Fans and players love it, but coaches may enjoy the Super Scrimmage even more.
Thursday will be the final tune-up for Ardmore, Plainview, Sulphur, Lone Grove and Durant before the regular season starts on Sept. 3. That makes the Super Scrimmage at Noble Stadium the last chance to work out the kinks before the games that matter.
Then again, ask any coach how much the Super Scrimmage means.
“You get multiple looks on offense and defense and you’re gonna go against at least two different opponents,” said Plainview coach Chris Berus, whose team will play Durant, Sulphur and Ardmore’s JV, freshmen and sophomores.
Last season, Plainview was topped 13-7 by Bethel at the Super Scrimmage but went on to win eight straight after a loss to Elgin in week 1 of the regular season.
“Any time you have the chance to go against better level competition you’re going to find out about yourself,” Berus said. “Regardless of class, good competition makes you better.”
Lone Grove also lost in the Super Scrimmage last season to Sulphur, 14-7. But first-year starter Jacob McClennahan had a 49-yard touchdown run, a preview of what was a breakout season for the then sophomore. Plainview’s Blake Campo had a similar impact for the Indians, scoring Plainview’s only TD on a 33-yard run. He’d go on to lead the Indians in rushing in the regular season. Ardmore’s Trey Cohee had 82 yards passing and a touchdown in a 33-13 romp over Durant, and is now the slated starting quarterback for the Tigers after a strong season.
The Super Scrimmage is where stars break out.
“You get to see a lot of talent and athleticism,” said Lone Grove coach Kenny Ridley, whose team will lead off Thursday’s scrimmage against Ardmore’s second team and finish with a JV vs. JV matchup with Sulphur. “We’ve got a lot of respect for the Ardmore program. It’ll be a real test for us.”
Ridley, who’s been attending the Super Scrimmage since he started at Lone Grove as an assistant in 2001, said the event also grants his players the opportunity to play on a larger stage.
“It gives our kids a chance to play in a really neat venue in Noble Stadium,” Ridley said. “We don’t see many venues like that on our schedule.
“We and the fans get exposed to schools you don’t get a chance to see.”
Erik K. Horne
221-6522
