Bethel (4-1, 1-1) enters tomorrow night’s district contest at Crooked Oak (1-3, 0-2) sporting a program-tying best start after five games. They will have a chance to tie the 2002 and 2006 teams if they can knock off the Ruf-Nex, as those two squads began the season with 5-1 records.
Crooked Oak, meanwhile, is also off to its best start since 2013. While that sounds good written in such a way, reality is sobering. The Ruf-Nex haven’t been so rough in the last eight seasons. During that span, they compiled an overall record of 6 wins and 62 losses. Their senior class opened the season with an 18-14 win at Konawa this year, which marked their first victory since they were freshman in ‘18.
SERIES HISTORY: Bethel leads, 4-3
The two teams have been on each other’s schedule for home and away games four times. Crooked Oak won in ‘86, lost in ‘87. Bethel won both games in ‘92 and ‘93. Crooked Oak won both in ‘04 and ‘05. Last season, Bethel beat the Ruf-Nex 62-13. In that game Bethel scored 41 second quarter points to take a 55-0 lead at the half. Current Wildcats Gage Porter, John Gordon, Xavier Meier, and Reagan Curry all had touchdown catches, and Corey Metscher ran for 151 yards on only eight carries and scored twice.
Bethel coach Joey Ginn said preparing for the Ruf-Nex is a little challenging because they have operated four different offenses in as many weeks. “We have seen them in Pro I, 2-back gun, four wides, you name it,” Ginn said.
While Crooked Oak has struggled to win games this decade, Ginn said they do have potential, and they must be prepared for. “They have athletic kids for sure. I would say the main strength they have on both sides of the ball is their speed.”
Kickoff is set for tomorrow night at 7pm. The stadium is located at 2085 SE 22nd street in Oklahoma City, not at the high school.
