2017 Pigskin Press Pass

Racers Looking To Bounce Back BIG TIME And Return To Winning Ways

Newcastle Pacer 2017 PIGSKIN PRESS PASS The

OUTLOOK: Racer Squad-Hungry for Victory

SCHEDULE: Tough Road Ahead For Newcastle

REWIND: When Newcastle Won ‘92 State Title

PLUS: Photos, Roster, OSU & OU SCHEDULES AND MORE!

25th Anniversary of Newcastle’s Class 3A State Championship

PUBLISHED BY THE NEWCASTLE PACER

www.newcastlepacer.com

Your Tri-City Team

Todd Swearingen, DO

Newcastle

Jeanie Loper, MD

Todd Swearingen, DO Jeanie Loper, MD 300 S. Main, Newcastle, OK 73065 405.387.3120

Ryan Turner, MD

Blanchard

Diane Butler, APRN, CNP

Ryan Turner, MD Diane Butler, APRN, CNP 1019 N. Council, Blanchard, OK 73010 405.485.9321

NormanRegional.com/physicians

Do you need a physician?

Norman Regional’s team of healthcare professionals is in your hometown with family medicine clinics in both Newcastle and Blanchard.

These clinics handle sick care, physicals, and disease management.

Our friendly clinics strive to offer sameday or next-day appointments.

4

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

PIGSKIN PRESS PASS

Proud Supporters of the Racers AAA Insurance /Rick Hamilton Aztec Exterminating Blanchard Animal Hospital The Chickasaw Nation Community Bank Dent Monkey First National Bank & Trust Co. Handy’s Valero J. Lewis Photography J.R.’s Concrete J&W Tire Newcastle Nails The Newcastle Pacer Norman Regional Hospital Oklahoma Apparel Olympic Sports Turf Services Orange Theory Fitness Oklahoma Electric Co-op (OEC) Pawn Sharks Sonic Sooner State Bank State Farm – Eric Ledoux Therapy In Motion The Church at Newcastle Vape It Wilson-Little Funeral Home

Page 31 Page 23 Page 15 Page 17 Page 14 Page 12 Page 3 Page 8 Page 4 Page 13 Page 15 Page 13 Page 4 Page 2 Page 16 Page 11 Page 32 Page 12 Page 7 Page 28 Page 29 Page 5 Page 23 Page 16 Page 19 Page 19

TABLE OF CONTENTS Newcastle Football By The Numbers ..........................Page 5 2017 Newcastle Football Team Preview..................Pages 6-9 Newcastle Football Year-By-Year.................................Page 9 2017 Newcastle Opponents..................................Pages 10-11 2017 Newcastle Racers Photos.............................Pages 12-16 2017 Newcastle Racers Roster.....................................Page 17 1992 State Champions Team Roster............................Page 18 1992 Newcastle Racers Coaches................................Page 19 Chuck Smith – Running Back Star........................Pages 20-23 August Deets – State Champion Coach.............Pages 24-27 Oklahoma All-Time Coaching Records.....................Page 27 What Happened In The World In 1992?...................... Page 29 OSU Cowboys and OU Sooners Trivia Quiz................Page 30 OSU and OU Schedules................................................Page 30

2017 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE NEWCASTLE RACERS

DATE Sept. 1st Sept. 8th Sept. 15th Sept. 22nd Sept. 29th Oct. 6th Oct. 12th* Oct. 20th Oct. 27th Nov. 3rd

OPPONENT at Noble at Tuttle Blanchard at Weatherford Chickasha (HC) at Elgin

Clinton

Heritage Hall at Elk City Cache

TIME 7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

HC = homecoming, * = Thursday night game

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

PIGSKIN PRESS PASS

Newcastle Pacer 2017 PIGSKIN PRESS PASS The

BIG TIME And Return To Bounce Back Racers Looking

rs e b um n e 3 h By t

1st

This is the first year at the helm as coach for Newcastle’s JEFF BRICKMAN

All-State players KELLY HENDRIX, CHUCK SMITH, and CHRIS MORRIS for Newcastle in 1992

To Winning Ways

The

288

Victory Squad-Hungry for For Newcastle OUTLOOK: Racer Road Ahead ‘92 State Title SCHEDULE: Tough Newcastle Won LES AND MORE! REWIND: When , OSU & OU SCHEDU PLUS: Photos, Roster

BY THE NEWCASTLE

PACER

.com www.newcastlepacer

PUBLISHED

y 25th Anniversar of Newcastle’s Championship Class 3A State

Graphics/Layout/Overall Design

Assistant/Photo Manager

ANDREW L. BASDEN Editorial/Photos/Ad Sales

TODD NEWVILLE Photo Contributors JENNIFER LEWIS/J. LEWIS PHOTOGRAPHY THE OKLAHOMAN • PACER ARCHIVES

2

Total number of victories the last two seasons for Newcastle

125

Number of games former Racers head coach AUGUST DEETS won at Newcastle

30

CLARENCE B. WRIGHT

47

Total number of varsity players on the 2017 roster for Newcastle

Eric Ledoux

906 NW 32nd Street Newcastle, Oklahoma 73065

405-392-3992 CALL TODAY! Facebook: Eric Ledoux-State Farm Agent Email: eric@justledouxitmyagent.com Website: Ledouxitmyagent.com

Number of playoff games Newcastle’s football team has won since 1976

10

Transfer quarterback CASEY THOMPSON’S new number.

He was No. 11 at Southmoore

cer Newcastle Pa S PASS KIN PRES 2017 PIGS

Total number of regular-season games won by the Newcastle football program since 1971

5

5

Total state championships owned by the Newcastle athletic program – cheerleading (2), girls’ basketball (1), fast-pitch softball (1), and football (1).

1,363

Rushing yards gained

by Chuck Smith for Newcastle in 1992

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

PREVIEW

6

Newcastle football looking to rebound BIG TIME this season

By Todd Newville The Newcastle Pacer

Jeff Brickman is the new head coach this season for the Newcastle High School football team. He’s very excited to jump-start the winning tradition again for the Racers. After back-to-back 1-9 seasons, Newcastle students and fans are certainly craving a winning campaign this year.

“Since we came in here in January,” said Brickman, “the administration and the community have been outstanding. Everything that I’ve asked for, the administration has given me. I was able to hire all the coaches that I needed. We have nine assistants now and that’s a pretty good number for a Class 4A school.

“The kids have bought into our system and they’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do. We couldn’t be in a better position heading into the first week of a long season. I’m definitely happy with where we are at.”

Brickman, 40, replaces Keith Bolles, who is now the defensive coordinator at Lexington for former Newcastle athletic director Dale Berglan. Most recently, Brickman was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Class 6A Southmoore High School for the last two seasons. He initially helped build the Southmoore program in 2008. He was the SaberCats’ head coach in 2012 and ‘13.

In 2014, he served as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee

and the Bison offense responded to his tutelage by averaging 43.4 points per game – third best in the nation for NCAA Division II schools. The Bison also averaged 479 yards per game (fourth best in the nation.)

When Brickman went back to Southmoore, the SaberCats’ offense averaged 43.6 points per game and 489.4 yards per contest – resulting in a 9-2 record and a conference championship in 2015. He and his wife, Brandi, have an 8year-old son named Kael, a fourth-grader in the Newcastle district.

Brickman plans to run a no-huddle offense. A fast tempo will keep opposing defenses on their toes and the Racers will try to pass and run the ball effectively

based on what the opposition displays.

“The offense is a no-huddle and a lot of people do that now,” Brickman said. “We try to push the pace whenever we can. There’ll be times when we will slow down when we need to. We have to teach the players how to go fast because it’s easy to go slow. We’re pretty balanced and we’re going to take what the defense gives us.”

Brickman said he can’t predict how much they will pass and how much they will run the pigskin. Results during his coaching career have varied for both options, he said.

“There’ve been years where we’ve thrown the ball for 2,500 yards and ran the ball for 2,500 yards,” Brickman said. “Then, there’ve been years where we might run for 3,000

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

PREVIEW

yards and throw the ball for 2,000 a system that allows you to progress yards. Really, it’s just depends on the players from the time they are the type of players we have and, very young and all the way through of course, what we’re seeing defen- to this level. The best thing about sively. Our offense is definitely rep this system is we’re doing it over and driven. We try to get as many repeti- over and over. We’re not changing tions in during practice that we can. stuff from week to week.

We don’t really stop and coach.

“We’ve vertically aligned with We teach it to (NASA) and them and then their football “ we let them programs with do it over and what we’re over in pracdoing. We’ve tice. We film with TO BE COMPETITIVE IN EVERY GAME. met everything so those coachif we need to es three difmake any corferent times so rections, we they can start do it in the film teaching our THING RIGHT NOW IS MAKING SURE room and not concepts by on the practhe time the tice field.” players are Brickman in first grade. likes to keep WHAT YOU DON’T WANT TO DO IS START Each year, things conthey just add MOVING PEOPLE AROUND a little bit to sistent and steady. He’ll it. By the time change things they get to us, up if he has to. those players But, keeping have gotten things consistent breeds success, ac- better doing the same things over cording to him. He has even reached and over and over.” out to the Newcastle All Sports AssoThe Racers allowed opponents ciation (NASA) to foster Newcastle’s a total of 377 points last season – or principles from the ground up.

37.7 points per game. Meanwhile, “I’ve been running the same sys- they managed to post a total of just tem since about 2010,” he said. “It’s 123 points on the scoreboard – or

THERE’S ENOUGH TALENT HERE

THERE’S NO DOUBT

ABOUT THAT. THE BIGGEST

WE HAVE EVERYBODY IN THEIR RIGHT POSITIONS.

LATE IN THE SEASON.”

just 12.3 points per game offensively.

Twice, Newcastle was shut out – 34-0 to Tuttle and 21-0 to Elgin.

Brickman said the win totals the last two seasons wasn’t due to a lack of talent. Right now, he’s busy trying to fill positions and f i n d out who fits where in his defen sive attack.

He has plenty of personnel to choose from.

“They’ve been very excited,” Brickman said of the returners. “You’d think that coming into a program that went 1-9 a year ago that there’d be a depletion of talent. That’s not the case here. There’s enough talent here to be competitive in every game. There’s no doubt about that. The biggest thing right now is making sure we have everybody in their right positions.

What you don’t want to do is start moving people around late in the season.”

On offense, Brickman and his coaching staff will be looking for big things from quarterback Casey Thompson. The former standout at

7

Southmoore High School is ready for his senior season of prep football. He brings an impressive resume to Newcastle.

Thompson started three years for the Class 6A SaberCats and proved to be a vicious dual threat running or throwing the ball.

Last year as a junior, he passed for 2,730 yards and 28 touchdowns with only five interceptions. He also ran for 586 yards and 14 TDs. As a sophomore, Thompson had 2,670 yards passing and 32 touchdowns with just four picks.

He also rushed for 1,011 yards and 20 scores. He has 8,730 total yards in his prep career (264.5 yards per game) and has accounted for 70 touchdowns through the air. He’s rushed for over 100 yards nine times.

Thompson has already committed to play in college for the Texas Longhorns. His older brother, Kendal, was a quarterback for Southmoore and then for Oklahoma and Utah. His father is former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Charles Thompson, an all-Big Eight first-team performer in

PAWN SHARKS 25% 25% OFF EVERYTHING

*WITH THIS AD OFF EVERYTHING **Valid through Dec. 31 st

Dec.other 31st offers ***NotValid validthrough with any

Jewelry, LED T.V.’s, Laptops, IPads, Guitars, XBOX ONES, PS4’s, Trailers, Generator, Air Compressors, Lawn Mowers, DeWalt Power Tools, Snap-on Tools, and MUCH MORE! 1208 N. Main St. • Newcastle, OK • 392-3622 • 708 SW 59th St. • Oklahoma City • 600-9054

8

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

PREVIEW

1988.

A trio of players will be behind Thompson at quarterback. Two seniors (Garrett Knowles and

the other quarterbacks – he’s just one injury away from them coming in. I tell them the story about how nobody knew who Tom Brady was because of a guy named Drew Bledsoe – an all-pro quarterback who got hurt and then was never heard from again.

“The biggest thing is making sure that they continue to make progress in the offense. I remember coaching Casey’s older brother, Kendall. His senior year, we were playing our rival Westmoore and he goes down with an MCL tear in his knee.

We had a sophomore quarterback named Trey Edwards who won the game for Photo by Jennifer Lewis/J. Lewis Photography us. If he hadn’t been Newcastle vs.Elgin ready, we probably would have lost that game. Quarterbacks Tyler Moore) along with sophomore Solomon have the ball in their hands every play and they Granger will be vying for playing time as the sig- take a lot of hits. I’ve only had one season where nal callers. the quarterback went through the whole year “Obviously, he is a talented player,” Brickman without being injured. The next guy always has to said of Thompson. “There’s no doubt about it. He’s be ready if, in a worst case scenario, the starter been in this offense before and I certainly think gets hurt.” that he helps matters. Then again – just like I told Austin Cooper, Jaxon Missey, Cade Thompson,

Seth Barber, Kyndell Rogers, Jake Cox, Braxton Ashmore and Jacob Morris will provide Newcastle with a horde of talented wide receivers to which to throw to. The Racer tight ends will be Kruz Vargas and Wade Sharp, who Brickman noted has “some of the best hands on the team.”

The running backs include Thomas Donahue, Emanuel Carter, Coalton Smith, and Cayden Holland. Up front at center will either be Rye Corbin or Austin “Bull” Cullins. Newcastle’s offensive guards will be Chris Dalton, Cole Dalton, and Blake Rogers. The tackles include A.J. McCann, Isac Higginbottom, Jonas W i n chester, and Logan Grigsby.

On defense, the only “concern” going into the season opener on Sept. 1 at Noble may be who’s going to step up and be the inside linebackers. Brickman and his staff have some good options.

It’s just a matter of deciphering who can make their presence known at arguably the most important defensive position on the field.

“We have to get it right from the start so they can learn their positions and build on what they learn from week to week,”

100% GAS

Good Luck Racers!

89¢ Drinks Any Size

V Fleet

ATM

Hot Deli Money Orders

620 N. Main St. • Newcastle • 405-387-4565

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com Brickman said. “We’ve done that offensively to this point.

Defensively, we have also, except for one inside linebacker position. We have to find some guys who can handle that spot.

“Inside linebacker is probably the most important position on defense. They’re like the quarterback – making all the calls and such. The defensive line is trying to keep guys off him so he can make the tackle.

Rocky Calmus, Mike Singletary, Ray Lewis – all great linebackers.

Success followed them and that’s what we’re trying to do here.”

Newcastle’s best option at that spot could be Cole Dalton. Carter, Donahue, Knowles, and Cade Thompson are also great choices for the position. Outside linebackers will be Missey and Cooper who are returning starters and “good leaders,” according to Brickman.

Jason Wilson, Moore, and Vargas also provide stout depth at the linebacker spots.

Up front in the trenches at nose guard will be Sharp or Higginbottom. Rogers will be a tackle while McCann is going to be looked upon as a force from his defensive end position. “I think we can expect big things from him,” Brickman said of McCann.

“He works hard and is a solid leader, too.”

Cox, Morris, Barber, and Ashmore provide Newcastle’s secondary with speed and quickness. “They’re really solid,” Brickman said. “I think we have some pretty good depth on both sides of the ball – offensively and defensively.”

This year’s schedule for Newcastle is tough as usual.

PREVIEW

Brickman anticipates a fierce battle for playoff spots. The slate includes perennial powers and yearly postseason participants.

“That was the first thing that caught my mind was the schedule,” Brickman said.

“I wasn’t really familiar with Class 4A. When I looked at the schedule, though, I recognized the teams. There are multiple teams who have won state championships – Heritage Hall, Clinton, Weatherford, Blanchard, Tuttle. We have to play all of them. But, the one that really jumped out at me right off the bat was Noble since that is a 5A school.

“That changed the way we planned our scrimmages. We (went) to Norman and played a half-game against Stillwater and they are 6A. We got to find out after that second scrimmage what we need to change to get ready for Noble.

Playing a 6A Stillwater in the second scrimmage helped us with what we need to do to figure out how we need to play against a 5A Noble. It’s a real tough schedule.”

Brickman is ready to give his Newcastle Racers the green flag. He hopes that there will be tremendous support at every game – home and away.

Chances are that there will be.

“Everyone keeps telling me, ‘This is a football town’ and, gosh, I would love nothing more than to have a ‘12th Man’ out there and for the stadium to be packed every Friday night, making it difficult for the opponents. Hopefully, we’ll put a good product out there on the field for them. I think we will.”

Photo by Jennifer Lewis/J. Lewis Photography

Newcastle vs. Tuttle

9

Newcastle Racers football YEAR-BY-YEAR (Overall – 288 Wins, 227 Losses * Denotes District Champs)

YEAR

2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005* 2004 2003 2002* 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997* 1996* 1995 1994 1993* 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981* 1980 1979 1978 1977* 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971

WINS

LOSSES

1 1 10 8 4 5 8 4 6 6 6 9 7 8 10 7 3 3 9 12 9 8 8 12 12 6 9 2 3 7 5 3 0 7 9 13 7 3 3 12 9 4 0 4 2 4

9 9 2 4 7 6 4 6 4 5 5 2 7 3 3 3 7 7 3 2 3 4 3 1 2 5 3 8 7 4 6 7 10 4 3 1 3 7 7 1 4 6 10 6 8 5

POST-SEASON

(Lost 2nd Round) (Lost 2nd Round) (Lost 1st Round) (Lost 2nd Round) (Lost 2nd Round)

(Lost 1st Round) (Lost 1st Round) (Lost 1st Round) (Lost Semi-Finals) (Lost 1st Round) (Lost 3rd Round) (Lost 1st Round)

(Lost 2nd Round) (State Runner-Up) (Lost 2nd Round) (Lost 2nd Round) (Lost 1st Round) (Lost Semi-Finals) (3A State Champs) (Lost 1st Round) (Lost 2nd Round)

(Lost 1st Round) (Lost 1st Round)

(Lost 1st Round) (Lost 2nd Round) (State Runner-Up)

(Lost 3rd Round) (Lost 3rd Round)

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

2017 SCHEDULE

10

NEWCASTLE FOOTBALL 2017

Regular Season Opponents

NOBLE BEARS September 1st Last Year 47-10 (L)

CHICKASHA FIGHTING CHICKS September 29 Last Year 31-13 (L)

• The Racers hit the road for their season opener on Sept. 1st • The Class 5A Bears had an 8-3 record in 2016 and lost to Tahlequah, 34-7, in the first round of the playoffs • Noble beat Newcastle, 47-10, last season • Scored 40.2 points per game last year • Noble’s head coach is Greg George

• The Chicks visit Newcastle on Sept. 29th • The Racers’ only win in 2016 was a 31-13 victory against Chickasha • The Chicks’ only win in 2016 was a 27-24 conquering of El Reno • The Chicks are led by head coach Jerry Bray

TUTTLE TIGERS September 8th Last Year 34-0 (L)

• Newcastle visits Tuttle on Sept. 8th • The Tigers were 11-1 in 2016 and lost to Oolagah-Talala, 35-14, in the Class 4A quarterfinals • Tuttle beat Newcastle, 34-0, last season • The Tigers scored 39.4 points per game last year • Tuttle owns Newcastle with a 16-2 all-time record against the Racers • Newcastle’s only wins versus Tuttle were 45-13 in 2014 and 27-17 in 2003 • Former Tiger Jason White won the 2003 Heisman Trophy with the Oklahoma Sooners • Tuttle’s head coach is Brad Ballard

• Newcastle will visit the Owls on Oct. 6th • Jason Cunningham is head coach for Elgin • The Owls went 4-6 in 2016 and failed to make the playoffs • Elgin posted a shutout against Newcastle a year ago, winning 21-0

BLANCHARD LIONS September 15th Last Year 55-3 (L)

• The Racers first home game is Sept. 15th against Blanchard • The Lions were 6-5 in 2016 and lost to Heritage Hall, 27-19, in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs • Blanchard beat Newcastle, 55-3, last year • Blanchard is 9-10 all-time against Newcastle • The Racers’ last win against the Lions was a 21-0 victory in 2014 • Blanchard’s head coach is Jeff Craig

ELGIN OWLS October 6 Last Year 21-0 L

CLINTON RED TORNADOES October 12 Last Year 51-14 (L) • Clinton blows through Newcastle for a Thursday night tilt on Oct. 12th • Clinton is the all-time winningest program in Oklahoma high school football history with 580 victories • The Red Tornadoes have won 16 state championships • Last year Clinton was 10-3, losing to Oolagah-Talala, 28-21, in the Class 4A semifinals • Clinton beat Newcastle, 51-14, last season and is 6-1 all-time in the series • The only win for the Racers was 41-7 in 2014 • Scored 37.6 points per game in 2016 • The head coach for the Red Tornadoes is Read Box

WEATHERFORD EAGLES September 22nd Last Year 41-14 (L) • Newcastle goes on the road Sept. 22nd to visit the Eagles • Weatherford beat Newcastle, 41-14, a year ago • The Eagles were 8-4 in 2016 and lost to Wagoner, 56-28, in the Class 4A state quarterfinals • The Racers are 2-2 all-time against the Eagles and last won, 24-21, in 2015 • Head coach for Weatherford is Reagan Roof

Photos by Jennifer Lewis/J. Lewis Photography

Newcastle vs. Noble

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

2017 SCHEDULE

HERITAGE HALL CHARGERS October 20 Last Year 37-7 (L)

• Newcastle hosts Heritage Hall on Oct. 20th • The Chargers were 11-1 a year ago and beat Newcastle, 37-7 • Heritage Hall lost in the playoffs to Tulsa Cascia Hall, 32-7, in the Class 4A quarterfinals • The loss ended the Chargers’ 38-game winning streak • Heritage Hall is 5-1 all-time against Newcastle • The Racers’ only series victory was 28-14 in 2013 • Head coach for the Chargers is Brett Bogert • Former Heritage Hall alum Wes Welker played 12 seasons in the NFL with San Diego, Miami, New England, Denver, and St. Louis

11

CACHE BULLDOGS November 3 Last Year 38-25 (L)

• Newcastle ends its regular season at home on Nov. 3rd with the finale against Cache • The Bulldogs were 6-5 in 2016 and made the post season • Cache lost, 38-25, to Tuttle in the first round of the playoffs • The Bulldogs beat the Racers, 36-23, last year • Newcastle is 5-3 all-time against Cache • Cache has won the last two in the series but Newcastle won five in a row before that • Head coach for the Bulldogs is John Herbert

ELK CITY ELKS October 27 Last Year 42-21 (L)

• The Racers hit the road to visit Elk City on Oct. 27th • The Elks were 3-7 in 2016 • One of their victories was a 42-21 decision against Newcastle • Elk City owns a 2-1 edge in the all-time series against the Racers • Newcastle last beat Elk City, 41-12 • The Elks’ head coach is Todd Wilson

Photos by Jennifer Lewis/J. Lewis Photography

Newcastle vs. Clinton

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

2017 ROSTER

12

HAYDEN AGUILAR

7

BRAXTON ASHMORE

22

SETH BARBER

1

DEVIN BOLSER

66

HADLEY BRUMLEY

80

AIDEN BRYANT

77

EMANUEL CARTER

33

AUSTIN COOPER

5

RYE CORBIN

73

CODY COX

21

JAKE COX

3

ZAC CROOK

83

Your trusted energy advisor.

Go Racers!

D ENT

MONKEY

Meet a few of our starting linemen.

Around the clock defense.

Window Tinting Paintless Dent Repair

99

$

WINDOW TINT SPECIAL

816 North Main St. Newcastle, OK 73065

(405) 694-8622

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

MATTHEW CUKA

43

KADE DAVIS

15

LOGAN GRIGSBY

76

2017 ROSTER

BULL CULLINS

78

CHRIS DALTON

54

COLE DALTON

59

6

TYLER GRAHAM

42

SOLOMON GRANGER

17

ISAC 50 HIGGENBOTTOM

CAYDEN HOLLAND

4

TYLER HOPPER

86

THOMAS DONAHUE

JR’s

CONCRETE Sidewalks, Patios, Floors Driveways & Pads Free Estimates

Jesse Salazar

13

(405) 487-6578

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

2017 ROSTER

14

KONHER KIRKUS

71

CALEB KIRKWOOD

75

GARRETT KNOWLES

2

JAYSON LANTIS

28

ROWDY LEWIS

51

A.J. McCANN

52

JAXON MISSEY

12

TYLER MOORE

11

JACOB MORRIS

18

ZACH MUNOZ

85

PARKER PEARCY

72

BLAKE ROGERS

70

THE NEWCASTLE PACER CALL 387-5277

TO ADVERTISE OR SUBSCRIBE

2245 N. Main Street

405-392-3600 MEMBER FDIC

Lobby Hours:

Drive Thru:

Monday - Friday

Monday - Friday

9:00 to 7:00

7:00 to 7:00

Saturday

Saturday

8:00 to 12:00

7:00 to 12:00

www.cbokla.com

CHECKING & SAVINGS ACCOUNTS BUSINESS BANKING AG & COMMERCIAL LOANS IRAS & CDS CONSUMER LOANS CREDIT CARDS 24 HOUR ATM

2245 N. Main Street • 405-392-3600

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

2017 ROSTER

15

KYNDELL ROGERS

19

BLAKE SANDERS

14

WADE SHARP

88

COALTON SMITH

27

JOSH THOMAS

40

CADE THOMPSON

8

CASEY THOMPSON

10

KRUZ VARGAS

13

JASON WILSON

53

74 JONAS WINCHESTER

MASON YARNELL

9

Adam Dobbels DVM • Vaccine • Dental • Spay/Neuters • Diagnostics • Digital X-Rays • Surgery • Boarding • Flea/Tick Products

500 Roosevelt St. • Blanchard

405-485-3992

www.BlanchardVet.com

1401 N. Main Newcastle, OK 73065 New & Used • Flats Fixed

Auto • Truck • Lawn • Utility • Tractor & Implement

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

COACHING STAFF

16

QUENTIN BLUE

WALTER BOYD

JASON HAGGERTY

ZACH HALE

JACOB PENNINGTON

JEFF BRICKMAN

JOSH HESKEW

DELANEY GALLOWAY

ANDREW MEACHAM

GLENN STALLINGS

JUDD WILSON

Your team spirit headquarters!

Formerly ATRS (All The Right Stuff) - Under New Ownership

Custom Embroidery - Screen Printing Corporate Apparel - Team Uniforms Promotional Products - Gift Boutique

2110 N. Main Street, Ste. A - Newcastle, OK 73065 (405) 387-5050

JOIN US FOR WORSHIP!

Sundays at 10:30 a.m. & Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

112 NE 2nd Street • Newcastle, OK • (405) 267-1862

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

PLAYER

Seth Barber

Garrett Knowles Jake Cox

Cayden Holland Austin Cooper Thomas Donahue Hayden Aguilera Cade Thompson Mason Yarnell Casey Thompson Tyler Moore

Jaxon Missey Kruz Vargas

Blake Sanders Kade Davis

Solomon Granger Jacob Morris Kyndell Rogers Cody Cox

Braxton Ashmore Coalton Smith Jayson Lantis Emanuel Carter Josh Thomas Tyler Graham Matthew Cuka Isac Higginbottom Rowdy Lewis A.J. McCann Jason Wilson

2017 ROSTER

CLASS

OFF./DEF.

NO.

PLAYER

SR SR SO JR SR SR SO JR SO SR SR SR SO SO SO SO SR SO JR JR JR SO SO JR SR JR SR SO JR SO

WR/DB QB/LB WR/DB RB/DB WR/DB RB/LB WR/DB WR/LB WR/DB QB/DB QB/LB WR/DB TE/LB WR/DB WR/DB QB/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB TE/LB OL/DL WR/DB OL/DL TE/LB OL/DL OL/LB

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 21 22 27 28 33 40 42 43 50 51 52 53

Chris Dalton Cole Dalton Devin Bolser Blake Rogers Konher Kircus Parker Pearcy Rye Corbin

Jonas Winchester Caleb Kirkwood Logan Grigsby Aiden Bryant Austin “Bull” Cullins Hadley Brumley Zac Crook

Zach Munoz Tyler Hopper Wade Sharp

17

CLASS

OFF./DEF.

NO.

SR SR SO JR SO JR SR SO SO SO SO SR JR SO JR JR JR

OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL TE/DL WR/DB WR/DB OL/DL TE/DL

54 59 66 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 80 83 85 86 88

RACERS COACHING STAFF Jeff Brickman – Head Coach Jason Haggerty – Def. Coord.

Josh Heskew – Def. Line Coach Jud Wilson – Def. Line Coach Quentin Blue – Safeties/OLBs Walter Boyd – Off. Line Coach Andrew Meacham – Off. Asst.

Jacob Pennington – Off. Asst.

Zach Hale – Def. Asst.

Glenn Stallings – Def. Asst.

Delaney Galloway – Head Trainer

1992 CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONS

18

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

1992 State Champions

Photo provided/For The Newcastle Pacer

1992 Newcastle Racers

NO.

PLAYER

1 4 8 10 11 12 14 15 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 29 32

Scott Devera Rodney Eischen Chuck Smith Billy Anglin Alan Cornett Kelly Hendrix Brad Fisbeck Ty Griffith

Mike Robertson Steve Bryant Brock Wilkerson B.J. Hall

David Deets Chris Ecton Rodney Owens Sheveron Glover Matt Trammel

CLASS

POSITIONS

NO.

PLAYER

Senior Sophomore Senior Senior Junior Senior Sophomore Junior Sophomore Junior Junior Junior Sophomore Junior Senior Sophomore Sophomore

SE-FS SE-CB TB-SS FL-FS QB-CB QB-FS SE-CB SE-CB QB-ROV FL-CB TB-SS FL-FS FL-CB SE-CB SE-CB FL-CB TB-FS

33 40 44 45 50 51 54 55 60 62 64 66 70 73 77 78 81 86

Lance Judkins Chris Jones Phillip Wilson Kenny Hix

Russell Strangfeld James Davis Kris McKee Craig Griffith Eric Little

Brent Sykes Kyle Duncan Drue James Jason Wiggins Chris Morris Trevor Riddle Joey Walker Paul Hess

Robby Williams

CLASS

POSITIONS

Sophomore Junior Senior Sophomore Senior Junior Senior Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Junior Junior Senior Sophomore Sophomore Junior Sophomore

FB-LB TE-ROV FB-NG TE-LB G-LB C-NG T-DE G-NG T-DT T-DT G-DT G-NG C-LB T-DT G-DE T-DT TE-DT TE-SS

1992 CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONS

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

19

Photo provided/For The Newcastle Pacer

The Newcastle Racers had a great coaching staff in 1992. From left to right: Clint Warren, Jody Iams, Keith Bolles, August Deets, Galen Wolfe, and Tony Roberts.

Good Luck Racers!

Electronic Cigarettes E Liquid Accessories TRI-CITY AND NEWCASTLE’S PREMIER VAPOR SHOP FOR OVER 3 YEARS! Come in on Thirsty Thursday for a 30ml for just $13.99

405-387-2243 3132 Tri-City Ave. Newcastle

405-527-6543 127 S. Canadian Purcell

Tim and Gale Wilson, Owners

910 NW 32nd (Hwy 37) Newcastle, OK 73065

405-387-3642

Monday-Saturday 10am - 8pm • Sunday 12pm - 5pm Made in the USA • Mixed in House • 300 Premium Flavors Best Quality - Customer Service

20

CHUCK SMITH

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

Photo provided/For The Newcastle Pacer

Chuck Smith was listed as a 5-foot-8, 167-pound tailback during his senior year in 1992, when he helped Newcastle win the 1992 Class 3A state championship.

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

CHUCK SMITH

21

Star running back Chuck Smith treasures his memories of

RACERS’ STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

By Todd Newville The Newcastle Pacer

The memories of his senior year in 1992 are so very special to former Newcastle football player Chuck Smith. That was his senior season of playing football for the Racers. He loved his teammates and they loved him. They were friends and they were family.

Brothers in arms, as they say.

“That season was one of the best times I ever had in my life,” Smith recalled.

“Practice was fun and everyone wanted to go to practice. We were all like brothers and we all got along great. We had each other’s backs no matter what. We set a goal and said that we were going to make the state championship.

We were tired of just making the playoffs. We wanted to make our mark. We made the playoffs every year from my freshman through my senior year and that definitely was my most favorite season of all.

“We were brothers. We clicked on every level that year. It was a great year. We had a top-notch defense.

Our offense was great and we had a tiny offensive line. But, I couldn’t have asked for a better bunch to block for me. They did something that year that nobody thought they could do.

Other teams would be amazed how they could block because they were so small. That comes from determination. They didn’t want to let anybody in the backfield. They rarely did.”

Of course, Smith is talking about the 1992 Class 3A state championship. The Racers went 12-2 that season and ended it with a scintillating 24-11 victory over the Marlow Outlaws on the turf of Owen Field inside the University of Oklahoma’s Memorial Stadium.

“We came through a lot of adversity that season,” Smith said. “One of our best players, Drue James, broke his leg at the first of the season. He didn’t get to play all year – not one game. He was also our punter and he was fantastic. He averaged 40-45 yards per punt which was phenomenal. He was a good lineman and a great punter and just a happy guy.

“We were always happy. We didn’t point any fingers. We were taught that by our coaches. If we make a mistake, it’s a team mistake – not an individual one. I taught my boys that; if you’re going to play sports, don’t point your fingers.

You’re on a team.

Team is not spelled with an ‘I’. I’ve got six boys and that’s what I tell them.”

In 1992, Newcastle began the season with a 35-18 loss to Weatherford at home.

The Racers were victimized by their own mistakes early on and trailed 14-0 after just a minute.

The Eagles were the defending Class 3A state champions. They would go on to win the Class 4A state title.

“Weatherford was a great team but after the first few minutes, it was already 14-0,” said Smith, who had 118 yards on 17 carries. “They scored twice in the first minute. They were state champions the year before and moved up a class. They won state again that same year we won state. When we first heard we were going to play Weatherford the first game, we were nervous at first. But, then we said ‘It’s just another team.’

We knew we were good. That was our measurement game – our measuring stick. If we could hang with Weatherford, we could hang with anybody.”

Newcastle then beat Blanchard (20-0) at home and Lone Grove (407) on the road. Smith rushed for over 100 yards in each of those contests and he, along with all of his teammates, were ready and prepared for a road trip to face the Tuttle Ti-

gers in the “Game of the Week” in all of Oklahoma.

It was SRO – Standing Room Only – at Tuttle’s Tigers Stadium with over 2,500 fans in attendance rooting for both sides. The Racers beat the Tigers, 25-0, as Smith rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown, plus another 55-yard punt return for a TD to help the offensive effort.

“That was my favorite game because I had so many friends from Tuttle,” Smith said. “We were talking crap all summer to each other and that game was the No. 1 game in the state that week. It was huge and you would just look around and see all the people just standing. It was their homecoming and that gave us more motivation.

“As we were pulling into town, we saw the floats and every one of them had pictures of me and Kelly Hendrix on them – us getting stomped on or we were in a dinosaur’s mouth. They were trying to say they were going to hurt us. We took it personal so we showed them we meant business.”

Hendrix was perhaps Smith’s best friend on the team – and that’s saying a lot. The Racers were a tight-knit outfit but Hendrix was a special guy to have on the team. Hendrix was the team’s all-state quarterback that year with 1,297 yards and 13 touchdowns on 90-of-185 attempts passing. Hendrix passed away in 2005.

“Kelly passed away 12 years ago,” Smith said. “We used to spend summers together – all summer. That was a hard time for me. Me, him, Russell Strangfeld… there were a bunch of

us. I was at his house pretty much all summer, sleeping over and hanging out. We were close. It was a good time. When he passed away, it hit me really hard.”

Newcastle beat Perry, 41-6, for a homecoming victory as Smith scored three touchdowns and had 100-plus yards for the fifth straight game. The Racers then went to Perkins, where they beat the Demons, 42-3, on their homecoming night.

Smith was sick, though, and failed to reach 100 yards rushing for the first time that year.

“Perkins wasn’t even a game,” Smith said. “Coach (August) Deets told us if we weren’t up by 28 points by the first quarter, he was going to make us run. That was our motivation because he didn’t just make us run a little. He would put us through the grinder. I didn’t get a hundred yards that game because I had bronchitis.

I was sick and got two touchdowns.

I wanted to go back in and get my hundred. But, coach wouldn’t let me since I was sick so that ended my streak.”

Newcastle returned home the week after that to face the mighty Millwood Falcons, the No. 1 team in Class 3A at the time. Millwood had quarterback Cornelius Davis and wide receiver Mandell Dean and they were a high-octane juggernaut of an offense. Newcastle barely lost, 19-18, as the Racers missed all three of their extra point attempts.

“The Millwood game made us mad,” said Smith, who had 188 yards and two touchdowns on 40 carries against the Falcons. “We played

“ That season was one of the best times I ever had in my life.

We came through a lot of adversity that season.

It was a great experience and it’s something I’ll never forget.

It was a year to remember because we did something that a lot of people said we couldn’t do.”

Photo provided/ The Racers celeb For The Newcast rate after a 40 -7 le Pa cer win over Lone Gr left to right are ove in 1992. From Chris Ecton (24 ), Steve Bryant Drue James (66 (20), Chuck Sm ), and Alan Corn ith (8), ett (11).

22

CHUCK SMITH

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

with them and they had some great players like beat Plainview, 21-0, at home in the first round. game that season. “It was one of my best games,” Cornelius Davis and Mandrell Dean, who passed The Racer defense held the Indians to a measly Smith said. “If I had to rank them, my favorite away a few years back (in 2007.) We were good 10 total yards as Hendrix had three touchdown games were Tuttle, Millwood, and then Marlow. friends after the game. But, they seemed like they passes – one to B.J. Hall and the other two to Chris Seminole was a great game for us, too, because didn’t even know where Newcastle was – never Ecton. we wanted to get revenge that season on all the heard of it.

In the second round, Newcastle went to Fred- teams that beat us. Seminole had beaten us dur“We should have won. We called timeout but erick and beat the Bombers, 27-0. Smith returned ing my time with Newcastle. Marlow totally dethe refs didn’t hear us. Kelly got sacked and that and had two rushing touchdowns in the muck molished us one time (in 1990) and it was ugly. So, was the game. I was the field goal kicker that and the mire that was supposed to be Frederick’s when the seniors got together before the game, year and I kicked it to the left – but I didn’t we realized how sweet it was to have a like kicking field goals. I liked kicking off but chance to get some revenge on them. It I did not like kicking field goals. It got in my was our motivation. mind too much. We didn’t have a kicker. If “It was surreal before the game. I was we had made them, we would have won. thinking ‘Man, we’re here! This is what we I think that loss did us more good than if wanted and worked for. I’m here with my we would have won. It sounds funny but it brothers. There’s no way they can beat us!’ helped us to focus after that.”

We were pumped. Then, we go out and Their focus was then firmly on the Bethplayed a phenomenal game. We were any Bronchos, who fell victim to the Racclicking on everything. But, they were the ers, 60-7, in a game that was a blowout by first team to score on us in the playoffs and halftime – 40-0. Bethany could only muster that made us so mad. We had a chance to 93 yards total offense. Smith was over 100 be the first team in 40 years or something yards rushing for the seventh time. to not allow a single point in the playoffs.

“We were upset because our third-string That was our goal for our defense. When defense let Bethany score,” Smith said. that didn’t happen, we just got mad. But, “We were trying to put our pads back on we got what we came for – what mattered because we had a streak going – trying to most, the state championship.” shut people out. We wanted to keep it that The last practice Newcastle had before way. But, Coach Deets wouldn’t let us back the state championship game left a lastin. He said that wasn’t right to do. That’s the ing impression on Smith. “One of the funkind of coach he was. It wouldn’t have niest memories I have is our last ‘practice’ been good to let us back in just to keep before the championship game,” he said. them from scoring.”

“Coach Deets asked me what I wanted to The Racers went to Kingfisher and shut do in our last practice. He said we could Photo courtsey of The Oklahoman out the Yellow Jackets, 31-0. The victory was work out, run some plays, run sprints, or Quarterback Kelly Hendrix hands the ball off to Chuck Smith costly, though, as both Smith and lineman maybe just have some fun – anything. I (8) in the 1992 Class 3A state championship game against Chris Morris were injured during the game. just looked at him and said ‘I want to play Marlow. The Racers beat the Outlaws, 24-11, on Oklahoma’s Morris pulled a calf muscle and missed the duck-duck-goose.’

Owen Field on Dec. 7, 1992. next two games for Newcastle.

“So, we all got in a circle on the football “I tore my meniscus in my right knee field and we played duck-duck-goose for against Kingfisher,” Smith said. “I never had about 30 minutes and just laughed and surgery on it because I’m just stubborn. I went to football field. Thanks to “Mother Nature,” she had a good time. The coaches were laughing OU Medical Center and the specialist told me my dropped 10 inches of rain on the area during the with us. Here we are – a bunch of 16, 17, 18-yearseason was over. But, I had a few choice words week. old guys – playing around like we were back in with him and told him ‘It’s not over ‘till I say it’s “The Frederick game was the most horrible elementary school playing duck-duck-goose.” over.’ The coaches asked me what I wanted to game I ever played in my whole life,” Smith said.

The game between Newcastle and Marlow do. I said I’d get a knee brace and if you get me “It was miserable and the conditions were hor- was supposed to be played on Saturday. But, a a stationary bike and let me watch film, I’ll get my rible. It was cold and it was rain and ice mixed. winter storm wreaked havoc on the entire state. knee in shape. It was my call and that’s what I And, it wasn’t coming straight down. It was blow- Four other championship games were postponed wanted.” ing sideways. That’s how windy it was. Ask any- due to the inclement weather. The Racers and The Kingfisher game once again revealed New- one in the stands. They were miserable, too. It was Outlaws were given the option to decide if they castle’s only real bug-a-boo – it’s kicking game. freezing and my hands hurt so bad to close a fist. wanted to play or postpone their game.

The Racers missed 4-of-5 extra point attempts.

We shook hands and just ran to the bus after the The only championship game played on Dec. “That whole year, our kicking was just horrible,” game. You could hear us chattering our teeth on 5, 1992, was the Class 5A tilt between the Ardmore said Smith, trying to hold back a chuckle. “I think the bus ride back home.”

Tigers and the Douglass Trojans. Douglass, a team we tried two or three kickers. It was so ugly. I think In the semi-finals, Newcastle beat Seminole, much liked Newcastle that relied on a speedy back now and laugh about it. Back then, the 20-0, at Norman High’s Harve Collins Field as the ground game, fell to Ardmore, 34-14, on the slick, goal posts were wider than they are now! We still Racers limited the Chieftains to 114 yards pass- snow-covered turf at Stillwater’s Lewis Field. couldn’t make them!” ing and 61 yards on the ground. That set up the “It snowed the weekend we were supposed Newcastle traveled to Jones for the regular- championship game matchup between New- to play,” Smith said. “The game got postponed season finale and beat the Longhorns, 13-0, in castle and the Marlow Outlaws, who beat the and it was supposed to be played the next an ugly game marred by nine Jones penalties Racers, 34-6, two years earlier in the playoffs. weekend. Douglass lost to a team they shouldn’t for 100 yards. One Longhorn player was tossed Newcastle beat Marlow, 24-11, in the state have lost to. Ardmore beat them. Douglass was toward the end of the game. championship game on Owen Field inside Okla- fast; everybody was fast on that team. We saw “Chris Morris and I were out against Jones,” homa’s Memorial Stadium, where the Sooners that it snowed and how Douglass got beat. They Smith said. “They thought they had it in the bag. play. Try as they might, Newcastle was unable to couldn’t use their speed. They were kind of like We couldn’t really do anything because we were become the first Oklahoma high school football us. So, the coaches let us decide if we wanted to on the sidelines helping the guys who were play- team in 40 years to hold every playoff opponent play or postpone it. We had that option. I said ‘I ing our positions. Jones was playing dirty. They scoreless. think we should postpone it.’ We wouldn’t be able knew they weren’t making the playoffs so they Smith had 143 yards and three TDs on 32 car- to use our speed in the snow and Marlow was the were just going to go out there and do what they ries against Marlow – a performance that was bigger team. So, they postponed the game until want. (oddly enough) very reminiscent of an Oklahoma the next weekend.”

“We weren’t going to take it. It was ugly. When great who once made his mark on the very same But (ironically on the 51st anniversary of when we were shaking hands after the game, they field as Smith did that day. Steve Owens won the the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in a surprise were talking crap and they looked at me and 1969 Heisman Trophy for the Sooners and was a attack), Newcastle got a surprise call. They would said ‘You’re lucky you didn’t play.’ I’m thinking workhorse just like Smith. Smith ended his senior have to play Marlow that Monday in Norman.

‘Hey, look at the scoreboard. We still beat you.’ year with 1,363 yards and 20 touchdowns on 217 The Racers immediately gathered to start alertMy backup, Brock Wilkerson, was great.” rushes. ing everyone they knew that their battle was on It was then time for the playoffs. Newcastle But, it wasn’t even Smith’s personal favorite that day.

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com “All the players got a phone call to come to the fieldhouse and we’re told ‘We’re playing tonight at 7 o’clock.’ It’s a Monday,” Smith said.

“This is before we had cell phones, of course, so we’re all hitting the phones – coaches’ office, teachers’ lounge, the principal’s office - and calling our parents and telling them we are playing tonight. ‘Tell grandma. Tell my aunts and uncles.’ Sure enough, we got a crowd there and it was surreal. It was a big crowd and we filled up a good part of Owen Field.”

On Tuesday, Newcastle principal Joe Cox had another surprise for the entire school. “The next day, Mr. Cox threw a celebration for us at school and let us out early the rest of the day. We got our medals. Some of us, if not most of us, weren’t feeling top notch. We didn’t plan on going to school but they said we would be receiving our medals. Mr. Cox released the entire school after that in honor of us winning the state championship. It was so cool that he did that for us.

“The whole student section and the student body were awesome that year. They would fill the whole section - and then some - every game we were at. Not just home games, but at every game they would come. Two buses full of students came to all the games. They brought signs and noise makers everywhere we went. Even

CHUCK SMITH when we went to Perkins, we had a pretty good crowd even though they weren’t very good and it wasn’t close. Perkins, Lone Grove, Kingfisher, Frederick – those places aren’t close to Newcastle. That’s a good drive to all those places. We had complete backing from the school, the parents, faculty, the town – everybody.

People would close up shop early to come watch us every Friday. It was a great experience and it’s something I’ll never forget. It was a year to remember because we did something that a lot of people said we couldn’t do.”

Smith, now 42, had surgery in July 2013 to remove half of a cancerous kidney. His mother, Pamela, received a new liver this past May and is recovering. Smith was listed at 5-foot8, 167 pounds on the ’92 Newcastle roster. He has a theory as to why he was such an elusive running back in high school – playing volleyball in the sand and running away from bigger people.

“We had a friend who graduated the year before us. He didn’t even play football. But, he had a sand volleyball court. We swam and played volleyball all summer that year. We didn’t know how good of shape we were getting in. When we started running sprints and practicing, the coaches were impressed because none of us were tired. They asked

AZTEC

EXTERMINATING • PEST CONTROL • PRE-TREATS • TERMITE CERTIFICATES • TERMITES • YARD SPRAYS • BED BUGS

FREE ESTIMATES

387-3101 or 799-8634

23

‘What have ya’ll been doing?’ We seemed. told them sand volleyball. That’s “But, Chuck busted through and where most of our conditioning scored for us. He made it work. He came from. had a knee brace on and he still was “My friends who graduated asked better than everyone else. Against me how I did some of the things I did Tuttle, he returned a punt. He disapwhen I ran with the football. I told pears under this pile near the sideline them it was from years from running and the goal line. All of sudden, he’s away from them! I was 5foot-5 and 140 pounds. They were 5-8, 5-9, and 6-foot.

They were always chasing me! If they got a hold of me, it was going to hurt. That was my practice, too – running from them. Seriously, my dad (Charlie) told me long ago to run scared when I had the ball. I wasn’t but I never took a bad hit because I ran that way. I never wanted to get touched. I never wanted to Photo provided/For The Newcastle Pacer get taken down. I just tried to Chuck Smith and his mother Pamela enjoy a see the hole and run through moment together two years ago at the all-Indian it.” state softball tournament in Oklahoma City.

Smith’s abilities made a Pamela is currently recuperating from liver long-lasting impression on transplant surgery under the loving watch of her Deets, who retired in 2004 afson Chuck and other family members. ter 15 seasons at Newcastle.

“Chuck had great vision and tremendous balance,” Deets said. “You could hardly knock him in the other end zone for a touchoff his feet. He always found a way down. We didn’t play him at tailback to stay upright. When he hit a pile, he until his senior year. But, we knew he kept his feet going. During the state was going to be a good one – and title game, we made a bad call he was! Chuck cleaned up.” and there was nothing there or so it He certainly did.

24

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

AUGUST DEETS

Former Newcastle coach August Deets fondly remembers 1992 state title season

By Todd Newville

“I set some goals for myself,” he said. “My No. 1 goal was to be a head coach. I spent some time in Texas and Oklahoma as an assistant. Then, I had

Former Newcastle football head coach August the opportunity to be the head coach at Apache Deets is enjoying his golden years. Most any morn- and then Elgin. We were successful there.

“But, then the opportunity came to be at Newing of the week, you can find him inside the quaint and friendly confines of Kim’s Donuts on Main castle. It was a good fit for me. Not all communiStreet – not far from his old stomping grounds on ties or areas are a good fit for some people. This place was a good fit for me. I told them that we the sidelines of Racer football games.

This is the 25th anniversary of the Newcastle were going to have a champion in five years. We football team winning the 1992 Class 3A state went through some growing pains but we got it championship. It was the first state championship done.”

Indeed, they did. When Deets first took the in school history – in any sport.

Newcastle helm in 1989, When Deets sits down his Racers went 2-8 that at his table at the doseason. The following nut shop, he shares year in ’90, he guided his thoughts on world Newcastle to a 9-3 reevents and the latest cord and the Racers’ news around town. The had turned the corner. topics of conversation After beating Antlers, 42with his old buddies vary 7, in the first round of the from time to time. Their playoffs that year, Newbanter is reminiscent castle got trounced, 34of “The Andy Griffith 6, by Marlow.

Show,” when Andy, BarIn ’91, Deets and his ney, Goober, and others team dropped back would congregate inside to 6-5 and lost, 21-0, to Floyd’s barbershop to Madill in the first round ponder the day’s events of the playoffs. That was and happenings.

Todd Newville/The Newcastle Pacer just a blip on the radar, “We just drink coffee, Former Newcastle athletic director Roy Giles though.

In 1992, things hear the latest news, and (left) and former Newcastle head football coach came together for Newtry to solve the world’s August Deets share a story from the old days castle in a big way. Deets problems,” said Deets inside Kim’s Donuts on Main Street earlier this sensed it and knew his with a chuckle. summer.

Racers would be a force There is no doubt, to reckon with that year. though, that there is one So, to make his troops consistent topic always on Deets’ mind. Ask him about his football coach- salty, he scheduled accordingly. Deets went to ing career – and specifically about that famous Weatherford head coach Woody Roof before the 1992 season – and the memories flow freely from season began and asked him if he could pencil the former gridiron genius like a cool, spring moun- the Eagles in as the Racers’ season-opening optain stream rushing with the overflow of melting ponent at home. Weatherford was the defending Class 3A state champions. They moved up a level winter snow.

You bet he loves to reminisce about football and would proceed to win the Class 4A state title and about that ’92 campaign in particular. It’s in in ’92.

“He was surprised that we wanted to play his blood.

“You get a ring for winning the state champion- them,” Deets said. “They were the defending state ship but I don’t wear mine,” said the 67-year-old champions in Class 3A. In 1992, they added anDeets. “I don’t feel like I won the state champion- other class and Weatherford moved up to Class ship. The boys did it and deserve to wear theirs. I 4A. But, we stayed in 3A. I called him before the have it and it’s in a drawer. But, I was just the pilot. season began and told him that we want to play They were the plane and did all the work. I just the best. He said he would think about it and then directed them and tried to point them in the right he got back with me.

“He asked how good we were going to be. I direction.

“Or, in the case of this being the Racers, they said ‘That’s what I want to find out.’ So, they were our first game that season. The score didn’t show were the car and I was the driver.”

When Deets was an up-and-comer in the high it, but we were pretty even in most areas and we school football coaching ranks, he had a list of walked away from that game feeling pretty good things he wanted to accomplish. Before Newcas- about ourselves.”

Weatherford scored twice in the opening mintle, Deets was head coach at Apache for seven ute of that game. After Newcastle fumbled the years and Elgin for three seasons.

The Newcastle Pacer

FROM THE PACER ARCHIVES 12- 29-05

125-64 16

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com opening kickoff, Weatherford scored on the first play after that. Then, a “pick-six” interception on the Racers’ first snap from scrimmage gave the Eagles a super-quick 14-0 lead.

Weatherford beat Newcastle, 3518, but the stat sheet showed a virtual tie. Newcastle had more rushing yards (206 to 202) in the contest. The Racers had 64 yards passing and 16 first downs. The Eagles garnered 67 yards through the air and moved the chains 13 times.

Kelly Hendrix was the star quarterback that year for Newcastle.

Hendrix (who passed away in 2005) made the Class 3A all-state team in 1992 and was the key player for the Racers all season long.

“Weatherford had a great quarterback in a guy named Cal Hankins,” Deets said. “After they scored on their first possession, we threw a pick on our first possession. Kelly always let everything just roll off his back. He got upset at himself but he never dwelled on mistakes. He never got too high or too low.

“He misread the play (when he was intercepted) and he knew it because he told me he did. That spotted them seven points and when you do that against a No. 1 team, you play catchup the rest of the way. You are forced to do things you normally wouldn’t do.”

The Weatherford game proved to be a litmus test for the Racers. After holding their own against the best team in Class 4A, they knew that they could handle whatever else was presented to them the rest of the year.

The next week, Newcastle thumped Blanchard, 20-0, at home and the Racers’ defense held the Lions to just six total yards of offense.

Running back Chuck Smith had a 51yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Brock Wilkerson had a 40-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Hendrix connected with split end Chris Ecton for a 24-yard gain through the air, leading to fullback

AUGUST DEETS Lance Judkins’ 1-yard TD plunge for rushing touchdowns and the Racthe final score. ers’ defense held the Maroons to 16 Newcastle went on the road for yards on the ground and 85 yards a Week 3 matchup against Lone through the air.

Grove – and it wasn’t even close. The Next up for the Racers were the Racers whipped the Longhorns, 40-7 Perkins Demons, who had schedas Smith rushed for over 100 yards for uled Newcastle as their homecomthe third straight game. He tallied ing game. But, it was far from a 136 yards and a TD to boost his rush- sweet return for Perkins as they were ing total to 365 yards. Hendrix had down 36-3 by halftime. Newcastle 127 yards passing, Ecton caught four won, 42-3, as Smith’s two rushing TDs passes for 64 yards and a score, and helped highlight the scoring. Henflanker Billy Anglin hauled in three drix and Ecton hooked up on a 15passes for 68 yards. Judkins crossed yard touchdown play. Hendrix also the goal line and into the end zone found Bryant again for a 31-yard three times. touchdown pass. Judkins scored on In Week 4, Newcastle travelled a 2-yard plunge in the end zone. to visit the Tuttle Tigers.

“We go to Perkins The matchup was the “ for their homecomWe liked to put on a top game of the week ing,” Deets said. “We in all of Oklahoma show and I told our dressed in their ag high school football guys we’re out there to building and it was just and over 2,500 people a little place out in the were in attendance. entertain these people. country back then. It’s The long-time rivals of But, I was just the pilot. bigger now, of course. the Racers were no They were the plane and did all the work. But, we knew we were match, though, for a I just directed them and tried to pretty good and I stout defense. New- point them in the right direction. knew it wasn’t going castle dropped Tuttle Or, in the case of this being to be much of a conlike a bad habit, 25-0, the Racers, they were the test for us. They were as Hendrix was 15-of-22 car and I was the driver.” having their homethrough the air for 190 coming stuff before yards. the game which went Ecton had six catches for 72 yards pretty long. So, we had a little 10-15 against Tuttle. Tight end Paul Hess play scrimmage to get some work in hauled in five passes for 60 yards before the game. and a touchdown. Smith had 118 “But, the Perkins fans were comyards rushing with one TD and also ing over to watch us scrimmage. We scored on a 55-yard punt return. knew our starters would be out by Flanker B.J. Hall caught a 27-yard halftime. I told them they could take touchdown pass from Hendrix. The off their pads, put their ball caps on, Newcastle defense held Tuttle to just and just relax when that happened.

97 total yards to take the bite out of The guys from Perkins knew what the Tigers. was coming before the game even Newcastle ran its record to 4-1 started.” with a 41-6 homecoming victory The Millwood Falcons visited Newover the Perry Maroons. Anglin re- castle as the Racers’ seventh opturned the opening kickoff 87 yards ponent. Millwood was ranked No. for a touchdown. Hendrix and Ecton 1 in Class 3A at the time and was connected for a 47-yard touchdown coached by the legendary Leodies in the second quarter. Hendrix (who Robinson. The Falcons featured athwas 7-for-17 for 187 yards) found letes such as wide receiver Mandrell Steve Bryant for a 40-yard TD pass Dean, who would eventually amass in the third quarter. Smith had three over 2,500 yards receiving and 85 to-

25

tal touchdowns in his prep career.

Smith had 188 yards on 40 carries and scored two touchdowns. Hendrix found Anglin for a 33-yard touchdown play in the second quarter.

But, the Racers lost a heartbreaker, 19-18. They tried to call a timeout at the end of the game. Problem was, they didn’t have any left to take.

“One of our sophomores tried to call a timeout,” Deets said. “Kelly knew we didn’t have any timeouts left and we were trying to hurry to get the play off. But, we couldn’t get set because one of our players was trying to call ‘Time out! Time out!’ and Kelly couldn’t get him set. Time ran out and we didn’t get the play off. It was just one of those unfortunate situations where one of your younger kids was trying to do more than he should have.”

The Newcastle defense held their own against a high-powered, bigplay Millwood offense. Quarterback Cornelius Davis threw for three long touchdowns of 56, 57, and 20 yards – the last two connections to Dean.

But, the Falcons managed no rushing yardage.

“We had a nose guard in Phillip Wilson who was the best in the state,” Deets said. “He had so many sacks that year (13.5) and you ask ‘How can one guy do that?’ Leodis put Mandrell Dean at tailback once in that game which meant they were going to run a toss sweep. They lined up on their right hash mark. But, they ran it to the weak side.

“Somehow in his wisdom, Phillip slanted to the weak side and dropped him for a three-yard loss.

We had a lot of really good high school football players. They loved to block and tackle. We weren’t really big but we swarmed to the ball. We played really smart base defense.”

The real reason the Racers lost to the Falcons was obvious; they failed to convert any of their extra-point attempts. If they had made those kicks, they would have beaten Millwood.

Former Newcastle football coach inducted into Hall of Fame TULSA -- It was a good day for August in July. A hall-of-fame-type of day, in fact. August Deets, former Newcastle head football coach and athletic director, was inducted Sunday into the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame, completing the last item on his professional to-do list.

Deets was inducted, along with seven others, in a ceremony at the Marriott Southern Hills.

“At my first job, I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish during my career,” Deets said.

“I had the usual stuff, like win a state championship, coach in an all-state game, coach in the Oil Bowl. “And the last thing on the list was to make the coaches hall of fame. That was the only one not finished.”

Deets compiled a 125-64 128- 71 record in 17 16 seasons as Newcastle’s head coach. He guided the Racers to the Class 3A State Championship, the only team championship in school history, in 1992. Newcastle reached the state title game again in 1997 but lost to Oologah, 26-14.

Deets led the Racers deep into the playoffs on numerous other occasions, including 1993 when they lost to Seminole in the semifinals and in 2004 when they lost to Purcell only 16 seconds short of the state championship game.

In the state championship season of 1992, the Racers went 8-2 in the regular season and then steamrolled four postseason opponents.

Pacer staff/The Newcastle Pacer

August Deets, center, takes a picture in May, 2006 with his family during a ceremony honoring his career. The longtime Newcastle football coach was inducted in to the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame.

AUGUST DEETS

26

“We missed three extra points against Millwood,” Deets remembered. “We didn’t have a kicker that year. I got my son (David) to kick some.

Lance Judkins tried to kick and Phillip Wilson kicked some that year but they were erratic. Out of all the things that we did well that year, that was not one of them.

“We just couldn’t kick the ball at all.

We just couldn’t do it with any degree of success. We went for two points some of the time because we couldn’t kick well. In retrospect, I’d have gone for two every time. We might have been better off.”

After losing to Millwood, Newcastle quickly rebounded. The Racers hosted the Bethany Bronchos and blew them out, 60-7. It was 27-0 at the end of the first quarter and 40-0 at the half. Smith had his sixth game of 100-plus rushing yards while the Newcastle defense held Bethany to 46 yards rushing and 47 yards passing.

The Kingfisher Yellow Jackets were next for Newcastle. The Racers posted a 31-0 whitewash on the road but it was a costly win. Smith went down with a knee injury; he wouldn’t return until the playoffs. Offensive tackle and defensive lineman Chris Morris pulled a calf muscle and was sidelined for two weeks. Kingfisher mustered only 118 total yards on offense. But, the Newcastle kicking game was bad again as the Racers missed 4-of-5 extra-point conversions.

The regular-season finale for Newcastle was at Jones – an ugly game.

The Racers basically went through the motions and still beat the Longhorns, 13-0. Wilkerson’s 15-yard touchdown run was the highlight of the game for Newcastle. Jones (which had just 69 total yards of offense) had nine penalties for 100 yards and one player was ejected from the game when the Racers scored on the last play of the contest.

“We weren’t up by that much,” Deets said. “It was a small lead so we kept driving the ball. But, we scored on the last play of the game and that made

FROM THE PACER ARCHIVES 3-23-06

them mad. It’s hard not to score in that situation. You don’t know what could happen. I guess we could have fallen on it. I don’t know if that decision was a good one. But, we won and that’s what mattered.”

So, down a couple of starters, Newcastle proceeded to win its first-round playoff game, 21-0, against the Plainview Indians at home. The Racers’ defense held the Indians to just 10 total yards. Hendrix was 8-of-19 passing for 91 yards and three TD passes (one to Hall, two to Ecton.) Wilkerson went down with a twisted ankle in the second quarter, but not before totaling 72 yards on 14 carries. Anglin had 61 yards rushing.

Newcastle traveled to Frederick for a second-round matchup against the Bombers. The game was played in miserable conditions – cold, icy, rainy. In fact, the Frederick area received over 10 inches of rain during the week of the game. With the temperature hovering in the 30s and persistent 25-mile-perhour wind, the Racers did what they had to do to win, 27-0. Smith returned and rushed for two touchdowns as did Hendrix. Frederick managed just 56 total yards on its boggy field.

The Racers met the Seminole Chieftains in the semi-finals at Norman High School’s Harve Collins Field. It was another stout, dominating performance by the Newcastle defense as the Racers won, 20-0. Seminole had 114 yards passing and 61 yards on the ground.

Smith had a 17-yard touchdown run while Hendrix scored on a 12-yard keeper and Anglin returned a fumble 25 yards for the other TD. That set up a monster game with the Marlow Outlaws for the Class 3A state championship. On the surface of Oklahoma’s fabled Owen Field, the Racers saw their playoff shutout streak come to an end. They were trying to become the first Oklahoma high school football team in 40 years to go through the playoffs without allowing a point.

But, in the end, Newcastle beat Marlow, 24-11, to win the first state champi-

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com onship in school history. Smith capped his sensational senior season with 32 carries for 143 yards and three touchdowns. It was a dream come true for the entire Newcastle squad.

The Newcastle football team in ’92 was a formidable squad thanks to the coaching staff at the time. Jody Iams was a master defensive genius for Deets. Iams eventually went on to become head coach at Claremore Sequoyah, where he spent 17 years and won the Class 3A state title in 2006.

“He played for me at Apache in 1978 when he was a sophomore,” Deets said. “He was probably 5-foot-6 and 135 pounds but tough as a boot. The next year he played linebacker for me and ended up at Panhandle State for three years. When he got out of school with his degree, I hired him here for his first job as defensive coordinator. Jody Iams was just a great defensive coordinator for me. He was a graduate assistant at Northeastern in Tahlequah and learned his defense from them. He did a tremendous job of game planning.

“You know how many times we stunted and blitzed? Just once. We played base defense the entire year. They read their schemes so well and they were so good at not getting blocked that we didn’t have to. He’s in Kansas now. His team went to the second or third round of the playoffs last year. He’s an assistant and coaches the secondary. He’s a tremendous teacher of the game and the kids love him. He has to get a lot of credit for our success that year along with Galen Wolfe, our offensive coordinator. He was with me at Elgin where I hired him out of college.”

Three years after winning the state title, Deets had a wakeup call, of sorts.

He had a massive heart attack right after Thanksgiving in 1995 at the age of 45. He was with his son when it happened on a golf course.

“I never would have thought that would happen,” said Deets, who weighed 307 at the time but promptly lost 63 pounds. “We were going to play golf at Fort Cobb and then we were

FROM THE PACER ARCHIVES 3-23-06

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com going to go quail hunting in the ‘Slick Hills’ by Carnegie. We were going to hunt in the morning and golf that afternoon. But, we couldn’t get the (hunting) dogs that morning. So, we played golf in the morning and then we planned on hunting.

“I already wasn’t feeling good and thought I just ate too much turkey the day before. Then, it hit me right on the first tee. They wanted to take me to Lawton but they couldn’t so I went to this little hospital in Carnegie. The paramedic who helped me had just moved back from Houston and he was really good and got me going again.”

Deets retired and hung up his whistle and his clipboard in 2004. He compiled a 200-114 lifetime coaching record in 25 seasons and was 125-64 during his 16 years at the helm of Newcastle. The Racers made the playoffs in 13 of those 15 seasons and they were state runner-ups in 1997 when they lost to Oolagah, 26-14, in the state championship game.

“Some did and some didn’t want me to quit,” Deets said. “You can stay in a place too long. I was thinking about retiring the year before. That year in ‘04, we went 4-6 (in the regular season) but made the playoffs and ended up 7-7 and lost (16 to 13) in the semi-finals to Purcell. We got

AUGUST DEETS some kids back from injury and we kind of gelled at the right time. We weren’t a bad team.

“We just didn’t have anybody to put on the field for a long time. We lost to Purcell in the last moments.

I lined them up wrong. But, even if we had won, we would have played (eventual state champion) Sulphur that year and they were loaded that year. They weren’t gonna get beat that year! Every game was close that year for us. We never got killed. We went on the road the first two games of the playoffs and played their socks off.”

As for that magical 1992 state championship season, Deets has nothing but great memories about everything associated with it. Principal Joe Cox and athletic director Roy Giles gave Deets and his program the necessary elements needed to succeed. Assistant coaches Iams, Wolfe, Tony Roberts, Clint Warren, and Keith Bolles had the expertise to help steer the team in the right direction.

“Our administration was tremendous as well as our kids,” Deets said.

“They were great. Mr. Cox and Roy gave us the pieces to build a program and a staff that gave us the opportunity to do what we did in ’92. When you have a great situation as far as your administration is concerned,

then add the community getting involved and their support, you can have a great program. That’s what we had that year.”

When the Racers hit the field, they came to play in ’92. They enjoyed being the center of attention for the whole town. Home football games for the Racers were a spectacle to behold. They were very entertaining and when you paid for a ticket to see them, Deets and his crew made sure you got your money’s worth.

“We liked to put on a show and I told our guys we’re out there to entertain these people,” Deets said.

“So, let’s put on a show. We played ‘Ironman’ the year before in the playoffs and against Millwood in ’92, we played Hank Williams, Jr., and ‘Country Boys Can Survive.’ Millwood comes early with their band like they always do. We got the biggest speakers we could find and we played Hank when they were getting off the bus.

“We even took our music to state and they said we couldn’t. Our fans said ‘Just write us a ticket. But we’re bringing it and taking it in!’ That was a fun time! We tried to intimidate people. We got a reputation for having a hard-nosed defense and we tried to convey that in the way we presented ourselves before games.

Oklahoma high school football coaching records **through 2016 COACH

LAST SCHOOL

LAST YEAR

YEARS

RECORD

Bruce Hendrickson Seiling 2014 38 363-101-2 Mike Snyder Seminole 2016 37 345-110-0 Joe Tunnell Rush Springs 1999 41 322-137-8 Jim Dixon Sulphur 2016 42 300-177-0 Mike Lee Clinton 2013 27 287-65-0 Seymour Williams B.T. Washington 1951 34 284-35-20 Robert Cramer Cherokee 2003 42 279-126-3 Tom Cobble Chickasha 2013 39 264-181-3 Gary Harper Berryhill 2005 34 260-89-5 Steve Edwards Glenpool 2016 31 253-119-0 Alan Trimble Jenks 2016 21 253-28-0 Jim Holloway Duncan 2013 37 251-177-0 John Merrell Christian Heritage 2013 30 248-74-0 Joe Ross Thomas 1967 29 246-61-9 Ron Lancaster Broken Arrow 2009 28 244-88-0 Rick Gandy Ringling 2007 27 242-78-0 Andy Claborn Medford 2014 32 242-125-0 Rich Jones Miami 2003 28 240-103-0 Ron McHenry Coweta 2003 35 232-153-3 Glenn Pool Antlers 2002 27 226-95-0 Larry McBroom Ardmore 2010 25 226-86-0 Gary Rose Carl Albert 2016 22 219-60-0 Bill Scott Bristow 1997 27 218-101-0 Phil Koons Clinton 2015 23 217-62-0 Leodies Robinson B.T. Washington 1999 26 214-87-3 W.W. Cox Muskogee Manual 1961 28 211-63-3 Haskell Jennings Hartshorne 1988 30 211-106-8 Jeff Wardlaw Okeene 2014 24 207-78-0 Jim Herring Dewar 2004 27 206-111-0 Woody Roof Weatherford 2007 21 205-70-0 L.D. Bains Sand Springs 1996 35 204-164-5 Sevil Pickett Marlow 1965 29 203-91-11 Bob McClain Marietta 1986 33 203-144-6 Scott Kysar Waynoka 2016 30 203-133-0 Larry Crenshaw Wetumka 2016 32 203-163-0 Derrel Pearcy Maud 1993 25 201-84-4 Joe Hanna Kansas 2007 27 200-109-0 James Brigance Talihina 1996 23 200-60-1 Tom McVay Beaver 2000 28 200-105-9 August Deets Newcastle 2004 25 200-114-0 Compiled by Chris Wilfong, The Oklahoma High School Sports Historical Society/www.iwasatthegame.com

27

We ran a little split back and ‘I’ on offense. But, defense was what we were known for.”

What does Deets think of this year’s Newcastle football team? They have a new head coach in Jeff Brickman.

They have a handful of new players who transferred in from Southmoore High School – including University of Texas signee Casey Thompson. After consecutive 1-9 seasons, the Racers are no doubt anxious to start winning consistently again.

“I certainly think they can win,” Deets said. “But, football is different now. There are no three downs and a cloud of dust anymore. No wishbone or anything. You have to have a mindset that you’re going to score a bunch of points. If you give up 14 or 21 points, that’s good now! You have to outscore people. Shut outs?

You can’t stop these offenses now.

They’re very sophisticated. There’s lots of scoring. It wasn’t like that when we won state. The game has certainly changed. And, it’s not a bad change. That’s just the way it is now in football.”

Hopefully, the more things change, the more they can look like yesterday – when Deets and the Newcastle Racers were the Class 3A state champions.

GO RACERS!

912 N. Main, Newcastle 855 NW 32nd, Newcastle

387-5695

General Manager Joseph Ballard

387-2311

General Manager Tommy Guice

Looking back at

Who, what, when, and where

By Todd Newville The Newcastle Pacer

Things have changed a lot since 1992 when the Newcastle Racers football team won their one and only state championship.

Cell phones and laptop computers were rare and the worldwide web had just begun. People still watched movies on VHS tapes beca u s e DVD players had yet to hit the market.

The launch of Facebook was still 12 years away.

Now, just about everyone owns a cell phone and a Facebook account. And, as quick as DVD movies became popular, they are just as quickly becoming a thing of the past thanks to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube.

In 1992, future Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel was but a baby in his crib - teething on toy footballs instead of running with them. Future NFL superstar quarterback Peyton Manning was turning 16 and getting his driver’s license.

Manziel has since starred as a college quarterback at Texas A&M - and gone down as one of the biggest “busts” in NFL history.

Manning, meanwhile, won two Super Bowls and passed for over 70,000 yards with the Colts and Broncos. He will soon get a bust at the football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Some memorable and notable happenings in 1992 included Ross Perot running as an independent candidate for President of the United States. However, he dropped out of the race before the November elections. Bill Clinton would eventually win over incumbent George H.W. Bush and become the 42nd POTUS in the White House.

The biggest mall in the United States opened with the Mall of America in Minnesota covering 78 acres. Riots lasting for six days began on April 29 in Los Angeles following the acquittal of four white police officers accused of beating black motorist Rodney King – causing $1 billion in damage and 63 deaths.

In February of ’92, boxing champion Mike Tyson was convicted of raping pageant contestant Desiree Washington of Rhode Island at the Miss Black America contest in Indianapolis the year before. In 1992, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed between the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The Georgia Dome in Atlanta was completed that year and Hurricane Andrew struck the south Florida coast in August. It killed 65 people and caused $26.5 billion in damage. It was the most destructive hurricane in Florida history and the costliest U.S. storm until Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Clint Eastwood’s movie “Unforgiven” won the Oscar for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

Other popular movies from 1992 included Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson in “A Few Good Men,” Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston in “The Bodyguard,” and Mike Myers and Dana Carvey in “Wayne’s World.”

Hard rockers Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, and Metallica topped the charts but “grunge” bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam were making headway in the music scene. Michael Jackson was still alive and well while Madonna still had her share of hardcore fans.

In April, Wal Mart founder Sam Walton died from cancer at age 74 while comedian Sam Kinison died at 38 in a car crash. In May, Robert Reed (who played Mike Brady on “The Brady Bunch”) died at 59 from AIDS while former NFL defensive star Lyle Alzado died from brain cancer at age 43.

Actor Anthony Perkins (star of the movie “Psycho” in 1960) died in September at 60 from AIDS. Country singer Rogers Miller died in October at 56. Actor and professional athlete Chuck Connors died at age 71 in November. Connors (“The Rifleman”) played baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers and basketball for the Boston Celtics before becoming a TV star.

$OONER STATE BANK FIVE FULL SERVICE LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU NEWCASTLE TUTTLE KONAWA 212 Wright Street 2 S.E. 4th 127 N. Broadway P.O. Box 1376 P.O. Box 250 P.O. BOX 246 Newcastle, OK 73065 Tuttle, OK 73089 Konawa, OK 74849 387-2265 381-2326 580-925-3254 TRI-CITY THE VILLAGE 420 N.W. 32nd 10301 N. MAY Established 1903 Newcastle, OK 73065 OKC, OK 73120 387-BANK 752-2265

30

OSU/OU QUIZ

OSU Cowboys & OU Sooners Football Trivia Quiz…

1. Who holds the single-game rushing record for a quarterback in Oklahoma football history? Jamelle Holieway, Charles Thompson, Thomas Lott, Steve Davis, or Jack Mildren.

2. Who had the most 200-yard rushing games in Oklahoma football history?

Adrian Peterson, Billy Sims, Joe Washington, Samaje Perine, or Greg Pruitt.

3. Who once rushed for six touchdowns in a single game for Oklahoma against Texas? Adrian Peterson, Greg Pruitt, Samaje Perine, Quentin Griffin, or Billy Vessels.

4. Which Sooners quarterback had the most 300-yard passing games in one season? Josh Heupel, Landry Jones, Sam Bradford, Baker Mayfield, or Jason White.

5. Who recorded the most tackles during their Oklahoma football career?

Jackie Shipp, Dusty Dvoracek, Rocky Calmus, Daryl Hunt, or Zac Henderson?

6. In three different seasons during the 20th century, Oklahoma had a pair of 1,000-plus yard rushers - once in the 1950s and twice in the 1970s. Which of the following pairs did not each rush for over 1,000 yards in the same season?

Billy Vessels and Buck McPhail, Jack Mildren and Greg Pruitt, Billy Sims and Kenny King, or Joe Washington and Waymon Clark.

7. Oklahoma beat Florida State, 13-2, in the Orange Bowl to win the 2000 national championship. Before that, OU quarterback Josh Heupel had finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting to the Seminoles’ quarterback. Who was the FSU quarterback?

8. Who holds the Oklahoma State team record for the most passing yards in a single season? Mike Gundy, Brandon Weedn, Zac Robinson, or Mason Rudolph.

9. Who holds the Oklahoma State team

record for the most receiving yards in a single game? Rashaun Woods, Dez Bryant, Hart Lee Dykes, or Adarius Bowman.

10. Who hold the Oklahoma State record for most receiving yards in a single season? Dez Bryant, Hart Lee Dykes, Justin Blackmon, or Rashaun Woods.

11. Barry Sanders holds the Oklahoma State (and NCAA) record for most rushing yards in a season with 2,850 yards during his Heisman Trophy-winning year in 1988. Who is second behind Sanders in OSU history? Ernest Anderson, Terry Miller, Thurman Thomas, or Kendall Hunter.

12. Who kicked the longest field goal in Oklahoma State history? Cary Blanchard, Dan Bailey, Larry Roach, or Jason Ricks.

13. In 2011, Oklahoma State finished the season ranked No. 3 in the final Associated Press poll. What was their previous highest ranking to end a season?

14. Who am I? I quarterbacked the Cowboys to a stunning 16-13 victory over the Sooners at Norman in 2001. I set a Cotton Bowl record with 307 yards passing against Ole Miss. I was drafted in the first round of the major league baseball draft (No. 18 overall) in 2004 by the Chicago White Sox and I hit a home run in my first major league at-bat in 2006.

15. Both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have had a former head coach go on to be head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and win the Super Bowl. They both also won an NCAA national title during their college coaching careers.

Who are they?

16. BONUS: Who is the only other coach besides the two coaches above to win an NCAA national title and a Super Bowl?

Football Trivia Quiz Answers 1. Thomas Lott had 195 yards versus Kansas State in 1976.

2. Billy Sims had seven 200-yard games from 1975-79.

3. Quentin Griffin scored six touchdowns in OU’s 63-14 win over Texas.

4. Sam Bradford passed for over 300 yards 11 times in 2008.

5. Daryl Hunt had 530 total tackles for Oklahoma from 1975-78.

6. Billy Sims and Kenny King.

7. Chris Weinke beat Josh Heupel out for the Heisman in 2000.

8. Brandon Weedn passed for 502 yards (36 of 46) versus Kansas State in 2011.

9. Adarius Bowman had 300 yards on 13 catches against Kansas in 2006.

10. Justin Blackmon had 1,782 yards receiving in 2010.

11. Terry Miller had 1,887 yards rushing for OSU in 1976.

12. Larry Roach booted a 56-yard field goal against Kansas in 1981.

13. In 1945, Oklahoma State (then

A&M) finished No. 5 at 9-0. NOTE: At the time, they were not recognized as national champions. But, in 2016, OSU was retroactively named as football national champions of 1945 by the American Football Coaches Association.

14. Josh Fields. NOTE: Fields finished 7th in voting for the American League Rookie of the Year award after hitting .244 with 23 home runs in 2007.

15. Barry Switzer and Jimmy Johnson.

Switzer won national titles at OU in 1974, ‘75, and ‘85 and won the Super Bowl in 1995 with Dallas. Johnson (after leaving OSU in 1984) won the national title with the Miami Hurricanes in 1987 and two Super Bowls with Dallas in 1992 and ’93.

16. Pete Carroll is the only other coach besides Barry Switzer and Jimmy Johnson to win an NCAA national championship and a Super Bowl. Carroll did it with the USC Trojans in 2004 and the Seattle Seahawks in 2014.

NEWCASTLEPACER.COM racerfootball.com

One Brand, Multiple Carriers INSURANCE

We Compare

You Save

Home Auto

387-2318

Rick Hamilton

WE REMEMBER AND HONOR OUR 1992 CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONS! Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Newcastle Racers 1st State Title!

GOOD LUCK THIS SEASON TO THE 2017 NEWCASTLE RACERS! TAKE STATE! Join us on Friday, Sept. 29th before the homecoming game against Chickasha in the parking lot outside of Racers Stadium.

We will be having a special tailgate cookout in honor of the ‘92 Racers’ championship football team!

RE: OPA 2017 BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST Dear Judge,

The Pigskin Press Pass is a yearly tradition for the town of Newcastle, Oklahoma.

Each year in August the Pigskin Press Pass is published by the Newcastle Pacer.

Providing the community with information about the high school football team, requests for the Pigskin Press Pass are received well before the season has even kicked off. This year was definitely no different.

Examples of articles that can be found in this years publication include:

• Jeff Brickman, a coach from Southmoore High School, is named the new head coach for Newcastle. Following his appointment news breaks that several star athletes from Southmoore High School are tranferring to Newcastle.

•Coached by August Deets, the 1992 Newcastle Football team became State Champions. Pictured on the cover is the championship trophy which was used as inspiration through out the Pigskin Press Pass.

More than 2,000 copies of this publication are distributed during the first home game of the season. Additional copies are available at the Newcastle Pacer Office. All at no charge to our readers. Our revenue comes from advertising.

This is our highest grossing product we produce each year. With figures soaring past $6,000, this endeavor is always a touchdown.

Thank you for your consideration!

Clarence B. Wright, Newcastle Pacer Publisher