Claremore shuts out Sapulpa

By BEN JOHNSON World Correspondent - 11/7/2009


CLAREMORE — After finding out they were destined for the Class 6A playoffs, the Claremore Zebras wanted to enter the postseason with momentum.

Mission accomplished.

The Zebras’ offense rushed for 267 yards and two touchdowns, and Claremore’s defense shut out Sapulpa en route to a 21-0 victory Friday night at Lantow Field.

“We wanted to go into the playoffs with some momentum,” Claremore coach Rob Gilbreath said. “ ... This is a good club, I’m proud of them and I’m glad we’re going to the playoffs.”

Claremore (6-4, 4-3 District 6A-3) scored its first TD in the second quarter on Gavin Little’s 23-yard pass to Jordan Basks on fourth-and-19 from Sapulpa’s 23-yard line.

Claremore, who entered the game allowing 19.7 points per contest, limited Sapulpa (1-9, 1-6) to only 15 rushing yards, 81 passing yards and nine first downs.

“This year the defense has been good,” Claremore senior linebacker Tyler Butcher said. “We love shutting down people with all-out defense.”

For Butcher, however, the highlight of the night came on a 59-yard touchdown run which gave the Zebras a 21-0 lead late in the third quarter.

“I saw a wide-open hole, I took aim and I ran as fast as I could,” said a smiling Butcher, who finished the game with 81 yards and two carries. He entered the final game of the regular season with only four carries for minus-4 yards.

Sophomore running back Chase Talbert paved the way for the Zebras’ rushing attack with 148 yards and a TD on 24 carries. His lone TD came on a 1-yard plunge in the third.

Claremore had already earned a postseason berth by virtue of Sand Springs’ forfeiture of the Week 8 game between the two schools. The Zebras will travel to 6A No. 2 Union for the first round.

“They’re No. 2 for a reason,” Gilbreath said of the Redskins. “We’ll have to watch film and prepare and hope we get some breaks.”





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