Five-minute guide to high school football: Canton, Garber to meet; Del City-Mustang a key district showdown

BY RYAN ABER Comments 1
Published: October 29, 2009

Most Intriguing Matchup

Canton (8-0) at Garber (8-0)

→7:30 p.m. Friday at Garber

→Why bother: On a weekend featuring a handful of marquee eight-man matchups, this is the biggest. This district dominated Class B last year, sending all four of its playoff teams to the semifinals. It doesn’t look quite as deep overall this season, but the top two are still the best in the class. This might be the first of two meetings between these teams.

Del City’s Chazten Gonzalez, right, rolls out and throws a touchdown pass to Chris McAlister during an Oct. 1 game against Edmond Santa Fe. Del City will face Mustang on Friday. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman

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→Getting there: Take Interstate 35 North to exit 194B. Take U.S. 412 W/U.S. 64 W to OK 15/OK 74 toward Garber/Covington. Head north on OK 15/OK 74 to Garber.

→The pick: Garber 34, Canton 28. Garber is 10-0 against Canton since 1974 and figures to extend that streak. But it’ll be Class B’s No. 1 Garber’s toughest test of the season, though. Garber quarterback Dylan Postier had a big game in a semifinal win over Canton last year and figures to be a big factor Friday.

OTHER TOP ATTRACTIONS

Del City (7-1) at Mustang (6-2)

→Plot: Another big game in a season full of them in District 6A-1. One way or another, this game will figure heavily into how the district shakes out at the top. A Del City win gives the Eagles a home playoff game in all likelihood and a shot at the top spot in the district. A Mustang win keeps the Broncos’ district title hopes alive headed into the season finale against Southmoore.

→Starring: There are no shortage of stars here. Mustang has three of the top players in the state: offensive lineman Bronson Irwin, an OU commit, and two players who have proven the past few weeks to be the most dangerous one-two offensive combo in the state in David Glidden and Daniel Farrow. But Del City’s got plenty of stars of its own. You’ve got to start with senior receivers Chris McAlister and Donavan Dan and junior quarterback Chazten Gonzalez. All three have been phenomenal this year.

→The pick: Del City 21, Mustang 20. Both of these teams have turned in great all-around efforts of late, but Del City’s advantages on defense are enough to lift the Eagles into one of the district’s top two seeds.

McAlester (8-0) at Tulsa East Central (7-1)

→Plot: With no other team in District 5A-4 having fewer than two losses, this game will seal up the district’s top two spots. That figures to be a big difference with the district lined up against District 5A-3, where Tulsa Bishop Kelley and Bixby will likely top the district, but Pryor has been tough as well. There’s also still a chance Tulsa Washington could make the playoffs in that district and have a first-round meeting with either of these teams.

→Starring: McAlester has gotten surprisingly consistent play out of sophomore quarterback Tony Kiefer, who should be back in the lineup after being injured two weeks ago against Tulsa Central. The Cardinals have kept a strong string of running backs alive, with the latest standout emerging being Jaimon Gilstrap. Gilstrap has nearly 600 yards rushing.

→The pick: McAlester 28, Tulsa East Central 24. This game figures to be super-tight but McAlester’s defense ultimately wins out. The Buffs have allowed just 51 points this season. Only a couple of Class A schools have allowed fewer to this point.