For the first time in six seasons, the Guthrie Bluejays will be on the road for the first round of the playoffs when they travel to Altus on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. The Jays will go for their sixth straight first round win, but to do so they will need to stop a confident Bulldog team.
Guthrie, who has now qualified for the playoffs 11 consecutive seasons, last played on the road to open up the playoffs back in 2012 at Lawton Mac. The other road trips in week 11, in recent history, was back in 2009 at Duncan 2003 at Ardmore.
Meanwhile, Altus is making back-to-back trips to the playoffs after not qualifying for the playoffs since 2008. Second year head coach Jeremy Reed has brought a different mindset to the program and has won 17 of his 24 games on the Bulldogs sideline. Before Reed’s arrival in 2014, Altus won just 14 games in the previous four seasons.
A year ago, Altus paid a visit to Jelsma Stadium and jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead, but Guthrie finished the game by outscoring the ‘Dogs 47-7. Related story: Guthrie rolls in opening round playoff game over Altus
This year’s version of the he Bulldogs enter with a 9-1 record with their lone loss coming to the defending state champions (Lawton MacArthur) in week five. The Bulldogs have won five straight.
“It’s a very effective offense. It’s an offensive scheme that takes two to three years to implement. They have good coaches and their kids believe in the system,” Jays head coach Kelly Beeby said of the Bulldogs offense.
Reed has installed the flexbone offense, which is a predominant running formation derived from the wishbone formation. The success of the offense relies heavy on the quarterback, fullback and running back.
Something the Bulldogs have.
Quarterback Jayden Benway rushed for over 500 yards and passed for almost the same amount a season ago. Now in his senior season, they numbers have been bumped up to nearly 600 yards on the year.
The Bulldog’s running game got a boost in the offseason when Taven Birdow returned back to Altus after playing with IMG Academy for the last two seasons. He’s rushed for 1,827 yards and 19 touchdowns while setting two school records this season.
“He gives them a different dimension,” Beeby said in his coaches’ show about Birdow. Beeby says his body frames is similar to the type of former Guthrie stand-out Kentrell Brothers.
The Guthrie defense, who takes pride in shutting down the run, is allowing 80 rushing yards per game and allowing 14 points. The Jays on defense continue to fight off injuries and will be without several starters in the front seven.
For the Bulldogs on defense, Reed believes the defense is the strength of the team and returns his leading tacklers. This season, the ‘Dogs are allowing nearly 20 points per game.
Leading the way is linebacker Hunter Cleveland, who collected 125 stops in 2014.
The game can be heard on Triple Play Sports 105.1 FM as well as online on both Guthrie Sports Page and Guthrie News Page beginning at 7 p.m.
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