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Big-time showdown

Undefeated Wayne and Elmore City square off Friday

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Wayne and Elmore City will battle it out under the bright Friday night lights as the two unbeaten brutes position for District superiority.

Wayne rolls into town for the 7 p.m. kickoff sporting a 7-0 record while the Badgers of Elmore City sit at 6-0.

“It’s a big game and it’s turned into a rivalry,” said head coach Brandon Sharp. “They want to beat us extremely bad after last year.”

Wayne defeated Elmore City 26-20 at home last season.

The Badgers have talented athletes across the board with a combination of size and speed.

Offensively Elmore City bases out of the wishbone and flexbone formations and they have a formidable front line.

“They have two of the best lineman we’ve seen and we’ll have to do a good job of staying low,” Sharp said. “We’ll have to play well (up front).”

The Elmore City quarterback, Tyler Martin, runs the show on offense.

“He’s their field general,” Sharp said.

On defense the Badgers run a 4-3 front.

“They have active linebackers, a huge d-line and the back end is extremely athletic,” Sharp said. “It will be a challenge but we feel like we have a decent offense to go against them.”

The winner of this game will more than likely be set up to play Ringling for the District title.

“It should be a lot of fun Friday,” Sharp said. “We’ve been in this situation before and have a bunch of seniors and they know what’s at stake.”

Dibble

Wayne rolled the Dibble Demons 51-0 Thursday night on the legs of Ethan Mullins.

The senior signal caller rushed for 230 yards and six touchdowns. He added 129 yards and another touchdown through the air, which was hauled in by Brannon Lewelling.

“Mullins just keeps having 200 yard rushing games week after week,” Sharp said.

Mullins scored on runs of 3,5,9,9,29 and 1 yards.

Mullins has rushed for over 1,700 yards and 31 touchdowns through seven games.

Lewelling added another 148 yards rushing on 13 carries, averaging over 11 yards per play.

Junior Rhett Kennedy had three carries for 37 yards and scored a touchdown on an eight-yard tote.

In all, Wayne rushed the ball 53 times for 488 yards and racked up 617 yards of total offense.

“We had a good night against a good team,” Sharp said. “It was one of those games where everything was working.”

Vicious Bulldogs

Meantime, the Wayne defense pitched its second consecutive shutout.

The first-team defense has only allowed one score all season.

“Those dudes are playing well,” Sharp confirmed. “They showed up and kept Dibble at bay and played well against a good team.”

Lewelling led the way with 11 tackles and a sack while Mullins recorded five tackles and forced a fumble.

Senior defenseive linemen Maddox Mantooth, Kevin Bynum and Cody Davis continued their strong play up front, accounting for nine tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery among the three.

Kaleb Madden picked off a pass for the second week in a row and had four tackles.

Kennedy also intercepted a pass and had three tackles while Eli Hobson had two tackles and a fumble recovery.

Dibble ended up with 69 yards of offense - 21 rushing and 48 passing - for the night.

“The defense has been getting after it pretty good,” Sharp said. “Our defensive line does their job and it allows the linebackers to run and make plays.”

Notes

Wayne head coach Brandon Sharp nominated Ethan Mullins for Heart of Oklahoma Offensive Player of the Week.  The senior rushed for 230 yards, threw for 129 and scored seven touchdowns.

Sharp’s nominee for Heart of Oklahoma Offensive Lineman of the Week was Cody Davis. He graded out at 72%.

Sharp’s nominee for Heart of Oklahoma Defensive Player of the Week was Brannon Lewelling. He had 11 tackles and a sack.

The nomination for Heart of Oklahoma Defensive Lineman of the Week was Maddox Mantooth.

Mantooth registered four tackles, had a sack and forced a fumble at defensive tackle.

“We’re pleased with the work the team has put in – it’s showing,” Sharp said. “Now we have the opportunity to play another undefeated team who is playing well.”

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