Locals set for tonight's Oil Bowl

[Harry]

http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/apps/pbcs.d.../506180322/1006

Normally, Don Hendrix doesn't have an "us against them" mentality when he coaches, but he may for one day.

That's when he will walk the sidelines as the Oklahoma All-Stars head coach against a team of Texas All-Stars in the prestigious Oil Bowl in Wichita Falls, Texas on Saturday.

Hendrix, the Hilldale High School coach for the last four years, is more excited about the chance to represent Oklahoma.

"I've been to the game. It was years ago when I had a player made it," He said. "It's one of the top honors you can get as an Oklahoma high school coach. Only three are picked every year, so it's a once in a lifetime honor to be named."

Hendrix won't be alone on the sidelines. Larry Childers, an assistant at Hilldale, will also be coaching in the game. Eufaula's Tray Bowie and Hilldale's Charley Brown are suiting up for the Oklahoma All-Stars in the 68th annual game.

This is the first such all-star game for Childers in his 28 years as a coach.

"I didn't think I get a chance to this, so I'm very humbled by it," he said. "Other coaches on our staff here would've like to have done this, too. They had other things going on at the time. It just worked out in my case.

"I'm excited about this. I'm going to get to work with some great players who are going on to play college football. It's a tremendous honor."

Two of those players are Bowie and Brown.

Bowie, headed to Northeastern A&M, finished the 2004 season with 1,668 rushing yards, averaging 8.6 yards per carry, and 26 touchdowns. He also had eight receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

The 5-foot-10, 150-pounder ended his career with 4,400 rushing yards and 71 touchdowns.

"I'm excited about playing against the best in Texas," Bowie said. "It's a great opportunity to play against Division I prospects."

Brown, a 6-4, 235-pounder, has signed with University of North Texas in Denton. He had 19 catches for 320 yards and two touchdowns at tight end in 2004.

"It's going to be fun to play in the game," Brown said. "I'm glad coach Hendrix is coaching in the game. He's a great coach."

Both Brown and Bowie earned all-state honors after the 2004 season.

"I think Tray is one of the better players in the state and Charley's very deserving to be in the game," Hendrix said. "He's got a big body and going to get bigger."

Texas leads Oklahoma in the Oil Bowl series at 41-17-1 after its 40-10 victory last year.