Published: October 22, 2009 02:21 pm      

HIgh School Football Preview Week 8: SHS faces virtual ‘must win’ game

After a couple of straight weeks of overcast skies and everything from mist to downpour, Sunday and Monday kind of threw the Stillwater Pioneers for a loop.

“Actually the other day when it got hot, it kind of threw us off a little bit, set us back,” SHS football coach Rusty Atkins said. “So the kids actually responded (Wednesday) when the cool front came through, so it was good.”

With all that’s on the line Friday, this is when the Pioneers could use a good week of practice. It’s almost like they’re in the playoffs now. At least, that’s the level of severity with which they need to approach Friday’s game at 17th-ranked Yukon.

Stillwater sits at 3-4 overall and 2-2 in district play. Ditto for Yukon, 3-4 and 2-2, but with more district points than the Pioneers. The two teams are in a three-way tie with Enid in district standings. Enid’s likely to romp U.S. Grant this week, so a loss to Yukon would effectively end Stillwater’s playoff hopes.

“It’s a big game for both squads,” Atkins said. “Whoever wins this Friday, it kind of sets them up for making a run at trying to finish second in the district. There’ll be a lot of people watching this game and a lot of people watching the Enid game and the Choctaw game (against Owasso).

“There’s a lot of people trying to figure out who’s going to be two, three and four. I think Owasso’s going to definitely try to put a stamp on the mix as well.”

It could be a struggle for both teams this weekend. Atkins sees Yukon as very similar to SHS.

Both teams have improved significantly from their season openers.

Both teams have trampled U.S. Grant and Ponca City. Both teams have been downed by Enid and dominated by Tulsa Union this season.

Yukon runs a spread offense commanded by sophomore quarterback Corbin Jones, who Atkins said is at least as good as his own Jerame Littell — and maybe even better. Jones is one element that could keep Stillwater from repeating its 43-12 victory from last year.

The Pioneers certainly have some momentum after last week’s victory against U.S. Grant.

The 49 points Stillwater racked up in the shut out are attention-grabbing and shiny, but the zero on the other side of the scoreboard shouldn’t be overlooked.

“I think the defense, once again last week, the goal was to eliminate mistakes and that’s what we did,” Atkins said. “Penalty-wise, we definitely did better there. We still had some alignment problems we’re still trying to mash out, but overall I think our defense got better.

“We have week in and week out, and that’s all we can ask these kids to do is line up, hustle and try to get to the play.”



Stillwater at Yukon

• THE STORY: The Pioneers and Millers are tied for the fourth and final district playoff spot, along with Enid.

• WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Yukon High School, Oklahoma City.