Sandite Freshmen score first touchdown of the season in 7-6 loss to Jenks

Photo: Virgil Noah

By: Virgil Noah, Staff Writer

It's been a frustrating start to the year so far for the Sand Springs 9th Grade football team (0-4) as they've fallen to each opponent they have faced. Despite the four straight losses, the Sandites are improving. 

The freshmen opened their season with a 10-0 defeat to Owasso, followed by a 42-0 loss suffered at the hands of Muskogee White. In game three the Sandites faced Broken Arrow Gold, giving up 20 points in the first half, but shutting the Tigers out in the second. Sand Springs failed to get on the board though for the third straight game falling 20-0. 

Sand Springs played their best game of the season Monday night against Jenks White, in a game where a mere extra point was the difference in winning and losing. 

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In the first half the Trojans and Sandites traded possession the entirety of the half without scoring, though there were some close calls. On a fourth down in Trojan territory Sandite quarterback Braden Foster threw a deep pass that fell off his receiver's fingertips at the goal line. The Trojans' closest scoring effort came at the end of the half When quarterback Jake Mulready led the offense down the field with less than a minute to go, but as time expired completed a pass short of the goal line and the Sandite defense wrestled the receiver to the ground and sent the game to halftime scoreless. 

The second half saw a first for the Sandites' offense, a touchdown. Trace Evans intercepted a pass and returned it all the way to the 14 yard line of the Trojans. Two plays later, Aaron King took a handoff to the left side and scored a 10 yard touchdown to give his team their first points of the year. Sand Springs attempted a two-point conversion but was unsuccessful. On the ensuing kickoff the special teams got the ball back, when Jerret Haley recovered a fumble. 

Jenks took a 7-6 early in the fourth quarter on a short touchdown run and successful extra point. Sand Springs was moving the ball, nearing the red zone, but Foster's fourth down pass attempt fell incomplete to end the game.  

Sand Springs looks to continue improving, and will try to get in the win column on Monday, against Sapulpa Blue. 

Jenks sweeps Sandites 3-0 despite strong defense from Holly Kersgieter

Photo:// MORGAN MILLER

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity volleyball team (2-2) had little time to rest after falling to the 5A State Champions from Bishop Kelley Monday night before taking on yet another top-tier team Tuesday. 

The Lady Sandites met their match in the Jenks Lady Trojans (6-2) at the Ed Dubie Field House. The 2015 State Runners-Up picked out all the holes in the Sandite defense, scoring heavily on tipped balls.

Sophomore Gloria Mutiri led in scoring for the fourth-straight match with eleven total kills. Despite averaging more than six blocks per match this season, Mutiri ended up with only one due to the crafty Trojan offense. The majority of Jenks's kills came from lightly tipped balls and rarely on hard spikes. 

When the Trojans did go for the hard hits, the Sandites were more than ready. Sophomore Holly Kersgieter was outstanding on defense with eighteen digs in addition to her four kills. Senior Lee Leslie added eight digs and Mutiri had seven. Devree Youngblood hit the lone ace of the evening for Sand Springs.

Jenks won varsity 3-0 with sets of 25-14, 25-14, and 25-11. The Sandite JV lost 2-0 with sets of 25-12 and 25-16. 

The Lady Sandites will return to action Friday at the Coweta Volleyball Tournament. 

Jenks Trojans smother Sandite offense, boys fall 3-0

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By: Virgil Noah, Marketing Director
Photo by: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School boys soccer team (2-10) hasn't ended up on the winning side of things very often this season, but no one can say they don't put forth effort. The Sandites lost another hard fought match, this time against Jenks High School (3-1-5) on the road by a final score of 3-0. 

The initial 17 minutes of first half action saw mostly possession battle, until a Trojan cross took a ricochet and midfielder Trace Gelso stroked a volley from 35 yards out to the left-upper-90 for a 1-0 lead. Sand Springs would attempt to push the ball for the remainder of the half but would only manage one shot, by Ignacio Garcia that curled just past the right post. Sandite goalkeeper Edgar Soberano made a number of impressive diving saves on shots and kept his team just one goal down headed into the intermission. 

Jenks extended its lead to two goals less than three minutes into the second half. Jack Deer took a touch off of a cross from the right sideline and shot the ball just past Soberano who dove a split second late. 

The Sandites had a pair of dangerous opportunities to score, but shots from Sam Short and Cody Gurley were both saved by the Trojan keeper's diving efforts. Jenks put the game away with 8 minutes remaining on Gelso's second goal of the match.  

The Sand Springs squads return to action with home games Friday evening against Westmoore High School. The girls kick off at 6 pm. and the boys at 8 pm.