’Backers boost Bishop McGuinness defense
Bishop McGuinness: Seniors Whitney, Lester provide leadership

BY ROBERT PRZYBYLO, Staff Writer, bprzybylo@opubco.com Comments 2
Published: October 27, 2009

Entering the season, just how good Bishop McGuinness was going to be was one of the bigger questions of the football season.

Back-to-back Class 4A state titles were followed up with a runner-up finish last year. Though the team brought back some experience, the solid nucleus that brought the team to prominence was gone.

Bishop McGuinness senior linebackers Jameel Whitney and Jay Lester, from left, are the unquestioned leaders of the Irish defense. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN

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Southeast (2-6, 0-5) at Bishop McGuiness (6-2, 4-1)

→When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

→Where: Pribil Stadium, near NW 50 and Western Ave

→Scouting report: The Irish are gunning for their fourth consecutive victory. McGuinness has allowed just 13 points during its three-game win streak. Southeast, after a promising start, has failed to carry the momentum into district play.

BY ROBERT PRZYBYLO

Things got even shakier when starting quarterback Quinn Shanbour went down in the second week of the season.

Even when the offense has scuffed its shoes, there’s been one constant: the defense. In particular, the linebackers, led by seniors Jameel Whitney and Jay Lester.

"We knew what kind of tradition we have here, and we knew what we needed to do,” Whitney said.

The two, along with senior Sam Crabtree, were the unquestioned leaders of the defense. But after Crabtree went down with a broken collarbone in Week 5 against Weatherford, Whitney and Lester had to step their game up.

"I’ve been getting more and more comfortable with my role each week,” Lester said. "I realized I’m the oldest one out there. I’m the one the younger guys are looking to now.”

He hasn’t had to do it alone. Whitney transferred from St. Louis to McGuinness last year because of his mother’s job.

It was a move he didn’t see coming, but it’s a move he’s embraced.

"It was kind of tough and a little unexpected,” Whitney said. "I thought I wasn’t going to have to leave my high school, but it’s been great here at McGuinness.”

The Irish have lost two games by a combined two points — a 10-9 loss at Class 5A’s No. 1-ranked Tulsa Kelley in Week 2 and a 21-20 loss at No. 3-ranked Weatherford in Week 5.

Facing that prospect again in a battle with Douglass two weeks ago, Whitney and the Irish made sure it wouldn’t happen again.

Whitney had 21 tackles and scored the game-winning touchdown in a 14-7 victory.

To get another district title, McGuinness is going to need a little help as Weatherford hasn’t dropped a game yet. Even without a title, this year’s group has served notice that the program is here to stay.

"Coach (Kenny) Young has done a great job of keeping us focused and having us ready,” Lester said. "All we’re trying to do is get better with every week, and we feel we’ve been doing that.”