The Duncan Demons played like a team looking ahead to a match-up with El Reno. And it was still good enough to get the job done.
The Demons turned in a sloppy performance but were never seriously threatened in a 40-14 win over Western Heights. Payton Atchley and Jordan Laskey each rushed for over 100 yards to lead a dominant ground attack that finished with 439 yards.
The win sets up a showdown with El Reno for the District 5A-1 championship. The Indians knocked off Northwest Classen 59-15 to improve 9-0 while the Demons improved to 8-1, 6-0 in district with its win.
“We just went through the motions,” Duncan coach Jim Holloway said. “Kids are going to be kids, they know what is going on next week. From a preparatory aspect, we didn’t give them the respect they deserve.
“We didn’t practice well Monday or Tuesday and you just can’t turn it on at 7:30 p.m. It’s no secret that they have good players and good schemes.”
The Jets were able to cause Duncan problems in the passing game throughout the night. Sophomore quarterback Troy Davis found senior wideout Dustin Giles for a touchdown and several big plays, finishing with 174 yards passing and one interception.
Offensively, Western Heights finished with 298 yards of offense but failed to slow down a Duncan attack that finished with 498 yards of offense.
The Demons’ first touchdown came two plays into their first drive as Atchley found a running lane and carried the ball 71 yards for the score. Jack Braught converted the extra point, his first of three in the first half to stake Duncan to a 7-0 lead.
Late in the quarter, Duncan had an excellent opportunity to add to its lead but Tyler Gay failed to handle a punt, turning the ball over at the Jet 28.
The defense, aided by a holding penalty, forced a three-and-out, giving the Demons the ball back at the Western Heights 39. Atchley scored his second touchdown of the game four plays later on a 25-yard run to extend the lead to 14-0.
Tyler Wilkins recovered a fumble on Western Height’s next possession and the Demons cashed in on a seven play drive. Laskey took the honors for the third score, giving Duncan a 21-0 lead with 7:14 remaining in the quarter.
With every chance to lay down, the Jets, to their credit, came out swinging. Starting at its own 26, Western Heights moved down the field converting two fourth downs. Darius Young carried it in from three yards and Jennifer Ehlers booted the extra point to close the gap to 21-7.
Duncan did little to help itself, turning the ball over on its next drive. The Jets let the opportunity slip by, failing to convert and went into the locker room trailing by 14.
“We let them stay in the game,” Holloway said. “The picked on our cornerbacks and we played soft up front.”
The Demons went about trying to put the game away on their first drive of the first half. Brandon Wilson found Michael Rice in the back of the Jet secondary for a 35-yard score. The extra point attempt failed.
Duncan wasted little time in building momentum, getting the ball back to the offense on a turnover. Bradley Wilson separated Eli Haley from the ball on a sack and James Patton recovered at the Jet 25. Laskey scored on a one-yard run to extent the lead to 34-7 after the Braught kick.
Western Heights was down, but not out. The Jets began to mix the run effectively with the ball and drove down the field, scoring on a 14-yard pass from Davis to Giles, who leaped over Kale Thaxton for the score.
“I hope its the last we see of that type of performance,” Holloway said. “It was a poor job by the coaches and the players. It’s not the type of preparation you want to see going into the playoffs.”
The Demons wrapped up their last scoring drive of the game as Domonique Petties carried the ball down the field on four plays, the last an 11-yard run for a touchdown.
Western Heights put together a couple of more threats but turned the ball over on downs at the Duncan 16 on one drive and turning it over on another. Tyler Wilkins came up with his second turnover of the game on an interception of Davis to serve as a bright spot on an otherwise less than average defensive performance.
“We got to tackle better and we have to cover guys in space,” Wilkins said. “We didn’t come out ready to play. We thought it would be a walk-through and they were better than we thought.
“But I will take a win any day.”
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Michael Pineda
Moving on
Duncan overcomes itself in win over Western Heights
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Demons rout Altus
After a tough loss on the road last Friday night against Lawton MacArthur, it seemed the Duncan Demons needed a boost to get themselves going for the last week of the season. DHS had its sights set on using the Altus Bulldogs as the tool for their motivation Tuesday night at Duncan Gymnasium.
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Lady Outlaws smother Rush Springs, 38-28
It wasn’t one of Marlow’s best offensive performances of the season. Luckily it was one of the Lady Outlaws best defensive showings.
For only the third time this season, Marlow held an opponent to fewer than 30 points and the Lady Outlaws topped the visiting Rush Springs Lady Redskins, 38-28. -
Culberson, DHS hold off Lady Bulldogs
There is a saying, “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” For the Duncan Lady Demons, a rematch against Altus at Duncan Gymnasium on a chilly evening seemed like the perfect motivation to help DHS avoid a two-game losing streak Tuesday night.
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Duncan hosts Altus tonight
ometimes it’s not how hard you fall, it’s how fast you get back up.
After a tough overtime loss Friday night at Lawton MacArthur, the No. 14 Duncan Lady Demons (14-7) will look to rebound this evening against the No. 11 Altus Lady Bulldogs (12-6) with tip-off set for 6:30 p.m. from Duncan Gymnasium. -
Bray hands Turner its first loss
The Bray-Doyle Lady Donkeys picked up one last shot of momentum Monday night before heading into the Class A district tournament.
The Lady Donkeys took control early and never let up, topping previously unbeaten Turner, 68-51 at home on senior night to finish the regular season on a five-game winning streak. -
Velma-Alma rolls Healdton, 52-36
Make it six in a row for the Velma-Alma Lady Comets.
Senior Night proved to be quite beneficial for V-A thanks to a strong second half, which broke open a close game, giving the Lady Comets a 52-36 victory over the Healdton Lady Bulldogs. -
UNTARNISHED
Monday night saw the No. 4 Velma-Alma Comets send a clear message to the rest of the field in the playoffs: The road to Oklahoma City will run through Velma, one way or another.
V-A wasted no time in dismantling the Healdton Bulldogs on Senior night, as the Comets finished the regular season 23-0, thanks to a 72-12 victory. -
Encore Performance
Just like four years ago, Eli Manning and the Giants orchestrated an impressive late fourth-quarter drive to overtake the lead and the Patriots couldn’t answer in the final minute, handing the Super Bowl championship to the New York, 21-17 on Sunday night.
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Carletti-Silva commits to Army
Duncan High School senior quarterback Brandon Carletti-Silva has given a verbal commitment to the United States Military Academy — better known in the sports world as Army — and plans to make his decision official on Wednesday.
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Comets try to complete regular season perfection
Throughout the season, V-A has defied the odds, beating every team set in their way, resulting in a perfect 22-0 record.
Tonight, the Comets will look to finish their regular season unblemished as they host Healdton (1-14) at 8:30 p.m. for Senior Night. - More Sports Headlines
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