Originally Posted August 26, 2020
Coach: FORREST MAZEY
SCHEDULE:
8-28 – vs. Broken Bow
9-4 – at Sallisaw
9-11 – vs. Ada
9-25 – vs. Bishop Kelly
10-2 – at Tulsa East Central
10-9 – at Durant 1
10-15 – vs. Coweta
10-23 – at Tulsa Edison (at LaFortune)
10-30 – vs. Shawnee
11-6 – at Tulsa Rogers
QUICK HITS:
McAlester and Sallisaw meet on September 4th. That renews a series last played in 1991 in a game won by McAlester 27-22. The teams have split four regular season meetings since 1982. Carl Albert eliminated the Buffaloes from the playoffs in last year’s second round. The two teams have met seven times, all in the playoffs, with the Titans winning four of the seven. The Buffaloes will face Durant for the 18th consecutive season. McAlester has won two in a row and fifteen of the eighteen meetings.
LAST 7 YEARS:
2019 – 6-5
2018 – 4-6
2017 – 3-7
2016 – 8-3
2015 – 10-2
2014 – 11-2
2013 – 12-2
OFFENSE
After playing their way into the Class 5A playoffs last season, the Buffaloes have a game plan for continued success in 2020 with the return of seven starters to their offensive scheme. McAlester will prove the ageold belief that it’s what’s up front that counts bolstering the size, strength and mobility of VYPE Top 100 lineman Quentin Thomas (6-3, 290, Sr.) who recorded 20 pancake blocks amidst a season long 90 percent grade in 2019. Adding proof to the answer “where’s the beef” will be Jonah Cuevas (6-2, 250, Sr.) and Gavin Guthrie (6-1, 275, Sr.). The proven skills of playmaking receiver Gavin Johnson (6-4, 205, Sr.) who grabbed 20 receptions last year along with Gage Dollins (5-11, 160, Jr.) and Luke Homer (5-10, 170, Jr.) will be targeted for results in coach Forrest Mazey’s version of the spread offense. A hotly contested battle continues at quarterback between Trent Boatright (6- 0, 175, Jr.) who got valuable game time experience in 2019 and the athletic talents of Erik McCarty (6-1, 170, So.) “Both of these young men give us options and the opportunity to have depth at quarterback,” responded Mazey. “No matter who gets the nod, both of them will be on the field.” The Buffaloes will look to Matthew Davey (5-11, 190, Sr.) and Larry Lowe (5-8, 170, Sr.) to provide productivity running the football along with Dakota Moton (6-1, 165, So.). “I’m looking forward to see what happens in the backfield battles between now and game one,” said Mazey. “With our size up front as an advantage, I’m confident we’ll have the right pieces in place to make the offense go.”
DEFENSE
The defensive game plan is simple according to Mazey. “Attack the football and get as many hats to the football as fast as we can before they blow the whistle.” The defensive attitude and tenacity of the Buffs will once again be spearheaded by VYPE Top 100 pick Chase Faber (6-2, 210, Jr.) who enters his third season at linebacker after totaling 94 tackles and six sacks last season as a sophomore. Joining the linebacker hit parade will be Dustin Wall (5-11, 200 Sr.) who plays with a chip on his shoulder to punish opponents evidenced by making 79 stops last season. The play in the secondary will be strong in pass coverage as well as stopping the run with the efforts of Erik McCarty who made 77 tackles as a starter last year along with threeyear veteran Caleb Squyres (5-10, 160, Sr.) who charted 68 tackles in 2019 and Killian Barnes (6-0, 155, Jr.). “We’re starting this season with some confidence that our players earned last year by refusing to give up,” said Mazey. “With another year in the system should mean we have more stability and better execution. We’ll be as good as our kids want to be.” The Buffs will play two of their first three games on the turf at First National Bank Field including a Zero-Week battle with Broken Bow.
