Undefeated Sandite Freshmen Win Frontier Valley Conference, Beat Sapulpa 42-24
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For the third time in the past four years, the Sand Springs Class of 2027 football team has laid claim to a conference championship after wrapping up a 9-0 freshman campaign.
The Sandites ended their junior high careers with a 42-24 rout of Sapulpa in a Highway 97 Rivalry game Tuesday night at Memorial Stadium to secure the Frontier Valley Conference National West League Championship for the second straight year.
“What we’re trying to build here at Sand Springs is a winning culture,” said head coach Thomas Parks.
“With these kids winning these conference championships and the team before them winning the conference championship - when they get into high school, all they’re going to be used to is winning, and that’s a good thing for the varsity Sandites.”
This class of Sandites also won the Indian Nations Football Conference AA Division during their sixth grade year.
“Sixth grade we went all the way undefeated,” said kicker Kaidyn Cowan. “That was a sight to see.”
But in seventh grade the Sandites were split into two separate teams and neither was able to make the postseason after dividing their top players.
“Eighth grade we came back, we were still trying to get used to each other again,” said Cowan. “There wasn’t that much teamwork in it, but we got it done.”
The Sandites went 7-1 last year, losing only to Carver Middle School, with whom they split games and shared the conference title.
This time around, however, they finished alone atop the throne after winning 20-0 against Muskogee, 12-6 at Bartlesville, 14-6 against Booker T. Washington, 26-8 at Sapulpa, 30-6 against Union, 44-22 at Muskogee, 28-0 against Bartlesville, 26-14 at Booker T. Washington, and 42-24 against Sapulpa.
“They’re tough and they’re resilient,” said Parks. “There’s been times where things didn’t go our way but we never got too down, we always came back, we always had an answer.”
“We weren’t going to back down from anybody, no matter who we played. We always showed up and played Sandite football. If we play good Sandite football, it’s good enough to beat anybody we come across.”
In the season finale against Sapulpa the Sandites took an 8-0 lead to open the second quarter on a 56-yard touchdown pass from Dom Forbes to Boston Kissee and a two-point run by Kendell Page.
After Kaden Pope recovered an onside kick for the Sandites, Gabe Harris cashed in a 39-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0, but Sapulpa would soon respond.
After putting together a six-play, 74-yard scoring drive, the Chieftains forced a quick turnover on downs and were driving downfield again with the potential to tie things up. But Gabe Harris had other plans, intercepting Sapulpa for a 74-yard pick six.
“Gabe’s been a really good player for us,” said Parks. “Early in the year he faced a little adversity but he kept showing up, kept working hard, and became a dynamite running back and a dynamite player in our secondary. I love Gabe Harris and everything about him.”
Page converted a two-point run and the Sandites averted the momentum shift, taking a 22-6 lead into the half.
The Sandites opened the second half with an onside kick recovery and cashed in immediately. From an empty backfield with a five-receiver set, Forbes shocked the Sapulpa defense with a 60-yard touchdown draw on the first play from scrimmage.
Sapulpa responded with a 56-yard scoring run of its own on the very next play, but Dawson Jamison stuffed the quarterback draw to prevent the two-point play.
Joseph Farmer returned the ensuing kick 73 yards to set up a two-yard touchdown dive by Page and once again the momentum stayed with the Sandites.
“This year is (Farmer)’s first year in Sand Springs,” said Parks. “He’s been an absolutely amazing addition to this team. He can play offense, he can play defense, return kicks, cover kicks - he does everything. He’s a coach’s dream as a player.”
Page added another two-point run to make it 36-12.
“Kendell didn’t get as many carries as he would probably like,” said Parks, “but whenever he was in there he did his job, he did it right, he ran the ball hard, and there are definitely more carries coming that kid’s way if he keeps showing up and doing what he’s supposed to do and producing the way he did for us.”
The Sandite defense came up big on the ensuing possession with Nikyllien Crisp and Hunter Fields getting a tackle for loss, followed by a tackle for loss and a sack from Grady Harris to back the Chieftains up to fourth-and-23.
“Grady’s the type of kid that shows up every day, does what’s right, does his job,” said Parks. “He’s not looking for the accolades, he’s not looking to get noticed, he just wants to do right by the team. He’s the ultimate team player.”
The Sandites shifted Kissee to quarterback and brought Christian Headley into the backfield late in the third and the two methodically worked their way downfield for a two-yard touchdown run by Headley for the final Sandite points of the game.
Sapulpa added a 45-yard touchdown pass on their next drive but Charles Palmer sacked the Chieftain quarterback on the two-point attempt. The Chieftains ended the game with a 73-yard hook-and-ladder for a touchdown as time expired.
Forbes ended the game 2-of-5 passing for 62 yards and had five carries for 78 yards and two total touchdowns.
Pope had two receptions for 45 yards, Gabe Harris had four carries for 62 yards, and Kissee had four carries for 62 yards to go with his 56 receiving yards.
“Boston Kissee is another one of those players that’s a coach’s dream,” said Forbes. “He can play offense, he can play defense, he plays on both of our special teams, he comes to every meeting, he shows up and works hard. I never have to worry if Boston Kissee is doing the right thing. When he gets in at quarterback I have complete trust that our offense is not going to take a step back at all.”
Defensively the Sandites were led by Grady Harris with seven tackles while Caiden Ruhland and Crisp had three apiece.
After the game Cowan gave one last postgame speech to his team reminding them of the bond they forged over the past several years.
“We’re closer than brothers, closer than best friends, closer than anything,” said Cowan, who expects big things from his teammates in the coming years.
“I just hope it’s going to be great and we can get some more championships.”
