There were eight quarter-finalists from both the large school
classes (6A-3A) and the small school classes (2A-C). The nominees came
from every high school football coach in the state and were voted on
by the high school coaches, newspaper sports editors in Oklahoma,
other media that cover high school football, and online by football
fans in the state. When every precinct had spoken Midwest City running
back Tim Flanders was named Mr. Football Oklahoma for the large
schools and Dewar running back and linebacker Ronnell Lewis was
awarded Mr. Football Oklahoma for the small schools.
Flanders led Midwest City to an unbeaten record through the regular
season and into the playoffs until a semi-final loss to Tulsa Union.
The 5-10, 185 pound Flanders carries 193 times for 2,132-yards and 38
touchdowns. he also made 85 tackles from his safety postion in the
secondary. Flanders, who has committed verbally to join his older
brother John at the University of Tulsa, also was a lightning rod for
the Bombers on special teams with his kickoff and punt returns. He is
coached by Steve Huff at Midwest City.
Flanders won out over a talented group of players that included
Norman North running back Beau Blankenship, Checotah quarterback Chris Carr, Sand Springs quarterback Johnny Deaton, Guthrie wide receiver
Donte Foster, Jenks cornerback Gabe Lynn, Carl Albert running back
David Oku, and Mustang quarterback Kyle Webster.
Blankenship, who is bound for Iowa State in college, used his bowling
ball stature and great speed to rush for 1,218-yards and 16 touchdowns
in an injury plagued senior season after rushing for 2,200-yards and
26 touchdowns as a junior. Carr overcame serious injuries that kept
him out of football his junior season to rush for 1,433-yards and 27
touchdowns this fall. Deaton will no doubt be back next season. The
only junior among all the quarter-finalists, he passed for
1,617-yards, ran for 1,587-yards, and accounted for 29
touchdowns. Donte Foster is a two-sport athlete that has led Guthrie
to state championships in both football and basketball. He hit the
game winning shot to win the 5A hoops championship last spring and
this fall made spectacular catches and 51 receptions overall for
938-yards and 16 touchdowns. Gabe Lynn, who earlier in the day
committed verball to Oklahoma, had 43 tackles and was a lock down
corner for 6A runner-up Jenks. David Oku rushed for 1,759-yards and 25
touchdowns at Midwest City Carl Albert and is committed to Tennessee
for college. Mustang quarterback Kyle Webster overcame an appendectomy
in season to lead the Broncos to a 12-0 mark before losing in the
semifinals of Class 6A to Jenks. Webster passed for nearly 2,000-yards
and 18 touchdowns while rushing for over 500-yards.
Lewis was an early commitment last spring to the Oklahoma Sooners and
then did not disappoint this fall as he rushed for 2,219-yards and a
whopping 37 touchdowns. On defense, where he is slated to play in
college he had 156 tackles.
Like Flanders, Lewis edged out a spectacular group of players that
included a pair of state champions in Class 2A. Turner Peterson was a
"do everything" player for head coach Andy Bogert at Heritage Hall.
Peterson led the Chargers to the Class 2A crown with 1,010-yards
passing and 1,245-yards rushing and a combined 35 touchdowns. He also
had 81 tackles playing safety, averaged 40-yards per punt, and
returned several punts for touchdowns. Peterson has offers from Tulsa,
Rice, Navy, and Air Force. His teammate linebacker Graham King may
play harder than any player in the state and finished with 112 tackles
to show for it.
Other small school candidates included offensive and defensive
lineman Grant Couch of Davis and Chandler quarterback Jack Gray, who
had 1,579-yards passing, 859-yards rushing, and 36 touchdowns in
leading the Lions to the Class 2A title game against Heritage Hall.
Like the large school candidates, the small school list included some
players that overcame adversity. Hennessey running back Augie McCulley
finsihed the season with a fractured elbow, a broken arm, and two
broken ribs. In his last game the coach took his helmet away from him
and fans could hear his screams on the sideline, not from pain, but
because he wanted his helmet back to go in. McCulley rushed for
2,455-yards and 36 touchdowns on offense and 128 tackles on
defense. Ethan Sharp of Eufala passed for 3,749-yards and 43
touchdowns to deservedly make the list and Cory Tallent of Bridge
Creek had 135 tackles and 5 touchdowns playing linebacker.
It was a talented group of 16 players that rate as high on the
character scale according to their coaches as they do on the rushing,
passing, scoring, and tackling charts. This is just the first year for
the award but Flanders, Lewis, and players they won their awards over
in the voting have set a very high standard for Mr. Football Oklahoma
award winners in the future.