Bixby rolls past Jenks for Class 6A-I title, sixth consecutive state football championship
EDMOND — Stadium lights gleamed and bass-heavy music swelled around Kordell Gouldsby as he relished another lively state championship scene.
His Bixby football teammates gallivanted across the field. Cameras clicked. And “Celebrate” by Pitbull boomed through the speakers, one of many upbeat songs in Chad Richison Stadium’s championship soundtrack.
Like that playlist, the Spartans seemingly never run out of celebrations.
“When you go to Bixby, you expect to win,” Gouldsby said. “The standard is to win, so if you don’t, then that’s when you really feel different. So to be able to come out here with my teammates one last time, I really just can’t explain it.”
The senior receiver/defensive back created a spectacular finale for his high school career Friday evening. Gouldsby accounted for five touchdowns as top-ranked Bixby blazed past No. 4 Jenks, 49-21, for the Class 6A-I crown.
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The Spartans (13-0) have won six straight state championships, including two since their move from 6A-II to 6A-I, and nine in 10 years.
Bixby, the contemporary colossus of Oklahoma high school football, didn’t slow down against tradition-rich Jenks.
Neither did Gouldsby.
He rushed for two scores, caught a pair of touchdown passes and scored on a 96-yard kickoff return.
In the second quarter, Jenks (8-5) had a flicker of momentum when Sam Stone intercepted a tipped pass and returned it 80 yards into the end zone, cutting Bixby’s lead to 21-7.
Gouldsby responded immediately, increasing Bixby’s advantage to 28-7 with the kickoff return touchdown.
Bixby coach Loren Montgomery absorbed as many details of the speedy sequence as he could.
“I saw a lot,” Montgomery said. “No. 1, Kordell’s hard to tackle. I saw him break a couple tackles. Then I saw some great blocking as he got going, and I saw a couple stiff-arms. He just made an out-of-his mind play.”
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Gouldsby continued to boost the Spartans after they took control from the beginning. Clay Peters and Sam McCormick set the defensive tone early, capping Jenks’ first two drives with interceptions.
On offense, the Spartans stuck with their three-quarterback rotation.
Oklahoma State might have scrapped that unusual system, but leave it to Bixby to make it work. Carson Kirby accounted for most of the reps, completing 10 of 16 pass attempts for 108 yards and a touchdown. Peters completed 2 of 3 pass attempts for 51 yards and two scores while rushing for 24 yards, and wildcat quarterback Cooper Parker added one touchdown rush.
“It’s worked really well,” Montgomery said. “We’ve got three very talented guys that are good with the ball in their hands, and so we’re going to work as hard as we can to try to give them the ball. And then it just allows you some flexibility.”
Gouldsby, a former Holland Hall quarterback, also completed one pass for 29 yards.
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Meanwhile, Jett Turner fueled Bixby’s run game with 25 carries for 235 yards.
Sophomore running back Kaydin Jones led Jenks on the ground with 14 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown. He also scored on a 46-yard pass from Owen Jones, but Bixby’s relentless defense kept the Trojans from finding a consistent groove.
As the Spartans gathered in front of the picturesque waterfall at Chad Richison Stadium and hoisted their new trophy, another song blared from the champions playlist: “All I Do is Win.”
This is the cinematic scene that defines Bixby football. Throughout the season, all the Spartans did was win, adding a layer to their growing dynasty.
When asked if he saved the best of his high school career for last, Gouldsby didn’t hesitate.
“I definitely did,” Gouldsby said. “Credit to my teammates, credit to my coaches for putting me in a position to succeed. I really just can’t describe it.”
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Bixby rolls past Jenks for sixth straight Oklahoma HS football title
