Title seekers
In just its eighth year with a football program, Crossings Christian is looking for its first district crown. The Knights host Cashion on Friday night to decide the District A-3 title.
A weighty question has been floating around the Crossings Christian School locker room.
Sitting at 8-1 overall and 7-0 in district play, Crossings Christian will host Cashion on Friday to decide the District A-3 football title.
Is this the biggest game in school history?
"I've thought about it," coach Jonathan Keathly said. "It's a great question. It's definitely a big one."
In only its eighth year of having a football program, Crossings Christian is checking off quite a few firsts this season.
The Knights have already won the most games in school history, have become ranked in coaches' polls and by
The Oklahoman for the first time and will be playing for its first district title.
But those accolades are for the postseason. Keathly and crew are focused on slowing down a Cashion offense that averages nearly 42 points per game and is only giving up 11.6 points.
"We aren't really focusing on firsts right now though," said Keathly. "We just want to keep everything right in front of us.
"Take this one step at a time."
In only his second year as head coach, Keathly said it was one of his goals to help build tradition and raise expectations. Taking stock of what's been accomplished is one of the best ways to boost a kid's confidence, he said.
"With football you have to really build it from the ground up," he said. "There had been one winning season before we got here, so the confidence level was sometimes shaky. But this year we are playing with a ton of confidence."
Senior defensive end Ryan Brady remembers the excitement when he was in eighth grade. The Knights had just made the playoffs for the first time, and the whole school was buzzing with pride.
It was Brady's second year of playing middle school football, and seeing the kids in high school reach new heights made him want to work even harder.
"I still have that shirt from our first playoff game," Brady said. "That’s when football kind of became something I wanted to do. That’s when it clicked, and now it's all I want to do."
Keathly won't say Friday's game with Cashion is the most important in school history. He saves that designation for the team's first playoff game in 2014.
The Knights are looking for more firsts. A first district title would be great, a first playoff win would be even better.
"I'll say this is the biggest regular season game in school history," Keathly said with a smile. "Our goal is beyond just the 10 games we play.
"Seeing all the firsts still in front of us is very excit-