High school football: Norman North to face Owasso at Tulsa Union

“He is our guy,” Luetjen said. “He knows it's his time to step up.”

Luetjen said the town of Hennessey has been waiting for this game, too.

“They know how big it is,” he said. “The town of Hennessey will be empty that night.”

CASHION, TEXHOMA, COMMERCE HIT THE ROAD

Cashion has a long haul this week for the Class A quarterfinals.

After starting the playoffs with back-to-back home games, the Wildcats will travel 212 miles to Talihina in the third round.

Cashion would've been at home had Warner, which entered Friday's game against Talihina undefeated, beaten the Golden Tigers and advanced.

As long as Cashion's trip is, though, it's not even close to the longest trip this week in Classes 3A-A.

Texhoma, located in the panhandle nearly straight north of Amarillo, Texas, travels to Elmore City-Pernell this week. Elmore City gets to host after winning back-to-back road games as the fourth seed from District A-5.

The other 300-plus mile road trip belongs to Commerce, which must travel 328 miles to play undefeated Frederick.

The shortest trip in the classes goes to Stroud, which will travel less than 50 miles to play at Oklahoma Christian School.

TALIHINA PASSING GAME PICKING UP

The Cashion defense will have to be prepared to defend the pass in its quarterfinal matchup at Talihina on Friday night, though that hasn't always been the case for Tiger opponents.

Talihina attempted 10 passes or fewer in six of its first eight games, but is averaging nearly 20 throws per game in the last four, including a couple of 200-yard passing performances by Clark Austin.

The senior quarterback has thrown for more than 1,400 yards and is completing 66 percent of his pass attempts. He is also the team's leading rusher with more than 1,200 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Austin threw for 109 yards and rushed for 108 and two touchdowns in Friday night's second-round win over Warner.