Guymon, Hooker coaches use Thursday night scrimmage as a guage of their team’s progress

August 17, 2012

Guymon quarterback Jacob Test looks for a target during a scrimmage with Hooker last night. Staff photo/John Plestina

The coaches of both the Guymon Tigers and Hooker Bulldogs reflected on Thursday nights football scrimmage at Guymon as a gauge of how their teams are doing and both concluded that there is work remaining to prepare for football season openers that are just two weeks away.
Hooker and Turpin both scrimmaged with Guymon and with each other. Varsity and junior varsity squads participated.
“I was pleased with the effort,” said Guymon head coach Bryan Ballard.
However, he added, “We have a lot of work to do the next two weeks.”
Ballard, who is beginning his second season at the helm, noted that there were mistakes on the field that need correction.
On a positive note for Guymon, Ballard said he thinks the team has made progress since the dismal 9-1 2011 season. Last year was Guymon’s last season playing in Class 4A. The Tigers move up to 5A this season and will face larger schools.
Guymon had no choice but to accept the realignment from Class 4A to 5A last year by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association. Population growth and increased enrollments forced the change.
“I think the kids played hard. We are ahead of where we were last year at this time, but we still have a lot of work to do,” he said.
Hooker’s Jacob Kreamer also saw the scrimmage as a gauge of his team’s progress.
“We’ve got a few things we’ve got to work on.” he said.
“Our offense did well. Overall, I thought it was a good starting point for us,” Kreamer said.
Returning starters including quarterback Joe Bean, running back Taylor McBee and linemen Braxton Taylor and Alex Jaruez were on the field in Guymon.
Hooker was 5-5 last year and made it only as far as the first round of the Class A playoffs. Kreamer has said he wants to improve on that and earn a home field playoff spot.