Main Event: Meet the dark horse contenders

By Ryan Aber Comments 0
Published: November 9, 2009

BY RYAN ABER

Staff Writer

raber@opubco.com

Carl Albert is used to going into the playoffs as one of the favorites — if not the favorite.

Carl Albert’s Tre Porter is enjoying the Titans’ status as a darkhorse in this year’s Class 5A football playoffs. Carl Albert is usually a favorite once the postseason begins. Photo by Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman

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This year?

Virtual afterthoughts.

The Titans were beaten by Shawnee and Tulsa Washington during the regular season.

Shawnee went undefeated, as did El Reno and Tulsa Kelley.

Carl Albert isn't getting talked about much when favorites to win the 5A title are discussed, and that's just how the Titans like it.

"I'd rather surprise everyone and win a state championship than be considered the favorite and have everybody gunning for you," Carl Albert standout Tre Porter said. "We're heading in the right direction. There's a couple things we need to keep improving on but we'll be ready."

Carl Albert opens the playoffs at home Friday against Lawton MacArthur.

If the Titans are to win a championship that would be the 10th in school history, they'll have to prove themselves against a long list of teams favored ahead of them. Tulsa Kelley figures to wait in the second round. The semifinals could see a matchup with El Reno. Whoever they would meet in the finals would be tough, but there figures to be a good chance of 5A-2 champion Shawnee — which beat Carl Albert 34-31 on Oct. 2 — being there.

"We always knew after that loss to Shawnee that we'd be the underdog," Porter said. "That's all right with us."

And history seems to be on the darkhorse Titans' side.

In 2004, Carl Albert lost to Shawnee in the regular season before going on to win the championship, and none of the Titans' previous state titles has come after an undefeated regular season.