November 15, 2019 Issue, Page 10 of 10

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Page 10 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Friday, November 15, 2019 Beer: Morale is good with football program By Don Munsch, Editor rale remains high despite the quarter but surrendered a manned,” Beer said Tues- gota lot of kids coming back ing through and what it was Elk City finished its sea- lack of success. couple of touchdowns and day. next year, so our expecta- trying to accomplish. son last week with a 35-20 Calling it a tough season lost 28-20. They played some sopho- tions will be higher. I think Beer said the offseason home loss to Weatherford, would be an understatement, To Elk City’s defense, the mores and freshmen, and we're going to see a lot of begins with players starting the eventual district cham- as the Elks were outscored Elks had to play the season when that happens, “some- good things.” the lifting program. Some While Beer would not pion. The loss capped off a 439-152 and led in only one with a bunch of youngsters times, it’s kind of tough,” name names as far as certain players will move on to play winless season for the Elks game in the second half of and only a handful of se- Beer said. “We kind of fig- players he is excited about in another sport, or they can — their second-straight 0-10 a contest all season. In that niors. ured out early, we had an up- seeing next year, he did say participate in lifting. season, game, against Woodward “We're a really young hill battle. Wejust try to stay the program’s sophomore “We start powerlifting, But Elk City head football in week two, Elk City led team, and we were a lit- positive and build for the class is talented and will be and we’ll start taking kids coach Todd Beer said mo- 20-14 going into the fourth tle out-sized, a little out- future and know that we’ve improved in its junior year. to some power meets here “And then our freshman after Christmas,” Beer said. Merritt drops final game group, I look for a couple “That’s kind of it.” of those kids to really grow Schools will go through up through the course ofoff- realignment in January, and season,” he said, adding he Beer doesn’t expect much expects a small senior class of year, finishes 0-9 of a change for Elk City. next year. The junior varsity finished Realignment happens every 6-2 this year, and Beer has two years. high expectations for the “Elgin could go out — By Casey Lantz, Contrib- game defensively, causing big runs from Justus that The Eagles’ defense did a eighth grade class, The sev- they could go up,” he said. uting Writer the Eagles to punt multiple brought the Oilers deep into good job of slowing down enth grade did well, too. “Woodward could come The Merritt Oilers’ search times. But after one defen- Eagle territory. Everything Overall, he thought his down. We don’t know that Merritt’s rushing attack, for a victory this season sive stop, the Sayre punt went well until another Oiler team worked hard and played for sure, but that’s some of Merritt Coach Barret Rich- hard this year, and Beer said ended in Sayre Nov. 8, as was mishandled by Justus, fumble put an end to their the speculation that’s out ardson said, The Oilers had the Oilers lost 20-0, closing giving the Eagles good field drive. The Oilers were down even though the Elks were there.” out the season 0-9 overall position. But the Merritt at halftime, 6-0. several opportunities, but at a disadvantage in a lot of Elk City has scheduled a and 0-6 in Class A District defense stepped up big to The second half was more could never really cash in areas, he saw improvement couple of non-district oppo- 2 play. force a turnover on downs. of the same for the Oilers, as because of mental mistakes. throughout season. nents for next year: Pampa The Oilers came to play The Oilers had a hard time they couldn’t get much go- “The guys are young, and “Some weeks, it was more though, kicking off to the getting much going on the ing on the ground and very they have some growing up defensive improvement, and and Guymon. The Elks will Eagles, and forcing a turn- ground, and were forced to little through the air. other weeks, it was more of- open up in zero week in to do, [some] experience to over early, as defensive back go to the air. The Oilers’ Drake Carnes fensive improvement,” he Pampa. Zero week begins a Zack Carr made a leaping The Oilers fumbled in forced and recovered a fum- gain,” he said. “We gave said. “ButI think we’ve got week before the regular sea- interception and returned their own territory giving ble, but mistakes led to the them the short field all night some kids moved to some son starts. Guymon will visit it all the way to the Sayre the Sayre Eagles a short ball going right back to the and made it a little too easy spots where they’re going Elk City next season. The 7-yard line. The Oiler of- field, which they later capi- Eagle offense, which went on them.” to help us. I think some of Elks will be in an eight-team fense, though, couldn’t capi- talized on with a touchdown ‘on to score two more touch- The Oilers can only im- those things we’ve kind of district again, Beer said. talize, as on fourth down, run from Sayre running back downs. The Eagles relied prove going into next sea- figured out. I think going “If Woodward doesn’t quarterback Hagen Justus Hunter Flanagan, to make the heavily on Hunter Flanagan son, as Richardson said into next year, in our teams come down, that’ll be our tried to sling a pass in the di- score 6-0 in the first quarter. and the run game. Merritt will “have a lot of camps and stuff, we'll be a little bit ahead.” third non-district game,” rection of River Britton, but Merritt’s defense stepped up Sayre [3-7, 3-3] will move big again to thwart the two- it was intercepted by Eagles’ into the playoffs this week kids coming back next sea- Even as the Elks struggled Beer said. “But if Woodward Chase Logan, who returned point conversion. when the team travels to son with more game time each week, Beer said he comes into district, we'll it back to the Sayre 45. Merritt looked like it might Thomas to face a tough Ter- experience which will hope- thinks most people under- have to find another non- Merritt played a good score on the next series with rier team. fully lead to some wins.” stood what the team was go- district game.” Elk City harriers BlueCross BlueShield honored at banquet of Oklahoma By Don Munsch, Editor cross-country meet, Taylor “He’s awesome.” Elk City High School explained. Keyes said he enjoyed cross-country coach Jim “You just go do the best working with Taylor and Taylor likes what the sport you can,” he said. spoke about his experiences can bring out in people. He said cross-country is as a coach. ECHS cross-country team a sport that can help people “The kids in this program members were honored at in multiple ways — mentally, come to work; they know a banquet Tuesday night at physically and competitive- what work ethic is,” Keyes ECHS commons. ly — and can aid them when said. Students enjoyed a din- they get out into the real Keyes said he appreci- ner and were lauded for world one day, including ated how receptive the run- their work during the year. when they are looking for a ners were to the coaching Taylor and assistant coach job. they received. He said he Jared Keyes spoke about the “It helps you become, re- looked forward to next year, cross-country program and ally, who you are,” he said. as many runners in the pro- its goals. “Whatever you put into it is gram were fairly young and Taylor told parents and what you get out of it. And will return next year. their children about his ori- that’s the way life is, the way “[ think we’ve got some gins as a coach, including I see it.” really bright days ahead of how he came to love the The sport makes competi- us,” he said. sport, and he spoke about tors earn whatever they re- At the banquet, senior what a student needs to pos- ceive, Taylor said. runners received gifts — an sess in order to successful in “You can’t go out there and embroidered towel and cross-country. fake it,” he said. “Nobody blanket and a small pillow “T see what it takes for an else can hit the winning shot — and runners who partici- individual to do what they for you. ... They can’t catch pated at state received cer- do,” he said. “It takes a lot of the winning touchdown for tificates. Boys team runners inner person to do this sport. you, they can’t kick the win- were Mason Smith, Mitchell Because there’s not a whole ning goal for you. You gotta Robinson, Andrew Valadez, lot ofglory in it. There’s no- go do it yourself. So I really Kye Keyes, Alex Waters, body up in the stands cheer- enjoy that part of it.” Ethan Banks and Harrison ing. I mean, they might Taylor introduced Keyes, Mayfield. Girls state run- be along that finish line or and he praised Keyes for all ners were Brooklyn How- something cheering when of his over-and-above effort ard, Savannah Kauk, Juanita you come in to finish.” that he puts into the program. Valadez, Paige Lane, Caylin It’s just the runner against “He’s a blessing to me and Burton, Brynn Armstrong other individual runners in a to these kids,” Taylor said. and Brett Barnett. Send photos to Visit BlueNearYouOK.com to see event dates or call editor @ecdailynews.com 800-844-0900 for assistance.