No. 4 Sandites travel to No. 1 Muskogee: Pre-game preview

Photo: Morgan Miller

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Year, Coach, QB, result

1953 Cecil Hankins 0-20 L
1954 Cecil Hankins Jerry Adair 12-40 L
1955 Harold Wickersham 6-24 L
1956 Harold Wickersham 0-7 L
1957 Charles Prigmore 6-34 L
1958 Charles Prigmore 0-12 L
1959 Charles Prigmore 14-40 L
1960 Charles Prigmore 5-14 L
1961 Travis Rhodes 6-38 L

1994 LD Baines Delvin Jordan 14-20 OT L
1995 LD Baines Dustin Morrow 6-28 L

2002 Tim Beacham Tony Moore 12-38 L
2003 Tim Beacham Tony Moore 14-37 L
2004 Brad Odom Tommy Rogers 6-27 L Homecoming
2005 Brad Odom Tommy Rogers 25-47 L
2006 Brad Odom Zack Frost 21-57 L
2007 Dustin Kinard Johnny Deaton 21-49 L
2008 Dustin Kinard Johnny Deaton 37-39 L
2009 Dustin Kinard Johnny Deaton 29-37 L
2010 Dustin Kinard Darrack Harger 14-44 L
2011 Dustin Kinard Darrack Harger 7-3 W
2012 Dustin Kinard Cody Hale 40-28 W
2013 Dustin Kinard Cody Hale 39-14 W
2014 Dustin Kinard Connor Sitton 13-0 W
2015 Dustin Kinard Hunter Greathouse 34-10 W

Overall record: 5-20-0

Longest streak: Muskogee 20
Longest streak: CPHS 5

Shutouts: Muskogee 3
Shutouts: CPHS 1

Biggest win: Muskogee 57-21 (2006)
Biggest win: Sand Springs 39-14 (2013)

It's the biggest game of the year for the No. 4 ranked Sand Springs Sandites (4-2, 2-0) as they travel to No. 1 Muskogee (6-0, 3-0) for a Thursday night Fall Break district game. The Sandites are at their highest ranking since dropping from No. 2 after a week two loss to Choctaw, while the Roughers just decisively dropped the only other team that had any claim to the No. 1 spot, dominating previous No. 2 Booker T Washington 23-7.

Sand Springs is the only real obstacle left in the way of a perfect district record for the Roughers, who only have No. 14 Ponca City and No. 15 Sapulpa left to play. Sand Springs has already played those two games and will now embark on the toughest leg of their season. 

Sand Springs doesn't need to beat Muskogee to stay alive in playoff contention. In fact, they can likely drop games to No. 3 Booker T. and No. 2 Bixby and still make the playoffs with a win over No. 13 Bartlesville in week nine. 

While neither team needs this win, it's crucial if either team wants to maintain the momentum they've built. While Muskogee is undefeated for the season, the Sandites are on a four game winning streak with a quality win over Putnam City West, the top dogs in district one, where they are undefeated. Muskogee has three quality wins, over Bixby, Booker T, and Midwest City. 

The Sandites have employed a heavy run game behind junior Payton Scott and senior Dalton Morgan. The average Sandite O-line player is 6'0" 242 pounds and has been a handful for every team they've encountered thus far this season. The Sandites average more than 380 yards per game with 217 coming on the ground. Their defense has been stout and scored two touchdowns last week against Ponca City.

Muskogee is very similar both offensively and defensively. Both teams' quarterbacks sit about 50% with just over 1000 passing yards this season. Both employ several multi-purpose players who adapt well to trick plays and can be used running, receiving, or passing. Muskogee racks up an average of 360 yards per game, but has played a tougher schedule than the Sandites thus far. Their defense is also solid, picking off nine interceptions this season, and making the difference in their win over Booker T. 

Historically the Roughers are the better team, winning the first twenty meetings before their program fell apart at the same time that the Sandites came together. Sand Springs has won the past five consecutive meetings, but this is without doubt the toughest Muskogee team any of the current Sandites have ever faced.