Posted Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 Updated Friday, December 4th, 2009

6A State Title Preview: Jenks vs. Union

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Kyle Dierking
OKBlitz.com Reporter

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The football dominance by Jenks and Union grew in the mid 1990’s but both teams have a monopoly on the first decade in the new millennium.

The Trojans have won five 6A state championships while the Redskins hold the other four titles, including a victory over Jenks in last season’s championship game. It is also the 14th consecutive year that either Jenks or Union will win the 6A gold ball.

When the two teams meet at the University of Tulsa’s Chapman Stadium on Friday night, it will mark the seventh time in 12 seasons that they have faced off in the state championship.

“This is the standard that 6A football has been measured by,” said Union coach Kirk Fridrich.

“I think they’re two similar teams. I think we both have solid offensive lines, I think the rushing game – being able to run the football is going to be key in the game. It’s two close teams, two good programs – we’ll just have to see what happens on Friday night.”

Jenks advanced to the championship with a 44-6 victory over Southmoore on Saturday night. Zach Langer rushed for 252 yards and three touchdowns and quarterback Sawyer Kollmorgen threw for 108 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Union found itself down 10-3 at halftime against Broken Arrow in its semifinal game. Redskins quarterback Chase Boyce threw his second interception of the game on Union’s first offensive possession of the second half.

Union’s defense held the Tigers to a field goal in the second half and Boyce had two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, winning 24-13.

“To me that showed the character of our team and what was in store the rest of the game,” Fridrich said. “You could feel the momentum shift in our team. Even though something bad happened in the beginning, they did a great job in that series and went on to score the next.”

The Redskins defense has only allowed nine points per game and the most points they have given up this season was in a 27-25 loss to the Trojans.

“They’re sound in what they do and so every time we get an opportunity, we’re going to have to take advantage of it when you’re playing a defense that is that good,” said Jenks interim head coach Loren Montgomery.

Jenks has one of the most explosive offenses in the state, averaging 45 points per game. Langer has 2,220 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns this season.

“Playing Union every year, it always seems like it comes down to who controls the line of scrimmage and who doesn’t make mistakes,” said Jenks offensive lineman Jake Alexander. “One play can break open the game.”

Union won last season’s state championships over the Trojans 34-20, but another loss has been on the Trojans mind recently.

Jenks has been playing without head coach Allan Trimble since October 2. Trimble and offensive line coach David Alexander were indefinitely suspended by the OSSAA for violating recruiting and residency rules.

“There’s always that last year’s thought on the mind,” Alexander said. “We really haven’t thought about it much, we’ve had a lot more to think about. We’ve had a lot of turmoil during this year and we’ve had a lot more to play for.”

“It always feels good to meet your goals, but it would be special for a team to win a gold ball under all the circumstances they’ve been faced with,” Montgomery said.

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