Sandites Throttle Tigers 41-7, Abbi Elder Named Homecoming Queen

View fullsize

Abbi Elder was named Homecoming Queen and Mason HArris was Kissing Captain. Photo: Charity Emigh.

Tahlequah tried to set the tone early in its Friday night road game at Sand Springs. On fourth-and-one near midfield, the Tigers handed the ball off to Darryn Spahr and the senior back ran into a wall named Owen Floyd.

Two plays later Ali McCoy took the ball 57 yards to the house. Tone set.

McCoy ran for over 200 yards in the first half as the No. 5 Charles Page High School football team (3-2, 1-1) steamrolled to a 41-7 win over No. 6 Tahlequah (1-4, 0-2) on Homecoming.

“It wouldn’t be possible without the five guys up front,” said McCoy, who ended the night with 10 carries for 213 yards and two touchdowns.

“I expected us to do good on the ground, but I didn’t expect that outcome. It feels good sharing this moment with our seniors. We’ve been working really hard.”

One of those seniors was Kenneth Page, who had 12 carries for 132 yards and three scores. Another was wildcat quarterback Jace Arnold who ran the ball six times for 43 yards and another score.

When the clock finally ran dry the Sandites had amassed 392 yards on the ground, averaging a first down with every snap.

“I really like how we came out after a disappointing performance last week,” said head coach Bobby Klinck, referencing a 51-13 loss to No. 1 Muskogee.

“(The offensive line) is the heart and soul of our football team and they’re getting better each week.”

View fullsize

Kenneth Page scored 3 touchdowns against Tahlequah on Homecoming. Photo: Charity Emigh.

As dominant as the offense was, the defense was equally in control, recording two takeaways, seven tackles for loss, and two turnovers on downs. The Sandites forced four punts on the night and only allowed 79 yards in the second half.

“It was really good to see our secondary as a whole just continue to get better,” said Klinck. “Our secondary hadn’t been our strong point defensively, so for them to kind of lead and do some big things, I’m very happy with them.”

That secondary stepped up time and time again with Landyn Barnes breaking up a pass to force a punt on the Tigers’ second possession before intercepting Cash McAlvain on their third possession.

The pick was crucial for keeping momentum on the Sandites’ side as Tahlequah’s Jacob Morrison had just intercepted Easton Webb on the previous drive.

Two plays later, McCoy had another mad dash for a 49-yard touchdown.

Spahr got the visitors on the board with a 14-yard run to open the second quarter, but Page responded with a 19-yard run, the Tigers went three-and-out, and Arnold scored his 10-yard run to make it 27-7 after a failed PAT.

Two Tiger penalties set the Sandites up for a kickoff from deep in Tahlequah territory and they used the opportunity to practice their onside kick.

Dawson Puckett’s first attempt only traveled eight yards before going out of bounds, but that kick was nullified as the Sandites had lined up offsides and got a re-do.

This time it was flawlessly executed and recovered by Cooper Guardado to set up a 33-yard touchdown run by Page.

Tahlequah successfully moved the ball 61 yards on its next drive before Mason Harris sacked McAlvain and forced a fumble that was snatched up by Keagan Gilman with 42 seconds in the half.

The Sandites nearly punched in another but ran out of time after driving 52 yards on five plays to enter the red zone.

The starters got one more drive to open up the second half and Page scored his third touchdown on a one-yard plunge for the final score of 41-7.

From there, both teams played mostly backups and took turns exchanging punts till the clock ran out.

Sand Springs will take to the road next week with a key district match-up at No.4 Stillwater (3-2, 2-0), who prevailed 48-13 over No. 8 Booker T. Washington in their Week 5 game.

The Pioneers have won their past two meetings with Sand Springs and lead the series 32-12 all-time.

CPHS 41 Tahlequah 7
1Q: CPHS 14-0.
2Q: CPHS 20-7.
3Q: CPHS 7-0.
4Q: 0-0.
First Downs: CPHS 14, Tahlequah 15.
Fumbles-Lost: CPHS 1-0, Tahlequah 3-2.
Penalties: CPHS 9-85, Tahlequah 7-80.
Passing: CPHS 7-11-97-1, Tahlequah 16-25-128-1.
Rushing: CPHS 36-392, Tahlequah 32-114.
Offense: CPHS 47-489, Tahlequah 57-242.

Sandite Softball Goes 1-1 at Bixby Festival, Ends Regular Season 18-13

LAkelyn Harger was 3-for-3 at the plate in the win over Pryor.

The Charles Page High School softball team (18-13) wrapped up yet another winning regular season Friday morning at the Bixby Festival, going 1-1 against a pair of 5A district champions.

Addison Hughes (11-7) pitched a gem against Pryor (14-19), striking out nine while allowing only two hits and two walks in the 2-0 win.

Sand Springs struggled to bring runners home, stranding two in the first and three in the second before a two-run triple from Ashlyn Clark put the Sandites on the board in the third inning.

They stranded two more to close the third and three in the fifth. The game ended on a time limit in the top of the sixth.

Lakelyn Harger was 3-for-3 at the plate with one run and Kenzie King was 1-of-2 with a run.

In the next game the girls fell 5-1 to Piedmont (30-3), the sixteenth consecutive win for the back-to-back defending State Champions.

Bella Wilson was the only Sandite to manage a hit against the Wildcats, going 2-for-3 at the plate and scoring the lone run on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth.

Kelsi Hilton (5-3) was credited with the loss, throwing six hits no walks, and two strikeouts in 3.1 innings. Kylie King also spent time in the circle, tossing five hits, one walk, and two strikeouts in 1.2 innings.

Sand Springs will return to action at Edmond Memorial for the Regional Championship next week.

Hughes & Hilton Pitch No-Hitter Against Bartlesville

Addison Hughes could have gone the distance for a solo no-hitter against Bartlesville (10-20), but in the seventh inning she gave up the circle so Kelsi Hilton could close out her final game on the home field.

The senior didn’t drop the ball, tossing two strikeouts to secure the 4-0 victory Tuesday on Teacher Night.

Hughes struck out ten for her tenth win of the season with what was nearly her third perfect game of the year. The only blemish was a fourth-inning hit-by-pitch. That runner was put out on the next at-bat with a 5-2 double-play by Lakelyn Harger.

The Sandites stranded five runners over the first three innings before Kenzie King scored on a passed ball. Hilton padded the lead with a solo homer in the fifth.

Kaylei Rake hit an RBI double in the sixth to bring home Savannah Ramsey, then scored the final run of the game on a single from Hilton.

Hilton and Kenzie King both went 3-of-4 at the plate while Kylie King was 2-of-3.

On Thursday the girls fell 2-1 to Collinsville (11-15) on the road.

Bailey Copeland tagged up to score the lone run on a line out by Harger in the top of the first, but the girls stranded two runners to end the inning.

A two-run homer from Brie Smith gave Collinsville the lead in the third inning and the Sandites were unable to even the score.

Ashlyn Clark and Hilton both went 2-of-3 at the plate as the Sandites tallied seven hits.

Hughes (10-7) took the loss, surrendering five hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 2.2 innings. Hilton closed out the game and struck out six with one hit and no walks.

Sand Springs will wrap up the regular season Friday morning at the Bixby festival with back-to-back games against Pryor (14-18) and Piedmont (28-3) starting at 9:00 a.m.

Sand Springs also received its Regional Tournament assignment Thursday and will be taking to the road for a three-team playoff in Edmond.

The Sandites will play Stillwater (18-13) and Edmond Memorial (22-8) in a double-elimination round-robin tentatively scheduled for October 5-6th.

Sapulpa Wins Highway 97 Rivalry - Sandites to Play at Southmoore Tournament Friday

Chants of “let’s play football” rang out through the Ed Dubie Field House as the Sapulpa volleyball team took away the Highway 97 Rivalry trophy from the defending Sandites Tuesday evening.

5A No. 7 Sapulpa (24-11, 2-4) picked up its second Frontier Valley Conference win of the season while depriving Sand Springs (11-12, 0-7) of its first - winning the match 3-1.

Sand Springs lost three closely contested games while running away with the third in one of the most exhilarating matches of the season.

In game one the Sandites trailed by as much as 16-10 before battling back to 22-21 after an ace from Brooklyn Shope, but a pair of kills from Tyla Heard and an ace from Jailey Battles secured the 25-22 win for the road team.

Game two was the highest-scoring set for the Sandites since 2019 but once against Sapulpa came out on top following nine lead changes and fifteen tie scores.

After a Chieftain block tied it up at 11-11 the Sandites won five of the next six rallies and led by as much as 20-15 before Sapulpa came roaring back.

The Sandites had match point four times but Heard tied it up thrice on two kills and a block. A service error for the Sandites tied it again at 27-27 and Sapulpa took its first lead since 8-7 on a kill from Wrigley Adkisson.

A Chieftain error tied it once more and the Sandites once against got match point on a kill from Shope, but this time Jazymyne Cole tied it with a kill.

The Sandites’ final lead came on a Chieftain error, but the visitors won the final three rallies on a kill from Battles and two Sand Springs hitting errors to prevail 32-30.

Complete undiscouraged, the home team stole set three 25-13 with their biggest win against the Chieftains since 2020.

After giving up the first two points to Sapulpa, a kill from Shope sparked a 7-1 run for the Sandites and they never trailed again

Game four was another back-and-forth affair with seven lead changes and 11 tie scores. The Sandites had their final lead at 16-13 but Sapulpa went on a 7-1 run of their own to make it 20-17.

A big-time kill from Patience Pearce sparked a three-point run to tie it at 20-20, but Sapulpa would lead from then on, winning 25-22 on a kill from Heard.

Heard, an Abilene Christian University basketball commit, led all scorers with 15 kills closely followed by Cole with 11. Rylie Steward had 15 assists for the Chieftains and Battles had three aces.

Shope and Jacelyn Smith both recorded double-doubles for the Sandites. Shope had 12 kills, 14 digs, and six aces while Smith had 10 kills and 11 digs.

Hannah McKelvey recorded 20 assists and Adelynn Ray contributed 17. Evyn Morrow led the defense with 31 digs.

Sand Springs will return to action Friday at the Southmoore Invitational. The Sandites will play No. 12 Bartlesville (19-9) at 10:00 a.m., Norman (5-16) at 12:00 p.m., and No. 13 Westmoore (11-8) at 3:00 p.m. in pool play. Bracket play will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Sapulpa 3 CPHS 1 (25-21, 32-30, 13-25, 25-22)
Kills: Sapulpa 37, CPHS 40.
Blocks: Sapulpa 5, CPHS 5.
Aces: Sapulpa 9, CPHS 13.
Errors: Sapulpa 40, CPHS 44.
Service Errors: Sapulpa 8, CPHS 17.

(Sand Springs Stats)
Kills: Shope 12, Smith 10, Tippit 6, Ray 6, Pearce 5, DeBerry 1.
Assists: H. McKelvey 20, Ray 17, Morrow 2.
Digs: Morrow 31, Shope 14, Smith 11, Ray 9, H. McKelvey 8, Tippit 5, F. McKelvey 5, DeBerry 2, Pearce 1.
Solo Blocks: Tippit 1.
Assisted Blocks: Tippit 3, Ray 2, Shope 1, Pearce 1, DeBerry 1.
Aces: Shope 6, H. McKelvey 3, Tippit 2, Morrow 1, Ray 1.

Sandite Wrestling Releases Tentative 2023-2024 Schedules

Varsity Boys

Duals
11.30 Meet the Sandites (Clyde Boyd) - 6:00 p.m.
12.7 CPHS vs. Skiatook (A) - 6:00 p.m.
12.7 CPHS vs. Glenpool (Skiatook) - 7:00 p.m.
12.12 CPHS vs. Claremore (Clyde Boyd) - 6:00 p.m.
12.14 CPHS vs. Sapulpa (A) - 6:00 p.m.
12.19 CPHS vs. Jenks (H) - 6:00 p.m.
1.4 CPHS vs. Ponca City (H) - 6:00 p.m.
1.4 CPHS vs. Westmoore (H) - 7:00 p.m.
1.11 CPHS vs. Enid (H) - 2:00 p.m.
1.11 CPHS vs. Owasso (H) - 3:00 p.m.
1.11 CPHS vs. Union (H) - 4:00 p.m.
1.18 CPHS vs. Broken Arrow (A) 6:00 p.m.
2.9-2.10 Dual State Championship (Enid)

Tournaments
11.4 Bixby Open - 9:00 a.m.
11.11 Broken Arrow Open - 9:00 a.m.
11.18 Union Open - 9:00 a.m.
12.8-12.9 Mid America Nationals (Enid) - 11:00 a.m./10:00 a.m.
12.15-12.16 Cleveland Tournament (JV Only)
12.22-12.23 Trey Culotta Invitational (New Orleans) - 9:00 a.m.
1.5-1.6 Larry Wilkey Invitational (Jenks) - 10:00 a.m.
1.5-1.6 Inola Tournament (JV Only)
1.12-1.13 Bobby Lyons Invitational (H) - 9:00 a.m.
1.19 Skiatook Tournament (JV Only) - 8:00 a.m.
1.20 Nathan Hale Tournament (JV Only) - 8:00 a.m.
2.2 Glenpool Warrior Invitational - 10:00 a.m.
2.16-2.17 6A-East Regional Championship - 11:00 a.m.
2.22-2.24 6A State Championship (OKC) - 9:00 a.m.

Varsity Girls

Duals
11.30 Meet the Sandites (CBMS) - 6:00 p.m.
12.5 CPHS vs. Oologah (A) - 6:00 p.m.
12.7 CPHS vs. Skiatook (A) - 6:00 p.m.
12.7 CPHS vs. Glenpool (Skiatook) - 7:00 p.m.
12.11 CPHS vs. Nathan Hale (A) - 6:00 p.m.
12.12 CPHS vs. Claremore (CBMS) - 6:00 p.m.
12.14 CPHS vs. Sapulpa (A) - 6:00 p.m.
12.19 CPHS vs. Jenks (H) - 6:00 p.m.
1.4 CPHS vs. Westmoore (H) - 6:00 p.m.
1.4 CPHS vs. Ponca City (H) - 7:00 p.m.
1.9 CPHS vs. Kiefer (A) - 6:00 p.m.
1.25 CPHS vs. Will Rogers (H) - 5:00 p.m.
1.30 CPHS vs. McLain (A) - 5:00 p.m.

Tournaments
11.4 Bixby Open - 9:00 a.m.
11.11 Broken Arrow Open - 9:00 a.m.
11.18 Union Open (Tulsa) - 9:00 a.m.
12.1-12.2 Jay Tournament - 12:00 p.m./11:00 a.m.
12.15-12.16 Cleveland Tournament - 11:00 a.m.
12.29-12.30 Diamond State Tournament (Springdale) - 9:00 a.m.
1.5-1/6 SuperGirl 64 Tournament (Union) - 8:00 a.m.
1.19 Nathan Hale Tournament (Tulsa) - 10:00 a.m.
1.26 Sand Springs Tournament - 11:00 a.m.
2.13 6A-East Regional Championship - 11:00 a.m.
2.22-2.24 6A State Championship (OKC) - 9:00 a.m.

JV Boys

Duals
11.30 Meet the Sandites (CBMS) - 6:00 p.m.
12.5 CPHS vs. Oologah (A) - 5:00 p.m.
12.11 CPHS vs. Nathan Hale (A) - 5:00 p.m.
1.9 CPHS vs. Kiefer (A) - 5:00 p.m.
1.25 CPHS vs. Will Rogers (CBMS) - 5:00 p.m.
1.30 CPHS vs. McLain (A) - 5:00 p.m.

Tournaments
11.4 Bixby Open - 9:00 a.m.
11.11 Broken Arrow Open - 9:00 a.m.
11.18 Union Open - 9:00 a.m.
12.15-12.16 Cleveland Tournament
1.5-1.6 Inola Tournament
1.12-1.13 Bobby Lyons Invitational (H)
1.19 Skiatook Tournament - 8:00 a.m.
1.20 Nathan Hale Tournament - 8:00 a.m.

Junior High Black

Duals
11.30 Meet the Sandites (H) - 6:00 p.m.
12.5 CBMS vs. Oologah (A) - 6:00 p.m.
12.11 CBMS vs. Nathan Hale (A) - 6:00 p.m.
1.5-1.6 Glenpool Dual Tournament - 10:00 a.m.
1.9 CBMS vs. Kiefer (A) - 6:00 p.m.

Tournaments
11.4 Bixby Open - 9:00 a.m.
11.11 Broken Arrow Open - 9:00 a.m.
11.18 Union Open - 9:00 a.m.
12.1-12.2 Sand Springs Tournament - 9:00 a.m.
12.15-12.16 Cleveland Tournament - 9:00 a.m.
2.2-2.3 Junior High Allstate (OKC) - 9:00 a.m.

Junior High Gold

Duals
11.30 Meet the Sandites (H) - 6:00 p.m.
12.7 CBMS vs. Skiatook (A) - 6:00 p.m.
12.7 CBMS vs. Glenpool (Skiatook) - 7:00 p.m.
12.12 CBMS vs. Claremore (CBMS) - 6:00 p.m.
12.14 CBMS vs. Sapulpa (A) - 6:00 p.m.
12.19 CBMS vs. Jenks (H) - 6:00 p.m.
1.4 CBMS vs. Westmoore (H) - 6:00 p.m.
1.4 CBMS vs. Ponca City (H) - 7:00 p.m.
1.11 CBMS vs. Enid (H) - 2:00 p.m.
1.11 CBMS vs. Owasso (H) - 3:00 p.m.
1.11 CBMS vs. Union (H) - 4:00 p.m.
1.18 CBMS vs. Broken Arrow (A) - 6:00 p.m.

Tournaments
11.4 Bixby Open - 9:00 a.m.
11.11 Broken Arrow Open - 9:00 a.m.
11.18 Union Open - 9:00 a.m.
12.1-12.2 Sand Springs Tournament - 9:00 a.m.
1.12-1.13 Perry Tournament - 8:00 a.m.
1.26-1.27 Edmond Tournament - 8:00 a.m.
2.2-2.3 Junior High Allstate (OKC) - 9:00 a.m.

Junior High Girls

Duals
11.30 Meet the Sandites (H) - 6:00 p.m.
12.5 CBMS vs. Oologah (A) - 6:00 p.m.
1.9 CBMS vs. Kiefer (A) - 6:00 p.m.

Tournaments
11.4 Bixby Open - 9:00 a.m.
11.11 Broken Arrow Open - 9:00 a.m.
11.18 Union Open - 9:00 a.m.
12.1-12.2 Sand Springs Tournament - 9:00 a.m.
12.15-12.16 Cleveland Tournament - 9:00 a.m.
1.25 Sand Springs Tournament - 9:00 a.m.
2.2-2.3 Junior High Allstate (OKC) - 9:00 a.m.

Sandites Go 1-1 at Tahlequah Festival - Teacher Night Scheduled for Tuesday

The Charles Page High School softball team (16-11) split games at the Tahlequah festival on Saturday, falling 3-0 to the host team before winning 6-5 against Coweta.

Addison Hughes (9-6) suffered the loss in a pitching dual with sophomore star Riley Dotson. The Sandite junior allowed seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts in the five-inning affair.

Dotson surrendered only three hits with no walks and three strikeouts as Tahlequah (17-10) dealt Sand Springs a rare shutout loss - only its third of the season.

In game two the Sandites only needed four hits to overcome Coweta (10-17) for the third time this season.

Kelsi Hilton (5-2) got the start and the win, striking out two, walking four, and surrendering three hits in two innings. Kylie King pitched two innings of relief and also threw three hits with one walk and one strikeout.

Lakelyn Harger hit a two-run double in the bottom of the first to give the Sandites their first lead, then scored on a single from Morgan Rector.

Hilton walked three to load the bases in the second but collected a pair of ground balls to leave the runners stranded. She added an RBI single in the bottom of the inning to bring home Bailey Copeland.

The Tigers completely undid the Sandites’ lead in the third, however, with five hits, a walk, and two errors to tie it up. They threatened to take the lead in the fourth with a single and an error, but Kenzie King collected a fly ball in left field to preserve the tie.

Finally, in the bottom of the fourth, Bella Wilson and Kaylei Rake were walked, Wilson took third base on a sacrifice bunt from Copeland, and scored on a wild pitch with Hilton at bat for the walkoff.

In addition to collecting the win in the circle, Hilton led the offense, going 2-for-2 at the plate with a run and two RBIs. Harger was 1-of-2 with a run and two RBIs and Copeland had two runs.

The Sandites were also scheduled to play Coweta on Monday but that game was cancelled. Next up will be a Tuesday battle with Bartlesville (10-18) for Teacher Night. Teachers will get in free with their school ID.