SANDITES WILL HAVE TO FIND NEW RUNNING BACK

This season is going to be a learning experience for the Sandites. Sand Springs is going to learn how to function without the school’s best-ever running back, Payton Scott. Scott, who holds every possible rushing record at Sand Springs, graduated and will suit up for the University of Central Oklahoma in the fall. Last year, he scored 33 of his team’s 36 rushing touchdowns and one of the team’s six receiving touchdowns. He ended with 34 of the offense’s 42 scores. Now, head coach Dustin Kinard will have to find his replacement, and it might take more than one running back. Right now, Seth Jones, Tre Wilkerson, Joel Mackey and Garret McCallie are fighting for the starting running back spot. McCallie, Jones and Wilkerson got to run the ball last season, but Mackey was on defense most of the time. Jones had 13 rushes for 42 yards, McCallie was 8-25 yards, and Wilkerson 1-0. Quarterback Caden Pennington is the only player on offense to score a rushing touchdown in 2017. Pennington, a senior, rushed for one touchdown and one two-point conversion. He was 55-122 with 662 yards passing with five touchdowns and five interceptions. His back-up Braden Foster was 1-2 for 45 yards and a touchdown to wide receiver Daren Hawkins. Last year, Hawkins caught three passes for 71 yards and two scores, which was a team-high. Hawkins, Jacob Snodgrass, Justin Roe, Colton Roberts and Foster will rotate in at receiver. Knox Goggin and Hayden Blair will line up at tight end. The receiving corps had only six receiving touchdowns in 2017, and Scott and Dash Fleischman, who caught one TD each, have graduated. The offensive line will have some fresh faces but some will be the same as last year. Cameron Lierly, JT Brisow and Josh Fincannon are back, and Nicholas Hancock, Ryan Johnson and Jake Weathers will figure into the mix.