Huskies are ready to open football season

Pawhuska High’s football team will play Kellyville in the season opener Friday, but the game will be played in Kellyville instead of Ormand Beach Memorial Stadium..

Pawhuska schools haven’t opened yet because of methane gas leak in geothermal wells on the high school campus. The season opener was scheduled to be played at Ormand Beach Memorial Stadium on the PHS campus.

However, PHS football coach Joe Tillman said Monday night it would be premature to say the game would be played in Pawhuska.

“We are hopeful it will be here,” Tillman said. PHS’s athletic director has contacted Kellyville officials and they are willing to move the game to their stadium, if necessary.

Late Tuesday, the game was switched to Kellyville. The game still will start at 7 p.m.

The Huskies are coming off a Friday scrimmage against Barnsdall. It was originally scheduled for Ormand Beach Memorial Stadium, but was switched to Barnsdall because of the methane gas leak.

The scrimmage was split into 10-, 8- and 6-play drives before a 15 minute session ended the scrimmage.

The Huskies scored once during the scrimmage in their opening 10-play drive.

Running back Brian Jeffers was the primary ball carrier, making key gains to move the ball toward the end zone. The touchdown came on a pass from quarterback Cade McNeil to Price Perrier.

Barnsdall scored three times during its 10-play drive, and finished with eight touchdowns in the scrimmage.

Tillman said Barnsdall is a great team, and expects the Panthers to go a deep into the Class A playoffs this year.

He said he was disappointed with his team’s effort in the scrimmage. Immediately after the scrimmage, Tillman told the Journal-Capital that he thought his team came out flat.

After viewing scrimmage tape and reviewing it with the team over the weekend, Tillman said Monday he wasn’t pleased.

The offensive line wasn’t aggressive enough, Tillman said, adding he has to remind himself that the offensive line is comprised of one senior, two sophomores and two freshmen.

“Two of the linemen were playing eighth-grade football last season,” Tillman said. The coaching staff must prepare the young lineman to play at the high school level.

“We need to solidify the offensive line,” Tillman said.

Tillman said running back Brian Jeffers stood out in the scrimmage. He carried the ball five times with a 6.5 yard per carry average.

J.T. Waddle was the leading tackler on defense. The defense, however, needs to get more physical.

Barnsdall is a good team that Tillman said should go deep into the Class A playoffs this year. They are big and physical — much like the Huskies’ opening week opponent — Kellyville.

The Ponies have a new coach — Scott Robb — this season, and are sporting an new, old look on offense — the Wing-T.

Kellyville, Tillman said, plays a physical style on defense. The Ponies defenders want to hit opponents hard and often.

Kellyville’s quarterback, Carson Brown, is a 6-3, 185 pound junior, who is quick and elusive.

“They are a physical football team,” he said.