The 2022-23 campaign sees the Boomers embark on their return to 4A district 1 after battling with the best of 5A since 2016. The Boomers find themselves opening the season with one of those familiar 5A foes in the Guthrie Bluejays as they travel to historic Jelsma Stadium for a non-district bout. Let’s take a closer look at what the Bluejays bring to the table:
Record & Rank: 1-0 (35-23 win at Ponca City in week 0), #6 in 5A according to the AP’s Oklahoma prep poll. Last season Guthrie finished with 10-2 record losing in the playoffs to McAlester 27-21 in the 5A quarterfinals.
Meet The Coach: Kelly Beeby is entering his 10th season as the Jays head coach. In that time Beeby has achieved a 71-31 record, reaching the playoffs in 8 of the last 9 seasons. Beeby has been the cornerstone of Guthrie football throughout the 2000s serving as defense coordinator and Strength coach under previous head coach Rafe Watkins. Beeby has been part of the staff during all four of Guthrie’s state championship titles. Beeby demands physicality and discipline from his players and the Bluejays pride themselves on establishing a punishing run game while playing a bruising brand of defense.
Team Preview (Offense) : The offense begins with senior running back Isaiah Hammons. Racking up over 1,600 yards last season as a junior, the 5’10” 180lb bruiser of a back hits the hole with power and attitude and can turn on the jets in the open field with state qualifying sprinter speed. Under center the Bluejays are led by junior quarterback Hayden Calvert who brings a strong arm and good athleticism when on the run all in a 6′ 180lb frame. On the edges, senior wide receivers Tyrin Eaton and Jaylen Chelf bring sprinter speed similar to Hammons, and the abilities to go up and make a catch when Guthrie looks to pass. Junior wide receiver Jaylen Harper takes advantages of defenses on underneath routes and can rack up yards in the open field. Up front the Bluejays are inexperienced with senior tackle Justin Berryhill being the lone player with meaningful in game reps. Despite the youth, the Bluejays line does have some solid size across the board and it will be a unit that will look to improve with each game. Overall Guthrie will look to run first and run often while picking their spots in the passing game.
Team Preview (Defense): Like many stout defenses this one begins in the middle with senior linebacker Landen Hirzel. Hirzel is a classic leader who can make all the right calls on the field as an extension of coach Beeby and has a great nose for finding the football quickly. Standing at 6′ 210lbs Hirzel has all the tools to get downhill quickly to blow up a play or the athleticism to drop back in coverage and watch the middle of the field. Up front junior defensive end/edge linebacker Eli Monroney doesn’t have much in game experience but has quickly progressed to be a key disruptor within the front seven of a stingy 3-4 defense. Monroney stands at 6’2″ 195lbs with enough speed to beat his opposing offensive lineman off the edge and good eyes that allow him to recognize where a play is going quickly.
Game Summary from Ponca City: The Bluejays got off to a slow start coughing up three first half turnovers along with some blown assignments in the secondary that led to Ponca City holding a 16-7 advantage with four minutes left to play in the first half. From there Ponca City gave up two crucial turnovers (one fumble, one interception) in the final two minutes of the half resulting in short fields for the Bluejays which they would take advantage of by taking a 21-16 lead into the half. Guthrie would dominate the second half pulling away for a 35-23 win. Senior running back Isaiah Hammons led the way on offense with 161 yards and three TDs on 22 carries. Defensively junior defensive end Eli Monroney had an interception, recovered a fumble, recorded a sack, and made multiple tackles.
With that in-depth look at the Boomers opponent let’s take a look at what the Boomers are bringing into the season:
Record and Rank: 0-0, not ranked in the 4A AP Oklahoma Prep poll. The Boomers are coming off a 3-7 campaign which started out with big win over a ranked Bethany team in week 2, but the season was quickly marred by injuries as well as a cut throat district 2 in 5A.
Meet The Coach: Rick Luetjen enters his 4th season at the helm for the Boomers with a 10-21 record since taking over the reigns of the program. Coach Luetjen brings 30+ of coaching experience is known for developing teams that play with physical edge on both sides of the ball. Coach Luetjen helped Woodward reach the playoffs in 2019 ending a six year gap of playoff absence for Woodward.
Team Preview (Offense): Senior quarterback Sam Cheap returns under center for Woodward and in top shape. Standing at 6′ 170lbs Cheap brings a very capable arm along with great mobility to the position. On the edges it’s senior wide receiver Taelen Laird that will get the lion’s share of targets and has all the skill to make any catch standing at 6’3″ 175lbs. Laird isn’t the only weapon Cheap will have to work with though as sophomore Kash Shipley showed flashes of brilliance throughout the season as a freshman last year and comes in at 6’4″. Coach Luetjen expects big things for the Boomer offensive line that brings three senior leaders in tackle Hunter Harrison, guard Drake Clavillas, and center Layten Phillips who all possess a mean streak that will be crucial in helping not only protect Sam Cheap but open holes for the run game. Speaking of the running game, junior Hayden Hillyer and freshman Ace Long expect to handle the bulk of the carries for coach Luetjen. Hillyer showed good flashes of vision, power, and speed in limited carries last season while coach Luetjen believes Ace Long will play above his years and be an instant contributor. Overall coach Luetjen feels the offense is in a good spot to establish the run and take advantage of holes in coverage with weapons to succeed in the passing game.
Team Preview (Defense): The defense begins on the line with the trio of seniors in noseguard Ethan Matt, tackles Hunter Harrison and Luis Corral looking to fight through double teams with great tenacity and put pressure on opposing quarterbacks along with closing gaps against would be running backs. Matt especially sets the tone with his great ability to bull-rush through the line. The linebackers see the most turnover from last year with the loss of Nash Hunter and Wyatt Pope to graduation. Sophomore Kasen Boren looks to man the middle and the coaching staff has given high marks regarding his development over the summer. In the secondary Taelen Laird looks to fill the shoes of Parker Schmidt as the Boomer’s shut down corner. Also look for rangy senior Lucas Shirkey to cover the top of the defense at safety with good instincts and athleticism. Overall the Boomer defense wants to flow fast to the football with discipline and a bruising physicality.
Keys To The Game: When asked this past week on the Boomer coach’s show about what it would take to come out with a win on Friday night coach Luetjen noted Woodward would need to match the intensity and physicality of Guthrie. Luetjen pointed to Woodward’s 2019 28-14 win over Guthrie as a prime example of execution at the high level needed to beat the Bluejays. That win in 2019 is the only Woodward holds over Guthrie in 12 matchups since 2000.