Crusaders draw Tulsa in playoffs

May 03, 2008 01:36 am

— By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
You can call them the Tulsa Knights, Tulsa Rhinos or Tulsa Stampede.
Whatever, they represent the first hurdle for the Joplin Crusaders in the Central Football League playoffs.
And apparently they’re becoming a major rival for Joplin.
Defending champion Joplin (8-0), the No. 1 seed in the North Division, entertains the fourth-seeded Knights (6-3) tonight at 7 at Junge Field.
“Rivalry? Well, we have some guys playing on our team who still are living in Tulsa and used to play with them,” Joplin defensive coordinator Dave Pitts said Friday.
“We have a rivalry,” Joplin offensive coordinator Brenden Gubera said. “They give 100 percent. It’s never been easy.”
Gubera and Pitts agreed it wasn’t easy in their previous meeting this season, either.
Joplin claimed a 35-26 decision at Tulsa early in the season that included a scuffle between the teams early in the contest
“They are so athletic and blessed with speed,” Pitts said. “Speed can give us trouble. If they stay organized, it could be an outstanding game.”
The Knights, who changed their name this year from Rhinos, were surprised 37-20 by first-year Enid to wrap up the regular season in the 10-team non-pro league.
The Knights, who nipped the visiting Kansas Cougars 7-6 in a play-in game to qualify for the eight-team playoffs last Saturday, also lost 18-13 to the Arkansas Warriors during the regular season.
Said Gubera of the first meeting: “They (the Knights) were able to strike with big plays. We have to eliminate some of those big plays.
“They usually run the ball more than they pass but they were able to score with the pass against us,” Gubera said.
“I’m always concerned,” Gubera said. “We’ve had a week off. Hopefully, we’ll be ready mentally with fresh legs. Jeremy Massey, hopefully, will be 100 percent after dinging up a shoulder in our last game.”
Notes: Pitts, head football coach at Liberal High School the past two seasons, has resigned to join Dusty Perkins’ staff at Parsons of the Southeast Kansas League. Pitts’ duties will include offensive line coach. Pitts is a product of Girard High School, Neosho County Community College of Chanute and Pittsburg State. ... Ticket prices tonight are $5 for adults and $1 for Joplin High School faculty and students. There is no charge for military personnel. ... Joplin puts an overall winning streak of 21 games on the line ... Joplin, if it wins, has another home game in the semifinals against the winner of Enid-Arkansas.