Dawson Puckett's Overtime Field Goal Lifts Sandites to 20-17 Win Against Bartlesville
/Fireworks illuminated the eastern skyline from somewhere near downtown Tulsa, but nobody in the stands at Charles Page High School’s Memorial Stadium was watching them.
All eyes were on the turf Thursday night as junior kicker Dawson Puckett split the uprights on a game-winning 30-yard field goal in overtime to knock off Bartlesville 20-17.
For the second year in a row the No. 6 Bruins (3-5, 3-2) took No. 5 Sand Springs (5-3, 3-2) to an extra stanza, and for the second year in a row they were found wanting.
Puckett has proven to be a consistent kicker all year in points after touchdowns, but it was only his third field goal attempt of the season.
“I was so nervous,” said Puckett. “I felt a little cold because I didn’t kick the whole game, but with that adrenaline and everything I felt pretty good I was going to get it.”
He hadn’t even kicked a PAT since the first play of the game.
A 96-yard opening kick return by Alex Dudley set up a two-yard touchdown run from Kenneth Page as the Sandites looked to establish early momentum, but PJ Wallace responded with a 65-yard touchdown run on the next offensive snap to even things up.
A methodical drive was stopped on downs on the next possession as Page was stuffed at the three-yard line, but the Sandite special teams soon put the Sandites back out front when Christian Freitus scored a safety for the second week in a row, tackling Bruin punter Braxton Decker in the end zone.
Decker made up for it with an 18-yard field goal to end the half with a 10-9 lead.
After the first two offensive snaps resulted in touchdowns, it looked like fans might be in store for a shootout, but most of the game was characterized by defensive stands.
Sand Springs came away with the safety and three turnovers on downs, forcing two punts and two missed field goals. The Bruins had two fumble recoveries and three turnovers on downs, forcing three punts.
Decker missed a 35-yard field goal to open the second half, but the Bruins stuffed Easton Webb on fourth-and-one to set up a 40-yard touchdown toss from Nate Neal to Damien Niko.
Sand Springs wouldn’t stay down for long, marching 38 yards on four runs from Page and a fortuitous facemask penalty.
On fourth-and-seven from the 27-yard line, Webb stepped up into a collapsing pocket and connected with a wide-open Caleb Goodman in the end zone.
He followed it up with a right-side rollout, throwing back across his body to Ayden Wadley in the left corner for two points to even it up.
“Easton’s not normal,” said head coach Bobby Klinck. “He’s so talented, he’s so gifted, he’s so mature, you forget that he’s just a sophomore.”
Although the 11-of-19 for 127 yards stat line might not reflect it, Webb played some of his best ball of the season, establishing a strong rhythm with Goodman, who had six catches for 112 yards.
Of his eight incompletions, three were dropped, one was batted, and two were caught by the receivers but ruled out of bounds.
“I love where he’s at,” said Klinck. “I think we’ve just got to keep building through that. Tonight was a big night for him.”
“We knew we had some work to do,” said Webb. “We put in work all week. We studied, we watched film together. We did all this stuff to get ready for this game and for the rest of the season and it showed.”
The teams traded several short possessions throughout the late third and fourth quarters but it looked like Bartlesville was poised for the win when Cooper Wood batted a fourth-down screen attempt with 3:45 to play.
The Bruins marched 45 yards behind Wallace to set up a 28-yard field goal attempt by Decker as time expired, but the junior kicker missed right to send the game to overtime.
An apparent touchdown pass to Wallace was negated for offensive pass interference, setting up a third-and-goal from the 24. Gunn and Dudley broke up the next pass attempt and Ryley Kester sacked Neal on fourth down to give the Sandites possession.
“I knew we had something going,” said Webb. “Once our defense got that stop, I just knew. I just had that feeling we had something going and we were going to get the win.”
Webb had a touchdown pass of his own, to Kayden Campbell, negated due to an ineligible player downfield. Then he found Campbell again in the back corner of the end zone, but it was ruled out of bounds.
Finally, Puckett secured the win.
“We play to win around here,” said Klinck. “I believe in these kids and they pulled it out today.”
“I challenged our kids. I said ‘it’s week eight. The coaches have done all we can - it’s up to you guys to see how far you want this thing to go.’ So I’m very happy with these kids to pull it out.”
The victory pushed the Sandites’ win streak against Bartlesville to four - the longest streak for the Sandites in series history.
More importantly, it improved the Sandites to 3-2 in district action and put them in strong position to finish as high as third in the standings.
“Grit, fight, determination - these kids showed it tonight,” said Klinck. “And that’s a really good Bartlesville football team. They’re tough just like their dang coach. There’s going to be some wars coming up here with those guys.”
Page ended the game with 19 carries for 91 yards while Webb had 8 carries for 38 and Ali McCoy had 6 for 35.
Defensively the Sandites were led by Dallas Elifrits, Hunter Wilson, and Gunn with 9 tackles apiece while Owen Floyd was right behind them with 8. The team totalled six tackles for loss.
Neal was 8-of-18 passing for 141 yards for the Bruins. Niko was his top receiver with five catches for 86 yards. Wallace carried the brunt of the offense with 36 carries for 132 yards.
Next up for the Sandites will be a home game against No. 9 Booker T. Washington (2-6, 1-4).
The Hornets have won seven in a row against the Sandites in a streak dating back to 2015, but that run will be in jeopardy this year as the Hornets battle through their worst season since 1997.
CPHS 20 Bartlesville 17
First Downs: CPHS 13, Bartlesville 14.
C-A-Y-I: CPHS 11-19-127-0, Bartlesville 8-18-141-0.
Rushes-Yards: CPHS 34-167, Bartlesville 40-107.
Plays-Offense: CPHS 51-294, Bartlesville 58-248.
Fumbles/Lost: CPHS 3/2, Bartlesville 3/1.
Penalties-Yards: CPHS 7-62, Bartlesville 6-46.
Scoring Summary
1Q (11:38): Page 2-yard Run, Puckett Kick, CPHS 7-0.
1Q (11:25): Wallace 65-yard Run, Decker Kick, Tied 7-7.
1Q (2:07): Freitus Safety, CPHS 9-7.
2Q (0:01): Decker 18-yard Field Goal, Bartlesville 10-9.
3Q (4:11): Niko 40-yard Pass from Neal, Decker Kick, Bartlesville 17-9.
3Q (2:20): Goodman 27-yard Pass from Webb, Wadley 2-pt Pass from Webb, Tied 17-17.
OT: Puckett 30-yard Field Goal, CPHS 20-17.
