The real season begins for Pioneer in rematch with Laverne

WAUKOMIS, Okla. — The real season begins tonight for Pioneer senior quarterback Layken Young and the Mustangs.

“To me, it’s more like the season’s not winding down, it’s just getting started,” he said following Thursday’s practice. “Everybody is thinking that its Week 11 and its starting to get towards the end. That’s not the case. It’s time to work harder than we have.”

The Mustangs will get the “real season” started against the Seiling Wildcats at Pioneer Friday at 7 p.m. for the first round of the Class B playoffs. The game was originally scheduled for 7:30 p.m., but both head coaches mutually agreed to move the start time up 30 minutes.

With the arrival of the postseason comes a change in the atmosphere.

“It’s just a whole ‘nother animal,” Young said of the playoff’s impact. “Everything is more exciting around school, at practice and everyone is more anxious now that we have a chance to start playing for more.”

“More” being a Class B state title, something that eluded the Mustangs last season. Pioneer made it the quarterfinal round before being eliminated by Davenport. The Mustangs enter this year’s postseason with another district championship under their belt and a six-game winning streak.

“They don’t want (this season) to be done,” Pioneer head football coach Gus Overstreet said of his team. “They’re not dreading coming out (to practice). It’s getting darker, it’s getting colder and they’re enjoying being out there. They’re still having fun.” 

Young was one of the few, if any, who was enjoying the elements at Thursday’s practice. While others wore, at the very least, a hooded sweatshirt, Young sported a sleeveless T-shirt. The quarterback seemed to enjoy the cold temperature and the light rain.

“We’re a ground-and-pound team and be tougher than the team that we’re playing,” he said. “The cold weather just fits right into it and we’re not going to be affected by it. I think it’s going to work to our advantage.”

The Mustangs could have another advantage working for them when they face the Wildcats Friday night. Seiling will be without a few playmakers, including middle linebacker and running back Brock Hedrick, who tore his ACL during the regular season.

“He was the heart of their defense,” Overstreet said. “It’s something I never wish on any kids ever … I wish that never happened to him because he’s one hell of an athlete.”

After starting out 7-0, Seiling finished the season on a three-game skid. Despite the losing streak and being without some playmakers, Overstreet and senior running back Z.J. Washington said Pioneer will not be taking the Wildcats lightly.

“They’re kind of a different team but they’re still the same,” Overstreet said of Seiling. “They’re still going to line up and run the ball down your throat.”

“We have to realize that they still have people on the sideline that can play,” Washington said. “We have to realize that we have to come out in order to (win). Its a one week season.”

Washington leads Pioneer with 1,583 rushing yards and 27 total touchdowns.

One of those touchdowns came off a 90-yard kickoff return during Pioneer’s Sept. 7 home loss to Seiling. After leading 24-0 at halftime, the Wildcats poured on another 20 points in the second half in defeating Pioneer 44-16.

The Mustang defense will focus on containing Seiling senior quarterback Bryson Gore, who threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third against Pioneer.

“We have to get him shut down,” Overstreet said. “We have to get him stopped.”

Overstreet added the Mustangs will have to do battle with Seiling’s offensive line, which possesses experience and size.

“They have some big ol’ boys up front,” Overstreet said.

The Mustangs’ offense will look to establish itself early. In the Sept. 7 game, the offense only recorded three first downs and 24 rushing yards.

“That’s the thing about Seiling, they’re going to knock us in the teeth,” Overstreet said. “They’re going to hit us. It’s going to be how we respond back from getting hit.

“If we do our job, stay on our blocks, Z.J. runs hard ... we’re going to be OK.”

 The Pioneer-Seiling winner will play the Burns Flat-Dill City at Ryan winner next week. Pioneer, with a win would host the game.