9 Sandites remain at State, only slightly behind Broken Arrow and Choctaw

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The remaining Sandites have about an hour long break before the next round begins at the 6A State Championship in Oklahoma City. 

Charles Page wrestling qualified eleven for the tournament with seven Regional Champions, more than either Broken Arrow or the Dual State Champions from Choctaw. Unfortunately 220 pound junior and Regional Champion Delvin Jordan was unable to participate dropping the number to nine. 

106 freshman Riley Weir (20-12) came in third at Regionals and was pitted against Choctaw's Colt Newton (40-3) in the first round and was pinned in 0:41. From there he was majored 14-4 by Yukon's Braden Fowler and eliminated. 

113 Regional Champion Michael Ritchey (22-16) was defeated in round one by Westmoore's Wes Hardin (31-11) by a narrow 5-2 decision but managed to hold the lead in the next match for a 5-3 victory over Spencer Schickram (14-9) of Ponca City. 

120 Regional Champion Blake Sargent (36-10) went into overtime with Zackery Bibb (24-5) of Capitol Hill and lost 4-2 in the tie breaker round. He fell in an early hole to Justin Gundlach (29-11) of Moore and trailed 3-2 going into the final period, but rallied for a takedown and pin at 5:14 to stay alive in the consolation bracket. 

126 two-time undefeated State Champion Daton Fix (44-0) pinned Bobby Robinson (30-13) of Deer Creek in 1:37.

132 Regional Champion Jack Karstetter (38-7) breezed through his first match with a 17-2 tech fall over Norman's Jeffrey Adams (23-12) in 5:42.  

138 Regional Champion Beau Bratcher (40-6) pinned Choctaw's Jeff Speer (23-10) in 4:48. 

145 Regional Champion Payton Scott (18-4) pinned Westmoore's Trey Painter (32-10) in 3:52.  

160 Regional Runner-Up Zane Basma (32-11) scored an 8-3 decision over Sam Hensley (31-13) of Edmond Memorial.  

170 Trace Fleischman (10-4) placed fourth at Regionals but rebounded big time at State with a 3-1 upset of West Regional Champion Jacob Schimmels (23-6) of Edmond. 

The top three teams are as close now as they have been all season with Broken Arrow at 25.5, Choctaw at 25, and Sand Springs at 23.5.  

The semi finals will begin at 7:15.  

#1 Undefeated Sandite wrestling breezes through Bixby, 57-15

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief, with Morgan Miller, Staff Writer

It was a strange night for the #1 Sandite varsity wrestling team (6-0), as half of them didn't even get to touch the mat. The Bixby Spartans (0-5) forfeited the first half of the night's matches, so nobody from 106-145 got to wrestle. 

Cody Mathis (8-8) wrestled up from his normal 145 to 152 for the first time since December, taking on Gavin Staton for the first time this season. Staton took an early lead with a 2-point takedown. Mathis got the escape, then briefly took a 3-2 lead with a reversal, but Staton reversed it back for the 4-3 lead. With 12 seconds left in the second period, Mathis escaped to even things out going into the third. Staton took the down position and scored an escape leaving Mathis fighting for a takedown, but unable to find it and suffering a 5-4 decision.

At 160 it was Zane Basma (18-9) taking an early 7-0 lead over Phillip Tyree with a pair of near-falls before finally letting his opponent out to take him down for the third time, this time for good. The two had yet to meet this season, and after a 1:50 fall, Tyree is unlikely to want to encounter Basma again.  

170 Bryton Beck (6-11) got off to a hot start against Max Guyer, scoring a 2-point takedown early on. He scored an easy escape to start the second period, then got the takedown for a 5-0 lead before finally letting Guyer up just to take him down once again. Beck had a slight mishap where he struggled so hard to prevent an escape that he put himself off balance and inadvertently gave up a takedown. He quickly corrected that mistake with a reversal before letting Guyer out with a 9-4 lead. The match ended with one more takedown shortly before the buzzer and Beck broke a three-loss streak with an 11-4 decision and nearly all the riding time. 

Lane Lettich (4-4) saw action at 182 against state-placer Jared Kerr. Lettich scored first with a pair of 2-pt takedowns, each punctuated by an escape for a 4-2 lead. In the second period, however, Kerr started off with an escape and then scored a takedown, and Lettich broke free to tie things up 5-5. Both wrestlers began to tire out and big moves became few and far between. Lettich took a brief 6-5 lead to start the third. Lane tried to score a takedown with a trip, but Kerr ended up on top for the lead with 40 seconds left. With under 30 to go Lettich fought his way free and sent the match into overtime where Kerr got the takedown for sudden victory, 9-7. 

At 195 Zach Sims (14-16) rematched 2015 Regional Runner-Up Cody Adams, whom he had an 0-3 record against in previous matches. Most recently Adams defeated Sims by 7-2 decision this past weekend at the Bobby Lyons Invitational. Sims had Adams on one leg for nearly ten seconds before Adams managed to squirm out of it and take Sims down instead. Sims tied things up with a pair of escapes, but was taken down once more shortly before the end of the second period. Adams took the down position for the third period and never managed to escape, but despite riding him the entire period Sims was unable to score points and gave up a 4-2 decision. 

The Sandites forfeited 220 to allow Delvin Jordan to continue resting a tweaked ankle and wrapped up the night at 285 with Gage Fain (6-14) against Austin Hiser. Fain qualified at 220 but has been wrestling up to heavyweight for most of the season. Despite being drastically outclassed in terms of weight, he had no problem scoring a quick takedown and turning it into a pin in only 1:07.

From there Riley Weir (15-8), Michael Ritchey (12-11), Blake Sargent (22-7), Jack Karstetter (22-6), Daton Fix (27-0), Derek Davis (6-2), and Beau Bratcher (27-4) all accepted forfeits for a final score of 57-15. 

Erin Kennedy was named Homecoming Queen and was escorted by Beau Bratcher, Blake Sargent, and Marshall Tate. Other Queen candidates include: Blyte Lester escorted by Daton Fix and Sage Singleton, Shelby Tillman escorted by Jack Karstetter and Zane Basma, Madison McIntosh escorted by Payton Scott and Bryton Beck, and Chandler Lindsey escorted by Trace Fleischman and Zach Sims.

The Sandites return to action Thursday night at Putnam City. 

Daton Fix wins Geary Invitational; Sandites place 5th

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Sand Springs Sandites are at near-full strength and demonstrated so at the oldest wrestling tournament in the country, the 72nd Geary Invitational Wrestling Tournament 

The Sandites, ranked #2 in Duals and #3 in tournaments, initially entered the season to much hubbub on the national scene after being ranked #25 in the nation by Flowrestling and #37 by InterMat.

Unfortunately, they weren't able to hold on to those ranking for long due to a less than spectacular performance at the Kansas City Stampede. Not because they don't deserve the rankings, but because they were missing half their starters. The state-title run made by the Sandite football team, which shares many athletes with the wrestling team, left several state qualifiers and other great wrestlers out of shape and battered from the extended time on the gridiron. 

Head wrestling coach Kelly Smith wants to see his team make a state title run of their own, and made the decision to sit out more than half a dozen wrestlers for the first half of the season, to ensure their health down the line--when it counts.

After the winter break, however, Payton Scott, Trace Fleischman, Lane Lettich, and Delvin Jordan are back in action.

Five Sandites placed at the national-caliber event which featured nationally-ranked #3 Blair Academy of New Jersey, nationally-ranked #11 Tuttle, and OK 6A #1 Broken Arrow and #2 Choctaw

106 #8 Riley Weir (13-7) - DNP

  • pinned Dylan Morris (Duncan) in 4:18
  • pinned by #1 Colt Newton (Choctaw) in 1:12
  • pinned by Cale Johnson (Tuttle) in 4:45

113 #7 Michael Ritchey (8-8) - DNP

  • lost to (#2 in 106 5A) Gage Gomez (Altus) 2-0
  • defeated Ty Lutze (Edmond Memorial) 3-0
  • lost to #2 Paxton Rosen (Edmond North) 9-3

120 #6 Blake Sargent (15-7) - 6th Place

  • majored James Emmer (Rio Rancho) 9-1
  • defeated Mitchell Lance (Piedmont) 5-1
  • lost to (#1 in 126) Dalton Duffield (Westmoore) 13-5
  • lost to Mike Madara (Blair Academy) 4-3
  • lost to Montez Robinson (Ark City) 4-2

126 #1 Jack Karstetter (15-6) - 2nd Place

  • teched Dakota Taylor (Ark City) 21-4
  • pinned Connor Harmon (Norman North) in 3:48
  • defeated Jesse Diaz (Tascosa) 9-4
  • defeated Bailer Thomason (Randall) 5-2
  • lost to (#1 in 5A 120) Montorie Bridges (Altus) 3-2

132 #1 (#3 Nationally) Daton Fix (20-0) - 1st Place

  • pinned (#6 in 145) Zach Johnson (Westmoore) in 3:11
  • pinned Dustin Chase (Duncan) in 1:40
  • majored Jake Beeson (Arkansas City) 18-8
  • teched Kyler Gonzales (Rio Rancho) 25-10
  • defeated (#15 Nationally at 126) Requir Van Der Merwe (Blair Academy) 5-3

138 #4 Beau Bratcher (20-4) - 2nd Place

  • defeated #5 Caleb Wise (Broken Arrow) 6-5
  • lost to Brik Filippo (Tuttle) 5-1 
  • pinned Fisher Johnson (Piedmont) in 0:42
  • pinned Juan Centeno (Altus) in 0:36
  • pinned (#7 in 145) Jeff Spear (Choctaw) in 1:22
  • pinned Hunter Jump (Lawton MacArthur) in 1:45
  • defeated #6 Tyler Dieringer (Stillwater) 5-1
  • defeated #5 Caleb Wise (Broken Arrow) 2-1
  • majored Shane Brackup (Blair Academy) 10-2

145 Cody Mathis (5-5) - DNP

  • pinned by #4 Blake Mattioda (Broken Arrow) in 3:48
  • pinned Cameron Dinga (Randall) in 1:44
  • pinned by Samuel Mora (Tascosa) in 4:50

152 #3 Payton Scott (6-2) - 4th Place

  • pinned Austin May (Duncan) in 0:26
  • pinned Taylor Wright (Del City) in 3:29
  • defeated (#1 in 5A 145) Elijah Tanner (Collinsville) 7-6
  • lost to #1 Joseph Messer (Norman North) 3-1
  • defeated Mikey Abuan (Altus) 5-3
  • lost to (#1 in 5A 145) Elijah Tanner (Collinsville) 3-1

160 #4 Zane Basma (12-8) - DNP

  • pinned Corey Webb (Tascosa) in 0:37
  • lost to (#1 in 5A 152) Nick Mahan (Lawton MacArthur) 5-2
  • pinned Jon McGill (Duncan) in 0:47
  • pinned by #1 Chase King (Choctaw) in 2:57

170 #2 Trace Fleischman (3-2) - DNP

  • lost to (#7 Nationally) Brandon Dallavia (Blair Academy) 16-1
  • pinned Ed Chavez (Rio Rancho) in 0:43
  • defeated Cooper Coil (Edmond North) 6-3
  • forfeited to Josh Arnold (Collinsville) 

182 #7 Lane Lettich (3-2) - DNP

  • lost to Matt Lamb (Del City) 8-5
  • pinned Jacob Muench (Geary) in 2:36
  • lost to Jimmy Stillerman (Blair Academy) 7-3

195 #9 Zach Sims (11-11) - DNP

  • pinned Keoni Chandler (Lawton MacArthur) in 1:20
  • defeated Connor Kinnaird (Duncan) 6-3
  • pinned by #3 Kaden Truelove (Mustang) in 1:25
  • defeated #10 Elijah Green (Enid) 7-0
  • lost to Teague Fox (Tuttle) 1-1

220 Delvin Jordan (4-2) - DNP

  • lost to Taven Birdow (Altus) 2-0
  • pinned Raen Rogers (Del City) in 0:47
  • pinned #5 Jon Martinez (Westmoore) in 0:18
  • lost to Nick Mosco (Blair Academy) 5-1

285 Gage Fain (3-9) - DNP

  • lost to #2 Gage Johnson (Norman North) 7-0
  • defeated Hunter Black (Stillwater) 8-5
  • pinned by Brandon Mason (Tuttle) in 2:21


#2 Sandites dominate defending Dual State Champions 51-10

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The #9 Stillwater Pioneers (3-2) might not be the team they were last year, losing seven state qualifiers, including a state champion. But only a fool would discount one of the most consistent annual powerhouses in the state. 

There's not a single pushover on that team, and not a single Pioneer gave up a major decision or tech fall. 

106 #6 Riley Weir (12-5)  received a forfeit for a 6-0 team lead. 

113 #7 Michael Ritchey (7-6) defeated Matt Norton by 3-0 decision for a 9-0 team lead.

120 #8 Blake Sargent (13-4) received a forfeit for a 15-0 team lead.

126 #6 Jack Karstetter (11-5) was tied 1-1 with #1 State Runner-Up Andrew Neiman but fell 3-1 in a sudden victory takedown in overtime. Sandites lead 15-3.

132 #1 Daton Fix (15-0) pinned Andrew Biggs in 1:05 for a 21-3 team lead.

138 Beau Bratcher (12-3, ranked #3 in 145) defeated #5 state-qualifier Tyler Dieringer by 5-1 decision for a 24-3 team lead. 

145 Cody Mathis (4-3) was defeated 17-8 by #5 Kendon Lee. Sandites lead 24-7.

152 Payton Scott (2-0) defeated #5 Connor Wilcoxen 5-2 for a 27-7 team lead.

160 #3 Zane Basma (10-6) lost 6-0 to #1 state-placer Christian Bahl. Sandites lead 27-10.

170 Trace Fleischman (1-0, #2 in 182) defeated Jase Hoffman 7-1 for a 30-10 team lead.

182 Lane Lettich (2-0, #5 in 160) defeated #5 Jace Brownlee 6-3 for a 33-10 team lead.

195 Zack Sims (8-9) pinned Jakob Ogden in 5:47 for a 39-10 team lead.

220 Delvin Jordan (2-0) pinned Aaron Veselak in 1:12 for a 45-10 team lead.

285 Gage Fain (2-7) pinned Kameron Linsenmeyer (#10 in 220) in 0:56 for a final score of 51-10.

Earlier this week the Sandites (3-0) defeated #10 Ponca City (4-1), losing only one match.

106 Riley Weir won by 3:15 fall

113 Michael Ritchey won 7-5

120 Blake Sargent won 5-2

126 Jack Karstetter won 13-4

132 Daton Fix won by 1:48 fall

138 Beau Bratcher won 6-0

145 Cody Mathis won by 4:55 fall

152 Payton Scott won by 3:00 fall

160 Zane Basma won by 2:32 fall

170 Bryton Beck won 12-0

182 Lane Lettich won 3-1

195 Zack Sims lost 3-1 by sudden victory

220 Delvin Jordan won 3-1

285 Gage Fain won by 2:42 fall

Daton Fix three-peats at Kansas City Stampede

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The 25th (nationally) ranked Charles Page varsity wrestling team was still missing 5 starters at this weekend's tournament, but that didn't stop them from finishing 15th at the national-caliber event, ahead of all 6A Oklahoma teams.

132 pound junior Daton Fix, ranked #1 in Oklahoma and #3 in the nation, improved his high school record to 86-0 with a third-consecutive 1st place finish at the Kansas City Stampede, making him only the sixth competitor in tournament history to win it 3 or more times. Five other Sandites placed in the top-ten.

The Kansas City Stampede is one of the biggest high school tournaments out there. Last year the Sandites came in 6th, but this year settled for 15th with one champion. The team is suffering from a prolonged football season in which more than half a dozen wrestlers, including #4 Lane Lettich and #2 Trace Fleischman, were part of the state runner-up gridiron team. With aims of a state championship, Coach Smith has decided to rest several starters for the beginning of the season to ensure their health later down the line. 

4A #1 Tuttle came in 1st place in the tournament with 2 champions and 3 runners-up. Tuttle is ranked 16th nationally by Flowrestling.

Other Oklahoma teams represented at the event include 5A #2 Coweta who finished 7th, #8 Edmond North at 16th, #6 Stillwater at 18th, 5A #1 Collinsville at 23rd, #11 Ponca City at 24th, 3A #3 Perry at 29th, and Southmoore at 38th.

Riley Weir (10-5) - 106 - 9th Place

  • defeated Devon Owen (Nixa) by 0:51 fall
  • lost to Kai Orine (Seckman) by 11-2 major decision
  • defeated Cade Vicker (Creston) by 17-0 tech fall in 3:34
  • defeated Devon Handy (Mill Valley) by 1:45 fall
  • defeated Alex Valencia (Perry) by 9-4 decision
  • lost to Cale Johnson (Tuttle) by 3:08 fall
  • lost to Tariq Malik (Collins Hill) by 3-2 decision
  • defeated Noah Yeamans (Allen) by 10-2 major decision
  • defeated Robbie Griggs (Christian Brothers) by 1-0 decision

Michael Ritchie (5-6) - 113 - DNP

  • lost to Sergio Orozco (Dowling Catholic) by 7-5 sudden victory takedown
  • lost to Cameron Fusco (Seckman) by default
  • lost to Tyler Lubin (Christian Brothers) by forfeit
  • lost to Marcus Robinson (Arkansas City) by forfeit

Blake Sargent (11-4) - 120 - 9th Place

  • lost to Xavier Torres (Randall) by 5-4 decision
  • defeated Jared Thornbrugh (Smithville) by 2:29 fall
  • defeated Dakota Taylor (Arkansas City) by 10-2 major decision
  • defeated Will Jefferson (Bettendorf) by 11-4 decision
  • defeated Cade Lindsey (Derby) by 6:00 fall
  • lost to Zach Durbin (Seckman) by 4-0 decision
  • lost to Xavier Torres (Randall) by 5-3 decision
  • defeated Joseph Dupre (Jesuit) by 6-4 decision
  • defeated Bennett Moudy (Coweta) by 3-2 decision

Jack Karstetter (10-4) - 126 - 9th Place

  • defeated Connor Langdon (Nixa) by 5:43 fall
  • defeated Lane Burch (Staley) by 6-5 decision
  • defeated Montez Robinson (Arkansas City) by 15-1 major decision
  • defeated Conner Rasberry (Christian Brothers) by 14-4 major decision
  • lost to Mike Brown (Holt) by 2:27 fall
  • lost to Christian Bowen (Goddard) by 6-2 decision
  • defeated Bailer Thomason (Randall) by 10-4 decision
  • defeated Codi Russell (Collins Hill) by 5-2 decision
  • also placed 9th last year in 113

Daton Fix (13-0) - 132 - 1st Place

  • defeated Jackson Degruy (Jesuit) by 19-4 tech fall
  • defeated Chase Tripp (Seckman) by 1:24 fall
  • defeated Josh Harger (Collins Hill) by 0:44 fall
  • defeated Malachi Salas (Garden City) by 1:35 fall
  • defeated Kruz Simons (Edmond North) by 2:41 fall
  • defeated Tanner Tidswell (Christian Brothers) by 23-8 tech fall
  • defeated Nate Keim (Collinsville) by 13-5 major decision
  • defeated Tanner Litterell (Tuttle) by 14-6 major decision
  • also won in 2014 at 120 and in 2013 at 113.

John Jiminez (5-8) - 138 - 15th Place in Consolation

  • defeated Garrett Lange (Goddard) by 4-2 decision
  • defeated Nate Koenig (Jesuit) by 6:00 fall
  • lost to Jaron Hoegler (Platte County) by forfeit
  • lost to Austin Atchley (Baylor) by forfeit
  • lost to Jace Burdick (Perry) by default
  • lost to Matt Wrocklage (Seckman) by forfeit
  • lost to Grant Roach (Mill Valley) by forfeit
  • defeated Hunter Burns (Southmoore) by disqualification

Beau Bratcher (10-3) - 145 - 9th Place

  • defeated Blake Fritz (Seckman) by 11-3 major decision
  • defeated Kameron Frame (Goddard) by 5-3 decision
  • defeated Brian Boyd (Smithville) by 2:43 fall
  • lost to Beau Guffey (Tuttle) by 9-0 major decision
  • defeated William Rosevally (Jesuit) by 0:30 fall
  • lost to Sean Hosford (Park Hill) by 12-0 major decision
  • defeated Cameron Haines (Farmington) by 12-0 major decision
  • defeated Justin Walker (Collinsville) by 1-0 decision
  • placed 6th in 132 in 2014 and 10th in 2013 at 132.

Zane Basma (9-5) - 160 - 11th Place

  • defeated Cam Leith (Creston) by 1:07 fall
  • defeated Nick Self (Derby) by 0:40 fall
  • defeated Alex Greco (Farmington) by 1:59  fall
  • lost to (#4 nationally) Thomas Bullard (Archer) by 2:26 fall
  • lost to (#20 nationally) Johnny Blankenship (Platte County) by 5:31 fall.
  • defeated Isaac Townsend (Neosho) by 2:03 fall
  • lost to Sammy Cokeley (St. James Academy) by 4-1 decision
  • lost to John McCabe (Allen) by 5:00 fall
  • defeated Kyle Thompson (Granite City) by 4-1 decision
  • placed 10th in 152 in 2014.

Bryton Beck (4-8) - 170 - 15th Place

  • defeated Emilio Monsivais (Holt) by 7-5 decision
  • defeated Nathan Kerperien (Seckman) by 4:03 fall
  • lost to (#13 nationally) Chase Shiltz (Creston) by 1:30 fall
  • lost to Chase Nelson (Granite City) by 8-7 decision
  • lost to Clay Lautt (St. James Academy) by 1:51 fall
  • lost to Dakota Schmidt (Platte County) by 2:36 fall
  • lost to Cooper Coil (Edmond North) by 9-1 major decision
  • defeated Andrew Buckley (Kearney) by forfeit 

Zach Simms (7-8) - 195 - 10th Place in Consolation

  • lost to Jake Boyd (Smithville) by 3:10 fall
  • lost to Teague Fox (Tuttle) by 4-2 decision
  • defeated Sean Ramsey (Christian Brothers) by 4:58 fall
  • lost to Jacob Sobbing (Park Hill) by 3:02 fall
  • lost to Sam Vining (Holt) by 5:40 fall
  • defeated Jacob Morgan (Randall) by 17-2 tech fall
  • lost to Bradyn Pressnall (Ponca City) by 7-5 decision
  • defeated Thomas Parks (Goddard) by 10-2 major decision
  • lost to Sam Vining (Holt) by 1:32 fall

Gage Fain (0-7) - 285 - 16th Place in Consolation

  • lost to Korinthian Nabors (Granite City) by 3:08 fall
  • lost to Jacob Bohlken (Smithville) by 3:12 fall
  • lost to Tyler Shannon (Arkansas City) by 8-4 decision
  • lost to Blake Carmack (Granite City) by 6-1 decision
  • lost to Jake Spiva (Christian Brothers) by forfeit
  • lost to Patrick McCarron (Hayfield Secondary) by default
  • lost to Hunter Richard (Edmond North) by forfeit

Payton Scott and Lane Lettich lead best Sandite run game in half-decade

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Sand Springs has had a lot of big names in the running back position, but not often have they had to share the spot. In the past, the Charles Page varsity football team would have one really talented running back who did 90% of the lifting. This season has been a lot different. 

Had Lane Lettich and Payton Scott arrived at different times in school history, it wouldn't be unbelievable for each of them to have well over 1500 yards per season. As it is, the two combine for nearly 2000 yards and nearly 91% of the Sandite ground game.

Lettich is a senior and is the starter at tail back. He's currently sitting at 207 carries for 1059 yards and 17 touchdowns, not to mention his 12-231 and 2 touchdown receiving record this season.  

Lettich is a powerhouse, and is resilient against sturdy defenders. Averaging just over 5 yards-per-carry, the bulk of his carries are head to head against the D-line and battles of strength. Lettich is the go-to guy on 4th and short conversions and goal-line-to-go touchdowns. His longest carry this season came against Stillwater. He needed about 60 yards that game to cross the thousand-mark, and he did it the first time he touched the ball--rushing for 70 yards before getting dragged down in the Pioneer redzone.

Scott is only a sophomore, and one of the only freshman to play last season. Not only did he play, he played well with over 200 rushing yards--the fourth best on the team. This season he has 861 yards on only 112 carries for 8 touchdowns. 

The kid is a juggernaut. He's only 5'6", but once he gets some momentum going, he's gone. Not only is he fast, but he's crafty, and finds the tinniest of holes to blow through and pick up first downs in single plays. He frequently breaks tackles and often drags two or even three defenders for 5+ yards after contact.

Lettich led the ground-game for Sand Springs last season too, but was held to only 823 yards and 5 touchdowns on 169 carries. Not only did Lettich and Scott have to split time with each other, but they also had dual threat QB Conner Sitton and all-purpose Davey Thayer to share the ball with. Those two combined for another 669 yards. 

The problem with having so many great runners to share time with is you don't get your fair shot at breaking records or recording huge games like some runners have in the past when they were the solo threat on the ground. 

Lettich has led the ground game in 10 of 12 games this season, and 9 of 12 games last season. His biggest single-game record was last season when he brought 143 yards against Muskogee. This year he got close against Sapulpa when he ran for 133, but it was Scott with the biggest single-game record this season.

Scott has led the run game twice this season. Once against Guthrie--a game that was cancelled for lightning shortly before the half. Then, in week 7, he hit 200 against Ponca City, the first time a Sandite RB has done so since Terrance Dixon walked all over Tulsa Memorial in 2009 for 334 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Dixon rushed for 1597 yards his senior year and went on to play for Northeastern State University where he ran up a career record of 1945 all-purpose yards for 18 touchdowns over three seasons. 

Raymond McLaurin came close to the 200-mark in 2012 when he ran up 191 yards against Sapulpa and over 1100 for the season.

Both Lettich and Scott will be going into Friday's State Championship game with high hopes as they have the opportunity to bring home the school's first title in 49 years.

The last time the Sandites played Bixby was in week 10 when they dealt the defending state-champs their first shut out since 2007 in a 20-0 rout at Sand Springs. Lettich shouldn't have too hard of a time crossing the 1100 mark and Scott should easily cross 900, but he will need to pull out his second-largest performance of the season if he hopes to cross 1000. The two combined for only 145 yards on 36 carries in the week 10 game.