Watonga will have a chance at redemption when the 8-2 Eagles host 8-2 Okeene in a first-round Class A football game at 7:30 tonight.

Okeene beat the Eagles 43-8 in the first round of the playoffs last season, taking advantage of five Watonga fumbles.

“You don’t get a lot of chances in life to get a do-over,’’ said Watonga coach Shannon Grimes. “We’re glad to have the opportunity.’’

The Eagles fumbled the ball on the first play of the game last year and things went downhill from there.

“We were never in it from Jump Street last year,’’ Grimes said. “We just want to play our best. That wasn’t the way we wanted to end the season.’’

Okeene, the defending state runner-up, is ranked No. 8 in Class A. Watonga is ranked No. 9.

The Eagles averaged 34.5 points a game while allowing 12.5. Okeene averaged 27 points a game while allowing 9.4.

“They have a really good defense and we have a really good offense,’’ Grimes said. “Their offense has struggled at times and our defense has struggled at times. We both have good special teams. It should be a good game.’’

Watonga quarterback Trevon Hartfield, who was only 3-for-14 for 35 yards last season against the Whippets, has become one of Class A’s top quarterbacks.

He has completed 127 of 210 passes for 2,029 yards and 18 touchdowns. He has run for another 661 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Watonga’s defense is coming off back-to-back shutouts (14-0 over Luther and 47-0 over Thomas).

“We’re playing better defense than we did anytime since I’ve been here,’’ said Grimes, who has taken the Eagles to the playoffs in three of his four seasons.

Watonga hasn’t won a playoff game since beating Hobart 14-7 in the first round in 1998.

“We would like to get on the map again,’’ said Grimes. “Winning championships is a big deal for us. We’re not content with just being in the playoffs.’’

Grimes has noticed a different attitude this season.

“I notice a difference in how we’re practicing this week,’’ he said. “We’re not satisfied with just being in this game.’’

Okeene has won five first-round games in a row. Tyler Burghardt has rushed for 530 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Ryan Fuller has thrown for 660 yards and seven scores.

“They’re awfully good,’’ Grimes said, “but they don’t have (Matt) Benham or (Brock) Wardlaw or the (Dalton) Brewer kid. That makes it a lot better for us. They lost some kids who were really good and we have a ton of people back.’’

The game can be heard on KNID (107.1 FM).

The Okeene-Watonga winner will face the Mangum at Ringling winner next week.



Hennessey hosts Luther



One statistic stands out for undefeated and No. 3-ranked Hennessey whichhosts 5-5 Luther in a first-round game Friday.

Eagles quarterback Matt Luetjen has not thrown an interception this season. Hennessey’s secondary has intercepted 17 passes.

“We have three kids in the secondary who have played a lot of football,’’ said Hennessey coach Shannon Wartford. “We have been able to put a lot of pressure on the quarterback.’’

Luther, Wartford said, is a “60-40 pass-to-run’’ team.

“We feel good about going into the game,’’ Wartford said. “But you always have a guarded optimism. You got to play the game.’’

The Lions, who finished fourth in District A-2, averaged 16.7 points per game while allowing 19.1 points. Luther is coming off a 55-7 loss to Oklahoma Christian School, but held Watonga to a season-low 14 points the week before.

“Luther is really athletic on defense,’’ Wartford said.

Luetjen has thrown for 1,183 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has ran for 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns. Dillon Morgan (10 touchdowns) and Ivan Moreno (three touchdowns) have combined for more than 1,100 yards.

Wartford reports no major injuries.

Hennessey, with a win, would host the Healdton at Carnegie winner next week.

The game can be heard on KFXY (1640 AM).