El RENO — EL RENO — The search for the district championship goes on.
El Reno wrapped up an undefeated regular season with a 14-7 win over Duncan Friday night. The Demons rallied from a 14-0 halftime deficit in the second half and was within 13 yards of a tying score late in the fourth quarter only to come up short.
With the loss, Duncan drops to 8-2 on the season and finishes as the District 5A-1 runner-up. The Demons will be at home for the first round of the playoffs when they host Guthrie. The Blue Jays finished the season 6-4 and are coming off a 49-0 win over Noble.
In falling to El Reno, Duncan got one of its best defensive performances of the season. The Demons held an Indian squad that scored 326 points this season to 14, their season low. Jakeil Everheart was bottled up for most of the game but scored on a 32-yard touchdown run and hit Jovia Franklin on a 31-yard touchdown pass late in the second half to account for both El Reno touchdowns.
Duncan dominated the second half but was only able to put seven points on the board against a strong El Reno defense.
“Our kids know how to fight, scratch and claw,” Duncan coach Jim Holloway said. “We came out in the second half and executed better.
“Our field position in the first half was horrible. We started off at the one because of one punt and Tyler (Gay) fumbled another punt. They also hit two passes to change field position on us.”
Because it was pinned back deep early, the Demons were forced to open the game differently than it wanted to come out, going conservative and trying to work out of the shadow of the end zone and would up going three-and-out.
“Field position was a huge factor in the first half,” offensive coordinator Todd Hudson said. “What we ended up starting the first half with wasn’t what we planned. It was dictated by field position.”
El Reno took over at the Demon 37 and two plays later, Everheart broke free on right sideline and scored from 32-yards out. Joseph Vorva’s extra point lifted the Indians to a 7-0 lead.
The Demons moved the ball on their next drive, starting with a 25-yard run by Jordan Laskey. The drive stalled out at the El Reno 35 and Duncan was forced to punt. The defense did its job, forcing a punt but another special teams letdown took away an opportunity.
Tyler Gay set up to field a punt at midfield but failed to field the ball cleanly. El Reno recovered, taking away a short field for Duncan. The defense held but the Demons were pinned inside their 20 once again.
The game remained 7-0 till late in the first half when the El Reno passing game went to work. Everheart hit Raymond Little for a 30-yard gain and found Franklin on a 27-yard gain to put the Indians on the 18.
Duncan forced El Reno back with losses of five and 12 yards but it was for naught as Everheart found Franklin on a 31-yard touchdown pass over the middle on fourth-and-23 with :30 left in the half. The extra point gave El Reno a 14-0 lead going into the half.
Everheart was 11-of-20 passing for 145 yards, 127 of those yards came in the first half.
“We played good, that guy (Everheart) is hard to catch,” defensive coordinator Kim Longest said. “I thought we did a good job. There were times they just went up and made plays.”
El Reno came out in the second half and placed itself in position to put the Demons in a deep hole . Everheart kept the ball three straight times following a Duncan punt to put the Indians at the Demon 15. Everheart failed to get off an exchange on a low snap and the ball fell to the ground where Tyler Wickard fell on it to give Duncan new life.
The Demons followed with their best drive of the game, moving the ball 83 yards on 10 plays. Laskey got the drive moving with gains of 12, 11 and eight yards to move Duncan to the 33. The sophomore led the team in rushing with 65 yards on 12 carries. Devante Harris came up with a big run, picking up 10 yards on a fourth-and-one to move the ball to the 22.
Three plays later, Duncan went with one of its specials. Brandon Wilson faked a reverse handoff and hit Michael Rice for a 20-yard touchdown with 5:21 left in the third quarter. Jack Braught’s extra point pulled Duncan within 14-7.
The defense came up with the next big play for Duncan as Payton Atchley recovered a fumble at Duncan’s 38 yard line late in the quarter. The Demons drove to the 29 only to turn it over on downs when Harris was stuffed on a fourth-and-one.
El Reno offense remained in check throughout the fourth quarter as it went three-and-out on its next two possessions. Taking over at its own 43, Duncan found some consistency and drove down the field late in the fourth quarter. Bradley Wilson had a key six-yard run on a reverse on third-and-four and Brandon Wilson followed with two runs for 30 yards to move the ball to the El Reno 15.
Two plays netted three yards but a loss of three on a reverse put the Demons in a fourth-and-10 situation. As was the case most of the night, El Reno covered up the Duncan receivers and a pass went incomplete to end possession. Wilson finished four-of-11 passing on the night for 37 yards.
El Reno picked up two first downs on the ground to put the game away and claim the district championship.
“It just wasn’t there, they covered us real well,” Holloway said. “They are a good defensive team. I think we are too.”
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WELL STATED
Britton Scott and Kelsey LeValley didn’t earn titles at the state tennis tournament like they hoped to, but they can rest assured they will still get a chance to end their high school careers on a high note.
Scott and LeValley were among the eight players selected to the Girls’ West All-State Tennis Team, which was announced Wednesday. They will take on the East team on July 24 at the University of Tulsa. -
Under new management
Sometimes, change can be a good thing. For the Marlow Outlaws football team, this season is gearing up to be full of it.
After a disappointing 1-9 finish to the season, which included six losses by 10 points or less, there was a change of command for MHS.
On April 20, Rob Renshaw, who had spent the past six seasons at Putnam City High School as the offensive coordinator, was named the official head coach of the Outlaws. -
Laying the foundation
Last season, the Velma-Alma Comets had a nightmare start to their year.
After losing its first five games, along with star running back Checotah Lynn to a knee injury, V-A was looking at an unthinkable losing season.
However, the Comets rebounded to win six straight games and earn second place in district, eventually reaching the second round of the playoffs before falling to Minco 51-18.
Monday evening saw the Comets hard at work on Edgar Martin Field as they try and build upon the success of 2011. -
Blowout is as big as ever in 35th year
The driving range has seen an increase in popularity, the putting green is getting more use and the course professionals are devoting more of their days to giving lessons.
With the 35th Annual Blowout Tournament this weekend at the Duncan Golf and Tennis Club, it isn’t a time to be rusty. -
First Impressions
Even before the rooster could finish his morning crows Monday, the Central High football team was hard at work at Broncho Stadium.
Enthusiasm was high and the pads were clapping as 18 CHHS players hit the field for the first time in 2012.
This marked the first official practice under head coach Andy Claborn, who takes over a Bronchos squad that narrowly missed the playoffs in 2011 with a 5-5 record. -
Scramble helps send Stevens to Pinehurst
Thanks to his performances in U.S. Kids Golf tournaments in Oklahoma City, Caden Stevens earned a spot in the World Championships.
Thanks to his fellow Stephens County residents, he will get to go.
Fifty-six players took part in the Team Caden Classic scramble on Saturday at Twin Oaks Golf Club. Between them and sponsorships from 11 local businesses, around $2,800 was raised to help send Stevens to Pinehurst, N.C., where he will compete at the storied golf resort against some of the best 7-year-olds in the world. -
Cards win Jess Welch title
Even though Duncan experienced a slight shower Sunday morning, it wasn’t enough to halt the final day of the Jess Welch Memorial Tournament at Abe Raizen Park.
In the championship of the 10-&-under division, it was an all-Duncan final between the Cardinals and Yankees, both of which survived semifinal matchups against teams from outside of Stephens County to advance earlier in the day.
Four runs in each of the first three innings proved to be too much for the Yankees to handle as the red birds took home the championship with a 15-0 victory in four innings. -
Area players shine at All-Star game
If fans attending Saturday night’s 23rd annual Southwest Senior Bowl at Cameron Stadium were looking for a friendly exhibition game amongst the players, they got just the opposite.
But, through all the chaos and controversy, the players representing Stephens County turned in solid performances, with Comanche’s Johnny Heath and Duncan’s Daniel McCoy scoring touchdowns on the evening.
In the end it was Heath’s South team coming away with the 26-14 victory over the North. -
DHS girls' coach McClung resigning
Andrew McClung verbally accepted the position of girls’ head basketball coach at Cache High School on Thursday, and he said he plans to give Duncan his official resignation on Tuesday.
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Waurika names Edelman head football coach
At a meeting in April, the board of education voted to rehire Glenn Howard as a teacher and assistant coach for the 2012-13 school year. At that time, Danny Edelman was also rehired as head coach in the football program, which will be moving to the eight-man level in the 2012 season.
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