Five area football teams remain in playoff race

Just the term nostalgic is hard to define for many youngsters across the country but when this writer looks back at his younger years, I can’t remember when that simple word became part of my vocabulary.

The last couple of days have offered up thoughts of the past and I’m glad nobody called the police to check out the gray-haired old guy riding around on his scooter at two famed old football stadiums, Chandler Field in Apache and Outlaws Stadium in Marlow.

While waiting for Apache football coach Tanner Koons to finish his practice under the lights Tuesday, I had plenty of time to look around the old stadium and think about all those fond memories. My second-grade teacher must have told me 100 times to quit watching the bulldozers and earth movers that were busy transforming that old sand-rock hill into a football stadium. Years later I got much closer to the action, working in the concession stand to raise money for our senior trip.

My assignment was simple, separate biscuits out of those pop-open cans and form a hole in the middle. That was it; I wasn’t trusted to cook them in the hot oil and there was no way the girls in my class were going to let me swirl them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. 

That old concession stand is long gone, replaced by a nice facility where the great women of Apache whip up everything from beans and fry bread, to cheeseburgers with grilled onions, to pulled pork sandwiches. 

Wednesday it was time for a rare visit to Marlow and Outlaws Stadium to check out the thoughts of several seniors from the Stephens County crew that is preparing for another Class 3A playoff game in Tulsa, this one against Cascia Hall.

I couldn’t help but check out the old stadium and the original rock archway that was the entry for fans back in the mid-1930s when the facility was built as part of the Works Progress Authority. 

The good folks at Marlow made sure the original entry complete with the cornerstone was preserved as part of the National Historic Registry. However, just about everything else is new except the natural grass turf that is still the surface that countless Outlaws have played on over the years. 

The field-house features a huge sign proclaiming Ron Newby Fieldhouse, a fitting tribute to one of the good guys in Southwest Oklahoma.

While it was a different sport, my first assignment as a member of the Lawton Constitution/Morning Press staff was to cover a district tournament at Marlow in mid-February of 1972.

All of that time spent driving and watching practice plus thinking about the history of these two old football fields sure didn’t help with the business at hand; making my picks for Week 2 of the high school playoffs.

Maybe part of my delaying tactics came from the concern on a way to improve on last week’s perfect 11-0 record; knowing it would be tougher as the competition becomes stronger. However, enough stalling, it’s time to make this week’s picks involving the remaining five area teams. And remember, the home teams will be listed in all-capital letters:

CLASS 5A Quarterfinals

ELGIN 39, Claremore 6—It’s hard to go against the Owls with their defense playing as well as anyone. At some point in the playoffs the offense is going to clean up a couple of issues such as a few dropped passes and some missed second-level blocks and if that happens it will be tough for that opponent to stay in the game. Expect the Zebras to try and throw the ball a good deal which isn’t easy with the Owls’ fierce pass rush. While the visitors might hit a couple of those “chunk” plays, this is a game that the Owls should add to their list of success stories this season.

Class 3A Quarterfinals

Marlow 27, CASCIA HALL 22—Outlaws have been under the radar much of the season but now that the playoffs are under way, we see Marlow getting another good playoff victory on the road. 

Class A Quarterfinals

APACHE 34, Stratford 12—After visiting with three senior members of the Warriors Tuesday evening, you quickly learn this bunch is all business and very confident. On game nights Chandler Field is a special place with vast areas of open space around the stadium for lawn chairs or bales of hay that make a good seat in a pinch. The teepee is standing proud in the north end zone and the drums will be at their loudest by the time the 7 p.m. kickoff arrives.

Walters 21, DIBBLE 20—This is the one game that yours truly agonized with for a couple of days. The Blue Devils must get a fast start because Dibble can score in bunches so it is imperative that Walters gets an early lead and then keeps the Dibble offense off the field as much as possible. As we learned in the battle with Apache, the Blue Devils have the weapons to score fast but Dibble has a good defense and if Walters gets down early it could be a long night.

CLASS C Quarterfinals

TIPTON 54, Graham 6—Tipton might have to play in the second half this week which is good news for the concession stands but not for Graham. Tipton will handle this assignment at home and wait for the semifinal site, time and opponent to be determined Sunday or Monday by the OSSAA. 

Last week: 11-0, 100 percent. Season: 130-35, 78.9 percent.