Carl Albert Runs Over McGuinness 31-24

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was one of the most anticipated games of week seven and it lived up to the hype as #7 Carl Albert continued to torment their rival and #2 ranked Bishop McGuinness with a 31-24 win, scoring a touchdown with a little over a minute left to win. We're right in the middle of the 5A-2 gauntlet run where top ten teams are squaring off every week. Last week, it was McGuinness going on the road to face Guthrie. This week, they host Carl Albert. Next week, Carl Albert hosts Guthrie. One of these teams is going to have to go on the road to start the playoffs and they're probably going to be the best 3-seed in the state, heading into the playoffs. This game turned into a running back duel between Carl Albert's [player_tooltip player_id='360239' first='Xavier' last='Robinson'] and Bishop McGuinness' [player_tooltip player_id='51871' first='Mike' last='Taffe'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bishop McGuinnes looked to set the tone early and their first possession last nearly eight minutes. The Irish marched right down the field, going 5-5 on third downs, taking 17 plays and feeding Taffe the rock 10 times. It was capped off with a [player_tooltip player_id='215198' first='River' last='Warren'] touchdown pass to put McGuinness up 7-0. Carl Albert responded but had to settle for a field goal early on in the second quarter. McGuinness would then get a good kick return, and their next drive wouldn't take 17 plays but it would end in another touchdown, this time from Taffe to go up 14-3. On Carl Albert's next possession, senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='150088' first='Reed' last='Dequasie'] returned to the lineup for his first meaningful football since breaking his collarbone in week zero. He showed no fear. Dequasie and the Carl Albert rushing attack went right down the field and the drive was capped off by a 9-yard touchdown run from Robinson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carl Albert trailed 14-10 at halftime but they would take less than two minutes to take the lead in the second half. Robinson got loose for a 67-yard touchdown to put the Titans up. That lead wouldn't last. McGuinness star [player_tooltip player_id='51871' first='Mike' last='Taffe'] would respond with a 59-yard touchdown and the Irish were back in front. After the first punt of the game, McGuinness would go on the move once again but the drive would stall inside the Titan 20 and they settled for a field goal to take a 24-17 lead into the final quarter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Robinson added his third touchdown on the night by jumping over the line of scrimmage and into the end zone but a bad snap on the PAT attempt would lead to McGuinness holding on to a 24-23 lead. McGuinness would then drive down the field and get into Carl Albert territory. But a bad holding penalty would push the Irish back and McGuinness would go for it on fourth down and Titan standout [player_tooltip player_id='353419' first='Caden' last='Davis'] came up with the big sack on fourth down. That set up Carl Albert's game-winning drive that featured Dequasie and Robinson toting the rock. But Dequasie uncorked a 41-yard bomb to put Carl Albert within striking distance. Robinson would score his fourth touchdown on the night with 1:12 remaining and he would throw the two-point conversion to give Carl Albert the 31-24 lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McGuinness had one last shot as they got a 45-yard kick return that set them up in Carl Albert territory. But another holding penalty would really hurt the Irish and Warren was intercepted by sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='294261' first='Trey' last='Washington'] and the Titans would escape with the massive district victory. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>CARL ALBERT TOP PERFORMERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634ae80307ba9","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["150088"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"As we mentioned above, this was the first real game action for senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='150088' first='Reed' last='Dequasie'], who was returning following a broken collarbone he suffered in week zero against Coweta. Dequasie got into the game last week but all he did was hand the ball off. This week, Dequasie ran the offense and while the Titans were going to play both quarterbacks, Dequasie ended up being the guy leading the way. And he showed absolutely no fear facing his first game against contact after the injuries as he ran the ball 16 times and finished with nearly 100 yards. He picked up right where he left off in week zero against Coweta before the injury. And as if that wasn't enough, Dequasie also made a spectacular play on defense near the end of the first half as he climbed the ladder to break up a pass.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-68a57fde0101c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634ae81607baa","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["294261"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Talking to the Carl Albert coaches before the season, you could tell that they're very excited about some of the playmakers they have in their 2025 class and perhaps the best of the bunch is wide receiver and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='294261' first='Trey' last='Washington']. You look at the young sophomore and he immediately passes the eye test and he had a really productive freshman season as well. On Friday night, it was apparent that Carl Albert was going to do the majority of their damage with the running game so Washington didn't have the most productive night. But he came up with the interception in the final minute to lock up the big road win. Washington is definitely a prospect we like and think he's one of the best ten prospects in the state's 2025 class already.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-68a57fde0104f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634ae82907bab","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["360239"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Carl Albert junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='360239' first='Xavier' last='Robinson'] has firmly established himself as one of the best running backs in the state and he just backed it up with his performance against a strong McGuinness defense. Robinson finished with 214 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries. Robinson has made performances like that look routine this season, but we have been waiting to see him to the same thing on a big stage. And it doesn't get much bigger than a road game against Bishop McGuinness. Robinson showcased a rare combination of size, power and legitimate breakaway speed that McGuinness could not contain. The Titans still have two more regular season games but Robinson is already up to 25 rushing touchdowns on the season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-68a57fde01077"} /--> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>BISHOP McGUINNESS TOP PERFORMERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634ae84507bac","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["155933"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Our first standout from Bishop McGuinness is senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='155933' first='Kazeyn' last='Bird']. Okay, so McGuinness did not have a great night when it came to stopping the run. They gave up 300 rushing yards on the night. But as an individual, the senior backer has been impressive this season and he had times where he was a real problem for Carl Albert. We like Bird's physical build and there's no doubt that he looks the part. Oklahoma is full of really good 2023 linebackers that should be playing at the next level and you have to include Bird in that conversation as part of that group. Just in terms of being a prospect, there was a lot to like about Bird's performance on Friday night, even if the scoreboard didn't end the way they would have liked.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-68a57fde010a5"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634ae85807bad","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["51871"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"This might have been one of the best running back duels we've seen so far this season. McGuinness senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='51871' first='Mike' last='Taffe'] has been one of the more versatile backs in Oklahoma since his freshman season. On Friday night, he showed that he can be an absolute workhorse back and it didn't take long to find that out. On their first possession, Taffe carried the ball ten times and he would finish with 195 yards on nearly 30 carries and he had two touchdowns on the night. He also led the team with three receptions and has proven to be reliable as a receiver out of the backfield. Carl Albert did not make things easy on Taffe. He had to work for everything he got Friday night. Only three of the carries were ten yards or more. He did have a 57-yard TD run.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-68a57fde010cd"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634ae86907bae","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["215198"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"While we had seen Taffe in person several times before, this was our first chance to see junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='215198' first='River' last='Warren'] in person on a Friday night. We had watched plenty of film of Warren, as well as seen the McGuinness QB at our camps and spring practices. And he once again showed why he should be considered the top quarterback in the state's 2024 class. Warren had a fantastic start to the game as McGuinness stayed completely balanced on the offensive side of the ball. He completed his first eight passes and he kept Carl Albert's defense on their toes. Warren was at his best when he was stepping up in the pocket, making reads and finding the open man. He distributed the ball well too as six players finished with a reception.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-68a57fde010f4"} /-->