For once during the regular season, this one wasn’t real close.
One of the nation’s most high-profile rivalry games didn’t have its usual frantic finish as visiting
Jenks (Okla.) scored a 33-7 victory over host
Union (Tulsa, Okla.) in the annual Backyard Bowl on Friday night.
Sawyer Kollmorgen threw only three incompletions.
Photo by Keith Owens.
According to the Tulsa World, an estimated 11,500 fans watched senior quarterback
Sawyer Kollmorgen complete 13 of 16 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns as Jenks avenged a humbling 52-19 loss to its rival in last year's 6A state title game.
The two teams have shared the last 14 years, nine won by Jenks who have welcomed back coach Allan Trimble, suspended the last 10 games of the 2009 season.
Jenks improved to 2-0 after blasting former 5A power Bixby 65-7 last week.
On Friday,
Brandon Kitchens caught both touchdowns passes from Kollmorgen of 24 and 18 yards. He finished with four catches for 100 yards according to the World.
Teammate
Zack Langer added two touchdown runs and
Alex Ross added a 59-yard touchdown run as well.
The defense was also key for Jenks, which only allowed a 6-yard touchdown run by Kendall Holmes late in the first half.
It may be a tough road for Union to win its third straight state crown.
The team opened with a 44-32 win over Louisiana 2A national power Evangel Christian (Shreveport) and gave up nearly 400 yards and committed 14 penalties.
Union came into the game ranked No. 2 in the state according to the MaxPreps Freeman rankings and No. 141 in the nation. Jenks was No. 1 in the state and No. 67 in the country.
Jenks continues its season next week at Owasso, while Union travels to Broken Arrow.
As usual, the fans flocked to this heated rivalry game.
Photo by Keith Owens
The teams have had a history of playing some barn burners.
In the last six regular-season contests, no game has been decided by more than a touchdown and five were won by four or less points. The scores:
2009: Jenks won 27-25.
2008: Union 24-17.
2007: Union 43-42.
2006: Jenks 9-6.
2005: Jenks 48-44.
2004: Jenks 17-13.
