CPHS Football: Sandites lead Sapulpa 14-6 after first half in season opener

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The Oklahoma high school football season kicked off with a bang Friday night at George F. Collins Stadium as two of the fiercest rivals in the region are going head-to-head. Charles Page High School from Sand Springs is visiting Sapulpa and currently holds a 14-6 lead after the first half.

The Sandites are in the first season under Head Coach Bobby Klinck, and the former Owasso Defensive Coordinator has his team firing on all cylinders against a Chieftain squad that is ranked No. 10 in Class 5A. Sapulpa won last year’s meeting, but the Sandites won five in a row before that.

All three scores came in the first quarter and it looked like it was shaping up for a shootout, but neither team found the endzone in the second quarter.

Sand Springs scored on the opening drive of the game with a ten-play 73-yard march. Junior quarterback Ty Pennington made a 44-yard pass to Jamon Cisco to cross the red zone, and four plays later Blake Jones punched in the one-yard run.

Sapulpa responded with a ten-play 74-yard drive, capped by a 17-yard dash by Conner Rose, but Sango Whitehorn blocked the PAT to prevent the tie score.

The two teams traded punts, then Sand Springs needed only two plays to score again after Pennington followed a nine-yard run with a 51-yard throw to Cisco. Heinen made both of his PAT kicks in the half.

The Chieftains threatened twice more, but both trips to the red zone came up dry. After a bad hike sailed over Heinen’s head on the punt attempt, Sapulpa had great opportunity from the Sandites’ 20 yard line. Five plays later they settled for a field goal attempt from the 8, but Bryson Chase made the Sandites’ second blocked kick of the night.

Sapulpa threatened again in the final seconds of the half, but Chase and Micah Calico broke up a pair of pass attempts. The final play appeared to be a touchdown strike from Zac Mason to D’Angelo Mitchell, but it was ruled an illegal forward pass from beyond the line of scrimmage, and the Sandites escaped with the advantage.

Pennington was 6-10-123-0 passing in the first half, while Mason was 6-11-43-0. Sapulpa will get the ball to start the second half.

CPHS Football: Sandites start new era Friday at Sapulpa

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The Sand Springs high school football team will kick off its 101st season Friday at 7:00 p.m. with the 93rd installment of Highway 97 Rivalry. Class 6A-II No. 12 ranked Charles Page High School will travel to 5A No. 7 Sapulpa to kick off the season.

This will be the first time since 1969 that the two towns have been in different classifications. In that year it was Sapulpa that was slightly larger than its rival up north. Fifty years later and Sand Springs has pulled ahead in population, while Sapulpa has slipped back into Class 5A. This will be the first time in six years that the game has been non-district, and the first time since 1953 that the teams are meeting in the season opener.

The Highway 97 Rivalry dates back to 1922 and has been played annually since 1930. Sapulpa holds a narrow lead in the series at 45-43-5 and just snapped a five-game losing streak last season with a 31-19 victory. Both teams’ longest win streaks sit at five games.

It’s a rarity that the two schools both field winning teams in the same year. The last time both teams finished with a positive record in the same season was 2013, which was also Sapulpa’s last win before Sand Springs hit its hot streak.

The Chieftains won only five games over four years, and none were against Sand Springs. They finally got back to a winning record in 2018, which happened to be the first year since 2011 that Sand Springs failed to make the playoffs. Despite being a major underdog, the Sandites still managed to win 48-35 that season, but they were unable to repeat the upset last year.

The Sandites are hoping this Friday will kick off a new era of success as they play their first game under Head Coach Bobby Klinck. Klinck spent two years as Head Coach at East Central, where he earned a 13-12 record, won a district title, and made the State finals. He spent the next six seasons as Defensive Coordinator for Broken Arrow, Southlake Carroll, and Owasso. In his three seasons with the Rams they won two State Championships.

Sapulpa holds a 15-27 record after four seasons under former Sandite Defensive Coordinator Robert Borgstadt. After two 1-9 seasons, Sapulpa put together winning records the past two years and qualified for the post season. They have yet to get past the first round, however.

Friday’s game will also be unique as it is the first game of the COVID-19 era. While Sand Springs isn’t planning on reducing ticket sales at its home games yet, Sapulpa has elected to restrict attendance to half capacity. The Sandite fandom was only allotted 650 tickets for what would normally be a packed house at George F. Collins Stadium, and the tickets sold out in pre-sale.

Volleyball, Softball, Football Rankings, League Standings

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OSSAA Class 6A Volleyball Week 1 Rankings

  1. Edmond Santa Fe (10-1).

  2. Deer Creek (6-1).

  3. Bishop Kelley (4-2).

  4. Jenks (4-0).

  5. Edmond Memorial (2-0).

  6. Norman North (4-2).

  7. Mustang (11-2).

  8. Broken Arrow (5-2).

  9. Owasso (6-1).

  10. Bishop McGuinness (8-0).

  11. Edmond North (4-4).

  12. Bixby (8-1).

  13. Union (3-6).

  14. Enid (8-3).

  15. Moore (4-3).

  16. Southmoore (2-2).

  17. Bartlesville (6-4).

  18. Sand Springs (7-9)

Frontier Valley Conference Volleyball Standings

2-0 Jenks (4-0)
2-0 Broken Arrow (5-2)
2-0 Owasso (6-1)
1-0 Bixby (8-1)
1-1 Bartlesville (6-4)
1-1 Muskogee (6-4)
0-1 Booker T. Washington (0-1)
0-2 Sapulpa (7-9)
0-2 Sand Springs (7-9)
0-2 Union (3-6)

OSSAA Fast Pitch 6A-3 District Standings

3-0 Owasso (10-1)
3-0 Shawnee (9-0)
3-0 Jenks (6-3)
2-1 Sand Springs (11-2)
2-3 Ponca City (3-10)
0-4 Sapulpa (0-4)
0-5 Muskogee (1-6)

Class 6A-II Sandite Pride Football Rankings

  1. Bixby

  2. Stillwater

  3. Del City

  4. Choctaw

  5. Muskogee

  6. Booker T. Washington

  7. Putnam City North

  8. Midwest City

  9. Edmond Deer Creek

  10. Lawton

  11. Bartlesville

  12. Ponca City

  13. Sand Springs

  14. Putnam City West

  15. U.S. Grant

  16. Northwest Classen

CPHS Football: Only 650 tickets available for season-opener in Sapulpa

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The Charles Page High School football season will kick off Friday, August 28th with a non-district rivalry road game against Sapulpa. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sapulpa School District will be limiting attendance to half-capacity, or 650 fans on the visitors’ side of the stadium.

Advance tickets will be available at the Ed Dubie Field House from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

On Monday ticket sales will be limited to parents of senior football players, dance, and cheer team members, with a limit of four tickets per athlete. High school seniors will also be able to purchase one ticket, and will be required to show a student ID.

On Tuesday ticket sales will be extended to parents of junior football players, dance, and cheer team members, with a limit of four tickets per athlete. High school juniors will also be able to purchase one ticket, and must show student ID.

On Wednesday tickets will be extended to parents of sophomore football players, dance, and cheer team members with a limit of four tickets per athlete. High school sophomores will also be able to purchase up to one ticket, and must show student ID. The general public will also be able to purchase tickets during this window.

The Sandites are in their first season under Head Coach Bobby Klinck, who inherits a program that went 5-15 over the last two seasons and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2017. Klinck holds a 13-12 head coaching record from East Central High School in Tulsa, and most recently was the Defensive Coordinator at Owasso High School, where he helped the Rams to two State Championships.

High school sports scheduled to start next week, masks will be required for fans

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Charles Page High School softball and volleyball are scheduled to begin next week, with football and cross country soon to follow. The teams have been practicing and scrimmaging for the past few weeks with no known cases of COVID-19 spread.

The spring season was canceled earlier this year, depriving the boys’ basketball team of a State Tournament appearance, and robbing the slow pitch softball, baseball, soccer, tennis, and golf teams of almost their entire season.

The Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association declined to enforce specific rules for high schools to follow as the new season begins, but the schools can be expected to enact their own precautions to ensure the season continues as safely as possible.

Sand Springs athletic events will be requiring masks for all participants, coaches, workers, officials, and fans entering school property. Participants, officials, and coaches will be allowed to remove their masks when they reach their playing field or court, but fans will be expected to remain covered at all times.

Sand Springs ticket takers and sellers will be masked and gloved, and will remain behind a plexiglass partition. The district is also encouraging fans to purchase an All-Sport Season Pass to reduce contact with box office workers.

The district is discouraging pre and post-game handshakes, high-fives, fist bumps, etc. Athletes will not be allowed to share towels, clothing, shoes, or water bottles. Shared equipment like bats, helmets, and catcher’s gear will be disinfected between users.

“We have been following a pretty strict routine each day with our athletes and coaches,” says Athletic Director Rod Sitton. “We have a COVID-19 questionnaire that each player must answer before entering our facilities. We are also doing temperature checks at the gate/door each day. So far we have dodged the bullet.”

“As far as competitions we will follow (these) guidelines both at home and when traveling. The guidelines also dictate what the fans can expect when coming to a Sandite Athletic event.  We are not planning on reducing the number of fans that can attend our events. Of course this could all change tomorrow. People following the guidelines will help us to keep Athletics going and open to the public.  Again I must reiterate that this can all change in a moments notice as everything has to be fluid during this pandemic.“

Sandite Softball will travel to Tahlequah Monday at 5:00 p.m. to start their season, while the volleyball team will host Bixby Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Cross Country won’t start their year till the 27th at the Owasso Ram Relays, while the football team will travel to Sapulpa on the 28th.

CPHS Football: 2020 Sandite schedule released

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The Charles Page High School football team has released its 2020 schedule, and next year’s Sandites will see a couple of new faces and some changes to the district lineup.

8.28.2020 Sapulpa (A)

The Highway 97 Rivalry will be renewed for the 91st consecutive year, but this time it will be a non-district game. Sapulpa was bumped down to Class 5A for the next two seasons, and this will be their first non-district meeting since 2013. It will be their first season-opening meeting since 1953 and the second straight year that the game will be played on the road in Sapulpa.

Sapulpa leads the series 45-43-5 overall, and won the last meeting 31-19 to snap a five-year Sandite win streak. The Chieftains went 6-5 last year for their second-straight winning season and second-straight playoff appearance.

Sapulpa State Titles: 1921.

9.4.2020 Bishop Kelley (H)

The Sandites’ first home game will be against 5A Bishop Kelley, in their first meeting since 1979. The teams have a split 5-5 record, with the Sandites winning their last four meetings.

The Comets are coming off an 8-5 season and State semifinals appearance, and haven’t had a losing record since 2010.

Bishop Kelley State Titles: 1981.

9.18.2020 Shiloh Christian (H)

The Sandites will take a bye week following their game with Bishop Kelley, then will host a Springdale, Arkansas 4A private school powerhouse. The Saints went 14-1 last season and were State Runners-Up. They haven’t had a losing season since 2012. This will be the first ever meeting between the two programs.

Shiloh Christian State Titles: 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2001, 1999, 1998.

9.25.2020 Ponca City (A)

District action will begin with a trip to Ponca City, where the Wildcats will be out to prove that last season wasn’t a fluke. After thirteen years as the 6A punching bag, Ponca went 5-5 for their best mark since 2005.

Sand Springs holds a 25-20-1 record against the Wildcats and won seven straight meetings till Ponca snapped the streak with a 24-14 win last season at Memorial Stadium.

10.2.2020 Muskogee (Homecoming)

Sand Springs will have a tough task on Homecoming as they look to snap a three-year losing streak against Muskogee. The Roughers hold a 23-6 record against Sand Springs, including a 54-6 drubbing last season. Muskogee went 8-3 last year and hasn’t had a losing record since 2015.

Muskogee State Titles: 1986, 1950, 1948, 1941, 1940, 1935, 1925, 1923, 1910.

10.9.2020 Booker T. Washington (A)

Both Sand Springs and Booker T. Washington will have new head coaches this year. The Hornets hold a 16-7 record against the Sandites including five straight meetings. They ended the Sandites’ last season 34-7.

Washington went 7-5 last year and hasn’t had a losing season since 2011. They are the only team besides Bixby to win a 6A-II title.

Booker T. Washington State Titles: 2017, 2010, 2008, 1984, 1973, 1971, 1969, 1968, 1967.

10.15.2020 Bixby (H)

The Sandites will host the heir apparent, the reigning State Champions and most dominant team in the division on a Thursday. Bixby holds an 18-12 record against the Sandites, including six straight wins dating back to the 2015 title game. Last year they dealt the Sandites a 75-0 shutout, their worst loss in 95 years.

Bixby went 13-0 last season and has won 25 straight games. The Spartans have made the State Finals for six straight years and haven’t had a losing record since 2012.

Bixby State Titles: 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014.

10.23.2020 Choctaw (A)

Choctaw is new to the district, but not new to the Sandites. They played a non-district home and home from 2016-2017 that the Yellowjackets swept, 21-20 in 2017 and 45-41 in 2016. They are 4-2 against the Sandites overall. Last year Choctaw went 8-4 with a State semifinal appearance

Choctaw State Titles: 1960.

10.30.2020 Bartlesville (H)

The Sandites will play Bartlesville for the 21st straight year. The Bruins are 21-15 against the Sandites and have won back-to-back meetings, including a 54-35 shootout last year. Bartlesville went 3-7 last season and hasn’t had a winning record since 2015.

11.6.2020 Putnam City West (A)

The regular season finale will be a road game against district newcomer Putnam City West. The two teams had a non-district home and home from 2016-2017 and the Sandites won both meetings.

The Patriots went 0-10 last year and have lost 16 straight games. They haven’t had a winning record since 2016.

Putnam West State Titles: 1981