The Guthrie football team finally got to hit someone in a different uniform Friday night when the Jays traveled to Oklahoma City for a three-way scrimmage.
Derrik Kelley and the Jays running backs are looking to improve the run game from a season ago.
Guthrie joined Douglass and Bishop Kelley on the hot evening for their first of two scrimmages this season. Next scrimmage for the Jays will be Thursday when they travel to Piedmont.
The varsity took in 48 snaps on offense and the same amount on defense. Overall, the GHS coaching staff was pleased, but naturally there are area’s to be worked on and improved.
“It was a good scrimmage, it was cleaned and that’s exactly what we needed because it allowed us to see how tough we are right now,” offensive coordinator Scott Mick said about the three-hour scrimmage.
Douglass is projected as one of the favorite’s in Class 4A this season to compete for a state title, and Tulsa Kelley is a team that can challenge you offensively with their defensive scheme’s.
“Douglass is a fast and physical team and they are good. Kelley has been good the last few season’s and their defense came right at us with their full blitz mode and we were able to move the ball,” Mick said about the Jays offense.
The Guthrie offense drove down the field and scored on their first possession working against Douglass. Perhaps, the scoring highlight of the night came on a roll out pass by sophomore quarterback Bryan Dutton and connecting with junior wide receiver John Clark for a 45-yard touchdown pass.
The Jays will be working with an offensive line that brings experience and seems to have a physical presence. Blake Belcher, Hayden Seifert, Cooper Davis, Malachi Galbraith, and Bryce Sullivan will be providing the pass protection and run blocking duties up front in the trenches.
“We are more physical up front this season. This offensive line may be better than now then they were at the end of last year,” Mick said. “Our pass protection has improved, but needs to get better and our run block may be the best since 2007.”
If the offensive line can block with the expectations of the offensive coaches then the running backs will have a chance to succeed and in the scrimmage the backs looked well and played hard.
“Luke (Davis) and Alphonso (Wilcots) are physical backs while Derrik (Kelley) brings a change of pace when he runs,” Mick said about the three-headed running back position.
Davis moved over to the offensive side last year in spot duty, but this season will step in and take more snaps. Kelley showed how special he can be last season in the state semi-final game when he torched Bixby for three touchdowns runs and combined for 61 tough yards.
Wilcots suffered an ankle injury his sophomore season at Edmond North and it somewhat limited him a season ago for the Jays, but the senior appears to be healthy and may be set for a break year.
“The kid runs a 4.3 and ran on the first leg of the state champion 4 x 100 track team,” Mick said about Wilcots and his abilities.
The Guthrie coaching staff gathered to grade film Friday evening while giving the kids the weekend off before hitting the practice field and preparing for the upcoming scrimmage and Week 1 of the season.
Tough Losses
Bishop Kelley lost their quarterback and running back on back-to-back plays. The Comets quarterback dislocated his shoulder while the running back suffered either an ankle or knee injury.
The status of for either player to return is not known at this time.
Be the first to comment on "Jays pass their first test of the scrimmage season"