Eric Spruill
LUTHER — Jack Warren passed for five touchdowns while Jeff Smith rushed for three more, as No. 9-ranked Oklahoma Christian School pounded Luther 55-7 to wrap up third place in District A-2 on Friday night.
The Saints (8-2, 6-2) scored early and often as they jumped out to a 35-0 halftime.
OCS’ defense was dominant to say the least, the Lions (5-5, 4-4) did not pick up one first down, and never reached midfield.
“I’ve never seen that before, our defense played well, even our younger guys didn’t give up a first down. That was impressive,” OCS head coach Derek Turner said. “We came out with a very workman-like attitude.”
The Saints capitalized on great field position for most of the game, with its first drive taking just two plays, runs of six, and 11 yards by Smith, the latter a touchdown with 10:15 to go in the first quarter. Keegan Carter added the point after, and it was 7-0 Saints.
Senior linebacker Jeff Levy then blocked a Luther punt to set up another short field for the Saints. Jon Sikes broke a 13-yard run on the first play, then Smith capped the drive with a nine-yard scamper to make it 14-0 heading into the second quarter.
That’s when the Saints went to the air. Warren hit Zach Frankfurt with a 25-yard scoring pass with 10:39 left in the second quarter, to make it 21-0.
Warren did throw a couple of interceptions, but seemed to bounce back really well.
“It’s good to have played in wind like this. That could help us out later down the road. I thought he did a good job of coming back. After he tried to float it a couple of times, he started to put some zip on it and get it in there,” Turner said.
Following a interception by Warren, the Lions returned the favor as Rustin Purser picked off a pass.
Facing second-and-16, Warren dropped back and hit Skyler Sikes with a 21-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-0.
Parker Cobbs then got in on the action, picking off a Luther pass to give the Saints the ball at their own 39-yard line.
Three plays later — a 26-yard pass to Purser, a pass interference call — Warren hit Logan Magill with a 20-yard touchdown pass to make it 35-0, with 57 seconds left in the half.
Luther’s only points of the night would start on OCS’ first possession, when a lineman intercepted a Warren’ option pitch and returned it for a touchdown as the Lions pulled within 35-7.
And then it was all Saints.
Warren hit Jon Sikes with touchdown passes of 47-and 23-yards in the third quarter, and Smith rounded out the scoring with a five-yard scamper late in the fourth. Warren finished the night going 16-of-27 for 272 yards. Jon Sikes had four receptions for 104 yards, while Smith had 17 rushes for 120 yards.
The Saints will travel to Oklahoma Bible Academy in the first round of the playoffs, while Luther will go to Hennessey.
