Sept. 16-17, 2023

Page 1

READER’S NOTE

John Kilgore’s column can be read at www. muskogeephoenix.com/ sports Muskogee Phoenix

Saturday-Sunday, September 16-17, 2023

Not good showing on Homecoming

SHANE KEETER/Special to the Phoenix

Hilldale’s Brady Scott, back right, as Glenpool’s Cage Deckard, right, and Jesse Cagle attempt to strip the ball away during the Hornets’loss Friday at Hornet Field.

Claremore spoils Hornets’ celebration, beating Hilldale 63-13 By Nick Hampton Phoenix Correspondent

The tone was set early in this one. Claremore scored on a 44-yard pass play on their first play from scrimmage and they went on to roll over Hilldale 63-13 Friday night at Hornet Stadium. After the Hornets took the opening kick and went three and out, the Zebras got great field position

thanks in part to a personal foul on the Hornets. On the first play quarterback Braxton Etheridge dropped back and found a wideopen Eli Rodgers down the sideline for the score with less than two minutes gone in the game. But the Hornets, with sophomore Dawson Fields calling signals, battled back and drove down to the Zebra four-yard line before

the 13-play drive stalled and Hilldale had to settle for a 24-yard Cash Schiller field goal. On Claremore’s next possession, Etheridge aired it out again, this time for 80 yards to Gage Deckard and the Zebras led 14-3. But once again the Hornets drove it down the field only to stall out in the red zone and had to kick a 32-yard field goal to make it 14-6,

but that would be as close as Hilldale would come. The Zebras would march 80 yards in five plays with Etheridge hitting Brayden Alexander with a 30-yard touchdown connection to make it 21-6 just as the second quarter began. On the night Etheridge was 14-of-19 passing for 313 See SHOWING, Page 2

Glenpool rallies to take down FTG 21-14 Staff report

For Fort Gibson, it was the best of times and the worst of times. Only once did the Tigers let Glenpool into the end zone until the third quarter, then watched the Warriors score twice in the second half, beating Fort Gibson 21-14 in Glenpool Friday. Glenpool got on the board first, taking the opening kickoff and driving down the field. The drive was capped off by the Warriors’ DaMicah Wood who punched the ball in from a

yard out to give the Warriors a 7-0 lead. The Tigers wasted little time in evening the score. Fort Gibson began their first possession at the Warriors’ 46-yard line. Five plays later, Braxton Miller punched the ball into the end zone, and with 7:44 left in the first quarter the score was tied at 7-7. The two squads went back and forth until Fort Gibson took over on the Glenpool 49 after the Warriors failed to convert a See RALLIES, Page 2

JOHN HASLER/Special to the Phoenix

Fort Gibson’s Judd Rudd, left, looks for running room through the Glenpool defense during the Tigers’ 21-14 loss on Friday in Glenpool.

www.muskogeephoenix.com

PREP FOOTBALL ROUNDUP Phoenix staff report WAGONER 35, GROVE 14 — Class 4A No. 1 Wagoner trailed 7-6 until the 11:23 mark of the second quarter when Kale Charboneau punched the ball in from a yard out for his first of two rushing scores. After he also ran in the two-point conversion, the Bulldogs were up 14-7 and never trailed again. Charboneau finished 23-of-31 passing for 323 yards and two touchdowns and added 38 yards on the ground with two scores. Alex Shieldnight led Wagoner (3-0) with six receptions for 116 yards. Anthony Coleman and Mattson Swanson both had interceptions on defense. Trent Edwards hauled in a 31-yard touchdown pass to put Wagoner up 6-0 in the first quarter and Swanson had a third quarter 26-yard touchdown reception. CHECOTAH 54, EUFAULA 27 — In the 108th rendition of the McIntosh County Rivalry, Checotah broke the 55-55-1 tie and took the lead in the series on Friday night. Jacob Jones owned the air as he led the Wildcats (3-1) going 22-of-35 for 463 yards with five touchdowns. Kaden Mitchell ran wild with 112 yards on 14 attempts with one score. University of Oklahoma commit Elijah Thomas caught seven passes for 144 yards and a touchdown, while Jaydin Bray had nine catches for 122 yards and a score and Jayden Lake finished with 92 yards receiving and a pair of touchdowns. For Eufaula (1-2) Ledger Folsom was both leading passer and leading rusher. He was 8-of-16 for 132 yards and a touchdown and two interceptions passing, and on the ground he ran for 125 yards on 19 carries with two scores. Peter Lee added 33 yards rushing and Gavin Watkins scored a rushing touchdown. Maddox Bridges had 100 yards receiving and a touchdown. KEOTA 52, PORUM 6 — Isaiah Sallee had a 70-yard kickoff return to account for Porum’s lone score as the Panthers dropped to 2-1. WEBBERS FALLS 53, OAKS 8 — Maddox Shelby put Webbers Falls in the lead in the first quarter with a 61-yard touchdown run. Aiden Turley expanded the lead to two scores with his second quarter 63-yard touchdown scamper. Shelby finished with three rushes for 85 yards and Turley added three rushes for 97 yards. Through the air, Shelby was 11-of-17 for 124 yards and two touchdown passes, both to his brother, Gunner Shelby. MORRIS 69, HASKELL 7 — Dylan Ozinga threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Lucas King in the third quarter to prevent the shutout. Haskell fell to 1-2. CHOUTEAU 30, WARNER 22 — Jace Jackson had 161 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 18 carries in the Eagles’ loss. He passed for 79 yards and was 5-of-20. Logan Collins added 67 yards on the ground on 15 carries while Ty Vinson had two catches for 64 yards and a score. Reed Pickering had 13 yards receiving, tossed a 50-yard touchdown pass and led the defense with 16 tackles. Lubbock Drake followed with 15 tackles and Austin Spradlin had 10 for Warner (1-2). WYANDOTTE 47, PORTER 18 — No stats as of press time. GANS 78, MIDWAY 74 — No stats as of press time.

Cowboys searching for early running back rhythm against South Alabama By Marcus Trevino CNHI Sports Oklahoma

lins or especially Gordon don’t have the ability to take on more of a workload, but STILLWATER — Mike running backs coach John Gundy isn’t concerned about Wozniak has been mindful of Oklahoma State’s rushing splitting carries while keepyards per game, which ranks ing an eye on who has the hot 11th in the Big 12. hand. “Some people get a misconThen, the three are more ception about rushing being likely to wear down a tired deyardage per game,” Gundy fense as they’ve all had their said. “Defenses are more willlongest carries in the fourth ing to let you throw a little bit quarters. than rush the ball effectively “If you’re the three run… and so getting around that ning backs, and you say, ‘My 4 to 4.5 yard average per carbody’s in really good condiry is going to be more importtion, and I’m fresh because ant than saying we need to I’m not getting overused and rush for 150 yards.” taking a bunch of hits and With that said, the Pokes when I am in the game, I’m have gotten the production running really hard and I’m they want from a yards-perplaying well’, that’s a plus, carry standpoint (4.23), even also,” Gundy said. “So then though the team ranks eighth the last piece of that is people in the Big 12 in that category. will say, ‘OK, well how’s that The first half numbers drag going to help me in the NFL?’ that total down as they avThe NFL is going to evaluate erage just 3 yards per carry, you on the plays you’re in the not including sacks which game.” are inexplicably counted as JON WALKER/CNHI Sports Oklahoma To his point, Roschon Johnnegative rush yards in college son was drafted in the fourth football. Oklahoma State running back Jaden Nixon breaks free toward the sideline in the Cowboys’ 27-13 win over “Our luck’s going to run Central Arkansas in the season opener at Boone Pickens Stadium. Nixon took six carries and turned those into round of this year’s draft. He had 392 total carries in his out eventually,” Gundy said. a total of 30 yards rushing. four years at Texas while his “We know we need to run the carry. which helps a lot, and they’re former teammate, No. 8 overball better, but we are putting nate that we’ve been able to Gundy said there are two fresh,” he said. “We don’t overcome some of that.” all pick Bijan Robinson, had things in place to make it reasons for the sudden jump have a guy running in the In the second halves, Ollie 453 carries in just his last two happen and we’re practicing, in efficiency. fourth quarter that’s already years. Gordon (7.25) , Jaden Nixon working hard and we need to “We’re making a few up 15 carries.” (8) and Elijah Collins (7.25) Marcus Trevino writes for get it established earlier in It’s not that Nixon, Colhave averaged 7.46 yards per changes and blocking better, the Stillwater News Press. the game. We’ve been fortu-


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Sept. 16-17, 2023 by muskogeephoenix - Issuu