Sandite Football drops season opener to Pulaski Academy

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Photo by: Morgan Miller

SCORING SUMMARY

1Q 11:08 Hatcher 88 yard pass to Johnson. 2pt conversion failed. 6-0 Pulaski.
1Q 9:25 Greathouse 29 yard pass to Bales. Bales PAT. 7-6 Sandites.
1Q 8:59 Hatcher 23 yard pass to Johnson. 2pt conversion failed. 12-7 Pulaski.
1Q 2:14 Hatcher 80 yard pass to Johnson. 2pt run by Adams. 20-7 Pulaski.
1Q 0:15 Edwards 55 yard interception return. Bales PAT. 20-14. Pulaski
2Q 8:28 Hatcher 14 yard pass to Watkins. 2pt run by Hatcher. 28-14 Pulaski.
2Q 4:37 Hatcher 44 yard pass to McMillan. 2pt pass from Hatcher to Johnson. 36-14 Pulaski.
2Q 1:34 Anderson 33 yard run. Hatcher PAT. 43-14 Pulaski.
3Q 5:48 Hatcher 3 yard pass to Johnson. Hatcher PAT. 50-14 Pulaski.
4Q 9:46 Scott 7 yard run. Bales PAT. 50-21 Pulaski.
4Q 4:14 Titus 11 yard run. PAT failed. 56-21 Pulaski.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No. 4 ranked Charles Page High School varsity football team (0-1) bit off more than they could chew when they traveled to Little Rock, Arkansas Friday night. The 6A-II State Runners-Up played well against No.1 Pulaski Academy (1-0), but the Bruins rode a 27-game winning streak and back-to-back 5A State Championships. Their offense was machine-like, never punting, always going for fourth down, and racked up 614 offensive yards while holding the Sandites to 222.

Senior quarterback Hunter Greathouse was consistent with his performance last year, completing 12 of 25 passes for 110 yards and 1 interception. Junior running back Payton Scott led the Sandite ground game with 101 yards on 14 carries. Each scored a touchdown. Delvin Jordan led the defense with 11 tackles and a 7-yard sack. Josh Taber performed well in the secondary with 3 tackles and 3 pass break-ups, and sophomore Hayden Cramer impressed with 7 tackles.

The Sandites won the toss and elected to kick. The Bruins received the ball at their 27 and it looked like the Sandites would have little problem getting a turnover early-on. Gage Fain tackled Jaren Watkins for a loss of three, the Bruins had two passes fall incomplete, and a sideline interference call pushed Pulaski back to their 12. On fourth and 28 at their own 12 yard line, any normal team would have punted.

The Bruins aren’t any normal team.

Junior quarterback Layne Hatcher sent a screen pass to Tra Johnson and the receiver got the edge on the Sandite secondary for an 88 yard touchdown reception. Hatcher completed a pass to Johnson for a conversion attempt, but the receiver was laid out by Cramer.

Less than a minute into the game and the Sandites trailed 6-0.

The Bruins let off one of their notorious onside kicks, but Cody Motes downed it at the Sandite 49. Greathouse connected on his first pass attempt of the season to Kasey Bales for a gain of 4 and Scott picked up the first down with a 14-yard run. Scott only managed 1 yard on the next pitch, but on second down Greathouse let loose a 29-yard pass to Bales for a touchdown. Bales sent in the PAT to make it 7-6 in the Sandites’ favor and it looked like the game would be a shootout.

The Bruins scored on their next drive after picking up two first downs, each on a single play. Watkins ran for 30, Brett Lynch hauled in a pass for 16, and Johnson caught a 23-yard touchdown reception to regain the lead barely three minutes into the game. Once again the two-point conversion failed, but the home team led 12-7.

This time the Bruins’ onside kick was successful and they regained possession at the Sandite 48. Their drive fell flat, however, after Delvin Jordan picked up a 7-yard sack and three pass attempts fell incomplete.

Sand Springs picked up a pair of first downs, one on a fourth-and-short, before running out of steam. Isiah Woods tackled Scott for a loss of 4 and Blake Titus sacked Greathouse for a loss of 12. Bales punted and the Bruins took possession at their 20 after a touchback.

Hatcher’s first pass attempt was incomplete, but the second found its mark in Johnson for yet another massive touchdown. After receiving the screen, Johnson broke three tackles before clearing the Sandite secondary and running it 80 yards to score. This time the two-point conversion was good in the hands of Trey Adams and the Bruins took the 20-7 advantage with 2:14 remaining in the first quarter.

The Sandites succeeded in downing the ensuing onside kick, but failed to convert a first down and gave up the ball at the Bruin 46.

Taber pulled down receiver Jacory McMillan who picked up 8 yards, and Tre Finch tripped up Watkins to hold the Bruins at third and 1. A pass attempt fell flat on third down, and a fourth down pass attempt found the open arms of Kris Edwards.

Edwards is a junior transfer from Okmulgee who had to sit out last season due to OSSAA eligibility rules. Edwards picked off the pass and returned it the full 55 for a touchdown with 15 seconds on the clock.

The Sandites began to plug the holes in their offense that allowed the long runs, but they couldn’t stop the Bruins from moving the ball all together. The next drive saw four first-downs for the Bruins before Hatcher connect on a 14-yard touchdown screen to Watkins. Hatcher punched in the two-point run and the Bruins doubled down on the Sandites, 28-14.

The Sandites’ next drive ended in a punt and once more the home team made quick work in driving 42 yards before connecting on a 44-yard pass to McMillan to score. Hatcher sent a two-point pass to Johnson for the 36-14 advantage.

Sand Springs punted once more on their next drive and the Bruins scored in six plays. RJ Anderson took a handoff and ran it 33 yards to score. Hatcher kicked the first point-after of the game for the Bruins and Sand Springs was down 43-14.

Sand Springs picked up 13 yards on a pass to Caleb Wash, then added another first down on a 12 yard reception by Mack Thompson. With 0:04 left Greathouse lobbed a deep ball downfield intended for Wash, but it was picked off by Hayden Henry and ran out of bounds to end the half.

The Sandites received the ball to start the second half and quickly picked up a pair of first downs before Henry broke up a pass attempt to Bales to force a turnover.

Pulaski went to work on a 91-yard touchdown drive that culminated in a 3 yard pass to Johnson. Hatcher’s kick was good and the lead furthered to 50-14.

The Arkansas High School Activities Association utilizes a mercy rule adopting a “running clock” anytime a team reaches a 35-point lead after the first half. The Sandites were quickly running out of time.

Sand Springs quickly went to work on a 71-yard drive and Scott broke three tackles on a run before being piled into the endzone for a 7-yard touchdown. Bales sent in the PAT, but the Sandites still trailed 50-21 with less than ten minutes remaining.

The Bruins fielded an onside kick attempt at their 33 and made quick work with another march downfield. Titus took a direct snap 11 yards for a touchdown, but the extra point attempt was a miss.

The remaining few minutes quickly passed and the Bruins had secured their 29th-straight victory.

The Sandites will return to action on Friday, September 9th, when they travel to Choctaw. The Yellowjackets won their first game Friday night in a 52-42 shootout with Sapulpa.

Sandite Baseball hammers Sapulpa rivals 11-3

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity baseball team improved to 14-4 on the season with an 11-3 run-rule victory over Highway 97 rival, the Sapulpa Chieftains (1-10) Friday evening. Junior Josh Cordell (1-1) got his first win on the mound this season with three strike outs and five hits.

Cordell pitched a no-hitter in the first inning and the Sandites ran up a 3-0 lead. Treyce Tolbert and Rhett Rutledge walked and Josh Taber brought Tolbert home on a single to short. Joey Montgomery was hit by pitch to load the bases, Rutledge stole home on a wild pitch, and Taber came home on an error before Chieftain pitcher Garrett Estes struck out his third batter of the inning to end the scoring onslaught.

Sapulpa tied things up in the top of the second as Cale Collins singled in Wyatt Sellers, and Alan Shibley doubled to score Collins and Ethan Williams. Sand Springs reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning, however, and wouldn't give it up for the duration.

Jake Ward and Hunter Greathouse singled and Taber was hit by pitch to load the bases. Montgomery walked in Ward, Tyler McCallie singled in Greathouse, Jake Terry walked in Taber, and Mack Thompson walked in courtesy runner Malachi Walton for a 7-3 lead.

Cordell struck out two in the third for a no hitter, but the Sandites failed to capitalize on it as they landed only one hit and stranded Greathouse. The Chieftains walked one in the fourth but left him stranded and the Sandites came in for two hits, two walks, and Walton scored on an error at home plate.

Roberto Lino relieved Estes on the mound in the bottom of the fifth, but that didn't deter the Sandites from scoring two more. Cody Motes scored on a passed ball, Taber scored on a wild pitch, and the host team stranded loaded bases with a 10-3 lead.

Rutledge walked in the bottom of the sixth and scored on a Greathouse single to secure the game by run-rule, which is eight runs after six innings. 

The Sandites return to action Saturday at 5:30 in a double-header at Enid.

 

Bixby comes from behind for 8-3 victory over Sandite Baseball

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Story and photo by: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief 

The Charles Page High School varsity baseball team (13-4) met with the Bixby Spartans (13-3) for the fourth time in a week and this time their rival got the win, splitting the series 2-2. During the Bixby Tournament pool play the Spartans won 4-1, but the Sandites spoiled things for the hosts with a 10-6 championship victory the next evening. Monday night the Spartans traveled to Sand Springs for a district game that the home team won 8-7, but when the Sandites traveled to Bixby Tuesday the Spartans exploded in the sixth inning for a come-from-behind 8-3 victory.

Junior University of Oklahoma-commit Jake Terry (4-1) got his first loss on the mound of the season, giving up seven hits, eight walks, and six earned runs with two unearned runs and eight strikeouts. Fellow junior University of Oklahoma-commit Cade Cavalli got the win for the Spartans. As their record indicates, both teams are very close in talent with the Spartans leading the series scoring 25 runs to 22.

Both teams landed a single hit in the first inning and both runners were put out in double plays. Sand Springs did the same in the top of the second, but Bixby got in a run as Cavalli walked and came in on a Matthew Henderson single to strike first blood.

The Sandites weren’t content to play from behind, however, and scored two in the top of the third. Tyler McCallie and Mack Thompson were walked and McCallie scored on a fielding error off a Treyce Tolbert single. Sandite of the Week Rhett Rutledge sacrificed a grounder to short to score Thompson for the 2-1 lead.

Bixby stranded two walks in the bottom of the third but got another go at bat after Cavalli struck out the side in order to top the fourth. This time they landed a single by Jeremy Goodwin and Cole Parker was hit by pitch. Pinch runner Levi Harper scored on an error by Joey Montgomery to tie things up, but Terry struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

McCallie led off with a double to left field for the top of the fifth and scored on a Thompson bunt and error by Goodwin at third. Bixby stranded two in the fifth, pitched a no hitter in the top of the sixth, and finally reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth.

Goodwin singled to right field and was replaced by courtesy runner Kyler Herron. Parker reached on error but was caught stealing second. Braden Hackler reached on a fielder’s choice that failed to put out Herron and instead scored him. Gavin Staton singled to score Hackler, Breydon Daniel walked, then Staton scored on a Tanner Griffin single. Cavalli hit another double to score Daniel and the Sandites sent Josh Cordell (0-1) to the mound. Nic Swanson singled to score Griffin and Cavalli but the next two batters were put out. By the time the frenzy was over the Sandites were in an 8-3 hole.

Griffin went to the mound for the Spartans and pitched a no-hitter to secure the win in the top of the seventh.

The Sandites will return to action Friday at 4:00pm in a home game against Highway 97 rival Sapulpa (1-9), whom they already defeated 7-2 in the second game of the season.

 

Sandites split at Bixby, girls win 2-1, boys fall 2-0

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Story and Photo by: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity soccer teams are on two different paths right now.

The Varsity girls have amassed a 4-1 record this season, shutting out three opponents and mercy-ruling East Central 10-0 in only 23:00. Their only loss is 1-0 to Metro Christian (4-1). The girls rebounded from the Metro Christian loss with a 5-0 shutout of the Enid Pacers (2-1) and a 2-1 victory over the Bixby Lady Spartans (1-2). 

The boys, meanwhile, are sitting a 1-4, with their lone victory coming in a 4-0 shutout of Muskogee (0-4). From there they gave up losses of 4-0 to Metro Christian (4-1), 5-1 to Enid (3-1), and 2-0 to Bixby (1-3). 

The Spartans came into the Tuesday night match winless with losses to Bishop Kelley, Booker T, and Jenks, but finally found the win column with a pair of goals from Daniel Quiroga and Hunter Haugland. 

Like the girls game, the boys went into the second half scoreless on both sides, though it was the Spartans doing most of the pressing. Haugland got a sneaky corner shot halfway through the first half and instead of the keeper, it was Kristian Fairchild with the desperate save. 

Alex Hernandez took a shot with 19:02 left and landed it on top of the net. With 15:42 remaining, a Spartan shot narrowly swung wide and the home team continued the offensive press giving Edgar Soberano a pair of saves including a header with 0:42 left. 

Quiroga got the first goal of the game less than a minute into the second half, sending it into the top right corner for the first lead of the game. Jake Deloache nearly added another point a minute later but landed just a little bit wide. Haugland picked up where Deloache left off, however, and gave his team a 2-0 advantage four minutes later. 

There were a couple of close calls deep in the box at 28:16 from a bouncing ball that ultimately made its way over the goal. Less than a minute later Seth Ryan sent a shot high center. 

Worake Guy missed a pair of shots, one that was completely unguarded and would have been in had it not been a hair high, then another close miss minutes later. Miles Miller and Logan Cherry each took shots of their own but neither came close. 

Andrew Morrison set up Kaleb Brooks with a good look at 8:55 remaining, but the Spartan keeper snagged the save. The Sandites put forth their best offensive effort of the night in the final ten minutes, but were unable to rally despite several shots including an extremely close highball from Morrison. 

Ward hits homerun as Sandites hold off 7th inning rally for 7-6 victory over Moore, third-straight win

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Treyce Tolbert bats in Ty Fain with a sacrifice fly.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity baseball team (7-2) started the season hot with four-straight wins before dropping two at the Best of the West tournament in Phoenix last week. A Monday-night victory over the Moore Lions (2-5) puts them back on track for a new streak, however, marking their third-straight win. 

Offensively the boys batted excellently with sixteen hits including a Mack Thompson double and a Jake Ward homerun, the first of the season for the Sandites. The team struggled on the field, however, giving up eleven walks, four errors, and three passed balls causing four unearned runs. 

Jake Terry is undefeated from the mound this season.

The Lions took an early lead as University of Oklahoma-commit Jake Terry (3-0) walked the first three batters before finally finding his rhythm and striking out two. Andrew Brewer came home on a Joe Balak sacrifice for the first run of the game.

The Sandites tied it back up in the bottom of the first as Josh Taber was walked onto loaded bases, bringing home Treyce Tolbert who was also walked.

In the top of the third the Lions reclaimed the advantage as Josh Detweiler singled to left field, advanced to second as Drew White was hit-by-pitch, and stole third on a passed ball. Casey Cooper hit a sacrifice to Sandite-of-the-Week shortstop Hunter Greathouse who collided with Thompson and allowed Detweiler to take home. Matt Reeves walked soon after, but he and White were stranded as Blake Perry struck out swinging. 

That's when Jake Ward stepped up to bat and sent a homerun over the fence to tie things up again. Greathouse and Taber singled that inning but both were stranded. The top of the fourth ended with no runs, no hits, no errors, and one strikeout and Sand Springs came in for their biggest offensive-output of the game.

Joey Montgomery hit a leadoff single to center field and was replaced on base by Ty Fain. Thompson hit a double, Fain came home on a sacrifice fly by Treyce Tolbert, and Thompson scored on a passed ball. It looked like the inning might come to a close as Rhett Rutledge flew out in foul territory and Ward went to the plate for two strikes. The slugger wasn't done yet, however, and singled to keep the game alive. Greathouse singled on an error, Taber batted in Ward on a right field line and Trevor Tolbert was walked to load the bases. Terry was hit-by-pitch to score Greathouse and Reeves was replaced on the mound by Logan Wint who struck Montgomery with the pitch to score Taber for a 7-2 advantage. Thompson flew out to end the inning with three stranded, but the Sandites had all the runs they needed to hold on to the win.

Jake Ward crosses home plate after hitting the first Sandite homerun of the season.

Detweiler doubled on a Ward fielding error to top the fifth, and came home on a Grayson Kuehl double to the left field fence. Ward, who was four-for-four at the plate, singled in the fifth but was put out at second on a fielder's choice as Greathouse grounded to short.

Terry walked two more in the top of the sixth, struck out one, and gave up two singles that were stranded. Taber, who also had a perfect OBP, singled and stole second, but was caught in a pickle between second and third as Gunnar Phillips singled on a fielder's choice. Trevor Tolbert struck out, Montgomery hit a single, but Thompson flew out to first to bring in the top of the seventh where the Lions would try their best to rally.

Josh Cordell (0-1) relieved Terry on the mound and gave up a single to Balak, walked Cooper and Wint, and struck out Reeves and AJ Moore. Balak came home on a passed ball, Keuhl (running for Cooper) was batted in by Conner Chapman who singled on a Greathouse fielding error, and Tom Alvarado (running for Wint) came in on a Brewer single.

The Lions were down by one with two outs and two on base when Detweiler flew out to Taber in right field and the Sandites secured the win. Sand Springs will travel to Moore for a rematch Tuesday night at 6:00. 

Haddock, Keener lead #13 Sandites to third straight victory

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Photo: Morgan Miller, Staff

For the third straight game, the Sandites pulled off the win with Brooks Haddock at the helm. 

The current Sandite of the Week scored 25 against Broken Arrow and 21 against Bartlesville last week. This time he scored 19, but he wasn't the only hero for the home team.

Junior Kyle Keener paced the Sandites with 14 points and 7 blocks and scored the first basket of the game for Sand Springs. Coincidentally, Keener wears jersey #33 and spent most of the night matched up against the Roughers' #33, Keondre' Davis.

Roger Lewis and Tavian Davis ran up an 8-2 lead for the #16 Muskogee Roughers (10-7) before Haddock was sent to the line and sank four free throws to narrow the score. 

The 9-6 Rougher lead would quickly evaporate in the second quarter, however, as the Sandites outscored their conference foe 13-4 for a solid 19-13 half-time break.

Muskogee wouldn't let things carry on like that for long, namely Tyreece Berry. 

Berry scored 16 in the third period alone with four three-pointers.

Keondre' and Tavian Davis kicked off the fourth with a pair of buckets to tie things up at 39. Haddock briefly took the lead back before Lewis sank a three to take the first Rougher lead since the second quarter.

The teams exchanged the lead as Keener and Keondre' Davis exchanged free throws. Mack Thompson sank a basket then went two-for-two from the line to make it 47-45 with 0:45 left. Colt Savage added two more with 0:19 left, but Tavian Davis hit a three for a one point deficit.

Finally, with 0:07.6 left, Haddock hit two freebies and the Sandite defense held strong for a 51-48 win. 

The Sandites (13-5) will next take on the #20 Bixby Spartans (9-9) Friday night at Homecoming. Sand Springs beat Bixby 50-45 in their season opener and are currently third in conference standings with a 7-3 record. 

The JV boys won their game 53-40 and improved to 4-6 for the season.