Week Nine Previews

Chuck Larsen
The Express-Star

CHICKASHA October 25, 2006 01:38 pm

— Minco hosts Wayne
Minco still has an outside chance of getting into the fourth playoff spot but they'll have to have some help and they need to win this game to do their part. There is a shot, albeit a long one, that these two could end up tied for that final berth after week ten and this could end up being the tie-breaker.
The Dogs played very well at Dibble but a muff on a punt return allowed the Demons to take the lead late in the game and a great defensive play by Zac Howe on Minco's final drive sealed their fate.
This week it's Bulldog Wars at the Pound, with a hot Wayne team coming in. They lost their first three games to Healdton, Rush and Washington then ripped off five wins in a row.
Senior QB Seth Carman (6-2, 195) is a three-year starter and one of the district's better all-around players. He leads a veteran team that has been waiting for their playoff chance. With a win this week they should get it so they will be pumped. Caleb Kennedy and Travis Wright handle most of the running and receiving respectively.
Carman, who has started on the defense since his freshman year, led the team in tacks last year at his linebacker spot and anchors a tough and veteran defensive unit.
Both teams have playoff hopes on the line so expect a good game.
Alex hosts Tipton
Alex hosts second-year coach Jim Kerbow's old team, the Tipton Tigers, this week for their final district game. Both teams are loaded with seniors this year but the Tigers' season has been a disappointment.
Tipton's coming off a 47-0 mercy-rule loss at home to Fox and simply hasn't lived up to potential this year. They made it into the playoffs last year and with a group of good athletes returning expected to make it back and go deeper.
Quarterback David Griggs has a strong arm and a small, but quick, receiver with good hands in Seth Winters. Senior tailback Tim Cooper is a fireplug (5-8, 225) who ran for 1000 yards last year but won't come close this year.
They beat up on Mt. View in week two and just got by Central Marlow in week three then have gotten hammered the rest of the way. This week should be more of the same.
The Longhorns always come back strong following a loss and Tipton just can't match up with them. Their defense may slow the Horn running game down early but won't hold up and Alex should have an easy night.
#4 Rush Springs at Wewoka
If you like 60-0 shutouts, this game's for you. Unbeaten Rush travels to winless Wewoka for what should be the poster-child game for extending the 45-point mercy rule to eleven-man.
Rush has been in cruise control for most of the year and will run all over Wewoka's struggling defense. They won't be able to stop Trent Parrish's passing or Dusty McClenny's running.
Returning quarterback Allen McCrary led the Tigers to the playoffs and a first-round loss to Vian last year and has some speed outside to throw to…state 100m champion Winston Jackson. Whether the line can hold up to give him time to find Jackson will be a key. McCray may be forced to carry the ball more than he plans to as he tries to elude the Redskin pass rush.
Coach Barry Foster's main concern will be to make sure that no one gets hurt for their showdown at Washington next week.
Look for the Redskins' second-teamers to see a lot of action in the second half.