CPHS Football: Sandites beat Shawnee 21-19 on Homecoming, Snodgrass scores 2 TDs

The Class 6A No. 11 ranked Charles Page High School varsity football team (2-2, 1-0) won their Homecoming game Friday night at Memorial Stadium 21-19 over No. 13 Shawnee (1-3, 0-1) to kick off district action. The Sandites led by 21-12 to start the fourth quarter before the Wolves began to rally for a thrilling fourth-quarter showdown.

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Sand Springs outscored their foes 7-6 in the first and second quarters and won the third quarter 7-0 before being shut out in the fourth. Senior standout Jacob Snodgrass produced the Sandites’ first two scores on Wildcat runs, while sophomore quarterback Ty Pennington threw a pass to Daren Hawkins in the third quarter.

Shawnee sophomore Karsen Conaway was 13-31-174-1 with touchdown passes to Cyn’Cere Spencer and Jaylon Orange, and Orange also ran in a score. Extra points were the deal-breaker for the Wolves, as Ian Johnson missed his first PAT kick, and Alex Turner stopped a two-point run attempt by Spencer in the second quarter.

Both teams punted their opening possessions and Sand Springs was first on the scoreboard with an 8-play 51-yard drive, capped by Snodgrass’s five-yard run. The Wolves responded with a 6-play 66-yard drive, scoring on a 45-yard reception by Orange through blown coverage.

Three punts later and the visitors took their first and only lead of the night with a 10-play 88-yard drive and ten-yard scoring run from Orange. The home team quickly got back out front with an 8-play 51-yard drive and one-yard scoring run from Snodgrass for the 14-12 lead to end the half.

Drake Fain and Terik Meschkat combined on a sack to force a turnover on downs in the second half, setting up a 14-play 67-yard drive for the Sandites. Junior Daren Hawkins, who led the Sandites in receiving yards and touchdowns last season, returned to the turf for the first time this season to immediate success after a preseason injury. He was targeted three times on the drive, resulting in two catches for 30 yards, a first down, and a touchdown. Snodgrass nearly had his third score of the night on a three-yard wildcat run, but it was called back for holding, setting up the 13-yard pass to Hawkins.

The Sandite defense continued to come up strong throughout the second half, but the offense stalled out. Lane Webster made a sack on fourth-down to stall the Wolves in the Sandite red zone. Zane Christopher came up with a fumble three plays later to return the Wolves to the red zone, but Brooks Dudley tipped a pass and Ethan Sartin came away with the pick.

Shawnee forced a three-and-out, turned the ball over on downs, forced another three-and-out, then put together the final scoring drive of the game. The 13-play 36-yard push had big plays called back for both sides of the ball.

On the first play of the possession Conaway pitched a lateral to Orange, who connected with Spencer for a 36-yard strike that was called back for a false start. Seven plays later Caden Harris returned an interception 40 yards before it was called back due to pass interference. Sand Springs gave up two first downs on personal fouls to keep the Wolves in the game, and Conaway finally found Spencer from 13 yards out. Johnson’s PAT was the final point of the game.

The Wolves attempted an onside kick, but the Sandites fielded it aptly. They were held to a quick three-and-out, however, and the Wolves threatened once again. They marched 24 yards but ran out of time as a deep pass fell incomplete.

Pennington was 13-27-143-0 on the night, with Snodgrass as his primary target. Snodgrass was 6-48 receiving and Blake Jones led the ground game with 21 carries for 86 yards. Zach Heinen was 3-for-3 on extra points for the Sandites, and is 11-of-11 in his debut season. Keaton Campbell averaged 25 yards per kick return, Jerret Haley led in tackles with 9, Bryson Chase had a team-high 3 pass breakups, and Dudley led in tackles for loss, with 2.

Sand Springs will take to the road next Friday at No. 6 Muskogee (3-0, 1-0), while Shawnee will travel to No. 12 Ponca City (2-2, 0-1).

Prior to the game, the Church That Matters Tailgate Crew raised $1,434 for Sandite Wrestling and Raegan Foster was named Homecoming Queen. At half time Sandite Soccer standout Jack Bratcher kicked a 17-yard field goal to win a free dinner for ten from Rib Crib.

CPHS 21 SHS 19
First Downs: CPHS 14, SHS 13.
Fumbles/Lost: CPHS 2/1, SHS 1/0.
Penalties: CPHS 12-145, SHS 14-90.
C-A-Y-I: CPHS 13-27-143-0, SHS 13-31-174-1.
Rushing: CPHS 35-136, SHS 26-89.
Offense: CPHS 62-279, SHS 57-263.

Class 6A-II Results
Stillwater 48-10 Deer Creek.
Bixby 54-10 Sapulpa.
Booker T. Washington 28-0 Bartlesville.
Muskogee 47-6 Ponca City.
Midwest City 23-7 Lawton.
Putnam City 14-10 Putnam West.
Del City 41-20 Choctaw.