From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Thursday,
October 9, 1997
LOCAL
State Auditor Forum Speaker
Nearly News
Editorial
Surprise, Being Unprepared For Fire, Could Prove Costly in Saving of Lives
Chamber News
Ponca Tribal Election Set Saturday
DEATHS
Leslie Jean Latham
Doris Allene Riley
Obituaries
Fern Countryman
Services Pending
Esther M. Flickinger
Eunice Goad Dillard
NEWS BRIEFS
SPORTS
Lady Wildcats on a Roll
Bruins Tough Foe
District Battles Heat Up in Area Football Action
State Auditor and Inspector Clifton Scott will be the speaker for the October Second Friday Forum. The forum is set for 8 to 9 a.m. Friday at Pioneer Technology Center, according to Dave Mueller, chairman of the Legislative Review Committee of the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce.
After Scott speaks, the floor will be opened for questions. The public is welcome. Those attending need not be members of the Chamber of Commerce. Complimentary coffee and doughnuts will be served.
If you thought you saw a "Ponca City" sign on the "Today" show last Friday, you are correct. Clarence and Earlene Logan, Richard and Martha Robinson, Pat Hill and Delmar Dixon got up early to go represent Ponca City on television. They were in the "Big Apple" with a group from Carlson Wagonlit/Universal Travel who had gone to see "Riverdance."
School-to-Work Complicated
The School to Work Issue is very complicated and little understood by most of us. It is not possible to discuss all the various issues involved in this emotionally charged controversy. When you get down to the basics however, we don't believe Ponca City needs another federal education program.
Many of the goals of the federal school to work program appear to be worthwhile. We are glad the Ponca City Schools and Pioneer Area Technical Center are already doing many of those programs very successfully. In concert with businesses throughout Kay County, the schools are showing many students their occupational choices and giving them the advantage of vocational direction and training.
Although we sometimes wonder if work options aren't encouraged too strongly to the detriment of some children who should be considering a college education, we still have one of the best vocational schools in the country at Pioneer Tech while DECA and similar programs at Po-Hi are very well run and benefit many Kay County students.
Reading the federal rules and regulations involving school to work is an arduous and confusing task. It can also be frightening, primarily because of the complex and the sometimes intimidating rules. On one hand, we are told the programs are voluntary, on the other, the rules don't read like voluntary programs at all. Additionally, federal programs are interpreted by bureaucrats who tend to make them even more intrusive than originally intended. Like many other federal programs, the government makes some attempt to entice compliance with money. There is disagreement however, on whether the funding is truly sufficient to support the programs, and how long that funding will last.
We think Ponca City is better able to choose the programs which will be beneficial to our children despite the beliefs of those inside the Washington beltway. We also believe that any federal programs which can be avoided should be avoided. Federal rules and regulations affect us more and more every year, it is time we found ways to counter the invasion of the federal government into our lives.
Combine the intrusive rules, the progress already being made and the questionable funding. Then consider that school to work is just one more area in which the federal government should not be involved. With those thoughts in mind, we urge the school board to stick with our local educators and continue to work with the excellent staff at Pioneer Area Technical Center. Although it is hard to turn down much needed funding, we hope they will resist the urge to succumb to more federal regulation regardless of the good intentions of school to work and those who support it.
Whatever the decision, keep supporting the Ponca City Schools and be involved in your schools system as much as you are able. With local support we can continue to improve the schools and keep control of curriculum as local as possible.
Editors' Note: National Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 5-11. The following
is one of a series of articles providing fire safety and prevention information.
By PATTI PFEIFFER
News Staff Writer
The element of surprise and being unprepared where a fire is concerned could cost lives. Planning an escape route and practicing fire drills at your home and office could save lives and prevent injuries.
Fires that occur at night, while people are sleeping, are the most dangerous fires. Knowing how to react is essential to survival. Aetna Life and Casualty offers these tips in preparing for a fire:
· Plan escape routes using a floor plan of your home. Mark two possible exits from each room, the regular doorway and an emergency exit. Be sure the emergency exit is not a dead end. Can storm windows be opened easily, even by young children? Do doors unlock and open easily? Does a window air conditioner obstruct the only emergency exit? Are stairways kept clear of packages and toys?
· After you make your plan, gather everyone in the house to talk about it. Dinner is an ideal opportunity. Discuss the floor plan you have drawn and the locations of both regular and emergency exits.
· When everyone understands what to do, run a fire drill. In a fire, lives depend on rapid decisions and the surest way to learn what to do is by practicing. The drill will also show whether a critical element of your plan - a rope for a second floor window, for instance - is missing. Don't assume a plan on paper will work in an emergency. You take the chance something will go tragically wrong. Drills are especially important for children and elderly people: Do they know what to do? Can they open a window, get out and down a rope or ladder to safety?
In the event of a fire:
· Leave the house immediately. Never try to fight a fire unless you are certain it is not a threat and can be extinguished immediately. Children should be instructed to tell an adult if they find a fire before anyone else is aware of it.
· Don't stop to call in an alarm when the fire is large and may trap you. Use a neighbor's phone or an alarm box instead. If you can safely call for help from your home phone before you get out, doing so will speed the fire department's arrival.
· Never stop to collect valuable objects - nothing is more valuable than your life.
· Smoke is the most frequent cause of death related to fire. Breathing in a smoke filled room or hallway for only a few seconds can cause disorientation, distort judgment, disturb coordination, cause dizziness and nausea. Unless you escape smoke almost immediately, your chances for survival are poor.
· If you smell smoke and cannot quickly discover its cause, call the fire department and leave the house.
· If you awaken at night and find the room filled with smoke, immediately roll to the floor, crawl to the doorway and close the door if it's open. Sleeping with the bedroom door open is not a good practice since exposure to smoke could asphyxiate you before you wake up. Keeping the door closed when you are sleeping is the best defense against smoke.
· If you awaken and suspect a fire and the bedroom door is closed, don't open it. Determine first if the fire is already on the other side by touching the top of the door. If it feels hot, leave it closed and use the alternate exit. If the door is not hot, open it cautiously; heavy smoke or extreme heat are clues to take the alternate exit.
· Whenever possible, use the alternate exit instead of the smoke-filled route. If it is necessary to enter a smoky area, cover your mouth and nose with a cloth, wet if possible, crawl on the floor and stay close to a wall so you know in which direction you're moving. Staying low, beneath the smoke, gives you the best chance for breathing.
· When there is no safe alternate exit, stay in a room with an accessible outside window and wait for help. Close the door and seal the seams around it to help keep smoke out. Open both the top and bottom portions of a window, put your head out to get fresh air, and yell for help if no phone is available. If some part of the window won't open, use a dresser drawer or some other object to smash through the glass or screen.
· If there is no fire escape or ladder, staying on a high roof or window ledge is preferable to jumping. Reaching the ground may be imperative, however, and without a rope or ladder the best technique is to ease over the edge of the roof or the ledge of the window. Hanging by your hands reduces the distance between you and the ground.
· If you live - or work - in a high-rise building, never use elevators to escape a fire. In newer buildings elevators will return to the lobby when the fire alarm is activated and won't respond to your call. In older buildings statistics show that elevators frequently stop at the fire floor - even if the call button for that floor wasn't pushed - and could expose you to the fire. Know where the stairs are and use them.
· Decide on an emergency meeting place outside. Everyone should go to that spot when they escape so you know they are all safely out.
· Everyone should know the location of the fire alarm box nearest your home. In the event of a fire, one person should go to the box, trip the alarm, wait for firemen to arrive and direct them to the fire. Whoever sends the alarm should go to the meeting place first, so someone knows that person is safely away from the fire.
· Unless it is quite small, you shouldn't try to fight a fire. But it is advisable to take the proper precautions to combat small fires, so keep a fire extinguisher in easy reach of the kitchen, basement and garage.
Ponca City Economic Development Team Hosts Oklahoma Department of Commerce
This past week, Ponca City was fortunate to have visitors from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce in town to meet with community leaders and to get a first hand look at our great city. As you probably know, ODOC is the lead agency in the state when it comes to working with companies which contact Oklahoma seeking a site for new manufacturing facilities. They serve as the state's front door. And they do an excellent job of sharing the good news about the many benefits of an Oklahoma location.
We were especially pleased with the group who came to town because it represented all of the corporate site location team except for one member (who was apparently left in Oklahoma City to watch the store). It's nice to know that these people think that highly of Ponca City.
The day was spent in sharing facts, figures and community benefits with the ODOC team so that they would be able to make a direct personal connection when the opportunity presented itself to provide solid Ponca City information to prospective new employers.
On the other side of the coin, our community leaders had a chance to meet the key state level players personally and learn about how their system operates so that we can work closely with them.
The timing of the Ponca City tour couldn't have been better. The newly formed Economic Development Advisory Board has just started its operations and is now in the planning stages of how the new system will operate. One of the key ingredients will be a broadening of the base of community leadership which is involved in the process, and this meeting exposed nearly 40 local leaders to the process.
The primary messages we heard from our guests was: "Make sure to take especially good care of your existing employers," "Know where you want to go" and "Grow at a quality rate.". Good advice and it fits well with our philosophy.
Special thanks to the City Commission and City Staff, and a hard working group of volunteers for their great help in making the day go smoothly. The long term benefits of networking such as this can never be underestimated in terms of its value to Ponca City as we work to create jobs for all of our citizens.
The Ponca tribal election board has called a Ponca tribal meeting for Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Ponca tribal cultural center, White Eagle. The purpose of the meeting will be to elect a five-member election board, to serve for the next two years.
Qualified members to the election board shall be nominated from the floor at the meeting. Voting shall be by secret ballot: the five nominees having the greatest number of votes of those tribal members present, shall constitute the election board in accordance with Article IV, section of the Ponca tribal constitution.
Those wishing to be nominated to the election board must meet the same requirements as a business committee candidate. Those requirements include:
-be 1/4 degree or more of Ponca Indian blood,
-have lived in Kay or Noble County for at least six months prior to the election,
-no felonies on record, and
-no dishonorable discharge on record.
All interested Ponca tribal members are urged to exercise their democratic
tribal rights by attending the meeting and voting for the election board
candidate of their choice, according to Steve L. Pensoneau, chairman of
the Ponca Tribal Election Board.
DEATHS
NEWKIRK - Leslie Jean Latham, longtime Newkirk resident, died Monday, Oct. 6, 1997, at her home. She was 51.
The funeral will be held graveside at 2 p.m. Friday in the Parker Cemetery at Arkansas City, Kan. The Rev. Alvin Snodgrass will officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of Miller-Stahl Funeral Service Newkirk. The casket will remain closed at all times.
Leslie Jean (Neal) Latham was born April 28, 1946, in Wellington, Kan., the daughter of Lester R. and Dorothy Jean (Adams) Neal. She grew up and received her education in Arkansas City, graduating from high school there in 1964. She attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan., Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kan., and Pittsburg State College in Pittsburg, Kan. She received her Oklahoma Nursing Assistant Certification in Ponca City and her Kansas Nursing Assistant Certification in Arkansas City, Kan. Mrs. Latham had been employed at Shawn Manor in Ponca City and at Medicalodge East in Arkansas City.
On Feb. 14, 1981, she was married to Loyd Daniel Latham in Newkirk, where the couple established their home. At the time of their marriage she was employed by Dr. Jack Braley in Newkirk, where she worked for 14 years. At the time of her death she was employed at the Newkirk Nursing Center. Mrs. Latham enjoyed being with people and caring for them.
She is survived by her husband Danny; one son, Joey Simmons Latham of Newkirk; her parents, Lester and Dorothy Neal of Arkansas City; one brother, James Lester "Jim" Neal of Winfield, Kan.; one sister, Mary Miller of Ponca City; and one granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her paternal and maternal grandparents.
A memorial fund has been established with the Arkansas City First Presbyterian Church, where she attended as a youth. Contributions may be made c/o Eastman National Bank, P.O. Box 468, Newkirk, OK 74647.
MELBOURNE, Fla. - Doris Allene Riley, former Ponca City resident, died at her home in Melbourne, Fla., Monday, Oct. 6, 1997. She was 71.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Ponca City IOOF Cemetery with Ben Swett, Temple Hills (Maryland) First Christian Church, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home. The family will greet friends at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday.
Doris Allene (Dickson) Riley was born July 25, 1926, in Ponca City, the daughter of John William an Allene Louise (Humphrey) Dickson. She attended Ponca City schools and graduated in 1944 from Po-Hi. In 1948, she graduated from Phillips University with a degree in education. She was a member of the Zonta Sorority. After receiving her degree, she taught school at Taft Junior High School in Oklahoma City.
On June 17, 1950, she married Jack DeWayne Riley in Ponca City and the family traveled extensively with her husbands career in the U.S. Navy. Mrs. Riley remained active in the Christian churches wherever she traveled, and especially enjoyed singing in the choir and participating in vocal ensembles. She and her husband retired in Melbourne, Fla.
Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Tom (Jolayne) White of Pittsburgh, Pa.; sons, John Riley of Peoria, Ill., and Jay Riley of Chicago, Ill.; two sisters, Ila Barr of St. Joseph, Mo., and Lorene Golay of Stillwater; and two grandsons. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Carl Dickson.
Fern Countryman, lifelong Ponca City area resident, died Wednesday morning, Oct. 8, 1997, at her rural home. She had reached the age of 81 years, one month and one day.
The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, 1997, at the First Baptist Church Chapel with pastor, the Rev. Hance Dilbeck, presiding. Interment will be at the Longwood Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.
Fern Ellison was born Sept. 7, 1916, east of Ponca City in the Longwood Community. She attended the Ponca City schools, graduating from Ponca City High School in 1935.
She was united in marriage to George Wyatt Countryman on Aug. 3, 1947, in Ponca City where the couple have since made their home. In earlier years, Mrs. Countryman was employed as a cook for the Ponca City Nursing Home, Kaw City Schools, the Ponca Military Academy and the Ponca City High School. She had served the last 13 years as secretary of the Longwood Cemetery Association. She enjoyed cooking, canning, crocheting and her family. She was a devoted grandmother to granddaughters Michelle and Kelle. Mrs. Countryman was a member of the First Baptist Church.
She is survived by her husband, George, of the home; two sons, John Wyatt Countryman and his wife, Linda, and Jay Lee Countryman, all of Ponca City; one sister, Dora McGee of Ponca City; two granddaughters, Michelle Countryman and Kelle Crane and her husband, Chad; three nieces and two nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Sadie and Daisy Ellison; and two brothers, Dave and Harvey Ellison; and one niece, Vicki Perry.
Casket bearers will be Craig Countryman, Steve Countryman, Tommy Jenkins, Mickey Skaggs, Richard Detten and Tom Skaggs. Honorary casket bearers will be Roby Cartwright, Bill Skaggs, Clay Smith, Boyd Christensen, Richard Cross, Albert Smith and James Willison.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Ponca City, 1904 North Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, OK 74601.
The family will be at the home on Route 1.
paid obituary
BLACKWELL - Esther M. Flickinger, longtime Blackwell resident, died Wednesday evening, Oct. 8, 1997, at Blackwell Regional Hospital. She was 90. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Blackwell Cemetery. Other arrangements will be announced later by Hackler Funeral Home, Blackwell.
FAIRFAX - Eunice Goad Dillard of Fairfax died Thursday, Oct. 9, 1997.
Arrangements will be announced later by the Hunsaker-Wooten Funeral Home,
Fairfax.
NEWS BRIEFS
Memorial Dinner Set - A Memorial Dinner in memory of Alene Cries for Ribs will be held Sunday at the Ponca Indian United Methodist Church in White Eagle, immediately following the morning worship service. Alene Cries for Ribs died in Minneapolis Oct. 14, 1996. Friends and relatives are invited to gather to honor her memory.
Roosevelt Carnival - The Roosevelt School Carnival will be held Friday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at 815 East Highland Avenue.
Aleutian Island Reunion - Aleutian Island military veterans will have a reunion in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday. All service branches veterans and spouses welcome. Videos of revisits to the Aleutian Islands will be shared. Call Al King, (954) 423-1852 for more information.
Christian Women's Club - The Ponca City Christian Women's Club luncheon will be Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Ponca City Country Club. Cost is $8.50, with reservations from Cindy 762-2151 or Karen 765-9835.
Pancake Feed - Pancake and sausage feed at the American Legion, 406 West South Avenue, 6:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday.
Run, Punt, Pass Games - Annual Run, Punt, and Pass competitions will be held Sunday at Sullins Stadium beginning at noon in eight age groups through age 13. Participation is free. Regulation football cleats are allowed but metal spikes are prohibited. For more information call the Ponca City Jaycee Hotline 762-4697.
Free Parenting Seminars - Topics for two free seminars for parents of teens, to be led by Kenny James, licensed professional counselor, will be "Increasing Self Confidence," set for tonight and "Discipline That Makes Sense," set for next Thursday evening. Interested parents are encouraged to call 762-8341 to register for the free seminars or to obtain more information, concerning time and place.
Accident - At 12:56 p.m. Wednesday a man reported to police that he was involved in an accident in the 200 block of West Grand Avenue. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Arrest - Police arrested a 26-year-old man at 1:49 p.m. Wednesday at West Otoe Avenue and South Pine Street on a city warrant and a county warrant.
Arrest - At 3:56 p.m. Wednesday a 27-year-old man was arrested from the 800 block of North First Street for driving under suspension and no seat belt.
Arrest - Police arrested a 50-year-old man at 4:48 p.m. Wednesday in the 2500 block of East Central Avenue for driving under restriction and driving under the influence.
Arrest - A 15-year-old boy was arrested at 5:43 p.m. Wednesday for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
Theft - A woman in the 1700 block of Ann Avenue advised police at 7:09 p.m. Wednesday that some items were stolen from her vehicle. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Mailbox Accident - An accident report was taken at 9:08 p.m. Wednesday when a vehicle hit a mailbox in the 800 block of Brentwood Drive.
Theft - At 9:12 p.m. Wednesday a woman in the 1900 block of East
Woodland reported her purse stolen from her vehicle. An auto burglary report
was taken.
SPORTS
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
The Lady Wildcat softballers are on a roll and coach Roydon Tilley is hoping that will help them win a state championship this weekend.
The Lady Cats start play in the state tournament this afternoon as one of the eight top teams in Class 6A. They will play Edmond Memorial (35-9) in the first round of the double elimination tournament and then turn around and play a second game this evening.
The other two teams in the B bracket are Yukon (40-5) and Bartlesville (28-10). In the A bracket, playing at Broken Arrow, are Broken Arrow (35-7), Del City (31-15), Sand Springs (28-14) and Putnam City West (27-12).
For seven Ponca City seniors, this will be their third state tournament appearance in four years. That experience could pay big dividends, Tilley said.
But there are other teams which have been there before too. Broken Arrow is the defending Class 6A champion and have also been there three times in four years. Yukon and Sand Springs have each been in all of the past four state tournaments. Edmond Memorial won the state title three years ago.
"We are going to have to play extremely well," Tilley said before the team left this morning. "There are a lot of good teams in the tournament. But one of the eight teams will play real well in this weekend. There will be one team which will get hot and win it. I told the girls it might as well be us."
The Lady Cats, 28-17-1, got off to a slow start this season. Leading pitcher Julie Schiltz got hurt in the season opener and did not return until late in the season.
Tilley admits that in the early going he was trying to find the right players for the right positions.
That seems to have all been worked out. Schiltz has returned in fine form and is 12-3 on the season and the holder of the most career wins for a Po-Hi pitcher with 59. Ashley Engle is 12-6 on the mound.
The Po-Hi girls are batting a collective .280 but have an on-base percentage of .325.
For most of the season, they have clawed and scratched for wins. They have scored 209 runs in 45 games while allowing 145.
Schiltz is the leading hitter on the team at .456, but four other players are batting .300 or better. Shawntia Feathers is .341, Christian Hinman .340, Alana Smith .339 and Courtney McChristian .325.
Feathers has 23 RBI's, Schiltz 21 and Robbi Coffelt (.297) 20. Hinman has 18 and Gena Osborn (.247) 17. Feathers has both of the Lady Cats' home runs on the season.
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
BARTLESVILLE - At 1-4, 0-2, Bartlesville could be the most improved team in District 6A-4.
That statement would seem to be contradictory. But the Bruins have played a tough early schedule and have played most of their opponents close.
In district games, Bartlesville gave Enid fits before losing 17-10. The Bruins actually led Stillwater 16-9 before the No. 5 ranked Pioneers got their act together to win 39-16.
In the earlier non-district play, Bartlesville lost the season opener to Owasso, 35-14, bounced back to maul Tulsa Rogers 42-20 and then fell to Broken Arrow 35-3.
The Bruins, who are averaging 16.4 points a game, has scored 19 points against the same district foes the Wildcats have played. Ponca City has scored 15.
The Bartians run from an I formation and have a speedy and dangerous tailback in Zack Willis, a 5-8, 185 junior.
But Bartlesville has done more damage against the Wildcats through the air.
Senior quarterback Robby Ball (5-7, 200) has given the Cats problems with his passing attack. His favorite target is another veteran, senior split end, Daniel Hendricks (5-11, 150). But he also has a young target in sophomore flanker Curt Lehman (5-10, 165) and a big one in senior tight end Geoff Beallieu (6-3, 200).
The Bruins are not as big as most of the teams the Wildcats have faced. Topped by 5-8, 285 senior guard Donald Dodd, Bartlesville averages 230 pounds across the offensive front and 225 on the defensive front.
But it is that defense, with its 4-4 alignment, that makes teams adjust their offensive schemes.
"They are a lot like us," Ponca City coach Rick Sodowsky said. "A lot like us."
Both are needing a win Friday to have any hope of a playoff berth.
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Getting There - Fans following the Wldcats to Bartlesville should take Highway 60, turning right at the first red light at the edge of town. Turn left at the next light and travel east. Then turn right at Cherokee Street.
At the Y at the end of Cherokee, keep to the left to the school. The stadium is behind the high school.
By MATTHEW KOENIG
News Sports Writer
District action once again heats up this Friday as area teams battle for position in the polls.
Looking to say alive in the 4A rankings, Blackwell (4-1, 1-1) heads for Cleveland (3-2, 1-1), while in 2A, Pawnee (3-2, 1-1) takes on Metro Christian (1-4, 0-2). Both teams are trying to bounce back after disappointing losses last week.
In district A5, Tonkawa (5-0, 4-0) flexes it's muscle again, this time against the Ponca City JV squad, while Newkirk (3-2, 2-1), after being flattened by the Bucs last week, tries to get back on track against a winless Kiefer team.
Morrison (0-5, 0-0) goes looking for that elusive first win against Yale (3-2, 0-0).
Shidler (3-2, 2-1) plays host to Welch (1-4, 1-1) in an important District C-4 battle.
Yale (3-2) at Morrison (0-5)
"They're big and they're old," Morrison head coach Joe Sindelar says of the Yale Bulldogs, two traits his own squad severely lacks this season.
Youth and inexperience has taken its toll on the Wildcats. In the past two weeks they've turned the ball over 13 times.
"We're not just working against the other team at this point," says Sindelar, "we're working against ourselves."
But the fact that this is the first district game for both teams should raise the level of competition for the Wildcats. Or so Sindelar hopes.
"They've got some guys going 240, 260, 280. We just have to get out there and compete."
Woodland (2-3, 2-2) at Mounds (2-3, 2-2)
Battling it out for second place behind front runner Tonkawa in district A5 polls, Woodland takes on Mounds and their high octane offense, anchored by running back Steve Davis.
It's a tight race in A5, and according to Woodland coach Bill Pasco, his Cougars are yet to live up to their potential. But this could be their week, "we're healthier now than we've been since Week One," he says.
Also, Pasco says his Cougars need to play better defense, especially on the perimeter. Though they won 24-18 last week, big plays cost Woodland in a game Pasco said wasn't as close as the score indicates.
Tonkawa (5-0, 4-0) at Ponca City JV (2-3)
After outscoring their opponents by an average of 46 points this season, the Bucs have a problem.
"This team hasn't really been tested," says head coach Steve Love.
The Bucs could get that test this Saturday when they take on the Ponca City JVs.
Still, Love plans to play the non-district game conservatively.
"We definitely want to win it, but we don't want anyone to get hurt. We'll also try to give some of the younger guys some playing time."
Blackwell (4-1, 1-1) at Cleveland (3-2, 1-1)
After a humbling (25-0) first loss last week to McLoud, Blackwell tries to regroup this week against the Cleveland Tigers.
"We've spent this week recuperating," says Blackwell coach Greg Werner.
Both Blackwell and Cleveland are tied for second place in the division behind a three way tie for first, so a win is critical.
"They have two big halfbacks and run the wishbone, so we'll have to contain them," says Werner.
His defense is certainly capable. Until last weekend, his front line had been dominating opponents, and even in the McLoud loss, they led the statistics at halftime.
Pawnee (3-2, 1-1) at Metro Christian (1-4, 0-2)
In district 2-A, Pawnee also took a hard loss last week, falling 10-7 to Hominy.
"The kids have been pretty uptight after that game," says head coach Bobby Miller, "we just couldn't convert, we couldn't get the ball in the end zotne."
And, Miller cautions, they can't overlook Metro Christian this Friday.
"They're still a formidable football team. They're a big play team,
so we have to keep the ball away from their skill players."