Richards leads Carl Albert to win, 5A semifinals
MIDWEST CITY — The head coach at Carl Albert, Mike Corley, might be new this football season but the Titans are maintaining one tradition beloved by now-retired head coach Gary Rose.
“You’re going to practice on Thanksgiving, fellas,” Corley told the jubilant Titans after the game.
Led by three touchdowns from senior receiver Diego Richards, the No. 1-ranked Titans cruised to a 49-23 win over No. 7 Claremore in a Class 5A quarterfinal on Friday night at Harris Field.
Carl Albert (12-0), the defending 5A champion, will carry a 20-game winning streak into its semifinal next week against Skiatook. The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association will announce the time and site of that game this weekend.
The Titans overwhelmed Claremore (7-5) with their big-play capabilities, as five of Carl Albert’s seven touchdowns went for 35 yards or more. Richards caught touchdown passes of 48 and 42 yards from quarterback Ben Harris and returned the second-half kickoff 91 yards for another score.
Harris completed 12 of 19 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns, while tailback Dadrion Taylor needed only 14 carries to roll up 152 yards and two scores, on runs of 7 and 3 yards. All those big numbers helped Carl Albert overcome a huge night by Claremore quarterback Noah Grimett, who rushed for 200 yards, threw for 162 and accounted for all three of the Zebras’ touchdowns — one rushing and two passing.
“Our skill guys — I’ve said it all year long — we’ve always been blessed with two or maybe three kids here each year,” Corley said. “But we’ve got four or five of them this year that can really go. They’re special kids, a special group. They won state in track last year and they’re on the basketball team. They’re a bunch of winners.”
With those sorts of players, maintaining the standard of excellence established by Rose — who was responsible for 10 of the Titans’ 12 state titles, including the one in 2016 — is something Corley embraces.
“It’s something we talk about all the time,” Corley said. “We work it. It’s expected in the classroom. Our administration expects it. Our other coaches in our other sports expect it and we expect it, for sure, in football. Coach Rose set a high standard and we’re going to try to keep it here.”
The Titans scored touchdowns on two of their first four offensive snaps, with Harris hitting Jason Taylor on a 47-yard pass, then Richards on the 48-yard pass.
Claremore fumbled at the Carl Albert 3, but caught a break when the Zebras tackled Harris in the end zone for a safety on the Titans’ first play after the turnover. The Zebras pulled within 14-9 with 7:14 left in the second quarter when Taylor Davis caught a 9-yard pass from Grimett, cap- ping an 80-yard scoring drive.
Again, the Titans produced a big scoring play, with Taylor breaking free for a 70- yard touchdown run. Grimett fumbled at his own 35 three plays into Claremore’s next drive and the Titans recovered. A 32-yard pass from Harris to Zane Alexander set up a 3-yard scoring run by Taylor, making it 28- 9 at halftime.
Richards’ kickoff return made it 35- 9 and essentially ended all doubt, although the game Zebras tacked on two second-half touchdowns to keep things interesting.