Bobby Klinck told his team to envision Thursday night’s trip to Oklahoma City as a playoff road game.
“Hopefully if we can keep going into the playoffs we’re going to have to do this at some point, so envision that and use it as a dress rehearsal.”
That task may have stretched the imaginations of the Sandites as it’s unlikely they’ll get to bench their starters after one quarter at any point in the playoffs.
6A-II No. 5 Charles Page High School (7-3, 5-2) won a lopsided 56-0 shutout against U.S. Grant (2-8, 0-7) to spoil Senior Night at Taft Stadium.
The Sandites finished the regular season with a one-win improvement over last year and their best district mark since 2015. Meanwhile Grant ended the year on an eight-game losing streak with six consecutive shutouts.
The Generals’ first-half possessions ended in punt, pick six, punt, pick six, fumble, turnover on downs, punt, and punt.
Kenneth Page scored on an 11-yard touchdown run, Alex Dudley had a 51-yard pick six, and Ali McCoy scored on a 9-yard forward pitch from Jace Arnold for a 21-0 lead by the 4:53 mark of the first quarter.
The Generals’ next possession ended in a 30-yard interception return by Hunter Wilson, who handed the ball off to lineman Marcum Sims at the 1-yard line for the touchdown.
A fumble recovery by Hudson Sheppard set up a 1-yard touchdown run from Easton Webb to make it 35-0 at the end of the first.
Grant tried for a gutsy fourth-and-three in their own territory and was made to pay for it as Isaac Sensintaffar, Jakobe Vann, Jonathan Rowe, and Jaden Allen all combined for a sack.
After a pair of would-be touchdown passes to Dom Forbes were nullified for penalties, Webb finally connected with Kayden Campbell for a 14-yard touchdown.
Forbes wouldn’t be kept out of the end zone for long, scoring on a 3-yard pitch from Arnold to make it 49-0 at halftime.
“It’s big for the program moving forward that some of the younger guys could get in and get meaningful snaps,” said Klinck.
The Generals forced their first three-and-out to open the second half, though they gave the ball back on fourth down at midfield.
Brock O’Dell scored the final touchdown of the night on a two-yard run late in the third.
A running clock and their only semi-successful drive of the night helped the Generals eat the entire fourth quarter without letting the Sandite offense on the field.
JaMere Martin was able to find some running room against the Sandite reserves, earning 65 yards on three carries to help march his team to the 7-yard line. His hopes of getting to the end zone were quashed, however, when Gage Gunn recovered a fumbled snap for the final play of the game.
Even with the running clock, the Sandites had plenty of time to give plenty of backups plenty of snaps.
Eight Sandites recorded receptions, seven had carries, 27 made defensive plays, and the Sandites even got to see the backup kicker in action when Tanner Copeland took over for a 7-for-7 Dawson Puckett and connected on the final PAT of the night.
“It’s always neat to see guys that are program guys, scout teamers, and they’re younger and they get an opportunity to shine on Thursday night,” said Klinck. “That’s really fun.”
Webb finished the night 4-of-5 passing for 46 yards with two carries for 11 yards and two total touchdowns. Arnold was 7-of-8 for 57 yards with four carries for 26 yards and two total touchdowns.
Defensively the Sandites held the Generals to only 8 yards through the first three quarters without surrendering a single first down.
“Guys being in the right places and making the plays they need to make,” said Klinck. “We’re going to have to play well defensively to make a run at this thing, so I’m glad that we were able to do that.”
The defense was led by Kambren Foster with 9 tackles, followed by Rowe with 6 and Gunn with 5. The Sandites totaled 10 tackles for loss, including three sacks, with four takeaways.
Despite the total domination, the Generals showed improvement over last year’s 83-0 shutout at Memorial Stadium in which they only suited up 19 players. This time around, the Generals had about 40 players in a turnaround season that saw the end of a 13-game losing streak.
“It’s a testament to what coach (Alex) Levescy is doing,” said Klinck. “I’ve coached at Tulsa Public Schools in the inner city and that’s a really great job that he’s doing over there.”
“The victories aren’t counted in wins and losses sometimes.”
Sand Springs will return to action next Friday with a home playoff game against Lawton (2-7).
It will be only the second meeting ever between the Sandites and Wolverines, who last played each other in a 5A semifinal playoff game that Lawton won 14-10 in 1987.
“I’m hopeful that we’re going to play our best football moving forward and hopefully try to make a run at this thing,” said Klinck.
CPHS 56 Grant 0
First Downs: CPHS 7, Grant 4.
C-A-Y-I: CPHS 11-13-103-0, Grant 4-12-6-2.
Rushing: CPHS 14-123, Grant 28-78.
Offense: CPHS 27-226, Grant 40-90.
Fumbles/Lost: CPHS 2/0, Grant 2/2.
Penalties: CPHS 4-45, Grant 2-20.
Scoring Summary
1Q (9:12) - Page 11-yard Run, Puckett Kick, CPHS 7-0.
1Q (7:14) - Dudley 51-yard Interception Return, Puckett Kick, CPHS 14-0.
1Q (4:53) - McCoy 9-yard Pass from Arnold, Puckett Kick, CPHS 21-0.
1Q (4:16) - Sims 1-yard Interception Return, Puckett Kick, CPHS 28-0.
1Q (0:49) - Webb 1-yard Run, Puckett Kick, CPHS 35-0.
2Q (9:13) - Campbell 14-yard Pass from Webb, CPHS 42-0.
2Q (3:01) - Forbes 3-yard Pass from Arnold, Puckett Kick, CPHS 49-0.
3Q (1:45) - O’Dell 2-yard Run, Copeland Kick, CPHS 56-0.
