CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEWS: CLASSES 2A, A & B

12/5/2018 |  Ben Johnson

When Sperry and Beggs met the first time this season, it was an extremely emotion affair. News broke the day before the two met that Beggs running back Kayson Tolliver has been gunned down in his bed.
It was as tragic as it gets.
But Beggs opted to play and honor the life that Tolliver had lived. The scene on the field was highly irregular, as Sperry quarterback Beau Teel tells it.
“I can remember being in eighth grade, and Sperry had a player pass away and we had to play Claremore Sequoyah and emotions were so high,” Teel recalled. “That’s how that game was against Beggs.
“Players were crying on the field and everything. Makes you realize that football isn’t the most important thing in the world.”
Now the two teams will meet again -- and emotions will be high again. This time, it’ll be for the Class 2A championship at Owasso Stadium on Thursday.
“It means a lot, but not just to me, but our team and town have been waiting for an opportunity like this for a long time,” Sperry’s Bryce Carter said. “We want to make the most of it.”
Third-ranked Beggs beat Sperry 35-21 on Nov. 2. The Pirates led 14-0 at halftime, but the Golden Demons went on a torrid rally in the second half, including scoring 28 points in the third quarter.
“Our first time playing Beggs made us realize that you have to play your best football for all four quarters,” Teel said. “Beggs is a great second half team that plays with a lot of heart. They know what it takes to win big games. We can not let up any this time around.”
For No. 5 Sperry, it’s the Pirates first appearance in a championship game since 1968. That’s created a considerable amount of buzz around the small town on the western edge of Tulsa County.
“The town is so excited to be in this game,” Teel said. “It’s been over 50 years since this town has been in the championship game, and it’s just really awesome. People we’ve never seen before have started coming out just to watch us play. It’s great.”
 

Class 2A

No. 5 Sperry (13-1) vs. No. 3 Beggs (13-1)

Where: Owasso Stadium (Owasso High School)

Road to the title game

- Sperry: 68-13 vs. Salina in the first round; 49-7 vs. Kellyville in the second round; 44-13 vs. Eufaula in the quarterfinals; 56-8 vs. Adair in the semifinals.
- Beggs: 56-13 vs. Wyandotte in the first round; 49-22 vs. Oklahoma Christian School in the second round; 36-31 vs. Kingston in the quarterfinals; 33-28 vs. Metro Christian in the semifinals.

What to watch for

- Rematch adjustments: The District 2A-3 winner (Beggs) and 2A-3 runner-up (Sperry) met in Week 10, and the Golden Demons claimed a 35-21 victory, a day after Beggs player Kayson Tolliver was shot and killed. Sperry controlled the entire first half and owned a 14-0 lead at halftime. But Beggs rallied for four touchdowns in the third quarter to take control. The Golden Demons ended up out-gaining Beggs 265-121 in the final 24 minutes. This time around, it’ll be a matter of who makes the most adjustments from a month ago.
- Emotional wave: When the teams met the first time this season, emotions were on overload. Players were brought to tears while on the field after the tragic death of Tolliver. Both teams are a month removed from that, and while emotions still remain raw, the emotions on both sides should be closer to even keel. Instead, emotions will be through the roof because what’s at stake. By the end of the game, both teams will have mentally spent with the season coming to a close.
- Be the better QB: The quarterback clash on display is one of the best of any of the championship games. Both Beggs’ Dalton Spring and Sperry’s Beau Teel are dangerous dual-threat players. Both will tuck and run, but both have plenty of weapons if they opt to throw the ball. Perhaps it’s over-simplification, but odds are the better quarterback in the game should end up hoisting the gold ball with his teammates.

Random facts

- Sperry is 5-4 all-time against Beggs. Prior to this season’s first matchup, Sperry had won the previous four games, dating back to 1989.
- Sperry head coach Robert Park took over in 2000, and his record is 117-94; Beggs head coach David Tenison took over prior to the start of the season, and he is 13-1.
- Sperry is 0-1 in championship games -- the lone appearance was a 35-14 loss to Minco in the 1968 Class C title game.
- Beggs is 1-2 in championship games -- The Golden Demon’s last championship appearance was last season, a 14-7 loss to John Marshall in the 3A title game.
- Beggs’ lone championship was in 1975 with a 21-0 victory over Millwood in the Class A championship game.
- Beggs is 13-0 against Oklahoma teams this season. The Golden Demons’ lone loss was a 28-21 setback against Shiloh Christian (Ark.).

Prediction sure to go wrong…

Sperry 27, Beggs 26: We all had Millwood making it to the final week of the season, but Vian saw to it that it didn’t happen. Instead, two teams from District 2A-3 are left standing, ready for a rematch of Week 10. I picked Sperry then, and I haven’t learned my lesson, so I’m going with Sperry again. Beggs might be able to win the battle up front, but there’s something about Sperry that I just can’t quit. But the good news for Beggs is I’ve been terrible at picks all year long, so why stop this week?

Class A

Christian Heritage (10-4) vs. No. 7 Tonkawa (13-1)

Where: Pioneer Stadium (Stillwater High School)

Road to the title game

- Christian Heritage: 28-22 vs. Ringling in the first round; 42-36 vs. Thomas in the second round; 39-22 vs. Stroud in the quarterfinals; 34-13 vs. Rejoice Christian in the semifinals.
- Tonkawa: 55-12 vs. Colcord in the first round; 23-14 vs. Wayne in the second round; 20-13 vs. Hobart in the quarterfinals; 28-13 vs. Fairview in the semifinals.

What to watch for

- Hale of a season: Christian Heritage senior quarterback Zach Hale has been an unstoppable force, including last week’s five-touchdown performance against Rejoice Christian. And he’s been a tackling machine on defense, and he’s even mixed in some interceptions here and there.
- Heckuva year, Hampton: Tonkawa’s senior quarterback Braydon Hampton has been stride for stride with Hale and his production this season. Hampton has passed for 1,671 yards and 17 touchdowns, and he’s rushed for 1,634 yards and 25 touchdowns. On defense, he’s racked up 107 tackles, 25 sacks and four forced fumbles.

Random facts

- These two clubs are meeting for the first time.
- Christian Heritage head coach Tony Merrell took over in 2014, and he’s gone 38-21; Tonkawa head coach Mike Kirtley took over in 2003, and he’s gone 137-55.
- This is Christian Heritage’s first appearance in a championship game.
- Christian Heritage’s four playoff wins have come against teams with a combined record of 42-8.
- Tonkawa is 6-2 in championship games -- the Buccaneers’ last state title appearance was a 7-6 win over Stroud in the Class A title game.

Prediction sure to go wrong…

Christian Heritage 23, Tonkawa 20: I had Cashion winning the title, but do I get half credit for taking someone that’s in Cashion’s district? No? Well, OK then. The Crusades have undoubtedly been the hottest team in the playoffs -- in any class. The run the Crusaders have been on since Oct. 26, when they beat Watonga to start a six-game winning streak. Christian Heritage has surpassed hurdle after hurdle, so I’ll just stick with the Crusaders since they’ve come this far.

Class B