Bill Jensen Field is becoming a familiar, heartbreaking setting for the Sand Springs community. The Choctaw stadium has been the final resting place for the Sandite football team in back-to-back seasons.
Down 22-0 at halftime of the 6A-II quarterfinals Friday night, the Sandites scored on their first two drives of the second half to try and make a game of it, but the Yellowjackets scored two unanswered touchdowns to end the game 45-15.
“I got outcoached,” said head coach Bobby Klinck. “They did a great job of running counter and doing a few different things, cutting it up inside. We thought they wanted to go outside more on the perimeter. They had a great game plan.”
No. 3 Choctaw improved to 8-2 on the season and advanced to the semifinals for the fourth time in the past five years while No. 5 Charles Page High School ended the year 8-4.
Thus ended the high school careers of one of the most successful senior classes in school history.
The Class of 2024 was the first class to play all four years under Klinck, who arrived in 2021. They went 30-18 in that timeframe, the highest win total since the class of 1999, the only other team to hit that mark.
They won the highest-scoring game in Highway 97 Rivalry history (64-54) and the highest-scoring playoff game in Sandite history (56-24 against Lawton). The Class of 2024 was also part of the biggest win in school history last season when they routed U.S. Grant 83-0.
The Class of 2024 went 4-0 against their rivals from Sapulpa, and more importantly, they won playoff games all four years of their careers. The Sandites also went 5-1 on their home turf this season for their best record at Memorial Stadium since 1997.
Not a bad legacy.
“I think we’ve come pretty far,” said Klinck. “I think this senior class set up the standard of what we’re looking for.”
“We’re going in the right direction. I know we are. I’ve been a part of really good programs. I know what it’s like, and it takes time. I just wish that it could have been faster for this group of kids.”
The Sandites didn’t go down without a fight
With 4:07 in the third, junior running back Ali McCoy took a wildcat snap and flipped it to sophomore quarterback Easton Webb in motion from the slot. Webb dodged two would-be tacklers before finding McCoy again, wide open on a post route for a 25-yard touchdown.
The Sandites cut it as close as 29-14 and got a stop on the Yellowjackets’ next drive as well.
Unfortunately, a goal-line stand pinned the Sandites inside their own end zone. After three plays failed to find any vertical momentum and nobody got loose on fourth down, Webb stepped out of the back of the end zone for an intentional safety.
Mayor Morgan returned the ensuing kick 33 yards to set up a 37-yard touchdown run by Cash Williams, followed by a 12-yard touchdown run from Morgan after a Sandite three-and-out.
A turnover on downs with 2:02 remaining sealed the Sandites’ fate.
Sand Springs struggled to contain the explosive Yellowjackets, surrendering 505 yards on the night.
Williams, a Tennessee baseball commit, was 9-of-13 passing for 149 yards while carrying the ball eight times for 101 yards and two touchdowns.
Morgan ran the ball 16 times for 125 yards and three touchdowns with another 54 yards receiving.
Despite the final numbers, the Sandites did get some key stops early in the game and it looked like fans might have been in store for a defensive battle.
The Yellowjackets went three-and-out to open the game. After a fumbled handoff at midfield, the Sandites responded with a turnover on downs when Owen Floyd broke up a pass.
The Sandites marched as far as the Choctaw 31 before being turned away after a bad snap on a field goal attempt resulted in a turnover on downs.
Choctaw wouldn’t be denied on its third possession and scored on a 47-yard scamper by Williams, who connected with LT Simmons for the two-point conversion.
Sand Springs put together yet another semi-successful drive, marching as far as the Choctaw 25-yard line before McCoy was stuffed on fourth-down.
Gatlin Gunn deflected a third-down pass on Choctaw’s next possession and Landyn Barnes intercepted it, but once again the Sandites were stuffed on fourth down as Webb was stood up at the 14-yard line.
Five plays later, Hayden Mounce took a pitch 51 yards for the score.
Austin Hubert paid back the Sandites’ interception, picking off Webb to set up a 36-yard touchdown run from Morgan.
Once again the Sandites worked their way down the field, getting as close as the Choctaw 22-yard line before a bad snap on third-and-three sailed over Webb’s outstretched hands. Webb recovered, but the Sandites were forced to punt.
“We were able to move the ball, we get inside the 20 to the red zone, and then we just can’t finish drives,” said Klinck. “We’ve got to be able to do that to play at a top-notch program like Choctaw.”
“That’s what we talked about this year is to try to take the next step and when we get down in there, we’ve got to be able to convert.”
The Yellowjackets nearly scored again as JuJu Smith got loose on a forward pitch for 67 yards before Barnes made the touchdown-saving tackle as time expired.
Sand Springs adjusted well at halftime and scored four plays into the third quarter on a 42-yard run by Kenneth Page, then Jace Arnold ran in the point-after try to make it 22-8.
Choctaw responded with a 7-yard touchdown run by Morgan, followed by Webb’s touchdown throw to McCoy.
Webb finished the night 12-of-25 passing for 125 yards, getting in a strong rhythm with Dom Forbes, who had nine catches for 83 yards.
Page ended the night with 11 carries for 88 yards, putting him over 1,000 on the season. He also had a 14-yard reception from Forbes on a trick play.
McCoy had 38 yards on 16 carries to go with his 25-yard reception.
Defensively, the Sandites were led by Gunn and Keagan Gilman with eight tackles apiece.
Choctaw will advance to play No. 1 Stillwater (9-2) in a rematch of last year’s State Championship, which the Pioneers won 26-21. Stillwater is coming off a 56-7 rout of Putnam City (5-7) in its quarterfinal matchup.
Choctaw 45 CPHS 15
First Downs: Choctaw 10, CPHS 14
Fumbles/Lost: Choctaw 0/0, CPHS 4/1.
Passing: Choctaw 9-13-149-1, CPHS 13-26-139-1.
Rushing: Choctaw 39-356, CPHS 35-104.
Offense: Choctaw 52-505, CPHS 60-229.
Punts-Avg: Choctaw 1-38, CPHS 2-32.
Penalties: Choctaw 17-150, CPHS 5-39.
Scoring Summary
1Q (5:40) - Williams 47-yard Run, Simmons Pass from Williams, Choctaw 8-0.
2Q (5:51) - Mounce 51-yard Run, Jennings Kick, Choctaw 15-0.
2Q (4:16) - Morgan 36-yard Run, Jennings Kick, Choctaw 22-0.
3Q (10:29) - Page 42-yard Run, Arnold Run, Choctaw 22-8.
3Q (7:35) - Morgan 7-yard Run, Jennings Kick, Choctaw 29-8.
3Q (4:07) - McCoy 25-yard Pass from Webb, Puckett Kick, Choctaw 29-15.
4Q (11:00) - Safety, Webb Stepped out of End Zone, Choctaw 31-15.
4Q (9:54) - Williams 37-yard Run, Jennings Kick, Choctaw 38-15.
4Q (3:48) Morgan 12-yard Run, Jennings Kick, Choctaw 45-15.
