2010 Oil Bowl Preview

One of the most hotly contested all-star games in country will resume on Saturday night in Wichita Falls as the 73rd Maskat Shrine Oil Bowl Classic will kick off from Memorial Stadium at 7:30pm. The game was cancelled in 2009 due to severe storms hitting the area, Oklahoma won the last meeting in 2008 17-16 as a botched snap on a field goal ended the Texas teams hopes for a last second win.

For Oklahoma they will rely on several stars from Oklahoma's two time Class 6A State Champions from Tulsa Union High School. All four players from Union are committed to Tulsa as well. OL Alec Henry, WR/DB James Roberson, DB Luke Snider, and K Cole Way all will be relied upon heavily by the Oklahoma All-Stars. Oklahoma's team strength will lie up front wherein addition to Henry, Baylor commit Dominique Jones (who will also see time on the DL) and Colorado State signee Mason Myers will pave the way.

Jack Cameron from Bishop Kelly High in Tulsa and Sallisaw's Matt Oberste will rotate for Oklahoma behind center. The backfield for Oklahoma will be anchored by tough running but speedy Emmanuel Maxwell from Midwest City. Maxwell will be attending Butler County CC in Kansas. Another versatile performer for Team Oklahoma who can do lots of different things will be Star Spencer's Darwin Rideau who is attending Coffeyville CC in Kansas. Lawton's Sonny Puletasi who is committed to Wyoming will be a force for the Oklahoma all-stars on both sides of the ball.

Much like their rivals from north of the Red River. the Texas team will be led by a strong group up front. The strongest of that crew may be a local star in Burkburnett's Lorenzo Barnes. Barnes a Class 3A All-State performer and state champion powerlifter will attend school at Southwestern Oklahoma. A pair or Louisiana-Monroe commits join Barnes up front in Cedar Hill's Josh Allen and West Mesquite's Demiere Burkett. Allen's Taylor Pearson who is headed to Princeton is also a factor up front.

On offense expect Wake Forest commit Nick Knott out of Wylie to see plenty of touches in the running game along with Pilot Point's Jarman Johnson. Johnson was a key factor in Pilot Point's run to the 2A Division 1 State Championship. When Texas needs short yardage they'll have two of the best fullbacks around in Wichita Falls' Eddie Aboussie who will attend Texas State and Burleson's Blake Smith who will attend Angelo State.

Behind center expect Allen's Tucker Carter to see plenty of action, Carter who is going to attend Trinity Valley CC in Athens, TX led Allen to the 5A Division 1 State Championship when then starter and current TCU signee Matt Brown went down with an injury. Lake Highlands' Ricky Zorn who will attend Harvard is another player who will see snaps, Zorn who is a great runner will be a change of pace player.

The real strength for Texas will be on defense where they have several outstanding players. In addition to Barnes up front Texas Tech commit Coby Coleman will be a force in the middle. One of the top outside pass rushers in DFW will also need to be accounted for in Everman's Aaron Bellazin who has signed with North Texas.

The Texas All-Stars should be strong in the secondary with a pair of speedy corners from DeSoto in Vincent Eddie (who is the third Louisiana-Monroe signee playing in the game) and UTEP signee Traun Robinson. Ball hawking safety and UT-San Antonio signee Nic Johnston will be a force as well.

Overall Texas leads the series with Oklahoma 44-18-1.

THEOLDCOACH will be live at the game Saturday night with full coverage and a complete recap!!