It simply known as “The Switch”.
In the 2008 showdown between the Guthrie BlueJays and Carl Albert Titans, it was another epic battle between the two programs. Carl Albert redeemed their 2007 home loss with a 16-13 home win, but that was not the story of the night.
Daytawion Lowe, No. 8, and Daytawion Lowe, No. 85.
The Titans had snapped the Jays 20 game winning streak and went on to win the district title, but again those were not the story lines that had the state talking.
Prior to game time, senior stand-out and highly recruited Daytawion Lowe, who is now with the Oklahoma State Cowboys football squad, was warming-up and going through pre-game drills in his normal jersey of No. 8, but Lowe switched his jersey, in the locker room, to No. 85 and line-up at tight end on the first play of the game and hauled in a 76-yard touchdown pass on a play action pass. Soon after the play he went back to his normal jersey of No. 8 for the remainder of the night and season. At first, everyone thought the Titans had the fastest tight end in the state until later finding out it was Lowe.
Lowe’s touchdown was his first offensive score of the year and just his seventh catch-all season. He later told The Oklahoman that he and the Titans lined him up at tight end the prior game with Shawnee, but was tripped up on the play. Carl Albert, in the past, has used multiple numbers for one player and is legal in high school football.
Carl Albert head coach Gary Rose said they use double numbers, but those numbers were not listed on the game day roster. Regardless, “The Switch” was legal and within the rule book.
Guthrie head coach Rafe Watkins still says to this day that it did not matter who was at tight end, the play was going to work because of the safety biting on the play action.
The switch made headlines across the state and filled sports talk radio with phone calls about the switch. Some were unaware of the legal play, some were upset, and some simply said it was a genius of a play that was within the rules.
Just another play in the Guthrie – Carl Albert series.
It was a nice play. I don’t get it, I’m almost 33 years old and I still want to punch anyone from CA in the face…..they’re like Edmond, but in conference…….I guess some feelings never die. Gotta love rivalries. That being said, I do have some friends from CA from my wrestling days.
Still whining about that play, let it go. Here in MWC its not known as the switch, its was just a big win. We do have a name for last years game, “The Beating”.