By Bruce Campbell, Staff Writer

The echoes of Watonga’s storied football tradition (six state championships) can be heard again.

For the first time since 1998, the Eagles are in the second round of the (Class A) playoffs after a 34-8 win over defending state runner-up Okeene Friday.

“I’m glad to get that monkey off of our back,’’ said Eagles coach Shannon Grimes, who got his first playoff win in three tries. “We had a bunch of alumni watching. There were a lot of happy people after the game.’’

The Eagles, who travel to unbeaten Ringling Friday, see pictures of the 1993 and 1994 state championship teams on a daily basis at the fieldhouse.

Quarterback Trevon Hartfield is the younger brother of Travis Hartfield, who led the Eagles to the 1993 title and the 1992 finals.

Watonga is the only place Grimes has coached that has its own Hall of Fame.

“The kids understand that (tradition) part of it,’’ Grimes said, “but it had been so long that they had done anything, they wondered if they could do it themselves.’’

Grimes saw a “different attitude’’ in practice for the Okeene game than in previous years.

“These kids have a higher expectation what they expect out of themselves,’’ Grimes said. “We feel like we have a chance to beat anybody that we play.’’

Watonga was able to overcome four turnovers against Okeene by forcing six themselves.

Linebacker Jacob Rupp “might have played the best game he’s ever played.’’ Zac Goerke had a solid game despite playing with an ankle injury.

Linemen Bronc Bryant. D.J. Richey, Andrew Park, Chad Pinkerton and Kyle Keplinger graded high as well.

The defense will need to step up against Ringling, which has outscored opponents 465-54.

“They are so big,’’ Grimes said. “They are able to keep the ball a long time which helps them on defense.’’

It’s power vs. finesse.

“They haven’t played against the style of offense that we play and we haven’t played against anybody as large as they are,’’ Grimes said. “You really don’t know how you match up until start playing. Anybody who’s won that many games (10-0) is scary, but I would guess we’re the best team they have played so far, too.’’

Ringling is coming off a 35-0 win over Mangum.

Patrick Stewart, Grimes’ teammate and college roommate at East Central, was from Ringling, so Grimes is familiar with the atmosphere.

“It’s a real classy place,’’ Grimes said.

The Eagles are going to be on the bus for three hours. They will stop to eat. Watonga, which tries to arrive at the game site two hours before kickoff, will try to show up around 5 p.m.

“We want to get the bus ride out of us,’’ Grimes said.

The Watonga-Ringling winner will face the Tonkawa-Stratford winner next week.

Hennessey hosts Carnegie

Carnegie’s 63-48 first-round playoff win over Healdton caught the attention of Hennessey coach Shannon Wartford, whose team hosts the Wildcats in a second-round playoff game Friday.

“They have as good an offense as we have seen this year,’’ he said. “They run the spread offense well.’’

The Wildcats scored 456 points in going 9-2 this season. Carnegie has scored 50 or more points four times season. They have won six straight after back-to-back losses to Hollis (32-13) and Cordell (56-24).

Hennessey has allowed only 74 points in an 11-0 season so far. The Eagles have scored 398 points.

“Ball control is a big key against a team like that,’’ Wartford said. “They like to dink and dunk. You have to keep everything in front of you and make them drive the field.’’

Hennessey has intercepted 21 passes this season, including four in a 41-13 rout of Luther last week. Matt Luetjen returned two for touchdowns.

Ben Aguirre and Ivan Moreno also had interceptions.

“I’ve never seen anything like that before,’’ said Wartford about Luetjen. “Our secondary is mature.’’

Carnegie’s 3-4 defense, Wartford said, will be tough to penetrate. Luetjen threw his first interception of the season against Luther.

He was pleased with the effort against Luther. Hennessey substituted liberally for most of the second half.

“We were able to get a lot of young kids some playoff experience,’’ he said.

Hennessey would host a quarterfinal game next week with a win over the Wildcats and a Talihina win over Commerce.

Cashion hosts Velma-Alma

Cashion will risk its undefeated record Friday when the Wildcats host Velma-Alma.

The Wildcats (11-0) are coming off their first-ever 11-man win — 20-6 over Texhoma. Velma-Alma (9-2) shut out Hollis 48-0 last week.

The winner will face the Stroud-Pawnee winner next week.