Local football players anxious for Friday night’s All-State Game

There will be one more high school football game for three local players before they head off to begin their college careers.

Vian cornerback DeSean Mays, Gore defensive lineman Gabe Dozier and Gore offensive lineman Garrett Douthit will represent Sequoyah County by playing for the East football team in the 2023 Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State Football Game, which will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday at Oklahoma Baptist University’s Crain Family Stadium at the Hurt Complex in Shawnee.

All three players were ecstatic when they found out in January they had made the team.

“I was pretty happy when I heard that I had made it,” Mays said. “It felt good because it’s been a tradition for Wolverines to make it to the All-State (Football) Game. I’m looking forward to Friday night.”

Gabe Dozier

“I was pretty excited about the whole thing,” Dozier said. “That has been one of my dreams since I was little bitty. I’ve been counting the days. I’m looking forward to it.”

“It was like a dream come true,” Douthit said. “It was great. My brother Chance was an All-Stater about a decade ago. It was our goal that we all got to All-State. I’m looking forward to it.”

The two Gore Pirates are glad to get to be teammates for one last time before going their separate ways.

“That’s pretty exciting having someone I know up there,” Dozier said. “I won’t be the only one up there.”

“It’s pretty neat,” Douthit said. “I didn’t think we’d have two from the same school go from a Class A school. I thought that was pretty unique in it’s own way.”

Both Mays and Dozier have been doing their best to keep in football shape as they prep for Friday night’s game.

“I’ve been doing these workouts that my trainer has me on at Harding (University in Search, Ark.) to make sure I’m in good shape,” Mays said.

“I’ve been working out and running every day — trying to, any way,” Dozier said.

Garrett Douthit

On the other hand, Douthit’s summer has been spent mainly rehabilitating from his March knee surgery, but he has been cleared to play in Friday night’s All-State Football Game.

“I had knee surgery March 29, so I was laid up for a little bit,” he said. “I got cleared July 11 to start doing stuff. I’ve been here at NSU (Northeastern State University in Tahlequah) working to get back into (shape).”

The Gore Pirate offensive lineman has a bit of a concern if he will be at 100 percent efficiency come Friday night.

“It’s always a concern going to be able to go potentially full 100 percent always, but it’s just about getting through it,” Douthit said. “I don’t feel it (time off rehabilitating) will have too much of an effect. Right now, it’s like weights that I’m having to do slowly and build back into squats and stuff.”

All three players will become college football players this fall as they all signed letters of intent — Mays with Harding University, Dozier with Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva and Douthit with NSU. The county trio is hoping Friday night’s game will help them springboard their way to the next level.

“I’m hoping the game will help me mentally get prepared for it (college football), and get me ready to play on the next level,” Mays said.

“I’m going to show up — that way they can see what I can offer for them,” Dozier said. “I just have to go out there and play my game.”

“I feel at the All-State Game, they pick people who can actually play,” Douthit said. “I feel like seeing that kind of talent there will give me an edge to what I’m coming into at NSU.”

However, on the other hand, the All-State football trio has mixed feelings about Friday night being their final prep football game.

“I’m very sad about that (being final high school football game being a Vian Wolverine), but I’m definitely looking forward to college football,” Mays said.

“There is a little bit, but I don’t like to stay hung up over stuff,” Dozier said. “I always like to be looking ahead — not too much. I don’t like to be caught up in the past.”