HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: BOOKER T. WASHINGTON SHUTS DOWN SAND SPRINGS 40-0

The hubbub surrounding Senior Night is supposed to get into a guy’s head, but DeWayne Cooks Jr.’s head apparently was all clear Thursday. The Booker T. Washington receiver returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, igniting the No. 1 Hornets’ 40-0 blowout win over No.?9 Sand Springs before about 3,500 spectators at S.E. Williams Stadium. “Our coach (Brad Calip) already knew that (Senior Night) was gonna be a distraction, so he had us working all week on staying focused so we’d be prepared for it,” Cooks said. It was Cooks’ sixth TD of the season, but his first on a kickoff return. In fact, Cooks hadn’t returned a kickoff for a score since elementary school. Thomas Grayson rushed for 154 yards and two TDs, Phillip Wheatley threw for 195 yards and two TDs, Josh McSoud kicked two field goals and the Hornets’ defense pitched its third shutout in five games. B.T. Washington improved to 7-1 overall, 4-0 in district play and set up a showdown at No.?6 Bixby next week that likely will decide the District 6AII-2 title. The Spartans won at Bartlesville 37-21. Considering that Bixby has won three consecutive 6A Division II titles, it’s conceivable that the Hornets could be ranked No.?1 next week and an underdog at the same time. “That happens a lot in football,” Wheatley said. “Especially in this matchup between Bixby and Booker T., with such history. There’s numbers before our names, but they don’t really matter when we play each other.” Cooks’ TD dash down the left sideline gave the Hornets a flying start and things went from bad to worse for the Sandites (4-4, 2-2). Following the TD, the Hornets’ Jack Roberts recovered his own onside kick, leading to the first of McSoud’s field goals. The Hornets had nine points on the board before the Sandites snapped the ball. Grayson bolted 51 yards on the first play of the second quarter and it was 16-0. The lead was more than enough for the Hornets because the defense was brilliant. The Sandites didn’t have a first down in the first half, going three-and-out on five consecutive possessions. Led by Jonathan Brown, Jason Harris II, Trace Linn and Kiero Petross, the Hornets held the Sandites’ star running back, Payton Scott, to 91 yards on 20 carries. He was averaging more than 200 per game. Wheatley said Cooks’ play to start the game took pressure off of everyone, but mainly himself. “(Cooks) was awesome and I was overjoyed,” he said. “Our offense was first up and sometimes that can be tricky. It’s good when you get points on the board and you don’t have to get out there. I can’t believe how athletic (Cooks) is. It’s crazy!” Wheatley’s TD passes went for 8 yards to Mahcel Johnson, who hurdled a defender into the end zone, and 14 yards to Javian Hester, who totaled eight receptions for 81 yards.