Claremore Daily Progress

Sports

Related Photos

  • The Inola Longhorns

    INOLA PIC 2.jpg
August 31, 2010

Key to Inola’s offensive success rides on Smith’s shoulders

Josh Haley Sports Correspondent

INOLA — Inola senior running back Jacob Smith knows the feeling of individual success.

As a junior, Smith broke the 1,000 yard barrier while averaging over seven yards per carry.

The Longhorns star however, feels like 2010 can be an even better year.

“Now that everyone has had a year to get acclimated with coach (Lynn) Cutshaw's system, we have all improved,” said Smith.

Smith and his fellow Longhorns believe in their second-year coach's ability.

“It is because of him that I was able to run the ball so well last year,” said Smith. “He and the other coaches spend countless hours watching film so that they always have an answer for our opponents.”

With virtually everyone returning on offense from a year ago, the Longhorns should not experience any surprises between one another.

“I think the offensive line is twice as good as last year,” said Smith.”They have worked extremely hard this summer and they all understand our offensive objectives.”

Another positive aspect for Smith heading into the 2010 season is the addition of senior Bryan Varnell who transferred in from Claremore.

Varnell is expected to help carry the load from the backfield and also play a key defensive role at strong side linebacker.

“Having Bryan here takes a lot of pressure off of me,” said Smith. “He is very talented and we are excited to have him back.”

Varnell is a Longhorn at heart after playing youth football in Inola and has remained friends with most of the current senior players.

Leading these two veteran backs into the trenches will be junior fullback Chase Holbrook who also held down a starting role last season.

“Chase is very quick and does a great job filling the gaps early,” said Smith.

A running back could have one-hundred things flowing through their head before each snap.

For Smith, it's the same thing every time.

“Make the first tackler miss.” 

Text Only
Sports
  • RSU takes down NWOSU

    The Rogers State University men’s basketball team swept the regular season series over Northwestern Oklahoma State with an 85-78 victory Thursday night in Sooner Athletic Conference action at Percefull Fieldhouse.
    RSU took a five-point lead with 2:30 minutes to play thanks to a jumper by Kendrell Thompson and two made free throws by Meneptha Darden.

    February 10, 2012

  • Lady ‘Cats fall on the road

    The Rogers State women’s basketball team fell short on Thursday evening as Northwestern Oklahoma State registered a 68-65 victory over the Hillcats at Percefull Fieldhouse.
     
    The Hillcats got the last look as Leah Smith shot a trey from the corner at the buzzer however, the shot bounced in and out of the basket as the RSU suffered its second straight defeat.

    February 10, 2012

  • SequoyahVsChelsea_231cweb.jpg Tharp sparks Chelsea past Sequoyah, 59-48

    The Chelsea Green Dragons used a 33-point second-half performance to steal the spotlight from the Claremore Sequoyah Eagles.
    Lonnie Tharp tallied a game-high 23 points to spark the Green Dragons to a 59-48 over Claremore Sequoyah on Senior Night at the Olan Graham Fieldhouse.

    February 10, 2012 1 Photo

  • SequoyahVsChelsea_155web.jpg Lady Eagles soar on Senior Night

    Claremore Sequoyah senior guard Berdena Anderson made her last home game memorable Thursday night, using a 12-point performance to spark the Lady Eagles past Chelsea, 33-25.
    Anderson drained a pair of treys in the second quarter as the Lady Eagles clung to a 15-11 halftime lead.
    Chelsea’s tenacious defense, led by point guard Danielle Wolf, held Anderson to one field goal and 4-of-4 free throws in the final 16 minutes.

    February 10, 2012 1 Photo

  • Zebras host 6A Bartlesville tonight

    With the regional tournament two weeks away, the Claremore Zebras are hoping to gain a little momentum and steal an upset win over Class 6A Bartlesville tonight.
    The Zebras (5-14) extended their losing to six-straight games Tuesday night, falling to Skiatook, 53-47. To make matters worse, Claremore senior point guard Garrick Prelesnick also was sidelined in the first quarter with an injury to his foot.
    The status of whether Prelesnick would play against Bartlesville remained uncertain at press time.
    Tonight’s doubleheader tips off at 6:30 and 8 p.m. inside the Zebra Fieldhouse.

    February 10, 2012

  • Verdigris travels to Tahlequah Sequoyah tonight

    The Verdigris High School basketball teams resume regular season action tonight on the road at Tahlequah Sequoyah.
    Game times are set for 6:30 and 8 p.m.

    February 10, 2012

  • OSU visits tradition-rich Kansas on Saturday

    The Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball team travels to Lawrence, Kan., on Saturday for a matchup with the No. 7 Kansas Jayhawks.
    Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. inside Phog Allen Fieldhouse, and the game will be televised by the Big 12 Network (KTUL Ch. 8 in Tulsa).

    February 10, 2012

  • Tulsa softball starts season today in Louisiana

    The No. 24-ranked Tulsa softball team opens the 2012 season this weekend at the 26th Annual Louisiana Classics Softball Tournament, beginning with a game against Rutgers at 11 a.m. today at Lamson Park in Lafayette, La.

    TU will also face Mississippi Valley State at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Saturday, the Hurricane plays the host and No. 23 Louisiana-Lafayette at 3:30 p.m. and Mississippi Valley State at 6 p.m. Tulsa rounds out the tournament against ULL at noon on Sunday. Live stats for every game of the weekend can be found here.
     
    The Golden Hurricane opens its 20th season ranked in the preseason top-25 for the first time in program history in the 24th spot by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The 2011 C-USA co-Champions, TU ended the 2011 season with a 46-15 overall record, and a 19-5 mark in league play.

    February 10, 2012

  • Tulsa's Mayberry hits career milestone against Houston

    Taleya Mayberry raced down the court after grabbing a defensive rebound, and she banked home a fast-break layup at the 8:28 mark of the second half.

    The basket gave her 1,001 points for her career, and she became just the eighth member of the Tulsa women's basketball team to reach the career milestone as TU defeated Houston 67-53 Sunday afternoon inside Donald W. Reynolds Center.

    February 10, 2012

  • Top-ranked Razorback track team hosts Tyson Invitational

    In its final competition before the conference meet, the No. 1 University of Arkansas men's track and field team will host the Tyson Invitational this weekend at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville. Including the Razorbacks, the field of teams will feature 10 nationally ranked teams. Competition begins at noon today and 10 a.m. on Saturday.

    "There's no question this is an important weekend for us," head coach Chris Bucknam said. "It's a weekend we have circled on our calendar as the final meet before the SEC Championships. We're lining our kids up and expect some great competition. We want to provide a great venue and atmosphere for everyone coming in so we work really hard as a staff to set up a meet that is good for all the student-athletes competing."

    The top-ranked Razorbacks are one of 10 teams in the field ranked in this week's release of the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) national poll. Along with Arkansas, the Tyson Invitational is scheduled to include No. 3 LSU, No. 11 Oklahoma, No. 13 Nebraska, No. 16 Kansas State, No. 17 Wisconsin, No. 19 Ole Miss, No. 20 Iowa, No. 22 Georgia and No. 23 Auburn. The meet will also include Southeastern Conference foe South Carolina.

    February 10, 2012