Jays run it right at Enid for 36-16 win

By: Chuck Chaney
Special to Guthrie Sports Page

When some teams get down by double digits early, they fold and one team will celebrate a blow out victory. Then you have battle tested teams like tonight’s Guthrie Bluejays. Behind the running duo of Idae Alexander and Kai Callins, the Bluejays battled back from a 10-0 deficit to stay undefeated with a 36-16 victory.

Enid (1-2), capitalized on a fumble in the first quarter giving the Plainsmen possession at their own 19-yard line. Enid would use a seven play, 77-yard drive, all the way down to their 4-yard line before Guthrie’s stout defense took a stand. Guthrie held the Plainsmen inside the redzone, allowing Mason Camp to hit the 20-yard field goal.

For the most part, Guthrie’s defense was very good tonight, despite allowing 306 yards of total offense to Enid. They forced two turnovers, and really put pressure on Fred Lawrence, Enid’s junior quarterback. The Guthrie defense, led by Trevor Blassingame, sacked Lawrence five times, and were constantly chasing him outside of the pocket.

After another Guthrie (3-0) drive was stalled on a fumble, the Plainsmen took full advantage of the turnover. Enid put together another long drive. This time, they went 72 yards in over 3 1/2 minutes. They capped it off when Raheem Mitchell found the endzone, giving the Plainsmen the 10-0 lead with 6:08 left in the first half.

Callins, the senior running back, has really been a dynamite returner all season long. Enid showed respect to Callins all game long, as they kicked away from him the first three kicking opportunities. Zontae Veasley showed them why that was a mistake. He has returns of 58 yards and 39 yards on the kickoff. Callins finally got his chance on the third kickoff opportunity. He did not waste it. He had a 31-yard return and it helped change the momentum of the game.

Momentum carried over to the offensive possession. Guthrie used four plays, including a spectacular run down the Guthrie sideline for 18-yards by Callins to give them their first score of the game. Alexander capped it off with the two point conversion. Guthrie was all of a sudden back in this ball game, trailing just 10-8 with 4:45 left until halftime.

It seemed as if the Plainsmen were finding their rhythm again. After starting out at their on 20-yard line, they marched to the Guthrie 35-yard line before Guthrie’s defense stood up tall. Blassinggame and L’liott Curry had back-to-back sacks to push Enid back into their own territory, and putting them in a spot where they just let the clock run out heading into halftime.

Guthrie’s comeback was complete on their second drive of the second half. The BlueJays took advantage of a really bad punt, and marched 40 yards in six plays to take the 15-10 lead over Enid. Guthrie pounded the ball down the heart of the Enid defense, and that’s where Alexander scored his fifth touchdown of the season, giving Guthrie the 15-10 lead with 6:04 left in the third quarter.

In a game that has been basically back and forth since the middle of the second quarter, this quarter was no different. The Plainsmen waited no time in responding to Guthrie’s score. Lawrence found Mitchell on the screen pass, and Mitchell broke down the sideline for the 80-yard touchdown.

Just one play, giving Enid the 16-15 lead. The two-point conversion was no good. Now Guthrie had to respond, something they have been pretty good at this season.

Respond they did. A 5 minute, 45 second drive that went 58 yards responding to the Enid score was used to give Guthrie the lead for good. The 11 plays used were just really a running showcase of excellence. With time winding down at the end of the third quarter, quarterback Reed Roberts threw a bullet to Curry in the end zone for the 15-yard touchdown reception for the F&M Statement of the Game.

The BlueJays never looked back.

Alexander scored his second touchdown of the game to finish off a 10 play, 67 yard drive. The touchdown broke the back of the Enid spirits. The drive lasted 5:31, and it was just the cream of the crop in the second half. The BlueJays held the ball in the second half for 16 minutes, and holding Enid to just 17 plays in the second half.

Callins and Alexander were really just a powerful 1-2 punch for Guthrie tonight. They combined for 264 yards on 41 carries, scoring four times.

With the Plainsmen trying to fight off all the Guthrie momentum, they had one more chance with 3:51 left in the game. Callins stopped that quickly. He stepped into the path of the Enid pass, and ended their hopes. Guthrie punched it in four plays later, giving them the 36-16 lead, and the victory.

The undefeated BlueJays will travel to Guymon on Friday to take on the Tigers at 7 PM. You can listen on Triple Play Sports on 105.1 or on GuthrieSportsPage.com.