ROUGHED UP

Upset of Midwest City could be a sign of the future for Muskogee

MIDWEST CITY — One stout goal-line stand and one long scoring drive changed a game, set the tone for a season and might’ve jump-started a building program’s future.

Muskogee’s defense turned away Midwest City on four plays inside the 6-yard line late in the third quarter, then drove 96 yards for a touchdown on the way to a 16-12 upset of the Bombers Friday night at Rose Field.

“It’s huge for us,” coach Rafe Watkins said of the victory. “I don’t know what Midwest City is going to be. I don’t know what we’re going to be. But it’s still the Midwest City Bombers, and that mystique.

“We’ve been getting closer to where we want to be. This is big for us.”

The goal-line stand and ensuing 96-yard drive late in the third quarter gave Muskogee its first real hope of the night, but the game wasn’t sealed until the Roughers’ star defensive back Kamren Curl jumped on top of a Midwest City onside kick attempt with less than a minute to go.

That capped Muskogee’s first opening-week victory since 2010.

“It took six years for us to get a win in the first game,” quarterback Jacob Medrano, who threw for 158 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown to Joseph Combs on the 96-yard drive. “It feels great. We really needed something like this.”

Molijah Gilbert had 74 yards rushing, with a 55-yard burst that started

the long scoring drive.

Since leaving Guthrie in 2014, Watkins’ Muskogee program had been a work in progress, looking for something to ignite its growth. The Roughers narrowly missed the playoffs last season, but Friday’s win could be the spark they needed.

For Midwest City, which was missing some key defensive players to injury, Friday was filled with close-but-not-quite moments.

The Bombers fumbled three times and had a touchdown called back because of holding on the final series of the first half. They got inside the 2 during Muskogee’s crucial goal-line stand in the third quarter.

They gained over 300 yards, but had 109 penalty yards, with several of those flags coming at inopportune times.

“We didn’t score when we needed to. Our penalties were untimely,” coach Darrell Hall said. “The kids never quit. I’m proud of that. They gave us a chance. I’m OK with that, but I don’t like losing.

“We’ve got to stop being our own worst enemy.”

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

[PHOTO BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN] Kamren Curl, center, runs between Shelby Washington, left, and Juwan Walker as the Midwest City Bombers play the Muskogee Roughers in high school football on Friday in Midwest City.

[PHOTO BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN] Midwest City’s Demontre Gatewood, left, brings down Molijah Gilbert as the Midwest City Bombers play the Muskogee Roughers in high school football on Friday in Midwest City.