Don’t judge a book by its cover.
That has been Billy Brown’s thought process during his Shawnee squad’s preparation for tonight’s (7:30) Class 5A first-round playoff encounter against Altus at Jim Thorpe Stadium.
Altus, ranked 15th, enters the matchup with a 4-6 record.
Top-ranked Shawnee is 10-0 and has had just one opponent, Carl Albert, come within 10 points.
No problems, right?
Don’t be so hasty with that conclusion, says the SHS coach. “I Know they are 4-6, but they are a really good football team,” Brown said.
Close but no cigar has been the Altus malady for much of the season. Non-district losers to 6A playoff participants Lawton (15-14) and Lawton Eisenhower (10-0), Altus also dropped a 14-13 district decision to Duncan, the 5A-1 runner-up. The most one-sided Altus loss was a 22-3 decision to El Reno in the district opener.
“They are a big, physical, well-coached team with the best set of linebackers we’ve seen this year,” Brown said.
Junior linebacker Tyler George (6-1, 185) has logged 134 tackles. Senior linebacker Ryan Feller (6-1, 210) has 123.
“Those two go downhill, play hard and don’t miss many tackles,” Brown said.
Offensively, the Bulldogs have run the ball more than they have thrown (65-35 percent ratio). “They will run right at you, nothing fancy,” Brown said.
Altus is averaging 163.5 rushing yards with Trevor Starling leading the way with 87 carries for 329 yards and six touchdowns.
Senior quarterback Austin Beisel (6-3, 210) has completed 35.2 percent (37-105) of his aerials for 503 yards and just two touchdowns. He has been intercepted eight times.
SHS junior quarterback Brayle Brown has been one of the state’s premier passers, connecting on 112-of-182 attempts for 1,980 yards and 26 touchdowns. He has been intercepted nine times.
Brown has also excelled on the rushing end with 671 yards on 89 attempts, including 10 touchdowns.
Jordan Acock, sidelined last week against Capitol Hill with a foot injury, is scheduled to play tonight, Brown said. Acock has produced 850 yards on 134 carries with 19 touchdowns.
Shawnee is second in 5A in both rushing yardage (250.78) and passing yardage (204.44).
The Wolves also have four wide receivers with 16 or more catches, headed by Saulyer Saxon with 41 for 840 yards and nine touchdowns. Nick Berry has 17 catches with Leon Davis and Gabrion Frazier posting 16 apiece.
Altus outscored its regular season opposition 196-133. Shawnee, the 5A-2 champion, has outscored foes 451-190.
“From here on out, we don’t have any room for errors. Turnovers and penalties have to be limited,” Billy Brown said. “Our team knows what is ahead of them and that Altus is a good team. They are the best 4-6 team I’ve ever seen.”
Note: Altus went 6-5 last year, including a playoff loss in the first round.
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Don’t judge a book by its cover.
That has been Billy Brown’s thought process during his Shawnee squad’s preparation for tonight’s (7:30) Class 5A first-round playoff encounter against Altus at Jim Thorpe Stadium.
Altus, ranked 15th, enters the matchup with a 4-6 record.
Top-ranked Shawnee is 10-0 and has had just one opponent, Carl Albert, come within 10 points.
No problems, right?
Don’t be so hasty with that conclusion, says the SHS coach. “I Know they are 4-6, but they are a really good football team,” Brown said.
Close but no cigar has been the Altus malady for much of the season. Non-district losers to 6A playoff participants Lawton (15-14) and Lawton Eisenhower (10-0), Altus also dropped a 14-13 district decision to Duncan, the 5A-1 runner-up. The most one-sided Altus loss was a 22-3 decision to El Reno in the district opener.
“They are a big, physical, well-coached team with the best set of linebackers we’ve seen this year,” Brown said.
Junior linebacker Tyler George (6-1, 185) has logged 134 tackles. Senior linebacker Ryan Feller (6-1, 210) has 123.
“Those two go downhill, play hard and don’t miss many tackles,” Brown said.
Offensively, the Bulldogs have run the ball more than they have thrown (65-35 percent ratio). “They will run right at you, nothing fancy,” Brown said.
Altus is averaging 163.5 rushing yards with Trevor Starling leading the way with 87 carries for 329 yards and six touchdowns.
Senior quarterback Austin Beisel (6-3, 210) has completed 35.2 percent (37-105) of his aerials for 503 yards and just two touchdowns. He has been intercepted eight times.
SHS junior quarterback Brayle Brown has been one of the state’s premier passers, connecting on 112-of-182 attempts for 1,980 yards and 26 touchdowns. He has been intercepted nine times.
Brown has also excelled on the rushing end with 671 yards on 89 attempts, including 10 touchdowns.
Jordan Acock, sidelined last week against Capitol Hill with a foot injury, is scheduled to play tonight, Brown said. Acock has produced 850 yards on 134 carries with 19 touchdowns.
Shawnee is second in 5A in both rushing yardage (250.78) and passing yardage (204.44).
The Wolves also have four wide receivers with 16 or more catches, headed by Saulyer Saxon with 41 for 840 yards and nine touchdowns. Nick Berry has 17 catches with Leon Davis and Gabrion Frazier posting 16 apiece.
Altus outscored its regular season opposition 196-133. Shawnee, the 5A-2 champion, has outscored foes 451-190.
“From here on out, we don’t have any room for errors. Turnovers and penalties have to be limited,” Billy Brown said. “Our team knows what is ahead of them and that Altus is a good team. They are the best 4-6 team I’ve ever seen.”
Note: Altus went 6-5 last year, including a playoff loss in the first round.
