By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Grove High School football coach Dennis Millican doesn’t expect Star Spencer to unveil any surprises today when the Bobcats visit in the quarterfinal round of the Oklahoma Class 4A playoffs.
That isn’t saying that Millican doesn’t believe Star Spencer is a solid opponent.
“They have speed and are in the field of eight for a reason,” Millican said. “We need to stop their running game. They run right at you. We have to go toe-to-toe with them in the trenches.”
Second-ranked Grove and No. 6 Star Spencer enter the 3 p.m. game with respective records of 11-0 and 9-2.
Eighth-ranked Wagoner (7-4) is at No. 1 Glenpool (11-0) at 7:30 tonight in another quarterfinal.
Leading offensive parts for Star Spencer, according to coach Darrell Hall, include senior quarterback Jeremy Harris and 6-foot-1, 205-pound junior running back Darwin Rideau.
Harris has rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns, Hall said, and thrown for 300 and three scores. Rideau has rushed for some 1,200 yards and 17 scores.
Defensive leaders for Star Spencer, Hall said, include 6-1, 215-pound senior linebacker Money Davis and 6-2, 267-pound senior tackle Montrell Robinson.
Harris had seven scoring runs of more than 55 yards for last year’s 8-4 Bobcats.
Hall said the Bobcats lost their opener (34-22 to Class 2A Millwood) and their regular-season final to Glenpool (35-6) in a district showdown.
Hall, a graduate of Fox High School and East Central University of Ada, is in his ninth year overall and sixth as head coach at Star Spencer (near Oklahoma City).
“Grove is a very good team,” Hall said. “We must defend the whole field and tackle well. They run extremely well. I’m hoping the wind is blowing 70 mph.”
Grove quarterback Corey Davenport, who has 126 points, has rushed for 20 touchdowns and 880 yards on 174 carries. The 6-foot, 185-pound senior also has thrown for 1,027 yards and 12 touchdowns on 73-of-140 with just two interceptions.
Running back Casey Bartley, a 5-7, 165-pound junior, has provided the Ridgerunners 631 yards and three touchdowns on 91 carries (a 6.9-yard average).
Leading receivers for Grove, which has outscored its opponents 421-106, are 6-0, 180 senior Dusty Gehrke (43 receptions, 668 yards, eight touchdowns); 6-0, 180 senior Michael Hudgens (25-325-2) and 5-10, 165 junior Braeden Downes (16-250-2).
Sophomore linebackers Bobby Harris (6-2, 235) and Trent Phillips (6-0, 185) lead the Ridgerunners in solo tackles with 50 and 46, respectively. Harris and junior end Weston Culvey (5-10, 240) are 1-2 in total stops with 73 and 48.
Free safety Gehrke, who has 41 solo tackles, also has eight interceptions. He has returned 13 punts for 219 yards. Harris has nine tackles for losses and five quarterback sacks.
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Star Spencer set to test Ridgerunners
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