High school notebook: Temple cancels 2019 football season

Because of low participation numbers, Temple has canceled its 2019 football season.

The small town southeast of Lawton has only nine players out for this season's squad. One of them was going to be ineligible for the first part of the season, leaving only eight players able to play for the 8-man school, with four of those being freshmen.

"We've only got 19 boys in our high school right now," Temple principal Brad Spurlock told The Oklahoman. "Our girls outnumber our boys about 2-1."

Last season, Temple started with only 10 players. After two were dismissed and its starting quarterback broke his collarbone, Temple called its season after six games.

Spurlock said this is only for the 2019 season. With high numbers coming in next year from the eighth-grade class, along with the returning freshmen, sophomores and juniors, he expect the numbers to jump.

"It's unfortunate," Spurlock said. "Our kids are disappointed, but we're planning for something our kids can be proud of."

Minco grinds out Zero Week victory

Minco coach Brock Wardlaw knows his team came up big early in the season.

Minco was able to score late and hold off Wynnewood for an opening 25-20 victory last Thursday. Parker Winters caught a 17-yard touchdown pass for the contest’s final score with 50 seconds left.

Wardlaw praised his team’s defense for being able to withstand a rally on the road. He said it’s hard to find consistency so early in the season, but he is thankful for the win.

“We really didn’t play well on either side of the football,” Wardlaw said. “Getting a victory is big, but we had to score late to do it.”

Deer Creek gets revenge against Mustang

Deer Creek had revenge on its mind.

The previous time Mustang and the Antlers faced off this season, the Broncos came away with a five-set triumph in the Norman Varsity Tournament. When Tuesday's match came, the Antlers were confident it could clinch the rematch, and they did.

Deer Creek won with a dominant three-set sweep against Mustang, which had won 10 straight matches. After a tight first set that the Antlers (7-3) captured 27-25, they took control in the second and third, winning 25-11, 25-16.

Star senior Teagan Polcovich recorded 12 kills while Haley Houk added seven.

Antlers' coach Lisa Polcovich said their aggressive mentality resulted in the sweep.