By Bruce Campbell, Commentary
Oklahoma Bible Academy football coach Todd Kuykendall doesn’t like the R (for recruiting) word.
The Trojans’ improvement from a 4-6 season a year ago to 8-1 in 2009 didn’t come because of that, he said.
Six of the team’s seven seniors have been at OBA since the seventh grade. The other has been at the school since his freshman season.
“No one can accuse us of recruiting,’’ Kuykendall said. “You hear things like ‘How did you get this good this year?’ It’s because of hard work. Those kids paid their dues.’’
OBA clinched its first-ever home playoff berth with a 53-7 win over Mooreland Friday.
The Trojans rise, Kuykendall said, began when OBA won its last three games of the 2008 season to go from 1-6 to 4-6.
OBA hosts Pioneer Friday in a game for local pride.
“Pioneer is the next team on our schedule,’’ Kuykendall said. “You don’t want to lose to them.’’
PHS tries to sweep rivals
Pioneer coach Ron Sunderland smiled when reminded the Mustangs could claim the city small school championship with a win over OBA. The Mustangs beat Chisholm 28-26 on Oct. 23.
“I didn’t think of that,’’ he said. “It would be good to have two wins over your natural rivals.’’
OBA, Pioneer and Chisholm will continue to play each other next season, even though all three will be in different districts.
Sunderland said Pioneer isn’t thinking revenge after losing to OBA 60-20 last season.
“We haven’t even talked about last year,’’ he said.
Some Pioneer coaches suggested a possible traveling trophy between the three schools a la the Bedlam bell with OU and OSU.
It would be good to see a local sponsor pick up on that.
Ground woes hurt Chisholm
Chisholm, during a five-game losing streak, has averaged only 57.4 yards per game rushing.
“People have been able to pin their ears back and come after us,’’ said Longhorns coach Joey Reinart. “We have struggled all year to run the ball when we needed to and to try to open up our passing a game a little.’’
Chisholm will only suit up 18 players Friday. The lack of numbers has been a hindrance in practice.
“When you have 30 guys or more, it makes it more of a competitive thing in practice,’’ Reinart said.
Chisholm did have 29 players on its middle school team. Reinart hopes to have more sophomores out next season when the Longhorns go back to Class 2A.
“I think most of those kids will stick it out with us,’’ Reinart said.
Reinart, who wasn’t hired until late May, is looking forward to the off-season.
“I want to establish a work ethic with those guys,’’ Reinart. “We’re going to try to develop them mentally and physically where they will be doing the right thing all the time.’’
OBA and Chisholm will open up the season on Thursday the first week of the 2010 season.
“We want to see if we can get everybody in town to watch us,’’ Reinart said. “It will be the main thing in town so it should be pretty neat.’’
Chisholm will be in the same district with old 2A-1 rivals Hennessey, Alva and Watonga next season as well as Oklahoma Christian School, Perry and Tonkawa.
“It will be a tough district,’’ Reinart said.
“Watonga will still have some athletes. Hennessey will be pretty decent. Tonkawa is going to be Tonkawa. You never know about OCS and I don’t know how good Alva is going to be.’’
Campbell is a News & Eagle sports writer.
