CPHS Football Preview: Sandites ride five-year win streak into Sapulpa rivalry game

Trey Wilkerson finds the endzone on a seven-yard run against Ponca City, but the TD was called back for holding.

The Class 6A-II No. 14 ranked Charles Page High School football team (2-6, 1-4) will travel to No. 8 Sapulpa (5-3, 2-3) Friday night for the 93rd installment of Highway 97 Rivalry. The game will kick off at 7:00 p.m. at George F. Collins Stadium.

The 4,300-seat stadium is located down a mere ten-mile stretch of highway from the Sandites’ home turf, at 3 South Mission Street on the campus of Sapulpa High School. Parking is located on the south and west sides of the stadium, with visitors’ side seating on the east. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens.

The Programs

Sand Springs is coming off a 3-7 season but prior to that was riding a program-best six straight years of playoff appearances. They are 65-73 (.471) under thirteenth-year head coach Dustin Kinard. The Sandites own one gold ball, from 1966, and made their last State Finals appearance in 2015.

Sapulpa went 7-4 last year under Head Coach Robert Borgstadt, a former Sandite Defensive Coordinator. Now in his fourth year with the Chieftains, he has amassed a 14-25 (.359) record and only needs one more victory to give his team back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2013. The Chieftains have never won a State title.

The Series

The Highway 97 Rivalry dates back to 1922 and has been played annually since 1930. The Chieftains lead the all-time series 44-43-5 but haven’t won since 2013. They haven’t won on their home field since 2011, and have only won three of the the last thirteen meetings. Neither team has ever won more than five in a row. Sand Springs has won five-straight twice, 1995-1998 and 2014-2018. Sapulpa last accomplished the feat from 2001-2005. Sand Springs is poised to potentially tie the series for the first time since 1944.

2018: Sand Springs 48-35 (H).
2017: Sand Springs 31-16 (A).
2016: Sand Springs 35-7 (H).
2015: Sand Springs 44-10 (A).
2014: Sand Springs 35-13 (H).
2013: Sapulpa 49-32 (H).
2012: Sand Springs 28-21 (A).
2011: Sapulpa 28-21 (A).
2010: Sapulpa 21-14 (H).
2009: Sand Springs 49-45 (A).
2008: Sand Springs 48-13 (H).
2007: Sand Springs 36-21 (H).
2006: Sand Springs 24-17 (A).
2005: Sapulpa 33-20 (H).
2004: Sapulpa 37-9 (A).
2003: Sapulpa 40-0 (A).
2002: Sapulpa 60-19 (H).
2001: Sapulpa 35-7 (H).
2000: Sand Springs 35-14 (A).
1999: Sapulpa 24-0 (A).
1998: Sand Springs 18-0 (H).
1997: Sand Springs 42-14 (H, Playoff Quarterfinals).
1997: Sand Springs 17-13 (A).
1996: Sand Springs 24-21 (H).
1995: Sand Springs 23-6 (H).
1994: Sapulpa 28-20 (A).
1993: Sand Springs 35-9 (H).
1992: Sand Springs 21-14 (A).
1991: Sand Springs 31-0 (H).
1990: Sand Springs 28-14 (A).
1989: Sapulpa 31-0 (H).
1988 Sapulpa 27-20 (A).
1987: Sand Springs 33-7 (H).
1986: Sapulpa 12-7 (A).
1985: Sand Springs 14-0 (H).
1984: Sapulpa 8-3 (A).
1983: Sapulpa 35-9 (H).
1982: Sapulpa 10-0 (A).
1981: Sand Springs 27-12 (H).
1980: Sand Springs 18-0 (A).
1979: Sapulpa 20-13 (H).
1978: Sapulpa 34-7 (A).
1977: Sand Springs 21-7 (H).
1976: Sand Springs 13-12 (A).
1975: Sapulpa 13-6 (H).
1974: Sand Springs 17-7 (A).

1973: Sapulpa 21-14 (H).
1972: Sapulpa 7-0 (A).
1971: Sapulpa 13-10 (H).
1970: Sapulpa 30-7 (A).
1969: Sand Springs 42-15 (H).
1968: Sapulpa 34-0 (A).
1967: Sapulpa 14-0 (H).
1966: Sand Springs 21-7 (A).
1965: Sand Springs 12-0 (H).
1964: Tied 6-6 (A).
1963: Sand Springs 26-0 (H).
1962: Tied 0-0 (A).
1961: Sapulpa 14-8 (H).
1960: Sand Springs 19-14 (A).
1959: Sand Springs 10-0 (H).
1958: Sapulpa 12-6 (A).
1957: Sapulpa 21-8 (H).
1956: Sapulpa 27-6 (A).
1955: Sapulpa 20-0 (H).
1954: Tied 14-14 (A).
1953: Tied 6-6 (H).
1952: Sand Springs 20-0 (A).
1951: Sapulpa 27-26 (H).
1950: Sapulpa 46-7 (A).
1949: Sapulpa 26-0.
1948: Sapulpa 19-12.
1947: Sand Springs 7-0.
1946: Sapulpa 7-0.
1945: Sapulpa 14-0.
1944: Sapulpa 3-0.
1943: Sand Springs 12-0.
1942: Sand Springs 19-7.
1941: Sand Springs 6-0.
1940: Sapulpa 26-7.
1939: Sapulpa 12-0.
1938: Sand Springs 6-0.
1937: Sand Springs 13-0.
1936: Sand Springs 13-0.
1935: Tied 6-6.
1934: Sapulpa 12-6.
1933: Sapulpa 7-0.
1932: Sapulpa 14-13.
1931: Sand Springs 34-6.
1930: Sapulpa 7-6.
1928: Sand Springs 14-13.
1922: Sapulpa 36-0.

Just like this year, Sand Springs rolled into their last meeting with the Chieftains sporting a 2-6, 1-4 record and were heavy underdogs. The Chieftains were 6-2, 2-1, and on their way to a post-season appearance, but Sand Springs stepped up to the challenge.

Senior quarterback Caden Pennington was 28-212 for six touchdowns on the ground, and was 8-9-123-0 for another touchdown by air. The Sandites took a 20-0 lead before letting their guests on the board.

This Season

CPHS 7-41 Mansfield Summit (7-1)
CPHS 35-0 Putnam City (1-7)
CPHS 20-50 Greenwood (7-1)
CPHS 14-24 Ponca City (4-4)
CPHS 21-19 Shawnee (2-6)
CPHS 6-54 Muskogee (7-1)
CPHS 34-54 Bartlesville (2-6)
CPHS 0-75 Bixby (8-0)

Sapulpa 21-13 Edison (7-1)
Sapulpa 49-24 Claremore (4-4)
Sapulpa 48-17 East Central (2-6)
Sapulpa 7-48 Booker T. Washington (4-4)
Sapulpa 30-20 Shawnee (2-6)
Sapulpa 6-34 Muskogee (7-1)
Sapulpa 55-40 Barlesville (2-6)
Sapulpa 10-54 Bixby (8-0)

The Sandites average 6.0 yards per pass attempt, 12.3 yards per completion, 2.7 yards per carry, and 4.3 yards per play. They convert on 33% of third down attempts and 50% of fourth downs. They score on 21% of possessions and 65% of red zone penetrations, and are 0-for-3 on two-point plays.

The Sandite Defense has held its foes to 8.4 yards per pass, 13.6 yards per completion, 4.9 yards per carry, and 6.2 yards per play. They have prevented scores on 51% of their opponents’ possessions and 21% of red zone penetrations. They stop 54% of third downs attempts and 52% of fourth downs. Their opponents are 2-of-4 on two-point conversions.

Sand Springs has struggled with penalties on all three sides of the ball. The offense is averaging 4 penalties for 34 yards, defense is 4-49, and special teams are 1-14 for 100 yards per game. The defense has given up 19 first-downs this season on penalties.

The Sandites have averaged a solid 19.1 yards per kick return and 12.5 per punt return. They have struggled in kick coverage, giving up 20.0 yards per kick return and 27.6 yards per punt return.

Sand Springs owns the No. 12 offense, No. 8 scoring defense, and No. 14 defense in points allowed. They have the No. 14 margin of victory in Class 6A-II.

Average Sandite Box Score
Points: CPHS 17, Opponents 40.
First Downs: CPHS 13, Opp 16.
Fumbles/Lost: CPHS 2/1, Opp 2/0.
Penalties: CPHS 10-100, Opp 10-96.
C-A-Y-I: CPHS 13-27-161-1, Opp 14-23-190-1.
Rushing: CPHS 32-87, Opp 35-168.
Offense: CPHS 58-248, Opp 58-358.

District 6A-II-2 Standings
5-0 Bixby (+75)
4-1 Muskogee (+43)
3-2 Booker T. Washington (+29)
2-3 Sapulpa (-20)
2-3 Bartlesville (-25)
2-3 Ponca City (-11)
1-4 Sand Springs (-53)
1-4 Shawnee (-38)

Sapulpa started the year 3-0, but has lost two of its last three games since losing star quarterback Eli Williams and star running back Te’Zohn Taft. Williams is definitely out for the season, and Taft hasn’t played since Week 5. The Chieftains own the No. 8 offense, No. 8 scoring defense, and No. 10 defense in points allowed. The are 9th in point differential.

Players to Watch

Sand Springs

#9 Ty Pennington, sophomore QB, 92-189-1166-2, 11TD passing.

#6 Keaton Campbell, sophomore WR, 35-544, 3TD receiving. 2-25 punt return. 16-299 kick return.

#3 Jacob Snodgrass, senior WR, 28-340, 4TD receiving. 8-30, 3TD rushing. 9-190 kick return.

#8 Jamon Cisco, 10-134, 3TD receiving. 3-16 rushing. 3-75 kick return. 5 tackles.

#20 Blake Jones, sophomore RB/WR, 94-365, 1TD rushing. 1-11 kick return.

#46 Zach Heinen, junior kicker, 17/17 PAT. Punt AVG 29.3. Kick AVG 36.3.

#15 Jerret Haley, senior DB, 68 tackes, 2-50 interceptions. 7 pass breakups.

#48 Brooks Dudley, sophomore LB/FB, 42 tackles 3-5 for loss. 1 fumble recovery.

#56 Lane Webster, junior OL/DL, 29 tackles 9-48 for loss, 4-34 sacks.

#1 Daren Hawkins, junior WR/DB, 6-47, 1TD receiving. 11 tackles. 1-83, 1TD interception.

#12 Bryson Chase, junior DB, 12 tackles, 1-3 for loss. 1 interception, 4 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery.

Sapulpa

Zac Mason, sophomore QB, scored on a short run against Shawnee.

#6 Marcus Esparza, senior RB, scored on a 30-yard run against Shawnee.

#9 Kaivon Mortazavi, senior kicker. Connected on 23, 29, and 47-yard field goals against Shawnee.

#13 Jamario Jones, senior CB, scored on a 47-yard punt return against Shawnee.

Sandite Resume under Coach Kinard (2007-2019)

Record: 65-73 (with three forfeited wins).
District Record: 42-45 (with one forfeited win).
Playoff Record: 4-7.
Home Record: 34-29.
Best Record: 8-3 (2012), went 7-5 in 2015 with two forfeited wins and one game canceled with an 18-7 Sandite lead due to weather. Sand Springs made the State Finals that season.
Worst Record: 1-9 (2010).
Highway 97 Rivalry Record: 9-3.
Highest-scoring team: 38.8 PPG (2008).
Lowest-scoring team: 17.1 PPG (2019).
Least points allowed: 14.3 PPG (2015).
Most points allowed: 39.6 PPG (2019).
Shutout wins: 5.
Biggest Win: 63-6 vs. Nathan Hale (9/5/2014).
Biggest Loss: 75-0 vs. Bixby (10/25/2019).