Sandites Have Lofty Goals For 2009
The Sand Springs Sandites were once the whipping boys of Class 6A. Now, they're a playoff contender, much in part to the play of star quarterback Johnny Deaton.

The Sandites made the playoffs last year for the first time since 1997. While they lost 70-21 in the first round to eventual state champion Union, their goal this year is to get a playoff win. And Deaton has made it his personal mission.

Deaton threw for more than 17-hundred yards and ran for nearly as much in 2008. His stock has risen since the end of his junior year and he's considered one of the best run/pass quarterbacks in the country.

"It's just a big privilege to me," he says. "I knew I had gotten better and through my junior year, I knew I was going to be ranked somewhere, but I didn't know I'd be ranked sixth in the nation where I'm at right now in dual threat quarterbacks, so that's pretty neat."

Neat is not exactly the word his coach uses to describe his abilities. But, one word is all it takes.

"Complete," says Coach Dustin Kinard. "He can run the ball, he can throw the ball, he can read defenses, very smart, a great competitor, loves the game, loves to compete and he just loves to lay it on the line and compete, whatever we're playing. Obviously, he loves to win."

Johnny hopes to be better through the air this season and prove that his arm is just as good as his legs.

"My big thing this year is I want to get 2-thousand yards passing," Deaton says. "Because last year I ran so much because it was there, not that I couldn't throw, but I'm going to try to throw some this year and see if I can't get a little more passing yards."

He has already committed to play for Mike Gundy and the Cowboys in Stillwater. So, there won't be any distractions to keep him from reaching his goals. And, those goals are simple -- Sand Springs wants to host a playoff game -- and win.

That means they either have to win district or come in second. Neither will be an easy task in a district with Jenks, Broken Arrow and Muskogee.