By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
In a season-opening 19-13 loss to Wagoner, Miami was stopped inside the 1-yard line on the game's final play.
Three weeks later the Wardogs led until the last 21/2 minutes before falling 21-10 to Bixby.
Last week the Wardogs trimmed Tulsa Kelley 13-7, this time coming out on the winning side of a tossup game.
“We've been in probably four games this year where personnel-wise we matched up pretty evenly,” Wardogs head coach Chris Risenhoover said. “Two of them we lost late in the game, then last week I don't know if because of the law of averages or if we were the better football team, but we finally got one to go our way.”
The Wardogs (6-4) bring a five-game winning streak into tonight's Class 5A playoff opener at Tulsa East Central (8-2). Kickoff is 7:30.
“There is a little better feeling ending the season, flip-flopped from what we've done in the past,” Risenhoover said. “We're on the upswing going into the playoffs. We're healthy, hitting our stride. I feel like this is as strong as we've been this football season on both sides of the ball and special teams.
“We felt like we'd be a good football team coming into the season. We did not feel we played that good early in the year, but now I feel like we have everybody back on board. We're progressed a little bit on both sides of the ball and special teams, too.
“We weren't real good on special teams early in the year but last week we played real well against a team that has had big returns all year. We covered well. All three phases were pretty strong. We won't have any excuses. We're ready to go to war.”
East Central, a district runner-up, won the state title in 2005 and reached the semifinal round the next two years.
“They are a dominant 5A school with tradition,” Risenhoover said. “They have been one of the big factors in 5A for the last eight to 10 years.
“They can run and pass. They have excellent athletes. They probably have the fastest kid in the state, a wide receiver named David Gordon. He was the state 100-meter champion from last year.”
The Wardogs have allowed more than a touchdown only once in the last five games, outscoring their opponents 182-36 over that span.
Trent Turner and Grant Longcrier have rushed for 555 and 521 yards, respectively, and Turner has hit 117 of 196 passes for 1,633 yards and 15 touchdowns.
A balanced receiving corps includes Jordan Simons (33 catches for 374 yards), James Pickens (32 for 392 yards and four touchdowns) and Longcrier (25 for 486 yards, seven TDs).
The Wardog defense has 26 takeaways — 16 fumbles and 10 interceptions.
“Our defense is as strong of a unit as we've had since I've been here (five years),” Risenhoover said. “Every kid who steps out on the field is giving everything he's got, playing with a big heart. I'm happy with the level our kids are performing at.
“East Central is an excellent program. It will be a real big challenge. It will take another good team effort, but if we take care of the football and don't do anything silly, I feel like we have a chance to compete with them.”
Sports
Wardogs open playoffs at East Central
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