Elk City needs to forget last year's meeting with Elgin, Merritt faces first true test at Garber

Tyler Palmateer
Daily Elk Citian

Last year’s final score in Elk City’s football game against Elgin sticks out like a sore thumb.

The 70-32 shellacking the Big Elks’ put on the Owls may have been a result of some pent up aggression from losing four-straight games prior to the meeting, but almost a full year later, that score doesn’t matter much.

As Babe Ruth said: “Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games.”

The 2025 Big Elks (1-1) need to have a big performance of their own at Elgin (1-2) tonight at 7:30 p.m., because the Owls are a mirror image as far as ECHS head coach Jason Scheck can tell.

“They basically look identical to us offensively [this year],” Scheck said of Elgin, who will play two quarterbacks in juniors Jonathan Christensen and Brett Lorah.

The two-QB system gives ECHS the task of preparing for two different styles of quarterback. Christensen is stealthy on his feet, while Lorah seems to be a more proficient passer, Scheck said.

On film, ECHS coaches saw only Lorah under center for the Owls. However, Elk City’s bye last Friday allowed Scheck and the coaching staff to see first-hand what Christensen could do, as they witnessed the Owls’ 42-13 loss to Tuttle.

“Some of [Elgin’s] biggest plays against Tuttle were when [Christensen] ran the ball.”

In person, the quickness of Elgin’s senior tailback Taren McDaniel also stood out.

“We realized real quick they have a back that can run,” Scheck said of McDaniel. “He [ran] away from Tuttle’s entire defense, and we know how fast they were [from experience].”

One person surely won’t remember the last time Elk City and Elgin met, and that’s first-year Elgin head coach Matt Allen. He wasn’t present for last year’s meeting, as he spent the season working a stint in Duncanville, Texas.

Allen said Keegan Speas, who was out against Tuttle with an injury, will play this week and is a “huge” part of Elgin’s offense. A slightly bigger target the for the two Elgin quarterbacks will be the 6-foot-2, 190-pound wideout Brian Betcher.

“When [Betcher] is in the zone, catching the ball, he’s as good as anybody,” Allen said.

Allen spoke highly of his offensive line, which is coached by former Lawton High School coach and state title holder, Clarence Madden.

“[Madden] is as good a coach as I’ve ever been around. I feel like the strength of our team is our offensive line…

“All-around, we’re going to have to be sound [on Friday]. That tailback [for Elk City], Elias Wiseman, he’s as good a back as we’ll face all year. He’s a good one.”

Wiseman returns this week after leaving the Tuttle game with a head injury, while Jarvey Jackson is expected to miss the game. The most notable return will be Cole Rogers, who will make his 2025 debut, after injuring his ankle at a preseason scrimmage at Altus.

Rogers will likely see time at receiver, safety, and possibly some snaps at quarterback, depending on the situation. The upperclassman is just glad to be back on the field, admitting it was painful to watch from the sidelines.

“It was hard to just stand there and know it’s my last year to play… It was heart wrenching. I’m gonna do a lot of smacking [against Elgin]. I’m anxious to hit someone [wearing something] besides brown and white.”

The Elks are at a crucial point in the season, trying to go 1-0 in district and avoid a 1-2 record overall.

This week, no player or coach mentioned last year’s score, which could be a good sign that they’ve rightly forgotten all about it. After all, that blowout win was a home run.

And as Babe Ruth would tell you, it won’t win tonight’s game.

Know the foe

Elgin Owls, Class 4A District 1
Record: 1-2

Up to date:
8/30 @ Rush Springs 34-0 (W)
9/7 vs. Plainview 18-12 (L)
9/14 vs. Tuttle 42-13 (L)

Rundown: 
• Elgin head coach Matt Allen will role out two quarterbacks in Jonathan Christensen and Brett Lorah, but ECHS head coach Jason Scheck seemed focused on speedy tailback Taren McDaniel.

• Allen seemed very excited about his offensive line, which is well-coached by former Lawton High School head coach Clarence Madden, who won a state title as the head man there. Starters for Elgin on the O-line are Austin Hogg (LT), Russell Julin (LG), Aaron Gilley (C), Trevor Youmans (RG), and Ethan McCracken (RT).

" target="_blank">Click here for a video blog preview of the Elgin game.

Oilers travel to Garber

Tyler Palmateer
Daily Elk Citian 

Know the foe