Game preview: Sapulpa at PC West
Sapulpa (2-6, 0-5) at Putnam City West (1-7, 1-4)
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Putnam City Stadium
Why Sapulpa could win: Sapulpa can put some points on the board and they’ve been strong in close games (2-1 in games decided by a TD or less). Defensively, they’ve only held one team — Sand Springs — to less than 27 points, so they’ll need to keep the offense moving.
Why PC West could win: His name is Johnny Smith. The Pats running back was the biggest reason for their win over Shawnee earlier this month. Stopping the run is critical, because the Pats’ strength is in the secondary. If Sapulpa has to throw the ball to win, it’s to PC West’s advantage.
Key matchup: Smith vs. Sapulpa defensive front. When Smith gets to the second and third levels, he punishes people. If the Sapulpa D-line lets him get back there, he’ll cause problems, open up the passing game for Ray Young, and help the Pats control the ball.
The pick: PC West 31, Sapulpa 27. Before the season, I pointed to this game as the best chance for the Pats to end their losing streak. They got there early, and I think they can pick up another here.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
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