FOOTBALL’S BACK
: Anadarko hosts Elgin in 5A season opener

ELGIN – A balanced Warrior offense that features first-year quarterback Terrance Johnson and returning tailback Lucas Camp could create some defensive problems for Elgin when Anadarko hosts the Owls Friday night.

“They both can run the ball well and when he (Johnson) has open receivers he finds a way to get it to them,” Elgin head coach Chalmer Wyatt said. “We’ve got to be gap sound and put some hats on the ball.”

Class 3A Anadarko dropped its first game of the season to Lone Grove 55-26 last Friday. Lone Grove’s Caden Gilmore was on fire as the senior QB threw five touchdowns, which means Elgin might look to expose the Warrior secondary with sophomore quarterback Tres Lorah who threw for 1,393 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

Lorah will have plenty of targets with senior receiver Austin Elam, Treyvon Crabtree, lead tailback Matthew Lund and junior wide receiver Michael Adesola.

Crabtree is the team’s top returning receiver with 26 catches and 255 yards from last season. Lund was also used in the passing game in 2021 with 16 catches for 273 yards, including a 78-yard reception and three touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Adesola also returns after catching 21 balls for 366 yards last season.

Lone Grove also had a strong rushing attack against Anadarko last week with running back Eli Kendall scoring on runs of 58 and 98 yards, respectively.

Anadarko head coach Kent Jackson doesn’t want to see another rushing attack fly through the Warrior defense.

“We know their tailback gave us trouble last year,” he said. “They play hard and those are ingredients to being good. He (Lund) can run. He sees the holes and once he’s out into the secondary, he’s gone.”

Jackson knows it’ll be important to limit the number of Elgin offensive possessions.

“They’re going to try and throw the football. We need to try and keep the score down,” he said. “They’ve got a good group this year.”

Elgin defeated Anadarko 55-41 during last year’s matchup.

Wyatt wants to convey to the Owls the importance of keeping the focus and intensity on the first game of the season.

“Offensively, we’ve got to execute our style of football,” he said. “We’ve got to catch the football and pass protect.”
Last Friday, Elgin scrimmaged Millwood and Harrah in preparation for the 2022 season opener.

“Our quarterback improved and was able to get different reads against two defenses, which is what he’ll need to do Friday night and that’s make the necessary reads. Anadarko may give us different looks. They’re sound, they do things right and they’re well-coached,” Wyatt said.

“Game week is finally here, and we have to be ready to go,” the head coach said.