When and Where:
3A #1 Heritage Hall (6-1) vs. 3A #4 Kingfisher (5-2)
October 19 (Fri) 7:00 PM
Kingfisher High School Football Field

Game Notes:
The Chargers took care of business last week against Bridge Creek, winning the game by a dominant margin of 50-0. There is no time to dwindle on the impressive performance, however, as Heritage will be participating in their biggest game of the season on Friday when they travel to Kingfisher. Both squads have been on a roll as of late, each entering the matchup ranked inside the top four of 3A and setting up one of the most highly anticipated games in all of Oklahoma. #1 vs. #4 is definitely a fun and intriguing story, but there is way more to this matchup than just each team's ranking. Heritage Hall and Kingfisher are both undefeated in district play at 4-0 and are playing so well that it appears neither one will drop another game in the regular season. The Chargers have Mannford and Blackwell, who have combined to win just two games in 2018 (including a Mannford victory over Blackwell last week), remaining on the schedule, and should have no problem finishing the year with at least two consecutive wins. Therefore, Friday is basically a de facto championship game for the district. Heritage Hall has taken home the district title four years in a row, and a victory would go a long way in their path to finding their fifth.

As if the stakes for this week's game couldn't get any higher, the Chargers and Yellowjackets have actually developed a pretty heated rivalry over the past decade or so. Before the two year gap from 2016-2018, these two teams have squared off against each other every year since 2008. Each matchup is always competitive and entertaining to watch, as both programs have consistently placed themselves at the top of their class over the years. In the series's last four meetings, Kingfisher and Heritage have split evenly, each winning a pair of games. The Yellowjackets handled the Chargers in 2012 with a 35-6 drubbing, and followed it up the next season with a 35-0 shutout victory. Kingfisher actually went on to run the table that year, completing a perfect 15-0 season and taking home the school's second ever state title. In the most recent matchup from 2015, however, Heritage Hall's team full of superheroes including Tevin McDaniel and Tevin Love led by 45 points at the end of the first quarter and completely smashed the Yellowjackets the whole night. This team, as we all know, also captured the state championship in a perfect season. Kingfisher's veteran team full of seniors surely remembers this game, and will be ready for vengeance on Friday.

Over the past year or so, the ill will towards one another has only been amplified. There is definitely a lot of history between the two in football, but this rivalry extends far beyond the field. Last May, the Hall baseball defeated Kingfisher in the regional finals at Stadium 11, ending the Jackets' season in what was an extremely tense and tightly contested ballgame that sent Heritage on their way to the state tournament. The two rivals also met on the basketball court, although it was on a much bigger stage in the 4A state championship game. Kingfisher entered the game undefeated, but Heritage Hall was able to end that too. The contest was very emotional and assuredly heartbreaking for the Yellowjackets. On the day of that game, a Kingfisher fan account also posted an inappropriate message about Heritage Hall on social media, causing lots of turmoil and throwing even more fuel into the fire between the schools.

Player Spotlight:
Kingfisher's offense features a ferocious passing attack, one unlike any other the Chargers have lined up against all year long and led by standout quarterback Jett Sternberger. Heritage Hall has faced solid quarterbacks thus far like Millwood's Daniel Howard or Perkins-Tryon's Austin Mages, however, Sternberger is on a whole other level. Jett is a tremendous athlete, starring on the basketball court too and has now received college offers for both sports. He has a special ability to throw the ball down field, yet also possesses the quickness to consistently evade pressure in the pocket and make plays with his legs. At times, Sternberger is able to combine these abilities by rolling out and pass the ball on the run, possibly the best part of his skillset. Jett, a senior, has been around the game for a long time, and as a result, is really experienced. He rarely makes a mistake with the ball, as he has only thrown a single interception on the season. This experience has also put Sternberger through the wringer, meaning no moment or situation in a huge game like the one on Friday will get to his nerves. In the first week of the season, the star struggled a bit and was eventually forced to exit the game after suffering a concussion on a huge hit by a Tuttle defender. The Yellowjackets eventually lost that game and dropped another two weeks later to Bethany on a last second field goal for their second loss of the year. Since Sternberger's return, however, Kingfisher has been completely reinvigorated and looks like a totally new team, winning all four games with ease. In this four game stretch, Jett has completed nearly 70% of his passes for 895 yards and 17 touchdowns, along with two more scores on the ground. In fact, the Oklahoman named Sternberger their Player of the Week last week for his six touchdown performance in their 45-21 win at Perkins. Jett has been fantastic all season long, and he must have yet another big game if the Jackets are going to knock Heritage off.

Although this is only his second year ever playing the sport, Trey Green has suddenly become a huge part of the Kingfisher offense and probably Sternberger's favorite target. The wideout has 23 receptions for over 400 yards and seven touchdowns on the season, but is especially shining as of late. Against Perkins, Green hauled in 177 receiving yards for three touchdowns. The senior stands taller than 6'0 and is a big, gritty receiver who uses his size well to overwhelm opposing defensive backs on jump balls downfield for large gains. Green's toughness was put on full display in last year's basketball state final when he dislocated his nose in the first half, but snapped it back in place and still managed to score 22 points in the game. The senior has had a breakout 2018 campaign, and presents the Charger defense with the most effective quarterback-wide receiver duo they have seen all year.

Senior wide receivers Tyler Borelli and Zach Goodwin have also proven to be reliable options alongside Trey Green. The two have combined for 39 catches, 539 yards, and eight touchdowns on the season. Also, running back Cole Crosswhite was injured against Blackwell on September 21st and has not played since, but rumors have been swirling this week that he will be available on Friday. Crosswhite started the first four games of the season and has five total touchdowns. These three Yellowjackets are not focal points of the Kingfisher offense, but the Chargers must keep an eye on them all night long, because they are good enough to make impact plays.

Injury Report:
In last week's contest against Bridge Creek, Heritage was able to rest two key players in Robert Mbroh and Jaden McDaniel, yet still picked up the easy win. Mbroh has been dealing with some lingering uncomfortability through the last few games, so the timing of last week's game could not have been any better. While Robert was sidelined, backup quarterback Jackson Jobe had a very solid game while filling in. The junior only finished with three completions for 89 yards and a touchdown, but he was making the correct reads and placing his long pass attempts right on the money all night. Jobe also added 70 yards and another score with his legs as well. Mbroh will most likely take the first snap on Friday against the Jackets, but it would not be a shock to see Jobe find the field some after his impressive performance last week. Either way, the Chargers are definitely in good hands at quarterback.

Star defensive end Jaden McDaniel was sidelined last week with a shoulder injury, but will be back in action at Kingfisher. The senior has been dealing with some pain all season long, but the Charger coaching staff knows he is too tough and competitive to be taken off the field for such a huge game. McDaniel will play a vital role against the Jackets, because it will not only be important to consistently get pressure on Sternberger, but also to contain his speed and bring him down to the ground before being able to exit the pocket.

Gavin Wilson and Landon Lahodny both got hurt early in the season, and are still ruled out for Friday as well.

Overview:
Heritage Hall successfully avoided schedule peeking and remained focused in their blowout win against the lowly Bobcats last week. The offense was cooking all night long, as they blew up the scoreboard for 50 points, their highest mark of the season, while the defense was able to complete their first shutout of the 2018 campaign. Heritage's dynamic duo of Billy Ross Jr. and Conner Carey exploded once again, combining for four touchdowns and 205 rushing/receiving yards, which was almost half of the team's total number of yards at 448. The pair must have another big game against the Yellowjackets, although it could be difficult considering their crowded 4-3 defense. Kingfisher loves to crowd the box and send heavy blitzes in order to stop the run. Therefore, Mbroh or Jobe will have to quickly read the defense and get the ball out before the Jackets' pressure can get deep into the backfield. Look for the Chargers to neutralize Kingfisher's blitzes by throwing a lot of short passes and screens, especially to Ross or Carey, in order to get them out in the open against Kingfisher's suspect secondary.

Defensively, the Chargers were in the Bobcat backfield all night last Thursday. Nine different players combined to make 16 tackles for loss, headlined by breakout star Hardy Bowers, who finished the game with three of those. Bowers has been huge for Heritage all year, controlling and leading his teammates to the right spots as the team's middle linebacker, who is often nicknamed the quarterback of the defense. Fellow linebackers Connor Keith and Preston Nelson both recorded two tackles for loss, as did Melvin Swindle and Will Dunn from the line. Jett Sternberger and his weapons are no Bridge Creek, and the Charger defense must be ready to play their best game of 2018. Jaden McDaniel, as well as Swindle and Dunn, have to win the battle in the trenches and get in the backfield, or else the Jackets will be able to put points on the board all night long. If the Heritage defense is able to limit Sternberger's ability to scramble and evade pressure, then they should be able to enjoy that famous Eischen's chicken on the ride home with complete control over the district title.

Written by Jake LeForce '19
Photos by Kirsten Griffin