Fightin’ Chick football notes and datesCHS head coach Rick VanCleave expects to “Rebuild the Tradition” in his second year at the helm of the Fightin’ Chick football program. That will be the theme for the upcoming season as the staff goes into the fall with a more mature and experienced team. This year, sixth-graders will be allowed to participate in middle school athletics, including football. With the start of formal practices around the corner, the following dates are already set.

The Touchdown Club’s annual team picnic was held at Shannon Springs Park Saturday following the morning physicals.Head coach Rick VanCleave welcomed the football families, introduced the coaching staff and spoke about the upcoming season before everyone enjoyed some grilled burgers, hot dogs and fixin’s.

Football districts for the 2010 and 2011 seasons are now in place, affecting a number of area schools.Coaches formed recommendations for the new district alignments during their meetings at the Oklahoma Coaches Association clinics during All-State week and OSSAA approved them at their meeting on Tuesday.

BLANCHARD – Chickasha visited neighboring Blanchard Friday night for both teams’ first pre-season football scrimmage and, with both teams able to hit somebody other than a teammate for the first time, it didn’t take very long for things to get a little chippy out on the field.Chick tight end Taylor Wilson and a Lion linebacker tangled up on the fourth play from scrimmage, clearing both sidelines for a little extra-curricular pushing and shoving match. After getting it out of their systems, though, both teams settled in and concentrated on playing some ball, although Chick coach Rick VanCleave sat his big tight end for the rest of the night.

For the first time this season fans filled the stands at the Alex Stadium to watch the Longhorns play football.Thursday night’s scrimmage was a little different than a regular season game. The Geary Bison and Mountain View-Gotebo Tigers travelled to Alex to play the Longhorns in a scrimmage that was somewhat chaotic.

Tim Beard came home to Rush Springs knowing that it takes a while to rebuild a football program.That’s why he didn’t panic after his Redskins dropped a 50-13 decision Friday to Apache in the season opener.

Chickasha goes on the road Friday to 4A Weatherford and will really have its hands full this week.The fourth-ranked and senior-loaded Eagles are coming off two impressive road wins over two very good football teams, a 31-19 week one victory at 3A’s fifth-ranked Clinton and a 34-14 win at 2A defending state champion Heritage Hall last week.

Oklahoma and Texas tied as the pick to win the Big 12 South football title and Oklahoma State is third in a poll of media who cover the league.

TOPEKA , Kan. — The Lone Star Conference has agreed to annually send a representative to the Kanza Bowl, a newly formed postseason football game to be played at Hummer Sports Park in Topeka , Kan. The decision was announced Monday morning at a press conference in the Kansas capitol city.

The Central Oklahoma football team enters the 2009 with high expectations. Early last month the Bronchos were tabbed No. 9 in the 2009 Sporting News Preseason Division II Top 25 Football Poll, and on Thursday afternoon they were picked No. 1 in the Preseason LSC North Media Poll.Last season the Bronchos were picked to finish fourth, but to the surprise of everyone but second-year head coach Tracy Holland, they winded up in first place, following a remarkable turnaround that saw UCO win its last seven games of the season.

Tracy Holland could sense the mood of his Central Oklahoma football team was changing last season. Four straight losses might have taken the wind right out of many squads, but it had quite the opposite effect on the Bronchos.

NORMAN (AP) — Even as Oklahoma’s players got ready to play in the national championship game this past winter, the buzz was not entirely flattering. The Sooners had the highest-scoring offense in college football history, but a defense that wasn’t championship caliber.

The Central Oklahoma football team gave fans a brief look at what the team has to offer on Saturday night when they held an intrasquad scrimmage. But the player that gave the fans the most excitement only played a single snap, and that player will be red-shirt freshman in 2009.UCO head coach Tracy Holland raved about Josh Birmingham this offseason, and after the media day event held in Dallas, he offered a few bits about the freshman from just down Route 66 in Luther.

The Santa Fe football team scored 14 unanswered points in the second half of its scrimmage against Lawton Eisenhower to squeak out a tie, and end its first week on a positive note.

The Edmond North football team showcased its suffocating defense on Friday night in its scrimmage against Norman North.Senior cornerback Xavier Smith had a couple of big hits on the Timberwolves first possession to set the tone, while the Huskies finished the contest with three sacks and one fumble recovery.

By the time the regular season rolls around the Oklahoma Christian School football team will be ready. The Saints wrapped up their preseason schedule Thursday night as they hosted a scrimmage with defending Class 2A state champion Heritage Hall.

Last year the Oklahoma Christian School football team started the season in unknown territory. A new coach, players with little game experience, opening the season with perennial power Sulphur.

Last year the Edmond Memorial football team welcomed Southmoore to the world of Class 6A football with a 14-7 victory in the season opener. Things won’t be any easier Thursday night when the SaberCats make the trip north to Wantland Stadium for the season opener.

The Cimmaron Middle School football teams opened their season on a good note, picking up a pair of wins over Putnam City West Tuesday night at Edmond Memorial High School.

Oklahoma Christian Academy opens its 2009 football campaign against Paoli on Friday night at home.

Just as Edmond North head football coach Jeremy Dombek had predicted, special teams played a big role in Friday night's game against Santa Fe, which saw the Huskies escape with a 14-13 win over the Wolves.

Penalties and interceptions doomed the Edmond Santa Fe Wolves football team Friday night as they dropped the first Edlam gridiron matchup of 2009 to the Edmond North Huskies by a score of 14-13.

Oklahoma Christian School’s football team faced some big situations on Friday night.The Saints also made some big plays during their season-opening game against Sulphur.Luckily for OCS, the latter usually followed the former.

It’s just the first game of the season, but things are already looking up for the Oklahoma Christian Academy football team. The Eagles, who won just once last season, nearly matched last year’s output Friday night as they lost in 31-28 in double overtime to Paoli.

Oklahoma Christian School head football coach Derek Turner isn’t going to lie, last week’s win over Sulphur was huge.

An opening night win over rival Edmond Santa Fe gave the North football team a boost of confidence, but head coach Jeremy Dombek hasn’t let it get to their heads. He knows the Huskies still have a lot to work on and another tough visitor tonight in Mustang.

It’s a rarity when you reach the second week of the football season and both Edmond Memorial and Edmond Santa Fe are both searching for their first win.

The Edmond North football team had to wait about an hour and half to get back on the field Thursday night, but they’ll now have to wait a couple days for their shot at Mustang. The Huskies’ game was been postponed due lightning and will be made up at 1 p.m. Saturday at Wantland Stadium.

The Oklahoma Christian Academy football proved things are going to be different this year. After posting just one win last season, the Eagles came out firing in week one and nearly pulled out a win against Paoli.

Mistakes, mistakes and more mistakes: Those can be problematic for a football team.Big plays, big plays and more big plays: Those can be useful for a team.

The Oklahoma Christian Academy football team did not have much luck Friday night as they dropped their second game of the season, falling to Depew 72-28.

The Edmond North football team might not be where they want to be, but Jeremy Dombek is confident they’re headed in the right direction. After a couple of big wins over traditional powerhouses, the No. 9-ranked Huskies (2-0) will take their show on the road tomorrow night as they clash with Yukon (1-1).

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OU, Florida, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Stanford, Air Force, Arizona, SMU and Tulsa also are part of Wilson’s possible choices on where he will continue his football career when he graduates from Southmoore.

In a special meeting held Tuesday night, the Moore School board approved the hiring of Chad Davis as the new head football coach at Westmoore by a vote of 3-0.

Southmoore and Norman will now be grouped with perennial power Jenks in District 3.

Cox Communications and KSBI-52 released its high school football schedule for the upcoming season, and the SaberCats lead all teams with six appearances.

The schedule for the Stillwater High football team has been announced.

Coty Peacock sat near the 10-yard line at Pioneer Stadium on Friday night and thought about what it would be like to lead the high school football team some day.

Yale starts to put together new stands and press box after summer storm

In the past, the only way football teams from Moore or Norman could meet up with powerhouses like Jenks or Tulsa Union was in the playoffs or preseason scrimmages.That will change next year.

MOORE — In a special meeting held Tuesday night, the Moore School board approved the hiring of Chad Davis as the new head football coach at Westmoore by a vote of 3-0. Davis has only been with the Jaguars since March, when former Westmoore coach Mike Whaley, added him to the staff. But he was able to make a strong impression on school district officials.

Can you smell the freshly cut grass in Noble? Or the tiny pieces of rubber inundating the artificial surface at Moore Stadium. Or maybe you’re already feeling the rumblings of students hopping on the metal homestand at Norman’s Harve Collins Field.

It was a dark and stormy … morning. The first area football team packed into the locker room at Washington Tuesday, in time to be on the field by 6:30 a.m., nine minutes before sunrise.

If there’s one thing Noble coach Ray Crawley wants from his players, its that they hold onto the football.

MOORE — Nine days before their season is scheduled to start, Southmoore football coaches are pushing back rumors that their team is under investigation by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association.The SaberCats have benefited by several athletes moving into their school district in the offseason. Now some of those players are being looked at to make sure everything checks out, according to Southmoore coach Chris Jensen.

MOORE — Chris Clark’s senior year lasted one game. The 5-foot-9, 218-pound linebacker took part in Moore’s loss to Westmoore. During practice the next week he contracted an infection through an open wound on his shin. His season was over.Clark thought he would never have a chance to play another down of high school football and, adding insult to injury, his final game would be a loss to his dreaded rival.

For years the Bears have been a run first, throw-if-ya-gotta team. Even when he’s had veteran quarterbacks, coach Ray Crawley has had his team in its I formation, pushing the football down opposing teams’ throats.

Lance Manning wanted to see more from his team last Friday at Edmond North.

It was almost like someone declared Friday “football day” in Noble.

In Oklahoma, we've become accustomed to thunderstorms. We usually know when they mean business or when their bark is worse than their bite.Mother Nature sure had her way with Norman football last week.

Both Norman High and Moore desperately need a victory. Both are 0-2 on the season and both have done almost nothing offensively the first two weeks of the season.If the question is who's had it worse, Moore might take the prize.

If there's such a thing as football frustration, Norman North likely has it.The Timberwolves were psyched up for last week's top-10 meeting with Muskogee at Harve Collins Field, a game that ended after only 12 minutes of play thanks to lightning with North up 10-0.

In the past two weeks, Westmoore experienced the highs and lows of high school football. After beating Moore High for the ninth straight year, Westmoore was manhandled 34-0 Friday against Southmoore in a shortened game due to inclement weather.