Jays, Irish open up 2009 football season

New personnel and still same expectations. That is what the Guthrie BlueJay and Bishop McGuinness football teams are looking at for 2009.

Guthrie and McGuinness are set to kick off the 2009 season when the Jays make a trip to Pribil Stadium, in Oklahoma City, Friday night. The Irish will have 14 new starters and the Jays will debut 11 new starters.

Despite the fresh faces, both teams are picked in the top five of their respective class according to most resources and are expected to fight for district titles.

"We always should be in the mix to make the play-offs," head coach Rafe Watkins said as he prepares for his 9th season in Guthrie.

"I will be extremely disappointed if we don’t make the playoffs. I just know the heart of this team and the way they will work,” Watkins concluded.

Both teams a year ago had state championship quarterbacks and Friday night will be about has opposite as you can be as the Jays will start a freshmen and the Irish will start a sophomore quarterback.

Bryan Dutton will go for Guthrie and Quinn Shanbour will go for head coach Kenny Young and McGuinness.

NewsOk.com Photo

Head Coach Kenny Young and the Irish have played in the last three 4A state title games.

"We feel Quinn gives us the best chance to succeed right now. He’ll have to play at a certain level, but everyone at all positions has to play at a certain level," Young told The Oklahoman about his decision.

Both coaches have said they may play multiple quarterbacks as both starting quarterbacks decision's were not made until early this week.

Shanbour outlasted David Krahl and Camden Tharp for the first snap while Dutton battled with Christian Lamb and Hayden Seifert for the Jays.

Another youth movement for the Irish will be on the offensive line as they will line out four new starters in the trench and is something Guthrie has been familiar with in the past.

The Irish, who finished undefeated in district play en route to an 11-3 season, offense will depend on the skill positions and they can do that with running back Larone Richardson and wide receiver Sam Crabtree.

Richardson rushed for 1309-yards as a sophomore and scored 15 times in the Irish offense that likes to run the ball for a program that has played in the last three state championship games and winners of the 2006 and 2007 gold ball. All three state titles games were against Glenpool.

"Richardson has definitely caught our attention and is complimented by a nice full back (Will Blaik). We've got to control the line of scrimmage and keep him going sideways as oppose to get his shoulders turned and going up field.," BlueJay defensive coordinator Kelly Beeby said.

Crabtree, who will also play defense, collected 28-receptions in '08 and found the end zone four times. Defensively, he collected 2-interceptions and 43-tackles.

"He is definitely someone we are aware of," Beeby said of the dangerous two way player in Crabtree. "He is a possession type receiver with deceptive speed, a leader, and a good blocker. In my opinion, this is the best set of perimeter guys they have had in the last couple of years," Beeby concluded with.

Young has said that the Irish front seven may be the strength of his team and that the offense in a scrimmage with Lawton Eisenhower was not as bad as he thought may have been after watching the film. The Irish were not able to score against the 6A Eagles (12-0).

The Guthrie defense returns 8-starters from a 5A defense that allowed just 8.83 points per game and a defense that has been at the top, or near the top in most categories for the past three years.

NewsOk.com Photo

Irish running back Larone Richardson looks to improve on his 1309-yards from a year ago.

Senior Jaden Chappell according Beeby will be the leader of the group that brings back Kentrell Brothers, Felix Scott, Mikey Johns, and Landry Chappell to the front seven that will give the Jays a shot at another solid defensive year.

Linebacker John Clark and defensive linemen Martell Oates, Blaine Smedley, and Cody Doyle will be a presence as well for Beeby in the box this season.

"Football games are won up front and if we have an opportunity to be dominated that's where it needs to occur is in the trenches at the defensive line," Beeby stated.

Guthrie defeated the Irish, 21-3, in what was tabbed as the Game of the Week a year ago inside Jelsma Stadium. In a 2005 district game, Guthrie won 10-6, at Langston University, and the Irish got a win over the Jays in 2004 at Pribil Stadium.

The game can be heard on Triple Play Sports Radio 105.1FM, and streaming live on Guthrie Sports Page Radio. GSP is also making it available to all fans to listen to the game inside the stadium on their radio players on 105.1 FM all season long. The pre-game is set for 7:00. The radio broadcast will be played back on Sunday nights on GSP Radio.

  Sign up and stay up to date with Guthrie Sports Page: Click the logo