By BEN JOHNSON

Press Sports Editor

The two schools are separated by roughly 20 miles. Common sense would have you believe that the two schools have met numerous times throughout history.

Such is not the case between Tahlequah and Fort Gibson football.

When the two Tiger teams kick off the 2010 season at Leo Donahue/Tiger Stadium at 7:30 tonight, they will be meeting for only the fourth time ever.

“We never played them when I was here,” said Tahlequah coach Charlie Cooper, who was the Tigers’ head coach from 1980 to 1992. “And back then, we never really discussed it or considered it. But it’s a little surprising that they haven’t met more times.”

Friday night’s matchup will be the first time the two schools have hooked up since 1926. More than 80 years ago, Tahlequah, who lead the all-time series 2-1, beat Fort Gibson 40-0.

“You would think two schools that are this close to each other would have played more,” said Fort Gibson coach D.J. Howell, who is going into his second season as the Tigers’ head coach.

Howell said he set the game up by contacting the Tahlequah athletic department.

“It felt like a natural fit to me,” said Howell, whose team went 3-7 in 2009. “We just called Mike (Adams, Tahlequah athletic director), asked about setting a game up. And he was very supportive of it.”

Tonight’s game will feature two schools trying to right themselves after subpar 2009 seasons.

Tahlequah will turn to veterans on offense, particularly up front and in the backfield. Senior quarterback Colin Scarsdale will call the signals for Tahlequah while handing the ball off the Taylor Harris and Colin Downs in the running game. And up front, Tahlequah will lean on seniors, BJ Herrlien, Kyle Hutchinson and Jeff Howton, on the offensive line.

“I think up — on their offensive line — they are very good,” said Howell, breaking down Tahlequah’s strength.

For Cooper, the Tahlequah coach is concerned about Fort Gibson’s ability to strike for big chunks of yards at one time.

“Fort Gibson has the ability to make big plays,” Cooper said. “They look to make big plays and make things happen.”

Regardless of wins or losses, Cooper said his team is using non-district games as learning tools for the last seven weeks of the season.

“Non-district games are not the important games during the regular season,” he said. “The main thing is we just want to get better.”

Tahlequah at Fort Gibson

When: Tonight at 7:30.

Where: Leo Donahue/Tiger Stadium at Fort Gibson High School (500 S. Ross St.).

Weather: Mostly clear with temperatures in the mid-70s.

Radio: Tahlequah games air on KEOK FM-102.1.

Nicknames: Tahlequah Tigers; Fort Gibson Tigers.

Records: Both teams are 0-0.

Rankings: Tahlequah is not ranked in Class 5A; Fort Gibson is not ranked in 4A.

Coaches: Tahlequah (Charlie Cooper, first year); Fort Gibson (D.J. Howell, second year).

Series record: Tahlequah leads, 2-1.

News to know: This will be the first time the two schools have met since 1926. ... Tahlequah safety Alan Nelson is out with a wrist injury. ... Cooper, the winningest coach in THS history, returns to Tahlequah for his 14th year on the sidelines. Cooper last coached the Tigers from 1980 to 1992 when he went 93-56. ... Fort Gibson has not won a season opener at home since 2004.

Players to Watch:

• Tahlequah: Colin Scarsdale (QB), THS offensive line, Colin Downs and Taylor Harris (RB).

— Scarsdale, a senior who passed for 677 yards in 2009, returns for his third season as the Tigers’ quarterback.

— Tahlequah’s offensive line features plenty of upperclassmen: BJ Herrlien, Kyle Hutchinson and Jeff Howton. Charles Mounce (sophomore) and center Austin Robertson (sophomore) join the three seniors up front.

— Harris, a senior who rushed for 378 yards and five touchdowns in 2009, and Downs, a junior, will headline Tahlequah’s running game. Prior to the 2010 season, Cooper said running the ball would be Tahlequah’s primary concern on offense this year.

• Fort Gibson: Andrew Arnold (QB), Forrest King (TE), Gannon Whiteley (LB).

— Arnold, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior, returns under center after passing for 1,725 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2009.

— King could be Arnold’s key target in the passing game. The big tight end stands 6-4 and 205 pounds.

— Whiteley is one of 10 starters that return on defense for Fort Gibson. The 6-foot, 205-pound linebacker — who, at times, also doubles as a running back on offense — anchors the Tiger defense at middle linebacker in the 3-4 scheme.

At Stake: Both teams looking to open the season 1-0.

Last Meeting: Tahlequah won 40-0 all the way back in 1926.

Looking Ahead: Tahlequah opens at home in Week 2 against Stilwell and Fort Gibson will at Pryor.



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Ben Johnson

Press Sports Editor