In Focus: Class 5A...

By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com

Continuing on, here is 5A:

GUTHRIE BLUEJAYS
Record: 11-1
Ranking: No. 2
Coach: Rafe Watkins, 10th season at Guthrie
Previous state titles: 2002 (5A), 2007 (5A)
Road to 2010 semifinals: Beat Durant 35-6, beat Coweta 27-3
2009 record (playoffs): 8-5 (Beat Duncan 20-12, beat Tulsa East Central 25-24, lost to Bixby 27-20)
Last week: Guthrie held Coweta to just 58 yards on the ground and got big offensive numbers out of versatile Kentrell Brothers, quarterback Bryan Dutton and tailback Derrik Kelly to advance to the semifinals for the second consecutive season.
Player to watch: Kentrell Brothers, Ath. It’s hard to pin one position on Brothers, especially after his performance last week. The Missouri commit caught a touchdown pass, threw a touchdown pass and ran for a touchdown in the Bluejays win. He has more than 1,200 yards receiving, nearly 90 tackles on defense and has 18 sacks.
Notable: Have held nine opponents to seven points or less, including both in the playoffs and four of the last five. … Dutton, just a sophomore, has thrown for more than 2,200 yards, 29 touchdowns and six interceptions. … Kelly is the Bluejays’ leading rusher with about 650 yards and 10 touchdowns.

TULSA WASHINGTON HORNETS
Record: 11-1
Ranking: No. 1
Coach: Darrell Hall, first season at Washington
Previous state titles: 1967 (3A), 1968 (3A), 1969 (3A), 1971 (4A), 1973 (4A), 1984 (5A), 2008 (5A)
Road to 2010 semifinals: Beat Claremore 23-0, beat Deer Creek 23-0
2009 record (playoffs): 5-5 (none)
Last week: The Hornets scored a pair of second-quarter touchdowns to take control and advance to the semifinals. Washington held the Antlers to just 135 yards of total offense.
Player to watch: Isaac Bennett, RB. The senior missed the Hornets first playoff game but came back from the ankle injury that had bothered him most of the second half of the season to run for 152 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 14 carries last week.
Notable: Quarterback Jordy Albert also returned from injury last week, throwing for a touchdown after missing the win over Claremore with a hand injury. … The Hornets have shut out seven opponents this season, including four consecutive in district play. … Washington’s only loss came to Class 6A Broken Arrow 32-17 on Sept. 10. … Hall coached Star Spencer to the Class 4A title last season before taking over the Hornets. … Tulsa Washington missed the playoffs last year for the first time since 1997 after having to forfeit three district games.

LAWTON MACARTHUR HIGHLANDERS
Record: 10-2
Ranking: No. 5
Coach: Brett Manning, second season at Lawton MacArthur
Previous state titles: None
Road to 2010 semifinals: Beat Ada 35-0, beat McAlester 48-8
2009 record (playoffs): 7-4 (Lost to Carl Albert 51-19)
Last week: MacArthur put up 378 yards of total offense in the first half, blowing out McAlester at home on Saturday. Darius Graham rushed for two scores while Dylan Warner threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, all in the first half.
Player to watch: Dylan Warner, QB. The Highlanders senior has more than 1,300 yards through the air and more than 200 rushing.
Notable: Have won nine consecutive games after dropping games to Lawton and Lawton Eisenhower in non-district play. … Austin Payne, a junior, leads the Highlanders in tackles with more than 105. … Daniel Schwarz is 4 of 6 on field-goal tries with a long of 50. … Darius Graham has more than 700 rushing yards. … Lawton MacArthur’s last meeting with Tulsa East Central was in 2005, when East Central won 21-13 in the second round. The teams also met in the 2003 semifinals.