Commerce Has High Expectations
By Anvil Welch

Rick Trimble, who's in his 17th season as head football coach at Commerce High School, encountered something different in 2006.

The Class A Tigers, who tonight launch another playoff bid with high expectations, were idle last week.

"I hope it's a good thing," Trimble said. "We're taking an optimistic approach. We should be fresh."

Commerce (7-2), which has reached the third round in seven of the past eight seasons, entertains Sallisaw Central (7-3).

Commerce, ranked 10th by The Tulsa World in Class A, finished 6-0 in District A-7. The Tigers rebounded from losses of 30-27 to Colcord (9-1) and 28-20 to Tulsa Lincoln Christian (8-2).

Other games tonight - all are scheduled to start at 7:30 - for teams finishing in second through fourth places in A-7 are Gore (6-4) at Afton (7-3), Oklahoma Union (6-3) at Talihina (8-2) and Fairland (4-6) at Panama (9-1).

Tonight's opening round in Class 4A includes Idabel (7-3) at Grove (7-3) and Miami (5-5) at Broken Bow (7-3).

"We had several starters new to our system (transfers from Picher)," Trimble said. "They've done a great job of learning our system. Hopefully, we're jelling at the right time."

The Tigers aren't completely healthy, however.

They've lost four-year mainstay Jared Dopp with a broken arm.

"Dopp, a hard worker, was a dandy," Trimble said of the running back-middle linebacker.

Trimble said Dopp's absence on offense probably will mean more carries for (junior) James Sullivan and (senior) Nathan Webb. Sullivan will take over for Dopp on defense and senior Korey Langston and freshman Mikey Morgan will receive more playing time.

Sallisaw Central, in its first 11-man season, is guided by Wade Couch whose coaching experience includes a year at Afton.

"That district, after Panama, was up for grabs," Trimble said.

"The Sallisaw Central quarterback (junior Stevie Morris) throws the ball well," Trimble said. "They spread the field and have several solid receivers (senior Josh Small has 26 receptions for 400 yards and three touchdowns).

"They're tough defensively," Trimble said. "They aren't big on defense but it's a scrappy bunch. We have to block and tackle well and do our assignments."

Ike Edwards, a senior, has rushed for 825 yards for Central. Small, who's added 525 rushing yards, gets receiving help from senior Jace Coffman and junior Brenden Gentry