Guthrie rolls in opening round playoff game over Altus

It was not a quick start for the Guthrie BlueJays, but once they got rolling they were not denied. The Jays scored a 47-17 opening round playoff win over Altus to win and advance.

Altus (8-3), playing their first playoff game since 2009, jumped out to a 10-0 first quarter lead, but the Jays scored 28-unanwered points and never looked back. With the win, Guthrie will now travel to Skiatook who had no problems with Tahlequah (28-0).

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Guthrie (10-1), who has now won 10 straight first round playoff games, finishes another undefeated season inside Jelsma Stadium and will carry a 34-game home winning streak into next season. The win also marks the fifth season in a row the Jays have won at least 10 games and the ninth time since 2002.

The BlueJays got four rushing scores from senior Idae Alexander and two more through the air with L’liott Curry. Along with the two amazing touchdown grabs, Curry pounced on three of the five Altus fumbles lost. The senior playmaker finished with four catches and 93 yards.

Altus delivered a 38-yard field goal on the game’s opening drive and pushed the lead to 10-0 with a 13-play drive finished off early in the second quarter.

The Jays offense, who were held to negative nine yards and zero first downs in the first quarter, were forced out on three downs, but got a booming punt from Rowdy Reihs pinned Altus inside their 10-yard line. On the first play, Reihs forced a fumble to set up the Jays first score from the 2-yard line.

Alexander, who finished with 162 yards, scored on the first play to pull within three, 10-7.

On the following possession, Altus fumbled on their own 35-yard line and Jays took advantage. This time the Jays need four plays to get Alexander back into the end zone to give the Jays the lead, 13-10, for good.

The Bulldogs, again, fumbled the ball away on their next possession with a scoop and score for Jaron Pryor from 16 yards out to increase the lead 21-10.

Guthrie up the lead with 14 seconds left in the half. Quarterback Zane Maltz lifted a 40-yard pass to Curry.

However, Altus needed just one play and 10 seconds to score just before the half with a 47-yard pass and catch for the 28-17 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Guthrie offense imposed their will on the Altus defense with three scoring drives of nine, 10 and 11 play drives.

Along with the five fumbles, the Guthrie defense forced two Bulldog interceptions while holding them out of the end zone in the second half.

Deer Creek upset at home

The first round of the Class 5A playoffs went as planned with the exception of Del City’s 28-27 win over Deer Creek. The Eagles scored on a 2-point conversion with 12 seconds left in the game.

Ardmore 47, McGuinness 7
Shawnee 63, Coweta 47
**Shawnee at Ardmore

Skiatook 28, Tahlequah 0
Guthrie 47, Altus 17
**Guthrie at Skiatook

Del City 28, Deer Creek 27
McAlester 70, T. Edison 14
**McAlester at Del City

Lawton Mac 44, Carl Albert 42 (Thursday)
Collinsville 27, T. Memorial 6
**Lawton Mac at Collinsville