Guthrie Team Preview
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Stay tuned to Prep Redzone Oklahoma every day as we release more individual team previews as we get closer to the start of the 2021 football season. In case you missed it, you can check out our Preseason Rankings RIGHT HERE.
Overview (Class 5A Preseason Ranking: #7)
The Guthrie Bluejays entered 2020 looking for redemption after a 2019 season where they suffered 6 losses and missed the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. They jumped out to a hot start at 3-0 through non-district play but would have nearly a month in between their 3rd and 4th game due to Covid cancelations. When they resumed play in early October, the Bluejays got right back on track and entered the last stretch of their schedule at 5-0. However, their shutout win over Guymon would be their last of the regular season. They would go on to get blown out by Bishop McGuinness and fell just short in a close one against Jones in a game that was organized hours before kickoff when both teams were in desperate need of an opponent before the playoffs started. Though they had an odd and shaky finish to the season, Guthrie was able to rebound and outlast Lawton MacArthur in a high-scoring affair to get them back to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs where their 2020 journey ultimately ended. As the schedules across the state return to normalcy and with 13 starters returning for Guthrie, including 8 out of 11 on defense, 2021 is looking like it could be the year that Guthrie begins their climb back towards the top of Class 5A.
2020 Results (6-3 Record – Lost In 5A Quarterfinals)
Aug. 28 – Beat Shawnee 34-16
Sept. 4 – Beat Putnam City West 43-20
Sept. 11 – Beat Duncan 31-6
Sept. 25 – Game VS Piedmont Canceled
Oct. 2 – Game VS Carl Albert Canceled
Oct. 9 – Beat Woodward 38-21
Oct. 16 – Beat Guymon 72-0
Oct. 23 – Game VS Eisenhower Canceled
Oct. 30 – Lost to Bishop McGuinness 41-14
Nov. 6 – Game VS Western Heights Canceled
Nov. 20 – Lost to Jones 32-26
1st Round – Bye
2nd Round – Beat Lawton MacArthur 42-39
Quarter-Finals – Lost to Collinsville 41-24
Players To Watch
Chris Shaputis – 2022 Defensive Lineman
A big and powerful bull rusher from the defensive tackle position, Shaputis is one of many returning starters for the Bluejays defense in 2021 that will look to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. In 2020, Chris was a menace in the run game. There were not a lot of 5A offensive linemen that could block the Bluejay big man and as a result, he was constantly in the backfield blowing up run plays. Additionally, Chris showed a very high motor throughout the season with many plays on his Junior tape where he would chase down a ball carrier 5+ yards down the field when the play was run opposite of him. That is the kind of effort Guthrie will need out of their defense if they want to slow down some of the elite runners that are in their district and class.
Spade Pool – 2022 Linebacker
Another returning Senior for the Bluejay defense, Spade Pool is a very instinctive player that seems to be in the right place at the right times on most occasions. Pool is not the biggest linebacker in the state but you wouldn’t think that when watching the way he plays. Spade is a hard hitter who never hesitates to lay the wood, but he also knows how to come to balance and wrap up ball carriers when necessary, so he is rarely out of position at the point of attack. Along with his power and instincts, Pool has some good speed that allows him to cover a nice amount of space both vertically and horizontally when chasing down ball carriers.
Jaylen Chelf – 2023 Defensive Back
One of the most pleasant surprises when going through this Guthrie team was Junior CB Jaylen Chelf. Jaylen is a 3 sport athlete for Guthrie and excels in all of them. He plays football, basketball, and runs track where he was the anchor leg for Guthrie’s 100-meter relay team that placed 4th at the 5A state track meet this spring. The track speed is the first thing that pops when watching him as he was used in the return game frequently with lots of success. Outside of the straight-line speed though, despite being shorter than most of the WRs he faces, Jaylen is excellent in coverage thanks to his ultra-smooth hips, leaping ability, and ball skills once it is thrown his way. If you’re looking to throw against the Bluejays in 2021, do so with caution when looking Chelf’s way.
Isaiah Hammons – 2023 Running Back
The last player we’ll highlight on this preview is Junior RB Isaiah Hammons. Hammons was also a member of Guthrie’s 4×100 meter team that took 4th at the state meet, so you know he is lightning fast. However, he is more than just a track star who can run in a straight line. Hammons has plenty of juice as a change of direction runner and was used on a few deep routes in 2020 where he displayed some nice and easy hands along with good run after catch ability. With a full off-season to refine his game, Hammons looks to be a true dual-threat back as both a runner and receiver in Guthrie’s offense.
More Names
Sam Wilhelm – 2022 Offensive Lineman
DeAndre Jones – 2022 Defensive Back
Blake Swartz – 2022 Offensive Lineman
Carson Wilder – 2023 Running Back
Tyrin Eaton – 2023 Wide Receiver
Notable
Oklahoma High School football has gotten into a bit of an arms race when it comes to facilities and stadiums. With teams like Owasso, Union, and many other schools dishing out millions of dollars to build complexes that rival some college stadiums, it makes some of the older and smaller fields look sad and uninviting. However, that is not the case for the Bluejays. Guthrie’s Jelsma Stadium, famously known as “The Rock”, is one of the most unique and historic venues in the state and possibly the country. The stadium resides in the center of Guthrie’s historic downtown and was completed in 1935 during the Great Depression, just a few decades after Guthrie was the state’s first capital. The stadium only holds a few thousand people, but the noise levels inside can rival that of much bigger stadiums when at full capacity thanks to the 30-foot sandstone wall that encloses the north end of the field and traps all the crowd noise inside. In 2008, during the beginning of Guthrie’s historic run through 5A, ESPN named The Rock the 13th best high school stadium in the country. It was not too long ago that making the journey to play Guthrie at The Rock on a Friday night was a daunting task that few could come out of with a victory. Perhaps 2021 can be the start of a new era of Bluejays dominance in their historic home stadium.
2021 Schedule/Games To Watch
Aug. 27 – AT Shawnee
Sept. 3 – Putnam City West
Sept. 10 –AT Duncan
Sept. 24 – AT Piedmont
Oct. 1 – Carl Albert
– After last year’s game was cancelled, the Bluejays will surely be eager and determined to get back at the Titans in 2021, especially after what Carl Albert has been able to do to them over the past few seasons. The Titans have won 4 in a row on Guthrie in what was once one of the premier rivalries and matchups in 5A. However, a lot of the Carl Albert players that were a part of that magical 5-year run are now graduated and moved on, so this game may have a much different feel than it has in recent memory with a lot of new faces on the field for the Titans.
Oct. 8 – Woodward
Oct. 14 – AT Guymon
Oct. 22 – Lawton Ike
Oct. 29 – Bishop McGuinness
– If Guthrie is able to come out with a victory against Carl Albert, this matchup will likely be for the district title. It is also likely that this will be Guthrie’s Senior night. After losing the Irish for 6 straight years, it’s hard to imagine the Seniors on this Bluejay roster going out without at least putting up a fight. If the Irish were to win for the 7th straight year, Guthrie’s 2022 class would be the 4th straight group of Bluejay Seniors to go winless against McGuinness for their entire high school careers. Similar to Carl Albert though, the Irish lose many key starters from their 2020 State Runner-Up team, so we expect this to be a traditional slugfest at The Rock as the 2021 regular season draws to a close.
Nov. 5 – AT Western Heights
Championship History
4 State Championships
2013 – Beat McAlester 51-21
2011 – Beat Lawton MacArthur 24-7
2007 – Beat Bixby 16-3
2002 – Beat Booker T Washington 16-13