Published: September 05, 2008 10:23 am         

Demons open season tonight

DUNCAN — At first glance, Duncan and Seminole are unfamiliar foes. But that is not the case. You just have to dust off the record books to find previous meetings.

For the first time since 1955, the two teams will hook it up on the gridiron as the Demons travel to Seminole today for a 7:30 p.m. meeting. The Demons enter the game ranked No. 11 in the state in Class 5A while Seminole is ranked No. 13 in the state in Class 4A. Last season, the Chieftains competed in Class 3A and posted a 7-5 record, advancing to the state semifinals.

Both teams will enter the contest trying to shore up areas of concern entering the season. For Duncan, two of the biggest question marks were at defensive end and linebacker. Those areas seem to have been solidified after the first two scrimmages.

Dane Steil will get the start at middle linebacker with Clint Miller expected to see playing time while Alex Rauh and Cody Rowell will start at outside linebackers. The pleasant surprise is the depth being developed in sophomores Cody Pollock, Payton Atchley and Michael Rice.

“They are not far off,” Duncan head coach Jim Holloway said.

At defensive end, Matt Labyer had emerged as a starter with his consistency while senior Shawn Hughes will start opposite him.

“Those two positions are really the key ones,” Holloway said. “I’ve been happy with the way the defensive ends have played.”

Their first test will come against a Seminole offense that has been struggling since the first day of pads, when running back Leon Davis tore his ACL. The Chieftains are still looking to find a steady contributor at that position and will start freshman Garrett Clark at quarterback.

“This is probably as tough a schedule as we have played,” Seminole coach Mike Snyder said. “We are struggling to find a tailback and we are

starting a freshman quarterback, something you should never have to do but that is the situation we are in. I would like to grow with somebody not as good as Duncan.”

In its two scrimmages this season, the inexperience of Seminole has shown as the team has been unable to move the ball consistently. Defensively, the Chieftains will enter the game looking for a way to slow down the Duncan offense. In the film that Snyder has seen, he has been impressed with Duncan quarterback Houston Johnson.

“The quarterback is a heck of player,” Snyder said. “I know they had a good quarterback last year, but this one isn’t far behind. We are going to have to find a way to stop their offense. There are several match-ups that aren’t real friendly for us.”

Johnson had a strong scrimmage last week against Lawton High, thanks in part to the play of the offensive line, which did not allow a hand on the senior, aside from a play on a low snap.

“The offensive line did a good job of knocking them off of the football and they protected the quarterback,” Holloway said. “The first team did not allow a sack and I think, barring injury, Houston will have a good season for us. He is a good leader and a tough competitor. This is Houston’s first year as a starter but nobody really feels that way. He has a lot of experience and he has spent a lot of time with the receivers.”

Directions to the game: Go east on Oklahoma Highway 7 to outskirts of Sulphur. Take the Chickasaw Turnpike north to Ada. At Ada, take US-277/OK-99 north to Seminole (bypass Ada). In Seminole, turn left (west) at first stoplight, go approximately 3/4 mile and turn left at Chinese restaurant. Go past high school to dead end. Turn left, parking is on east side by visitor stands.

     

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