Waariors Looking To Lock Up Playoff Berth
by Lea Lessley - Sports Writer
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Webbers Falls takes on Bowlegs in its final home game of the regular season Friday night as the Warriors try to secure their first playoff berth in three years.

Kickoff at Smokey Cox Field is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and Webbers Falls' seniors will be recognized before the game.

The Warriors are 6-3 for the season and 5-2 in the league after shutting out Kinta 50-0 last week. The victory at Kinta also assured the Warriors of their first winning season since 1999 (10-1).

Bowlegs is 4-3 in the league and 4-5 overall after the Bison stopped Arkoma 36-0 last week.

Some of Bowlegs' key players are Kevin Gragg (5-foot-11, 185-pound senior), Tyler Crabtree (5-11, 165, junior), Cody Hazbell (5-10, 160, sophomore), Travis Phay (6-2, 190, senior) and Chris John (5-9, 155, sophomore) at the skilled positions and linemen Jared Wilson (5-11, 175, sophomore), Cody Liggon (6-0, 195, sophomore), Dominick Wicker (5-10, 190, sophomore) and Jason Qualls (6-3, 280, senior). On defense, Merrick Ashley (5-8, 160, senior) earned all-district honors at the nose guard position in 2004, and Eric Laffoon (5-9, 180, senior) is also a standout for the Bison.

Phay scored two touchdowns (runs of 12 and 5 yards) last week for the Bison and Crabtree rushed for a 1-yard TD.

Four of the defensive leaders for the Warriors are linebacker Cory Mickles, defensive back Derek Dandridge, defensive back Jeff Burrough and defensive end/nose guard Tyler Wooten.

On offense, Dandridge has scored 32 touchdowns and rushed for 1,235 yards this season from his tailback position, and Mickles, a fullback, has run for over 480 yards and recorded 12 TDs.

The top four teams in the district will advance to the playoffs, which start next week. Fourth-ranked Midway (7-0) and No. 5 South Coffeyville (6-1) lead the league standings, and Sasakwa (5-2) has the same district record as Webbers Falls.

The Warriors will be in the playoffs if they beat Bowlegs, and they can still qualify for the postseason with a loss, depending in part on what Sasakwa does at home against Midway this week.

Bowlegs defeated Webbers Falls 54-8 in 2004.

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