Junior high football performs well in Stillwater scrimmage

The seventh and eighth grade Guthrie football teams traveled to Stillwater Thursday evening to take on the Stillwater Pioneers and Ponca City Wildcats for their first scrimmage of the season in a round-robin matchup inside Pioneer Stadium. 

The field was split at the 50-yard line with the seventh grade participating on one end and the eighth grade participating on the other.

One defensive unit would stay on the field for 10 minutes while the other two team’s offensive units would alternate every play. The format led to furious and fast-pace action while the volume of plays was good. However, the ability to coach and correct the defense in between plays was very difficult.

Eighth grade head football coach Casey Porter, who also serves as the linebacker coach for both squads, said that he and the rest of the staff would watch the video to accurately gauge what all went on due to the nature of the scrimmage, but stated he saw enough good things to be encouraged.

Porter went on to say mistakes would need to be addressed in next week’s full slate of practices in regards to the seventh grade defensive performance.

When asked about the eighth grade defense, which only gave up one score to the 6A clubs on the evening, the coaches were excited for their level of play.

Seventh grade head coach Seth Morgan, who serves as the overall defensive line coach, indicated he felt that the eighth grade Jays defensive unit was by the far most impressive group of the entire evening.

Offensively, seventh grade offensive coordinator Terry Bennett, Jr. oversaw a unit that scored early and often against the Wildcats and Pioneers.

Quarterback Kaiden Stevenson scored multiple times off read plays and designed quarterback runs.  Stevenson hooked up with Zane Haynes and Carson Clift for passing scores.

Much like last year, the eighth grade offense was methodical and efficient on multiple scoring drives against both defenses. Matt Perring, serving as the eighth grade offensive coordinator, looked to second year signal caller Cale Coffman on several zone-read plays and designed runs that led to long gains and multiple touchdowns.

One of the offensive highlights of the night saw Coffman connected on a bubble-screen pass to Tervae Williams. After side-stepping the tie-up between the cornerback and wide receiver Bo Robbins, Williams took it to the house.

Justin Adams, Cade Guggisberg, Chase Stevenson and several others had carries for the Jays.

Perring indicated that other than a muffed snap and an underthrown pass, which led to an interception, he did not have too many negatives with the eighth grade offense.

Offensive Line Coach Jonathan Williams stalked both sides from midfield making sure his big men up front were working up to his high expectations and overall seemed positive.

Running backs coach, Colby Wagoner, will have plenty to look at as both teams saw running backs taking handoffs in a running-back-by-committee approach.

After a helmets-only practice and film session scheduled for Friday, the Junior High Jays will have a full-week of practice next week culminating in a home scrimmage with Kingfisher next Friday night at the high school practice facility.