by Aaron Kauk

Friday night the Carl Albert Titans played on the grass turf at Big Elk Stadium as one of, if not the most talented team to ever play in Elk City. With two players already committed to OU and a handful of others that might eventually be Sooners, this team is loaded. Where do they stack up with some of the other ultra talented teams?

1982 Clinton Red Tornadoes

This version of the Red Tornadoes were named as the Oklahoman’s best team of 1982. They went 15-0 en route to the Class 3A State Title. Clinton’s defense pitched 8 shutouts and allowed more than one score in only one of their 15 games.

1992 Weatherford Eagles

The second of back-to-back titles for Weatherford came in 1992 in their first year in Class 4A. The Eagles were a perfect 14-0 and featured a man amongst boys on the defensive line in Anthony Randle.

1996 Clinton Red Tornadoes

It’s hard to remember but in 1996 the Clinton Red Tornadoes and Legendary Head Coach Mike Lee were still in search of their first State Title together. After allowing 28 points in a season opening win against Frederick, Clinton only gave up 35 points in their final 13 games combined. I’ll never forget the Channel 4 chopper landing on the practice field directly east of Big Elk Stadium for the Week 4, District opener that season. Jason Crawford, Trent Smith, and many others pitched two shutouts against Elk City that year. They defeated Weatherford twice including a 28-0 shutout in the State Championship game.

2007 Bishop McGuiness Fighting Irish

The Irish ran roughshod over Class 4A in 2007, particularly District 1. McGuiness outscored their 7 district opponents by a combined 314-27. They held 9 of their 14 opponents scoreless, including 5 district shutouts. Multiple guys, including Gabe Ikard, went on to play Division I football.

1998 Elk City Elks

The team that played at Big Elk Stadium the most. The 1998 Elks were a group that always seemed destined to hoist a gold ball at some point in their careers. After a State Finals loss in 1997 to Clinton, the 1998 version of Coach Roof’s Elks refused to taste defeat. 14-0. Two shutouts of Clinton. Atteberry. Marsh. DeLaRosa. McClure. 6 Shutouts. Only one opponent managed to score multiple Touchdowns, and it took a Millwood team with Rashaun Woods and Elbert Craig to do it. The 1998 Elks are still the only State Title team in Elk City history.