Sandites Pummel Lawton 56-24 in Playoffs

It was a brisk evening under the Friday night lights at Memorial Stadium, but the Sandites heated up quickly, scoring four touchdowns in the first quarter en route to a 56-24 victory.

Class 6A-II No. 5 Charles Page High School (8-3) earned its highest-scoring playoff win in program history against Lawton (3-8) in the first meeting between the two programs since 1987.

The Sandites stormed out to a 50-6 halftime advantage and were able to play their backups throughout the second half.

“It’s a little bit different with the new playoff system and all that stuff, but it’s good that we get other people in and get meaningful snaps in situations like this,” said fourth-year head coach Bobby Klinck.

Sophomore quarterback Easton Webb connected with Kenneth Page on a 65-yard screen pass to score on the first play from scrimmage.

Following a quick three-and-out from Lawton, the Sandites scored on their second offensive play with a 39-yard touchdown run from Ali McCoy. Kicker Dawson Puckett ran in a two-point play on a fake kick to make it 15-0.

After the defense forced another quick three-and-out, Page led a methodical nine-play scoring drive, earning 45 yards on five carries and scoring a 15-yard touchdown before exiting the game before the second quarter.

“It was great,” said Page, a senior. “I didn’t know it would feel like this. Last time coming through the tunnel, running out on the field with my guys I grew up with and having fun with them.”

“It was my last home game, so it meant a lot.”

Dallas Elifrits and Keagan Gilman combined on a sack to force a third consecutive three-and-out, and once again the Sandites needed only a single play to score on their ensuing drive.

This time it was a 49-yard touchdown pass from Webb to freshman Dom Forbes to go up 29-0.

Landyn Barnes closed out the first quarter with a 26-yard interception return to set up a one-yard dive by Jace Arnold on the first play of second quarter.

“I’m proud of Landyn,” said Klinck. “He struggled a little bit early and he’s really coming into his own at cornerback. He’s really become a really solid football player for us. It speaks a lot about what Coach (Jay) Fleischman does with those corners.”

Lawton finally earned a first down on its fifth possession, but Gilman gave the Sandites their second takeaway on a fumble recovery.

The Wolverines finally got a stop of their own when Puckett missed a 32-yard field goal, but Owen Floyd cashed in a 22-yard pick six on the very next play to make it 43-0.

Lawton finally hit paydirt behind the legs of Nathen Jones, leaning on the junior running back for a 68-yard drive and two-yard touchdown plunge with 3:44 in the half.

But, the Sandites would get the final say of the half when Webb connected with Caleb Goodman for a 62-yard screen to hang half a hundred by halftime.

Webb exited the game at halftime 7-of-7 passing for 207 yards and three touchdowns, his best performance of the season.

“It’s important for him,” said Klinck. “Moving forward, the competition is obviously going to stiffen up, but having a confident quarterback to go with our run game which has been good all year, that’s good going into the next game.”

“It felt great,” said Webb. “I feel like every week we’ve slowly and progressively gotten better at everything we’ve been doing. The connections have gotten better.”

One of those growing connections is with Forbes, who recently moved up to varsity after closing out an undefeated season as the freshman quarterback.

“He was really good,” said Webb. “I feel like he really helps us a lot. He’s a good kid. He’s fast, he knows what he’s doing, he’s football savvy, he’s smart. He knows everything.”

“That’s a huge deal for Dom,” said Klinck. “He was playing scout team and just started making a bunch of plays on our defense and I said ‘shoot, we’ve got to get that guy in the game.’ That kid’s worked hard, he does everything right, and he’s going to become a weapon for us moving forward.”

Kambren Foster recorded the Sandites’ third interception of the night on a pass that was deflected by Joseph Farmer.

Wolverine quarterback Pene Vaisagote finally found the end zone on a one-yard sneak with 1:16 left in the third.

Arnold ran the offense in the second half and was 5-of-6 passing for 67 yards while running the ball four times for 18 yards. He added the Sandites’ final touchdown on a 17-yard pass to Puckett early in the fourth.

Vaisagote responded with a 22-yard touchdown throw to Tyrone Dean with 6:28 to play and Tamarcus Malone ran in a two-yard score with thirteen seconds remaining. All four of the Wolverines’ PAT attempts failed.

Vaisagote ended the night 11-of-22 passing for 95 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. Jones paced the Wolverine offense with 35 carries for 206 yards.

The Sandite defense was led by Floyd and Gatlin Gunn with nine tackles apiece and Gunn was also in on four tackles for loss. 33 different Sandites made defensive plays.

“I obviously wanted to play some more, but it was great getting the other guys in behind me so they can get practice for next year,” said Gunn, who leads the Sandites with 81 tackles this season.

“It was awesome to be able to play with my boys again on the home field for the last time.”

Next up for the Sandites is a trip to No. 3 Choctaw (7-1) next Friday. The Yellowjackets have been a familiar foe, beating the Sandites in each of the past three seasons, including a 48-29 playoff quarterfinal last year.

“We’ve got to step up,” said Klinck. “They’re a good football team. Coach (Jake) Corbin and their staff do an unbelievable job. That’s a tough place to win, that’s a tough football team to beat. We’re going to have to bring our A-game to have a chance.”

CPHS 56 Lawton 24

First Downs: CPHS 9, Lawton 18.
Fumbles/Lost: CPHS 3/1, Lawton 2/1.
C-A-Y-I: CPHS 12-13-274-0, Lawton 12-23-138-3.
Rushing: CPHS 26-124, Lawton 50-248.
Offense: CPHS 39-398, Lawton 73-386.
Penalties: CPHS 2-15, Lawton 5-40.

Scoring Summary

1Q (11:47) - Page 65-yard Pass from Webb, Puckett Kick, CPHS 7-0.
1Q (9:41) - McCoy 39-yard Run, Puckett Run, CPHS 15-0.
1Q (4:25) - Page 15-yard Run, Puckett Kick, CPHS 22-0.
1Q (1:39) - Forbes 49-yard Pass from Webb, Puckett Kick, CPHS 29-0.
2Q (11:57) - Arnold 1-yard Run, Puckett Kick, CPHS 36-0.
2Q (6:58) - Floyd 22-yard Interception Return, Puckett Kick, CPHS 43-0.
2Q (3:44) - Jones 2-yard Run, Kick Failed, CPHS 43-6.
2Q (1:42) - Goodman 7-yard Pass from Webb, CPHS 50-6.
3Q (1:16) - Vaisagote 1-yard Run, Kick Failed, CPHS 50-12.
4Q (8:49) - Puckett 17-yard Pass from Arnold, Kick Failed, CPHS 56-12.
4Q (6:28) - Dean 22-yard Pass from Vaisagote, Pass Failed, CPHS 56-18.
4Q (0:13) - Malone 2-yard Run, Pass Failed, CPHS 56-24.