sparingly to milk the clock. Dutton only missed on one pass and finished the night by completing 12 of 13 passing for 203 yards. His only incompletion was an intentional pass out-of-bounds to avoid a sack.