(SPS) --
Update 11/11/22 -- The Chieftains fell to Grove 70-28 in the first round of playoffs. We are proud of our team on a hard-fought season!
(SPS) -- After defeating East Central last Friday to wrap up the regular season, the Sapulpa Chieftains Varsity football team heads to the State Playoffs to battle Grove.
The first round game will kick off Friday, November 11, in Grove, at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets are $8.35 online or $10 at the gate. All guests 5 and over must have a ticket. Visitors may park west of the Ridgerunner Stadium (southwest of W. 10th Street). The game will be broadcast live
here. Fans are urged to wear white and bring Chieftain spirit!
Link to OSSAA 5A Bracket for State Football Playoffs
Under head coach Tim Holt, Jr.'s second season with the Chieftains, the team finished 7-3 with a 5-2 record in 5A District play. Grove is undefeated this season.
Sapulpa starting quarterback
Colton Howard, a junior, hopes to use what he's learned this season to help lead the team to victory. Howard, a newcomer to Sapulpa, says he considers what he's learned from his own mentors while playing the game.
"I had a previous quarterback, Gage Hamm, who was an upperclassman. He was a great mentor and taught me a lot,” Howard told Vype, which sponsors
sapulpaathletics.org. “I try to do the same for my underclass since it made such a big impact on me."
Colton Howard
Other players to keep an eye on are running back Marco Smith, who, just back from an injury, had 148 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the game against East Central; and senior wide receiver Tre Morrow, who had 148 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the Chieftains' nail-biting win over McAlester.
Marco Smith, left, against Tahlequah and Tre Morrow against McAlester
Coach Tim Holt
told the Blitz 1170 that Sapulpa has built a
dynamic coaching staff including offensive coordinator/offensive line coach David Alexander, who played ten seasons in the NFL.
Coach Tim Holt, Jr., left, Offensive Coord. David Alexander, right
Holt says the Chieftains, as well as other 5A teams, face a tough playoff with some powerful teams.
"Last year, we were able to sneak into the playoffs, but this year, we worked to set ourselves up for the playoffs," Holt told Rick Couri at the Blitz. "It's been a grinder every week and our kids have really responded... and they've really given us a boost with our morale in the locker room "
Good luck, Chieftains! And thank you to the Sapulpa community for the amazing support.
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