Looking back on the 2018 season
Nine gold ball trophies were awarded in the past two weeks. Storms raged throughout most of the season. History was made.
The 2018 high school football season had it all. Broken Arrow and Sperry each won state championships for the first time. Bixby, Carl Albert and Heritage Hall remained perennial powers, while Tuttle and Tonkawa regained their championship status. It’s time to look back on the season through the eyes of the The Oklahoman’s high school staff, Jacob Unruh and Adam Kemp.
Most impressive individual performance you witnessed
Unruh: Stillwater receiver Jack Smithton had caught just two touchdown passes all season until the Class 6A-II state semifinals. But with star Anthony Bland blanketed by Dax Hill, Smithton became a hero. He caught three touchdowns and five total passes for 90 yards in a dramatic 38-28 comeback win over Tulsa Booker T. Washington to seal a spot in the title game for the first time since 1977. It was a fun and heroic performance to watch.
Kemp: Readers may have forgotten the Week 1 matchup between Del City and Bishop McGuinness, but the Fighting Irish likely have not. Del City receiver Jeff Foreman was unstoppable on the night, catching 10 passes for 210 yards and two scores while returning a kickoff for a third touchdown as the Eagles routed McGuinness.
Best breakout season
Unruh: Tulsa Edison running back Sevion Morrison was far from a household name entering the season. He remained that way until Week 6. Then he went on a remarkable tear few running backs in the state have ever matched, closing the regular season with 1,745 yards and 26 TDs in the final five games. Along the way, he picked up several Division I offers and should receive more.
Kemp: After playing receiver for the first three years of his high school career, Heritage Hall decided to try Conner Carey out at running back. The results were a spectacular success. Carey finished with 2,400 total yards and 40 touchdowns while helping Heritage Hall win the Class 3A title.
Best game you covered
Unruh: Carl Albert’s wild win over rival McGuinness in Week 10 not only sealed the district championship, but provided incredible entertainment between two of the state’s top running backs. Both ran the ball as expected, but also each threw a touchdown. McGuinness’ Dominic Richardson had the game-tying TD in the fourth called back on a penalty.
Carl Albert’s Dadrion Taylor accounted for all three Titans TDs and rushed for more than 200 yards. Kemp: A backand-forth shootout between Midwest City and Lawton featured fake punts, long-bomb touchdowns, huge runs and special teamas touchdowns as neither team would lay down.
Ultimately, Midwest City came out on top, winning 56-45 in the Week 4 matchup. Midwest City quarterback Preston Colbert finished the night with 347 yards and four touchdowns.
Game you wish you covered
Unruh: It’ s tough to pick just one, but a rare six-overtime game tops my list. Coal gate needed that many extra periods to beat rival Antlers in Week 3. It’s hard to imagine that neither team even scored in the fifth overtime and quarter back Austin Lambert accounted for just four TDs.
Kemp: The Class 6A-I semifinals matchup between Jenks and Tulsa Union was one for the ages. Union took the lead 24-21 with 20 seconds remaining. But Jenks quarterback Ian Corwin tossed a 78-yard bomb to Julian Clarke, who was forced out at the 2 with seconds left. Jenks would score with no time remaining on a Noah Hernandez run to win and move on to the state championship game.