WATTS, Okla. -- Friday night did not go as planned for the Watts Engineers as the Arkoma Mustangs delivered a lopsided decision on the Engineers' home turf. In a game that included two consecutive Arkoma onside kick recoveries, Watts (3-3) was defeated in a mercy-rule finish, 54-6, with 9:14 remaining in the third quarter.
The night began quietly enough, as each team's first drive fizzled out early. Watts' next bid ended after just two plays after Arkoma's Braxton Chesher picked off quarterback Blayn Harlin. Arkoma took advantage on the very next play, as Kobe Ragsdale took a handoff and broke free through the Engineers' line, running in a 46-yard touchdown. The PAT was good, and the Mustangs led 8-0.
Watts responded on their ensuing drive, taking over in good field position after recovering an onside attempt by Arkoma. Danny Fernandez took a direct snap and ran for a 41-yard touchdown of his own to bring the home team within two points. Unfortunately for Watts, the PAT attempt was not successful, and it would be the last time that the Engineers would see paydirt that night.
In what would become a familiar sight for the crowd, Arkoma quarterback Jason Pryor would find Isaiah Cobbe over the middle of the field on a streak route for a long touchdown. Over their next two offensive possessions, Pryor threw 51- and 52-yard touchdowns to Cobbe, both over the middle of the field and out of reach of the Engineers' secondary.
"Somebody's gotta step up and be a leader," said head coach Matt Stillwell. "We've got ten seniors. Somebody's gotta step up."
Stillwell said he wanted to see more effort on every down from his team, but said that the season is far from over.
"Playoff destiny is still in our own hands," Stillwell said. "We've still got four district games, if we win all four we finish second, maybe first in our district."
"We can move the ball. We just have to finish."
Finishing proved a problem for Watts, as the Engineers turned the ball over twice in scoring position, both times during the exchange between center and quarterback. One of those turnovers came in the third quarter on Arkoma's two-yard-line.
The Mustangs would put the game out of reach during a three-possession stretch in the second quarter. The scoring spurt was kicked off by a 70-yard touchdown run by Mykiah Oosahwe, who broke two tackles early in the run and beat Watts' defensive backs in a footrace to the end zone. Arkoma then made a successful onside kick and scored three plays later on a screen pass to Oosahwe. Arkoma then recovered another onside kick, which bounced off of a Watts
Arkoma then recovered another onside kick, which bounced off of a Watts player, and took the ball to Watts' 15-yard-line before turning the ball over on downs. Watts would be forced to punt from their own 5-yard-line, and Pryor found Cobbe for a third touchdown pass on fourth down to score. Arkoma would score once more in the quarter on a 30-yard run from Ragsdale to stretch the score to 48-6 at the half.
Two drives into the third quarter, Pryor connected with Ragsdale on yet another a 50-yard touchdown pass to seal the win and invoke the mercy-rule finish.
Sports on 10/08/2017