EDMOND — The Edmond Memorial football team already knows where they’ll be when the playoffs get underway next week, but Justin Merideth doesn’t want it to play like it. Last week the No. 9-ranked Bulldogs (6-3, 5-1) locked up second place in District 6A-2 and the right to host a first-round playoff game when they topped rival North 10-0. Tonight they’ll wrap up the regular season with road trip to Putnam City.
“We want our players to focus on winning this week and getting ready for the playoffs,” the first-year head coach said.
Putnam City (3-6, 2-4) enters tonight’s game with slim playoff hopes. The Pirates, who have district wins over Lawton Eisenhower and PC West, need to a pair of upsets to get in. They not only need to beat the Bulldogs, but also will have to get the same from Lawton Eisenhower in their matchup against Norman.
“They do have a chance to get in and because of that we know they’re going to come out firing,” Merideth said. “And they’ll do everything they can, use every trick in the book and we have to match their intensity.”
The Bulldogs will play Mustang or Lawton in the playoffs. Lawton defeated Norman North on Thursday night. Putnam City North defeated Del City , as they eliminated the Eagles from the race and took fourth in the district.
“We’re pretty confident the winner of the Del City/PC North game is the team we’ll be playing, and both of those teams are pretty good so we’ll be looking forward to it,” Merideth said.
Memorial is coming off a brilliant defensive effort last week against the Huskies. The ‘Dogs limited North to just 67 yards of total offense to go along with an interception return by Nelson Medeiros. This week they’ll have to change gears for the Pirates’ spread attack.
“They’re going to throw the ball all over the place and they have a good running back so they’ll run some tradition run plays,” Merideth said. “It’s a more traditional offense, there’s not a lot of option plays.”
The Pirate offense is led by quarterback Caleb Lee. This season he’s passed for 1,351 yards and 14 touchdowns, while also throwing 10 interceptions. The junior has plenty of targets downfield and isn’t afraid to spread the ball around.
David Anwanwan leads the team with 24 receptions for 275 yards and three touchdowns. But Casey Curtis and N.J. Ap’e have combined for 48 catches for 463 yards and four touchdowns.
Anwanwan is also the Pirates most effective ball carrier, having picked up 275 yards and three touchdowns on just 24 carries.
Merideth said he’d like to see better execution from his offense as they prepare for the postseason.
“Watching the film from our last game, it always seemed like we were one block away, one pass away, one player away from really clicking and that’s execution,” Merideth said. “We’re real close to being really explosive.”
The Pirates are allowing 30.3 points per game and have only held opponents to under 20 points twice this season. Their leading tackler is Devon Bruner with 103 stops, while Alex Shannon has 88 tackles and one sack. Deondre Gray leads the team with four sacks.
Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. at Putnam City Stadium.
Sports
Bulldogs look to work out kinks in final game
- Sports
-
-
All-Edmond Golf 2012
-
OCA’s Drewke signs with OC
Oklahoma Christian Academy senior Kara Drewke signed to play soccer at Oklahoma Christian University this week.
-
OC enters final day of NAIA golf championship with 3-stroke lead
Defending national champions and No. 2-ranked Oklahoma Christian maintained the clubhouse lead heading into the final round of the 61st annual NAIA Men’s Golf National Championships presented by FORE! Salem at Creekside Golf Club.
-
Kansas State shuts Cowboys out of tourney
Five days after Oklahoma State University pitcher Randy McCurry dominated Texas A&M in his best pitching performance this season, the junior from Tupelo had his worst outing as Kansas State eliminated the Cowboys from the Big 12 tournament, 11-5, Thursday at Oklahoma City’s Bricktown Ballpark.
-
Defending champion Oklahoma Christian holds 6-stroke lead at NAIA tournament
Midway through the 61st annual NAIA Men’s Golf National Championships presented by FORE! Salem at Creekside Golf Club, defending national champions and No. 2-ranked Oklahoma Christian University holds a six-stroke lead with 36 holes remaining.
-
Eagles, Bogstrand overcome soggy conditions, stand 2nd
Growing up in Norway, Oklahoma Christian University golfer Vilhelm Bogstrand became used to playing in adverse weather conditions. That experience served him well on Tuesday in the opening round of the NAIA Championship.
-
UCO qualifies boat for national rowing; 2 Broncho rowers named All-American
Central Oklahoma will make its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Women’s Rowing Championships this weekend when the Bronchos send their 8+ boat to the West Windsor, N.J. for that three-day event.
-
UCO's Edwards named to academic All-America team
The awards just keep coming for Central Oklahoma’s Kacie Edwards, who was named Wednesday to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America NCAA Division II Softball Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
-
Bronchos fall in World Series semifinals
A dream season ended in disappointment for Central Oklahoma here Saturday afternoon in the NCAA Division II World Series.
-
UCO women 8th at Div. II golf championship
Chaney Uhles capped off a brilliant sophomore season with a fifth-place finish in the NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championships here Saturday to lead Central Oklahoma to an eight-place showing in its first-ever national tournament appearance.
- More Sports Headlines
-
