By Mark Rountree, Sports Editor
The Enid Plainsmen appear to be playoff-bound.
But that playoff march could be disrupted if the Big Blue has a misstep tonight against Ponca City.
Enid, Yukon and Choctaw enter Week 9 deadlocked in third place in District 6A-4, behind league-leading Tulsa Union and second-place Owasso.
Many scenarios could play out in the next two weeks, none bigger than Yukon’s game at Choctaw in Week 10. A Yukon victory over Choctaw could be the difference in the Plainsmen finishing third instead of fourth in the league.
But none of those scenarios will mean anything if the Plainsmen do not take care of business and win tonight against Ponca City at D. Bruce Selby Stadium.
“This is the game of the year for us,’’ said Enid coach Tommy Parker. “This is a must-win football game.’’
The Plainsmen (5-3 overall, 3-2 in District 6A-4) will be taking on a Ponca City ballclub that has struggled this season.
The Wildcats (1-7 overall, 0-5 in District 6A-4) recorded a 37-36 win over Sapulpa to open the season but things have gone downhill since. Ponca City has lost seven straight games.
But one interesting outcome occurred in Week 5 against Choctaw. The Wildcats dropped a 38-31 decision to the Yellowjackets, a team that defeated Enid 24-21 the following week.
Ponca City has had trouble keeping opponents out of the end zone. The Wildcats have given up 322 points this season, an average of 40 points allowed per game.
While the Wildcats have struggled, the Plainsmen have steadily crafted a winning season. The Plainsmen have lost three games by a total of 12 points. It’s not inconceivable the Plainsmen could be 8-0 at this juncture.
With Enid, Choctaw and Yukon tied at 3-2 in the league, the district race may come down to district tiebreaker points if there is a three-way tie. Teams are awarded up to 15 points for a 15-point district win. In a loss, teams are charged up to 15 points for a 15-point district loss.
Entering Friday’s action, Enid is plus-23, Yukon is plus-17 and Choctaw is minus-5.
“We’ve looked at (the district points) but just barely,’’ said Parker. “We just have to go take care of business. If we can win and get our 15 points (against Ponca City), we should be in good shape if it comes down to points.’’
The health of junior tailback Jonathan Burton remains a concern for the Plainsmen.
Burton, who suffered a leg injury at the end of the Choctaw game in Week 6, did not play last week against U.S. Grant and played only sparingly the week before against Yukon.
But Parker said Burton will start tonight at tailback and linebacker.
“He’s well. He’s ready to go,’’ said Parker. “He’ll have a lot of snaps on both sides of the ball.’’
With Burton on the sideline last week, senior all-purpose player McLain Clemens and junior Cody Lee turned in impressive games in the backfield.
Clemens ran for 107 yards and three touchdowns while Lee ran for 91 yards and a score.
In a series that began in 1920, Enid has won three straight over the Wildcats, all by big margins. In the last 19 meetings, Enid owns a 14-5 record over Ponca City.
PONCA CITY AT ENID
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Site: D. Bruce Selby Stadium
Last meeting: Enid won 34-16, 2008
Series: Enid leads 47-30-6
Admission: $6 adults, $3 students
Radio: KCRC (1390-AM), KGWA (960-AM)
Starting lineups
Enid Plainsmen
Offense
QB 7 Alex Patterson 5-11, 160, jr.
RB 22 Jonathan Burton 5-10, 190, jr.
SE 16 Donnie Fuston 5-10, 160, sr.
SE 82 Mark Johnson 5-8, 160, sr.
SE 14 McLain Clemens 5-10, 165, sr.
SE 11 Cody Lee 5-9, 175, jr.
C 60 Colby Scott 6-0, 175, jr.
RG 68 Frank Gonzalez 6-0, 270, jr.
LG 61 Blake Ferguson 5-10, 230, jr.
RT 64 Tanner Newby 6-3, 280, sr.
LT 65 Brock Enmeier 6-3, 265, jr.
PK 19 Matt Blakley 6-3, 170, sr.
Defense
DE 28 Q. Bennett 5-10, 180, sr.
DE 50 Chris Campbell 6-4, 220, sr.
NG 57 C. Sanchez 5-10, 275, so.
LB 22 Jonathan Burton 5-10, 190, jr.
LB 47 Cyle Abbott 5-7, 160, sr.
LB 11 Cody Lee 5-9, 175, jr.
LB 24 Kaleb Hulva 6-0, 180, sr.
SS 14 McLain Clemens 5-10, 165, sr.
CB 3 Miguel Bretado 5-8, 175, sr.
CB 16 Donnie Fuston 5-10, 160, sr.
FS 82 Mark Johnson 5-8, 160, sr.
P 3 Miguel Bretado 5-8, 175, sr.
PONCA CITY WILDCATS
Defense
DE 5 Andrew Parham 6-2, 180, so.
DE 50 Casey Rush 6-2, 208, jr.
DT 51 Jeremy Moulton 5-9, 185, sr.
DT 69 Uriel Molina 5-10, 277, sr.
LB 77 Kelby Bales 5-11, 235, jr.
LB 4 Eric Ailey 5-10, 192, jr.
LB 33 Aaron Hoak 5-8, 177, jr.
SS 27 T.J. Parker 5-9, 183, sr.
CB 3 Jesse Rich 5-8, 164, sr.
CB 16 Lance Gray 5-7, 135, sr.
FS 85 Ross Catlin 5-10, 170, so.
P
Offense
QB 13 Tyler Fenlon 6-0, 168, sr.
TB 23 Robin Farmer 6-0, 185, sr.
FL 3 Jesse Rich 5-8, 164, sr.
FL 16 Lance Gray 5-7, 135, sr.
SE 87 Austin Inskeep 5-11, 166, jr.
SE 85 Ross Catlin 5-10, 170, so.
C 56 Dakota Wilkins 6-1, 228, sr.
G 67 Rafeal Diaz 6-1, 300, sr.
G 54 Jace Hodges 6-1, 253, sr.
T 50 Casey Rush 6-2, 208, jr.
T 78 Vance Hodges 6-2, 266, jr.
PK
ENID HIGH FOOTBALL
5-3 Overall
SCORING BY QUARTERS
Opponents 13 51 23 13 0 — 100
Enid 65 61 28 32 3 — 189
TEAM STATISTICS
ENID OPP
First downs 108 93
Rushing 289-1425 270-850
C-A-I 75-137-5 74-147-9
Passing yards 938 942
Total offense 2363 1792
Fumbles/lost 13-8 22-14
Penalties/yards 65-599 60-524
Punts/Ave. 32-33 31-34
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
ATT-YDS AVE. TD
Burton 161-983 6.1 8
Clemens 30-171 5.7 3
Lee 24-148 6.1 2
Patterson 48-62 1.2 0
Wright 8-51 6.3 0
Miller 12-10 0.8 0
Moore 6-8 1.3 0
Johnson 2-(-5) 0.0 0
RECEIVING
R/YDS AVE. TD
Lee 21-238 11.3 2
Fuston 14-158 11.2 0
Burton 14-147 10.5 1
Johnson 11-134 12.8 2
Barnes 1-59 59.0 1
Clemens 4-56 14.0 0
Collums 5-49 9.8 2
King 1-33 33.0 0
Miller 2-31 15.5 1
Poage 1-26 26.0 0
Bretado 1-7 7.0 0
PASSING
C-A-I YDS TD
Patterson 63-111-3 816 8
Miller 12-23-1 122 2
Daugherty 0-1-0 0 0
Baugh 0-2-1 0 0
SCORING
TD FG PAT 2PT PTS
Burton 9 0-0 0-0 0 54
Blakley 0 5-8 22-22 0 37
Lee 4 0-0 0-0 0 24
Clemens 4 0-0 0-0 0 24
Collums 2 0-0 0-0 1 14
Johnson 2 0-0 0-0 0 12
Barnes 1 0-0 0-0 0 6
Fuston 1 0-0 0-0 0 6
Miller 1 0-0 0-0 0 6
Bretado 1 0-0 0-0 0 6
DEFENSIVE STATISTICS
TACKLES
Abbott 59
Clemens 57
Bennett 47
Lee 46
Burton 43
Campbell 37
Barnes 33
Hulva 29
King 28
Bretado 25
Johnson 20
Sanchez 16
Roberts 16
Glasgow 13
Fuston 12
Duncan 7
Hammer 6
Silver 5
Poage 5
Collums 5
Scott 3
Waken 3
Ruiz 3
Gonzalez 2
Bustillos 2
Moore 2
Wanzer 2
Barker 2
Stowers 2
INTERCEPTIONS
Bretado 3, Lee 1, Clemens 4, Hulva 1, Johnson 1.
FUMBLE RECOVERIES
Clemens 4, Abbott 2, Hulva 2, Glasgow 2, Campbell 2.
BLOCKED KICKS
Glasgow 1.
SACKS
Bennett 5, Burton 2, Abbot 1, Barnes 1, Roberts 1, Campbell 2, Hulva 1.
EHS SCHEDULE
Sept. 4 Sand Springs W, 28-14
Sept. 11 at Sapulpa W, 22-3
Sept. 18 at Bartlesville L, 21-17
Sept. 25 at Owasso L, 19-14
Oct. 2 Stillwater W, 35-12
Oct. 9 at Choctaw L, 24-21
Oct. 15 Yukon W, 10-7
Oct. 23 at U.S. Grant W, 42-0
Oct. 30 Ponca City
Nov. 6 Tulsa Union
District 6A-4 standings
6A-4 All For Ag
Union 5-0 7-1 297 64
Owasso 4-1 5-3 178 153
Choctaw 3-2 3-5 169 234
Enid 3-2 5-3 189 100
Yukon 3-2 4-4 220 161
Stillwater 2-3 3-5 225 214
Ponca City 0-5 1-7 144 322
Grant 0-5 1-7 26 333
Last week’s results
Enid 42, Grant 0
Owasso 30, Choctaw 0
Yukon 17, Stillwater 14
Union 42, Ponca City 0
This week’s schedule
Ponca City at Enid
Yukon at Owasso
Choctaw at Stillwater
Grant at Union
