Published: September 11, 2008 10:20 pm      

Antlers look to make their mark in 5A

EDMOND — Deer Creek finds itself in a position that it likes. Undefeated, with a chance to put itself on the map in class 5A, as it travels to No. 5-ranked Shawnee.

“It’s a good opportunity for us. Shawnee has a very good team, and this will be a good indicator for us to see where we stand,” Deer Creek head coach Grant Gower said. “This is our first time in 5A, and I like the direction we’re headed.”

Fans in attendance will get a chance to see two of the state’s top players go head-to-head. The Antler’s Dax Dilbeck and the Wolves’ Brett Davis.

“Fans will get their entertainment dollar, that’s for sure. Some really good players, I’m not trying to take anything from them, they have great players, but we have a few ourselves’ in Dilbeck and Zach (Trujillo),” Gower said.

The Wolves operate out of the spread offense with Brayle Brown, the younger brother of Tucker, at quarterback. But Gower said the Wolves like to get the ball in the hands of Davis as much as possible.

“He’s a playmaker for them. They are very similar to us in that they like to get the ball into Davis’ hands as much as possible, like we do with Dax. He’ll play some wide receiver, running back, and they’ll even line him up at quarterback some,” the first-year head coach said.

Gower said he was pleased with the way his team played last week, but was most impressed with kicker Cole Mount.

The junior played a pivotal role in last week’s win over Piedmont, with a big time punt in the first quarter of the 35-20 victory.

“He made a play that I really don’t think anyone noticed. We were down 8-7 and were forced into a three-and-out, and we had a high snap on the punt. It goes over his head all the way back to the 24-yard line, he chases it down and he’s running to his left to avoid their guys. As he’s running to his left, you have to remember he’s a right-footed kicker, he kicks it with his left foot, it hits at their 24 and stopped at their own 12-yard line,” Gower said. “We get the ball back and score. He was our unsung hero last week.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.