CPHS Football Preview: No. 2 Midwest City hosts No. 8 Sand Springs

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Current Pittsburg State freshman defensive end Delvin Jordan pressures Bomber quarterback Preston Colbert in the 2016 quarterfinals. (Photo: Virgil Noah).

For the third time in the past four years, the No. 8 ranked Charles Page High School football team (5-5) will travel to No. 2 Midwest City (9-1) for the first round of the Class 6A-II playoffs. The Sandites won their last two bouts with the Bombers, but this will be their toughest match yet.

In 2014 the Sandites made the playoffs for the third-straight year and notched their first playoff win since 1997 when they topped Midwest City 29-28 in overtime. The No. 4 Bombers (7-3) were the favorite to win, but No. 5 Sand Springs (8-4) sent the game into overtime with a field goal and won with a defensive stand on a two-point conversion attempt. The Sandites were defeated 41-14 by Bixby in the semifinals. 

In 2016 the No. 3 Sandites (7-5) topped the No. 4 Bombers (7-4) 23-14 for their fifth-straight playoff appearance and third-straight quarterfinal win. Hunter Greathouse was 13-20-159-2 passing while Payton Scott ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns. The Sandites were defeated 35-21 by Bixby in the semifinals. 

With only two meetings in school history, you wouldn't think there'd be much rivalry in the series, but Midwest City will be out to prove themselves after failing to win a playoff game since 2013 before the 6A split. 

The Bombers have had a stellar season thus far, with their only loss coming 27-24 in overtime against No. 1 Booker T. Washington (9-1). They defeated No. 3 Lawton 41-35, No. 4 Stillwater 35-21, No. 6 Putnam City 32-14 and No. 7 Muskogee 26-20.

The Sandites have had several impressive outings that fell short in the final stretches. They led No. 9 Choctaw 20-7 before falling 21-20. They led Muskogee 34-30 before falling 40-34. They were tied 21-21 with No. 5 Bixby in the fourth quarter before falling 42-21. 

The Sandites have finished three-straight seasons with quarterfinal wins and have had winning records for five-straight years. Both are school records. They'll have to win the State title to end with a winning record, but they can finish at an even 6-6 if they at least win this quarterfinal. 

MWC Average Box

Scored: 40
First Downs: 17
Fumbles-Lost: 2-1
Penalties: 12-99
Passing: 14-21-237-0
Rushing: 35-157
Plays-Offense: 56-394

Allowed: 19
First Downs: 15
Fumbles-Lost: 2-1
Penalties: 7-58
Passing: 13-23-141-2
Rushing: 39-119
Plays-Offense: 62-260
 

CPHS Average Box

Scored: 28
First Downs: 14
Fumbles-Lost: 1-1
Penalties: 3-28
Passing: 5-11-63-1
Rushing: 44-270
Plays-Offense: 55-333

Allowed: 27
First Downs: 17
Fumbles-Lost: 2-1
Penalties: 6-49
Passing: 16-25-187-1
Rushing: 36-192
Plays-Offense: 61-379

Sand Springs vs. Midwest City History

2016: Sand Springs 23-14 (A, Quarterfinals)
2014: Sand Springs 29-28 OT (A, Quarterfinals)

Sand Springs Season Statistic Leaders

Passing

47-104-584-5 Pennington, 5 TD
1-2-45-0 Foster, 1 TD

Receiving

11-148 McCallie, 1 TD
9-144 Scott, 1 TD
11-88 Millican
2-61 Hawkins, 2 TD
2-47 Fleischman, 1 TD

Rushing

314-2308 Scott, 31 TD
28-240 Nortey, 2 TD
68-66 Pennington, 1 TD
10-28 McCallie
13-31 Jones

PAT

33/37 Weiser

Field Goals

1/2 Weiser, Long 25

Punting-Avg

36-31 Smith
1-48 Pennington

Kicking-Avg

27-35 Weiser
22-38 Cox
1-51 Smith

Punt Return

Kick Return

10-182 Denton
7-113 Bratcher
3-91 Scott
4-38 Millican
3-15 McCallie

Tackles

92 Cramer
59 Fleischman
48 Edwards
40 Fain
33 Finch
33 Lyons

For Loss

12-36 Finch
9-26 Fain
7-35 Edwards
6-32 Lyons
6-26 Cramer

Sacks

4-30 Lyons
3-31 Edwards
3-15 Fain
3-11 Finch
1-12 Fleischman
1-12 Cramer

Interceptions

4-31 Askew
2-13 Cramer
1 Cartwright
1 Lyons

Breakups

5 Cramer
4 Bratcher
4 Mackey
3 Denton
3 Edwards
3 Lyons

Fumble Recoveries

3-2 Edwards
2 Askew
1-24 Mackey
1 Bratcher
1 Cramer

Forced Fumbles

1 K. Adcock
1 Cartwright
1 Finch
1 Lyons
1 Mackey