EDMOND — As a freshman, Jenks receiver D.J. Wagoner watched and admired Carson and Isaiah Epps.

As a senior, he surpassed them both.

There was no big celebration when it happened, but with precise route-running and strong hands, Wagoner set a school record for single-season receptions and receiving yards Friday in the Trojans’ 39-21 victory against Edmond Santa Fe.

Wagoner did in his first and only year as a starter what no one else had done in the Trojans’ storied history — a program that once featured the Epps brothers, as well as three players set to play in Saturday’s Bedlam matchup.

“It was the plan,” he said with a confident smile.

Jenks (6-4, 6-0) started the season with four consecutive losses but ended it with a surge, winning the last six games to take the district title. The victory capped the worst regular season since 1988 for the Trojans, who beat Santa Fe (5-5, 3-3) for the fifth time in a row.

The Trojans fell behind early in the first quarter but rolled off 29 unanswered points to take a commanding lead by the fourth quarter.

“We’re happy with the progress that we’ve made,” Jenks coach Allan Trimble said of the season. “… A lot of times, when you have those super high expectations and things don’t go your way, things can get pretty rocky. Our kids held it together, and they’re playing a little better.”

Quarterback Ian Corwin accounted for four touchdowns — two rushing and two passing — and connected with Wagoner in the second quarter for a touchdown. Wagoner finished with 10 catches for 92 yards, setting single-season records with 68 receptions and 1,216 yards.

“He’s unbelievable. He’s unreal,” Corwin said about Wagoner. “He’s such a good player. I feel like our timing has been on. His routes and his hands are just unbelievable. I think he’s probably the best receiver in the state — top three, for sure.”

Wagoner made history Friday, but as the playoffs begin next week, he and Jenks still are keeping an eye on the not-too-distant past, remembering their early-season struggles.

“It’s in the past, but we realize it definitely helped us,” Wagoner said. “We realized what we needed to improve on and how much harder we needed to work. … We told each other we had to have a different energy and a different team chemistry. And that really helped.”
