It would be difficult to find two teams that have been in more close games than the Tulsa Central Braves and the Grove Ridgerunners.
Combined the two teams have played in eight games decided by a touchdown or less. The only difference is the Braves have found ways to win two of their four close games, which is why they’ll bring a 3-5 record into Friday’s District 5A-4 clash between the two teams at Ridgerunner Stadium.
The Braves have won back-to-back district contests, a 25-23 win over Tahlequah two weeks ago and a 39-21 win over Claremore last Thursday.
The comeback win on the road over the Tigers may end up being the game that turned Central’s season around, if the Braves go on to make the playoffs. Trailing 15-6 at the half and 15-13 in the fourth quarter, the Braves drove 92 yards to take the lead then cashed in a Tahlequah fumble on the ensuing kickoff for another score.
Last week’s win over the Zebras, who had led the district for most of the season, may have been the most surprising outcome of the season. Central trailed 21-20 in the fourth quarter before using a pair of interceptions by do-it-all athlete DeAngelo Brewer to turn the tide and win going away.
After spending time at quarterback, wide receiver and running back last year, in addition to starting full time as a defensive back, Brewer has stayed at the quarterback position all season under first-year head coach Don Gibson. The TU commit doesn’t throw it much, he only has 99 passing attempts through eight games this season, but he’s been effective running the ball, gaining 1,123 yards so far this season while averaging 8.4 yards per attempt.
The game against Tahlequah was a prime of example of the Braves’ commitment to the ground game. Central attempted just four passes on the game, completing one screen pass for 19 yards, while churning out 237 yards on the ground. The Braves have at least 30 rushing attempts in five of their last six games.
The Ridgerunners have been hitting their stride offensively in the second half of the season. After scoring 28 in a loss to Pryor two weeks ago, Grove scored a season high 34 points in last week’s loss at Coweta. Senior quarterback Jake Spychalski threw for 205 yards and three touchdowns as Grove nearly rallied from a 41-21 deficit in the fourth quarter. Spychalski now has 1,461 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air this season.
Austin Cross gained 153 yards on 8 carries for the Ridgerunners, the first Grove runner to go over 100 yards in a game this season. Cross now has 374 yards on the season, averaging 7.1 yards per attempt.
Grove will need all the points it can get in what promises to be a shootout with big playoff implications for the Braves, who will need wins in their final two games to have any shot at the playoffs
