The right for 3-0 on Homecoming night for Jays and Sandites

The fourth-ranked Guthrie BlueJays will have their toughest challenge in some time for their Homecoming game. No doubt it will be the strongest challenge this season when Charles Page High School travels to The Rock on Friday evening.

Both the Jays and Sandites will enter with 2-0 records and look to continue momentum into next week’s first district game.

Sand Springs (CPHS), now playing in 6A Division II, and Guthrie collected easy first week wins and in week two had contested games in the second half.

The Sandites, ranked No. 7 in 6A D2, had no problems Tulsa Edison, 63-0, in week one before holding on for a 16-14 win over Enid. The same Enid team that scored in the final seconds to defeat Ponca City in week two.

Meanwhile, Guthrie piled up a 46-7 win over Duncan and a 24-6 win over Ponca City.

Sand Springs scored all of their points on their first three possessions against Enid, but it was their defense that held the Plainsmen on a two-point try late in the fourth quarter to avoid possible overtime.

Collecting two of those scores was running back Davey Thayer with 10 and 14-yard runs. The senior finished with six carries and 44 yards. In addition to his running abilities, Sand Springs can flex Thayer out at receiver and find ways to get him the ball.

The leading rusher against the Plainsmen was fellow running back Lane Lettich, who collected 88 yards on 14 carries.

Connor Sitton will lineup at quarterback. Although, not called upon too much to throw the ball, the senior was 6-of-8 passing for 46 yards. The six completions found four different receivers.

The primary key in games that feature 6A against 5A teams generally comes in the trenches — offense and defensive lines.

The foundation of the offensive line is center Dakota Skaggs and is highlighted with Matt Mattison. As a group, the offensive line averages nearly 250 pounds and six-foot tall.

“We will have to wear down our opponents for four quarters,” head coach Dustin Kinard said.

The Sandites, much like the Jays, enter the season with some inexperience on defense. However, both teams have combined to allow a total of 26 points in four games.

Sand Springs returns three players for Kinard’s 3-4 defensive look. The defensive unit starts three seniors, including two in the secondary with free safety Cody Karstetter and strong safety Nick Simmons.

“We want to be the most physical, in your face team Sand Springs had,” Kinard said.

That motto is not too far from the Jays motto of playing fast and physical on defense.

Enrollment numbers

Sand Springs has an enrollment almost doubled the size of Guthrie. Sand Springs enrolls 1,639 with Guthrie enrolling 970.

Homecoming has been good overall for Jays

It can be argued that Sand Springs will be the toughest challenge for a Guthrie Homecoming game dating back as far as 2000.

Schedule makers had no choice but to select the week three game for Homecoming with other scheduling conflict in the three other home games.

The Jays have won four straight Homecoming games and are 11-2 since 2001. The two losses came to El Reno (18-0) in 2009 and Deer Creek (20-14) in 2004.