A 35-30 loss to Guthrie Friday night in the OSSAA Class 5A State Semi-Finals ended the football season for the Newcastle Racers. Undefeated Carl Albert beat Del City, 28-7, placing Guthrie and Carl Albert in the State Championship next Saturday at 7 p.m. at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
It’s been a banner year for the Racers, going undefeated in District competition for their first year in Class 5A. Newcastle began pre-season with losses to Blanchard, Tuttle and Elgin, before starting their unblemished District play. They finished with a 6-0 District record, and a 9-4 season record.
Coach Jeff Brickman said there were 4,500 fans at the Friday night semi-finals game against Guthrie and the Newcastle fans were the loudest. He said they were fantastic.
Newcastle Schools appeals OSSAA ruling on former coach on field during game — pg. 4 “The players gave great effort,” Brickman said. “We had some untimely penalties and a few execution errors in special teams. Guthrie was able to create some explosive plays in the run game, and those things all combined left us a little short.”
BRICKMAN: Semi-Finals
There were several big plays in the game.
“On our first drive we scored a touchdown but it was called back for an illegal block, so we ended up kicking a field goal,” he said. “We intercepted a pass that resulted in a touchdown to go up 10-0. We scored on a touchdown pass right before halftime to have momentum and the lead 24-21. In the second half it went back and fourth with most of the explosive plays for them being on the ground and for us being in the air.”
The Racers were ahead of the Bluejays at halftime, 24-21. Guthrie put another 14 second-half points on the board to Newcastle’s six, winning the game, 35-30.
Brickman said, “On offense we were balanced. We had 225 yards passing and 181 yards rushing.”
He said one of the team’s offensive goals was to have more than 400 total yards, and they had 406.
“Guthrie had most of their yards rushing,” Brickman said. “They completed seven passes with one touchdown, and we intercepted two of their passes.”
Coach Brickman said the Racer seniors all had an outstanding game, leaving it all on the field.
He said they have been outstanding leaders.
Jackson Schanuel was named both game most valuable player and winner of the Sledgehammer award.
Cody Nix received the Knockdown award. Taj Smith was named offense player of the game, and Trey Burchett was named defense player of the game. Rex Heskew earned the special teams player of the game.
