Coalgate edges Antlers in 6 overtime thriller
Throughout his four decades coaching high school football, Coalgate’s
Rob Green rarely loses track of what’s happening in a game.
Friday night, he did. Though, there should be no fault.
Coalgate survived a slugfest that extended into six overtimes for a 38-32 victory over Antlers, a back-and-forth game that left Green delirious.
As his team celebrated, he looked at an assistant coach and asked if the game was really finished.
“After a while, it’s a little confusing,” Green said Monday. “It almost gets to the point, especially after about four or five of them, you become a little slap happy.”
Both communities felt the same way.
The teams were scoreless at halftime. Then they were tied at 14 after regulation. By the third overtime, it was tied at 20 and everyone knew it could be a wild night.
Coalgate quarterback
Austin Lambert scored in the sixth overtime on a keeper, and the defense got a stop to start a celebration.
Lambert, an Oklahoma baseball commitment, accounted for five touchdowns — three passing — and 255 total yards. Blade Horton also rushed for 103 yards and two TDs.
Antlers quarterback
Kaden Speer passed for 221 yards and two TDs. Zion Wood rushed for two scores.
“It was like running a marathon with the weather being the way it was,” Green said. “Both sides gave it their all. It was just a slugfest.
“I’ll look at it on film and it’s like, ‘Holy cow, I barely remember that.’ Things seem to run together.”
Edmond Santa Fe’s defense leading way
Through three games, Edmond Santa Fe’s defense has been the team’s driving force.
And that’s a good thing. The Wolves’ defense has allowed 11.3 points and 185 yards per game in all three wins, including last week’s 49-13 rout of Norman North.
“Last week, we did a better job offensively of keeping the chains moving,” Santa Fe coach Kyle White said. “There’s no doubt defense has been the one carrying the load and shutting people down, not making it any closer than it’s been.”
White pointed out Michael Pope and Junious Gaston’s early play. But defensive back Kamron Love has been dynamic. He has an interception in each game, including a pick-six last week.
Notable performances
Here are some notable performances from around the state during last week’s games:
•Okemah senior running back Corey Ramsey was unstoppable in a 60-36 rout of Hugo. He rushed for five touchdowns and averaged 24 yards per carry. On 18 carries, he totaled 432 yards. He also scored twice on two-point conversions.
•Welcome Hulbert running back Jacob Bruce to the 6,000-yard club. He rushed for 226 yards and three TDs in Friday’s 48-6 rout of Ketchum to reach 6,113 career yards. He is just the 16th player in state history to reach 6,000.
•Another Cherokee County running back had a huge night. Tahlequah’s Dae Dae Leathers rushed for 342 yards and four TDs in a 48-14 rout of Sallisaw. He also returned a kickoff 89 yards for a score.
•Eight-man football produces big numbers, but Gans quarterback Jameson Henry took it to a new level in the 64-16 win over Webbers Falls. He totaled 462 yards of offense and eight touchdowns. In the air, he passed for 146 and two TDs. On the ground, he rushed for 316 and six TDs.