Rivalry Rehash: Jenks Football and the Month Long Rivalries
Photo credits: Savanna Wyatt and Jenks Football Booster Club
By: Ella Embry
Football time in Oklahoma is a sacred season. Students and families gather at Allan Trimble under the bright stadium lights, ready to crush the opposing team of the evening. There really isn’t much else you could ask for. Except…a rivalry game. When the mood and the stakes are intensified beyond measure. When every second counts on the field. When one mess up could cost you the game. Everything matters during rivalry games. Imagine playing all three “rivals” within a one-month period. Owasso, Union and Bixby all in September. That’s exactly what the Jenks High School Football team is about to endure.
It’s been five years since all three of Jenks “rival” opponents have set foot to play each other within the same month. While each game brings on its own list of challenges, the football players of Jenks have to learn how to settle into the environment and keep their cool amongst the stress-inducing four weeks they will experience.
“My mindset is getting the last laugh on these teams since it’s my last year playing at Jenks,” said Sam Stone, starting linebacker for the Trojans. “I have knowledge and experience of the atmospheres we will play in and I have studied these teams every time we have played them so I have a good idea of what they will do against us.”
Jenks Trojan captains, Zac Cox, Owen Jones, Sam Stone and Jack Mcinelly facing off against the Owasso Rams this month. Photo credits: Jenks Trojan Torch
Studying and knowing your opponent is everything in the game of football. If you aren’t prepared or know how the other team operates, you won’t succeed to the ability you’d like to. All Jenks players are required to study film as it is a crucial part of the game. Film can be just as important, if not more, than the physical aspect of football.
Going along with the importance of studying behind the scenes, it also goes to show that time on the field does matter. Getting as much play time as possible is golden for any athlete so that you get the first hand experience at being hands-on inside the game.
“Having started in years past, I definitely have experience that I can bring into my play that allows me to play with more confidence. Sometimes less experienced players won’t perform as well, because they’ve never been in certain situations before,” said Jack Mcinelly, tight end and linebacker for the Trojans.
It can be stressful to rely on new teammates and trust that they are able to cover for you when you make mistakes. It’s all about trusting the process and learning to cooperate with one another especially when it's a large rivalry game.
Sam Stone defending a Union Redhawk during the Backyard Bowl. Photo Credits: Savanna Wyatt
“With this being my senior year, the knowledge I bring from previous years is to never underestimate any team we play no matter whether they’re ranked or not. Junior year we lost to Westmoore and my sophomore year we lost to Norman North because we underestimated their talent,” said Nate Domeck, wide receiver for the Trojans. “ I do my best to be as consistent as possible in practice so that consistency can translate to all the games I play in.”
A major stereotype that can come with football is when to call an opposing team a rival. If you lose to a team you underestimated, would you now consider that a new rival? It’s all about mindset and how hard you work. A rival is defined by a person or group that wants the same objective or goal as you. In the end, it just comes down to whoever wants it bad enough.
The Jenks Trojans outside their helment, awaiting to rush Tuttle field at Union. Photo Credits: Savanna Wyatt
As Owasso is ranked the #10th best High School football team in the country, it’s shocking that almost every player interviewed replied that Union is the largest rivalry Jenks has. The Backyard Bowl is a historic and widely-known battle every year. Fans from all over the state come just to see these two teams fight till the end. Once you enter that stadium, you know you are going to be entertained and on the edge of your seat for all four quarters. This year, Jenks and Union face off at the Redhawk’s stadium on September 13th which ironically falls on Friday the 13th.
The last and final matchup of September is the iconic Red River Rivalry, Jenks vs. Bixby. A game that has famously appeared on ESPN that holds similar significance to the Backyard Bowl. This year the Trojans and Spartans will fight for the title on September 27th at Spartan stadium. Like most Jenks fans, the Trojan football team is extremely excited to play at Spartan stadium because of the energy the fans bring.
As we conclude this month, we close a chapter in Jenks history books. The month we played our rivals. The month Jenks football grew as a team. The month our community rallied together to support our Trojans. An exciting season is introduced this month and the journey is only getting started. To purchase tickets or learn more about Jenks Football and their upcoming season, check out https://jenkstrojanfootball.com/ or jenksfootballboosterclub on Instagram and Facebook.
#jhstrojantorch
