Braden Foster was the expected starter at quarterback coming into the season, and started the first game of the year. He lost the job to sophomore Ty Pennington, but after Pennington went down on a sack in the second quarter of the season finale, Foster reclaimed his old position and got to toss the ball around for three quarters in a 34-7 loss to No. 5 Booker T. Washington.
The No. 14 Charles Page High School football team ended the year with a 2-8 record, their worst mark since 2010. But the final game was filled with little moral victories. They took on one of the best teams in the division, a squad that boasts numerous Division 1 recruits, and walked away with five turnovers and a first-quarter shutout.
The Sandite defense was bloodthirsty, forcing a quick three-and-out on the Hornets’ first possession. Alex Favela got a fumble recovery on Washington’s next drive, Bryson Chase recovered a muffed punt, then Landon Hendricks deflected a Hornet pass into Chase’s arms to get the ball back once again.
Finally, on their fourth possession, Washington broke the seal on their offense, scoring on a 72-yard pass from Lathan Boone to University of Missouri-commit Javian Hester. A two-point pass fell incomplete, but it wouldn’t matter. The Hornets were jamming from that point on.
As effective as the Sandite defense was, the Hornets were even better. Although they only ended the night with one takeaway, the Hornets forced five punts and three turnovers on downs, while holding the Sandites to only eight yards on the ground with twelve tackles for loss.
Following the muffed punt, the Sandites marched as far as the Hornets’ 11-yard line before coming up two yards short on a fourth-and-thirteen attempt. On their next drive, Pennington was sacked by Jonathon Ingram at midfield and never reentered the game. Foster took over, and guided the Sandites right back to the red zone, before a fourth down shot at the endzone was broken up by Javion Markham.
Boone put the first points on the board with only 3:35 in the half, an Amondre Tiger sack forced Sand Springs to punt, and the Hornets made it a two-score game with an eight-play 76-yard march and 10-yard scoring run by Ethan Washington. A two-point run from Washington made it 14-0 to end the half.
Ahmad Scott picked off Foster on the second play of the third quarter, setting up the Hornets for a five-play 32-yard march and 16-yard scoring run from Washington. Jackson Marsh missed the kick, and the Hornets led 20-0.
Another Sandite three-and-out, and this time the visitors went 75 yards in fourteen plays, scoring on a 23-yard strike to Hester. Boone connected with Joshua Dense on a two-point pass play, but Hendricks and Brooks Dudley made the stop.
Sand Springs finally averted the shutout with under a minute left in the third quarter. They needed only four plays, with Foster throwing a 15-yard first down pass to Keaton Campbell before finding Jacob Snodgrass from 41 yards out. Zach Heinen’s PAT made it 26-7.
Hendricks came up with a fumble on the Hornets’ next drive, but a Sandite three-and-out led to a seven-play 47-yard march and 19-yard screen pass to University of Kansas-commit Krishawn Brown. Deon McKinney Jr. ran in the final points of the game with 7:31 remaining.
Foster ended the night 5-18-99-1 and Pennington was 5-9-50-0 before leaving the game. Boone, a freshman backup, had a great night filling in for Gentry Williams and was 15-20-225-1. Hester led all receivers with 7 catches for 148 yards, followed by Campbell with a 5-56 performance for the Sandites. McKinney led the ground game with 17 carries for 74 yards after relieving Washington, who was 12-56.
The Hornets will travel to No. 3 Del City (8-2) Friday at 7:00 p.m. for the first round of the State Playoffs.
