CPHS Football: Sandites host No. 11 Muskogee Friday for Homecoming

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Sandite Homecoming Court.

It’s Homecoming week in Sand Springs and this year the Sandites will be hosting Class 6A-II No. 11 ranked Muskogee (0-3) Friday at 7:00 p.m. Prior to the game will be a tailgate party, ceremonies, and a parade.

The parade will be held Thursday at 6:00 p.m. and will feature all the usual floats and marching band performances. The most notable change will be the lack of candy. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, parade participants will not be distributing candy or other goods, and those in attendance are asked to wear masks.

On Friday at 6:00 p.m. the Church That Matters Tailgate Crew will be grilling up burgers, hot dogs, and chicken outside the box office as a fundraiser for the Sandite Wrestling Team. CTM hosts a tailgate before every home game, and typically raises over $1,000 per event, with a different beneficiary each week.

Also before the game will be the introduction of the Homecoming Court and the crowning of the Homecoming Queen. Click here to view our photo gallery of the Homecoming Court.

No. 9 ranked Sand Springs (3-1) has won back-to-back games, including a 35-10 road effort against No. 13 Ponca City (1-2) last week in the district opener. They are coming off a 2-8 season, and are in their first year under Head Coach Bobby Klinck.

Muskogee is still looking for its first win of the season, and is 0-3 for the first time since 2015. They are coming off an 8-3 season and first-round playoff loss to Choctaw, which was their best record since 2016. They are 34-32 under seventh-year Head Coach Rafe Watkins.

The Roughers’ district-opener against Putnam City West was postponed last week due to a Putnam City School District policy preventing games against schools that reside in counties with COVID-19 numbers above 25 cases per 100,000 people.

Despite their record, the Roughers shouldn’t be underestimated. Their losses came to the No. 3 and No. 7 teams in Class 5A, and the No. 5 team in Arkansas 7A, and they have a coach who was known for winning several State Championships at the 5A level.

Sand Springs has the seventh-ranked offense and fifth-ranked defense in Class 6A-II, with the seventh-best margin of victory. Muskogee has the 15th-ranked offense and 13th-ranked defense, with the second-worst point differential.

Junior quarterback Ty Pennington is 58 of 107 passing for 1,012 yards and six touchdowns with only one interception this year. He also leads the team in rushing yards with 193 on 71 carries for six more touchdowns.

Keaton Campbell is 26-351 receiving with four touchdowns, Jamon Sisco is 13-351 for two touchdowns, and Jacob Blevins is 10-267. Sisco has returned three kicks for 121 yards this season, including a 93-yard touchdown against Ponca.

The run game has been a weak spot since Blake Jones suffered an injury in the season-opener, but he returned to action in the second quarter against Ponca and finished with 55 yards and a touchdown. He is 21-117 on the season with two scores.

Sango Whitehorn has a team-best 41 tackles, followed by Drake Fain with 38, and Landon Hendricks with 35. Whitehorn has four sacks and Hendricks has three.

Brycen Peterman has two interceptions while Micah Calico and Brooks Dudley have one apiece. Hendricks has four fumble recoveries. Peterman, Bryson Chase, Dominic Ornelas, and Daren Hawkins have one each. Campbell, Chase, and Peterman have all forced fumbles. Sisco has three blocked kicks, Whitehorn has blocked two, and Chase has blocked one.

Jonathan Daniels is 3/4 kicking PATs and 2/2 on field goals with a long of 26. Zach Heinen is 8/8 kicking PATs and is 0/1 on field goals, but his only attempt was from 46 yards. Greg Reed has been handling kickoffs and averages 53 yards per boot.

The Sandites have shown tremendous improvement over last season in almost all areas. Over their first four games they have scored 24 more points and allowed 29 fewer points. They have given up 182 fewer yards to penalties. The offense has racked up 324 more yards and the defense has secured four more takeaways. Special teams didn’t block a single kick at all last year, and they’ve already blocked six this year.

If Sand Springs gets the win they will be 4-1 for the first time since 2014, and Muskogee will be 0-4 for the first time since 2013.

The Roughers lead the series 23-6, including the last three meetings. They won 20 in a row from 1953 to 2010 before falling 7-3 in 2011 The Sandites won six in a row before the Roughers got back on top in 2017, which also happened to be the Sandites’ Homecoming. Sand Springs has hosted Muskogee twice on Homecoming, and lost both games.

Sandite football games remain open to the public with no decrease in capacity, yet. Masks are mandatory for all fans, however.

Volleyball, Softball, Football Rankings, League Standings

OSSAA District 6A-3 Fast Pitch Softball Standings

10-2 Shawnee (24-5)
9-2 Sand Springs (22-4)
8-2 Owasso (21-4)
7-4 Jenks (19-12)
4-8 Ponca City (10-23)
1-11 Sapulpa (3-19)
1-11 Muskogee (5-19)

OSSAA Class 6A Week 6 Volleyball Rankings

1. Bishop Kelley (22-3)
2. Norman North (24-4)
3. Mustang (26-6)
4. Jenks (20-7)
5. Edmond Santa Fe (18-7)
6 Edmond Memorial (18-8)
7. Bishop McGuinness (24-4)
8. Deer Creek (17-6)
9. Edmond North (14-12)
10. Broken Arrow (19-11)
11. Owasso (17-11)
12. Bixby (16-11)
13. Union (7-9)
14. Moore (16-13)
15. Choctaw (13-8)
16. Norman (9-11)
17. Booker T. Washington (7-12)
18. Bartlesville (16-15)
19. Enid (14-11)
20. Southmoore (5-13)

Frontier Valley Conference Volleyball Standings

7-0 Broken Arrow (19-11)
6-0 Jenks (20-7)
5-2 Owasso (17-11)
3-3 Bartlesville (16-15)
3-4 Bixby (16-11)
2-3 Booker T. Washington (7-12)
2-3 Union (7-9)
2-5 Sand Springs (13-11)
1-6 Muskogee (8-16)
0-5 Sapulpa (10-11)

Class 6A-II Sandite Pride Week 5 Football Rankings

1. Bixby (3-0)
2. Stillwater (3-0)
3. Putnam City North (4-0)
4. Midwest City (3-1)
5. Choctaw (2-2)
6. Booker T. Washington (2-2)
7. Del City (0-2)
8. Lawton (3-1)
9. Sand Springs (3-1)
10. Deer Creek (2-2)
11. Muskogee (0-3)
12. Bartlesville (1-3)
13. Ponca City (1-2)
14. Northwest Classen (1-0)
15. U.S. Grant (1-3)
16. Putnam City West (0-3)

CPHS Football: Sandites roll Ponca City 35-10 in district opener

The Class 6A-II No. 9 ranked Charles Page High School football team is 3-1 for the first time since 2015 after rolling to a 35-10 win over No. 13 Ponca City (1-2) Friday night at Sullins Stadium.

Sandite quarterback Ty Pennington accounted for three touchdowns in the district-opening win. He was 18-of-29 passing for 236 yards and two touchdowns, and ran the ball 16 times for 63 yards and another score.

The Sandites quickly marched to the Ponca one-yard line on their first possession, but Pennington attempted to leap over a Wildcat defender on the fourth-and-one option, and the ball came flying loose into the end zone where Ponca recovered it for a touchback.

The next Sand Springs drive stalled out at their own 36, but Brycen Peterman recovered a muffed punt to give his team new life. Jamon Sisco hauled in a 35-yard pass to enter the red zone and two plays later Pennington ran it in from seven yards out. Zach Heinen kicked the PAT and was a perfect five-for-five on the night.

Micah Calico made a touchdown-saving pass-breakup in the second quarter, wrestling loose a 50/50 ball from Nate Harbeson deep in Sandite territory, and the Sandite defense pitched a shutout in the first half.

Sand Springs had another opportunity to score shortly before the half, but James Godfrey knocked loose a fumble at his team’s 20-yard line and Tabron Stranton recovered it.

Pennington nearly found Keaton Campbell for a 28-yard strike on the opening possession of the second half, but Tyson Dewberry broke it up in the end zone for a turnover on downs. Peterman made another big play and picked off Aiden Wetzel on the Wildcats’ next drive, but Ponca got a three-and-out and blocked Pennington’s punt.

The last four minutes of the third quarter were the most exciting of the whole game. Pennington found Campbell for 26-yards and a score to make it 14-0, but Harbeson found Brett Haney on a 16-yard strike to get his team on the board. The biggest play of the game came on the ensuing kick, which Jamon Sisco returned 93 yards for a touchdown.

Ponca responded with a methodical ten-play 47-yard drive, and Spencer Ball kicked a 39-yard field goal to make it 21-10 early in the fourth quarter. The Sandites needed only six plays to score on their next drive, thanks to Wildcat penalties. Pennington ran for a first down at the Wildcat 42, but they got 30 yards for free after a Ponca player was called for a personal foul, and a protesting coach received a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. He found Ryan Shoemaker for seven yards, then hit Campbell for the five-yard score.

The defense forced a three-and-out, and the punt traveled only 14 yards, giving Sand Springs prime field position. Four plays later Blake Jones ran in a score from eight yards out. Jones missed the previous two games after getting injured in the season opener. Cody Cramer started against Ponca, but went down midway through the second quarter and Jones made his return to the field. Cramer would end up returning late in the fourth.

Ponca threatened on their final possession after Wetzel connected with Sam McKinney for 43 yards, but they never made it past the Sandite 22 thanks to a tackle for loss from Landon Hendricks and a sack from Sango Whitehorn led to a turnover on downs.

Campbell finished with ten catches for 138 yards. Pennington led the Sandites on the ground, followed by Jones with 11 carries for 55 yards. Whitehorn and Drake Fain led the defense with 8 tackles apiece, and Whitehorn had a team-best four tackles for loss and two sacks.

Cameron Jackson was the most productive Wildcat on offense with 22 carries for 167 yards. Harbeson was 5-9-33-0 passing and Wetzel was 2-8-53-1. McKinney was the top receiver with two catches for 52 yards, and also averaged 21 yards on his two kick returns. Dewberry led the Wildcat defense with nine tackles, followed by Godfrey with three tackles for loss and a sack.

Sandite Football will return to action Friday at 7:00 p.m. when they host No. 12 Muskogee (0-3) for Homecoming. Ponca will travel to No. 4 Choctaw (2-2) on Friday.

CPHS 35 POHI 10
First Downs: CPHS 16, POHI 12.
Fumbles/Lost: CPHS 3/2.
Penalties: CPHS 9-90, POHI 10-80.
Passing: CPHS 18-29-236-0, POHI 7-17-86-1.
Rushing: CPHS 40-151, POHI 42-169.
Offense: CPHS 69-387, POHI 59-255.

CPHS Football: Sandites lead Ponca City 7-0 at the half

The Class 6A-II No. 9 ranked Charles Page High School varsity football team (2-1) holds a 7-0 halftime advantage against No. 13 Ponca City (1-1) tonight at Sullins Stadium.

The Sandite offense had no difficulty moving the ball, racking up nine first downs and 186 yards, but they have given up two fumbles deep in Wildcat territory, including one in the endzone.

The defense has been a bright spot, holding Ponca City to 62 yards in the first half shutout, and only six yards in the second quarter.

Sand Springs’s lone score came on their second possession, an 11-play 71-yard march capped by a seven yard touchdown run from quarterback Ty Pennington. Pennington was 13-19-149-0 passing in the first half and 10-20 rushing, but was responsible for both lost fumbles.

Keaton Campbell has seven catches for 67 yards, and Jamon Sisco has two for 59 yards. Brycen Peterman recovered a muffed punt for the Sandites on their scoring drive after it initially stalled out in their own territory.

The run game continues to struggle, and sophomore Cody Cramer became the third back to go down this season for the Sandites. He walked off the field on his own with under seven minutes to play in the second quarter and has yet to return, but original starter Blake Jones returned to action for the first time since his injury in the season opener.

Follow @SanditeNews on Twitter for real-time scoring updates.

CPHS Football: Sandites kick off district action Friday in Ponca City

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The Class 6A-II No. 9 ranked Charles Page High School varsity football team (2-1) will kick off district action Friday at 7:00 p.m. when they travel to No. 13 Ponca City (1-1). Attendance for visiting fans will be limited to 250.

Unlike the season-opener at Sapulpa, Sandite Athletics will not be selling the actual tickets for the game. However, they have been given 250 vouchers to distribute, and fans must have a voucher in order to purchase tickets on Friday.

Vouchers will be distributed at the Ed Dubie Field House Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. If any vouchers remain, they will be distributed again Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Only the parents of 10th through 12th grade football players will be eligible for the tickets on Tuesday, and will be limited to two tickets per student. Wednesday and Thursday vouchers will be available to the general public. You must have a voucher in order to purchase a ticket on Friday.

Sand Springs is coming off a huge program win against an Arkansas 4A powerhouse, defeating No. 1 Shiloh Christian, who went 14-1 last season, only losing in their State Championship game. Previously the Sandites won 21-17 against 5A No. 6 Sapulpa (2-1) and barely lost 28-24 to 5A No. 2 Bishop Kelley (3-0) after leading till the final minute of the game.

Ponca City lost their season opener 19-17 to Enid (2-1) then won 23-22 against McLain (1-2). Ardmore canceled the Week 3 match-up due to a COVID-19 team quarantine.

Both teams are in rebuilding efforts. Ponca is in its third season under Scott Harmon, who guided the Wildcats to a 5-5 mark last fall to snap a 13-year streak of losing records. Sand Springs only posted three losing records before hiring Owasso Defensive Coordinator Bobby Klinck. Both teams are out to prove themselves as winning programs this year.

To say that Ponca is a run-heavy team would be an understatement. While they split the offense up 50/50 against Enid, they only made five pass attempts against McLain with 56 run plays. Cameron Jackson was the workhorse in that game with 30 carries for 186 yards and one touchdown.

The quarterback situation is a sore spot at Ponca. Grant Harmon was the starter in both games, and is 7-20-68-0 passing with one touchdown. Three other QBs have also seen action. Lane Scholey hasn’t made a single pass attempt and is 11-59 on the ground with one score. Nate Harbeson only made two pass attempts, completed neither, and one resulted in an 85-yard interception return for touchdown.

The Sand Springs QB situation is golden with 6’3” stud Ty Pennington going 40-79-771-1 passing this season for four touchdowns by air. He is also 55-130 on the ground for five scores. The ground game is a weak spot, however, as the Sandites’ top two running backs are out with injury and Pennington has had to help carry the load. Jamon Sisco is 10-281 receiving with two touchdowns, Jacob Blevins is 8-242, and Keaton Campbell is 16-214 with two touchdowns.

The Sandite defense has been outstanding thus far on the season. Micah Calico, Brooks Dudley, and Bryson Peterman have interceptions. Bryson Chase, Dominic Ornelas, and Daren Hawkins have fumble recoveries, and Landon Hendricks has a team-best four fumble recoveries. Chase, Sisco, and Sango Whitehorn all have blocked kicks. Ponca has also been getting their fair share of turnovers, with three picks and a fumble recovery against McLain.

The two teams first met on Thanksgiving of 1952, with Ponca winning the playoff game 27-9 in Sand Springs. They tied in 1953 and the Sandites got their first win of the series in 1954 after returning from a 20-point deficit. Sand Springs won a triple-overtime game in 1981. Ponca’s biggest win of the series was 48-2 in 2003, and Sand Springs’s biggest win was 57-7 in 2013. The Sandites won seven games in a row from 2012 to 2018 and lead the series 25-20-1 overall, but Ponca won last year’s game 24-14.

Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. at Sullins Stadium at 600 East Brookfield Avenue, Ponca City, OK 74601. Sandite Pride will be posting all scoring plays on Twitter at @SanditeNews, along with quarterly updates on Instagram and Facebook.

Volleyball, Softball, Football Rankings, League Standings

OSSAA District 6A-3 Fast Pitch Softball Standings

8-2 Shawnee (20-3)
8-2 Sand Springs (21-4)
8-2 Owasso (20-4)
7-2 Jenks (18-7)
4-8 Ponca City (9-19)
1-10 Muskogee (1-15)
1-11 Sapulpa (3-16)

OSSAA Class 6A Week 4 Volleyball Rankings

1. Bishop Kelley (16-3)
2. Jenks (17-3)
3. Norman North (20-3)
4. Edmond Santa Fe (16-6)
5. Mustang (22-3)
6 Edmond Memorial (17-7)
7. Bishop McGuinness (20-1)
8. Deer Creek (13-6)
9. Edmond North (11-8)
10. Broken Arrow (17-11)
11. Owasso (16-11)
12. Bixby (15-6)
13. Union (4-7)
14. Moore (10-8)
15. Choctaw (12-7)
16. Bartlesville (9-10)
16. Enid (12-10)
18. Booker T. Washington (7-7)
18. Southmoore (5-12)
20. Norman (8-10)

Frontier Valley Conference Volleyball Standings

5-0 Broken Arrow (17-11)
5-0 Jenks (17-3)
4-2 Owasso (16-11)
3-2 Bartlesville (9-10)
3-3 Bixby (15-6)
2-3 Booker T. Washington (7-7)
2-4 Sand Springs (13-10)
1-3 Union (4-7)
1-6 Muskogee (8-9)
0-3 Sapulpa (9-9)

Class 6A-II Sandite Pride Week 4 Football Rankings

1. Bixby (2-0)
2. Stillwater (2-0)
3. Booker T. Washington (2-1)
4. Putnam City North (3-0)
5. Choctaw (1-2)
6. Del City (0-2)
7. Midwest City (2-1)
8. Lawton (3-0)
9. Sand Springs (2-1)
10. Deer Creek (2-1)
11. Muskogee (0-3)
12. Bartlesville (1-2)
13. Ponca City (1-1)
14. Northwest Classen (1-0)
15. U.S. Grant (1-2)
16. Putnam City West (0-3)