Choctaw looks to finish off games

By Scott Wanish, sports editor
Football Preview 2007

August 27, 2007 01:05 pm

— The Choctaw Yellowjackets are still looking to get in the playoffs since the 1980s, and the past several years they’ve been in many games with a chance to do so.
“The last few years we haven’t been able to finish but we’re closing the gap,” said Choctaw skipper Ted Dorrell. “The turf out here was 175 degrees the other day and the kids are going through that. Hopefully, we’ll be tougher and be able to finish off some more games this year.”
Dorrell also cited games late in the season with the playoffs on the line as having a chance to win. Versus Midwest City, the Jackets led late in the third quarter and eventually lost three fumbles in the red zone in a 14-7 loss. Choctaw also turned the ball over in the red zone three times against Edmond Memorial and ran for 370 yards against Lawton Eisenhower. The Yellowjackets finished 3-7 and also lost a close game to Putnam City.
Choctaw will return eight senior starters, half on defense and half on offense and it even gets better than that in the Yellowjackets’ Wing-T offense.
“We’ve got 11 kids returning that carried the ball for us that weren’t starters,” Dorrell noted. “Brandon Killian (running back) played for us. We had a lot of kids that played, just not necessarily full-time starters.”
Six-foot, 205-pound ball carrier Tucker Davis is back. He rushed for over 600 yards in his junior campaign and will be running behind returning offensive linemen Jesse Gatewood (5-11, 205) and Jonathon Tremain (5-11, 255). Gatewood will also rush the passer from an outside linebacer position on D.
“Johathon Tremain moves really well. He has got good feet,” Dorrell stated. “He had shoulder surgery during the summer and he needs to fight through that.
“He is going from guard to tackle with the loss (graduation) of (David) Tuberville and Chris Lange but it certainly is something he can do.”
At wide out, Dorrell is pleased to have Nick Smith back. Dorrell says Smith runs great routes and possesses great hands.
“I think if we stay healthy, we can be very competitive,” Dorrell said. “But, that’s the case for every school.
“Most of the games we were playing right there with them. Last year was a type of a novelty with two teams (Westmoore and Norman) out in front of everybody.”
Both teams were undefeated until Westmoore topped Norman in week 10. This year, Dorrell thinks Westmoore and Midwest City will be the front-runners in the district.
On defense, Dorrell said outside linebacker Eric Jenkins is able to turn everything inside and is hard to block.
The speedy Smith will also be back at cornerback with his good speed and Chris Doss will move from corner to strong safety.
“Chris Doss had three interceptions in the first two games,” Dorrell said. “In practice, he’s really gone up and got the ball. He’s done a really good job and will be able to roam the field a little bit more at safety.”
The remaining returning starter is on the defensive line in 6-3, 270-pound Justin Pruitt, who has “great big-man speed” according to Dorrell, who is in his sixth season at Choctaw.
“We’ve continued to get more and more kids out,” Dorrell said of the 97 on the field this season. “We play a lot of kids and play a lot of schedules (junior varsity, sophomore & junior highs) getting a lot of kids in games which really helps.
“And, being competitive really makes a difference in getting kids out there.”
Senior Nick Chalifoux will replace Justin McGehee at quarterback this season and newcomers to watch listed by Dorrell are outside linebacker Taylor Gaddis (great pass rusher), defensive lineman Victor Craven (6-5, 260 with D-I potential), cornerback Kareem Stepanik (very fast), running back/safety Ryan Cobble (runs a 4.5) and offensive lineman John Staples (6-1, 250 with great feet and strength).
“We look forward to this season,” said Dorrell. “We have worked hard and once again had a tremendous summer program with great participation.
“For the longest time, we’ve been 31st largest of the 32 Class 6A schools. It looks like we’ll be moving up to 26th in enrollment size.
“Our team speed continues to improve and we will be competitive in a very tough district. We will improve and play hard.”

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