SapulpaSooner
9/18/2010, 10:45 AM
By MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer
Published: 9/18/2010 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 9/18/2010 9:46 AM
SAND SPRINGS - The Sapulpa Chieftains and Sand Springs Sandites snarled at one another from rival packs just before the opening kickoff, then played a wildly entertaining game.
What would one expect from flawed, promising and equally matched young teams representing schools that had met at least 80 times before?
It took overtime to decide, and Sapulpa won 21-14 because junior quarterback Tyler Williams found tight end Levi Pickering in single coverage for the go-ahead 12-yard touchdown, and the Chieftain defense stopped the Sandites a yard short on the final play.
"Winning overtime games is fun," Sapulpa first-year head coach Mike Gottsch said.
Trevor Tolliver and a flock of teammates converged to stop Luke Owens on fourth-and-goal from the Chieftain 2, setting off a celebration. Sapulpa had lost four straight to their Highway 97 archrival.
"This feels a lot better than last year," said Toliver, who remembers the Chieftains going 0-10 and 1-9 the past two years. "We have a lot of the same guys, but we have heart now, and I think that's gonna carry us a long way."
Williams, who threw four interceptions in a 27-0 loss to Bixby last week, atoned by throwing two TD passes and running for a third.
"I was just focused on this game and nothing else," Williams said.
Sapulpa improved to 2-1 while Sand Springs fell to 0-3. The Sandites host Stillwater in their District 6A-4 opener next week, while Sapulpa hosts Norman in its 6A-3 opener.
Sandite quarterback Darrack Harger threw for 243 yards and both Sandites scores, but his only interception cost his team a chance to take the lead in the third quarter after the teams battled to a 14-14 halftime tie.
Sand Springs blocked a punt and took over at the Chieftains 24, but Sapulpa's Jake Estes intercepted Harger on first down.
"It was whoever was going to screw up last," Sandite head coach Dustin Kinard.
The Sandites lost three turnovers, giving them nine in three games. But both teams erred frequently, each fumbling twice in the first half.
Sand Springs raced 71 yards on its first possession, capped by Harger teaming with sophomore Raymond McLaurin on a 29-yard screen pass for a score.
Sapulpa's Trevor Hall returned the ensuing kickoff 50 yards, setting up the Chieftains. Williams threw 38 yards to Kendall Davis down the right sideline and followed with an 11-yard scoring strike to Davis in the left-rear corner of the end zone.
The teams traded fumbles and scoring chances on the next four possessions. Sapulpa's Lance Simmer raced 14 yards to the Sandite 2 before fumbling through the end zone.
Sand Springs led 14-7 when Harger uncorked a 78-yard bomb to Devlin McVicker with 3:50 left in the first half, but the Sandites were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and had a short kickoff, setting up the Chieftains to go 44 yards for the tying score.
Williams converted three third- and fourth-down plays with passes before scoring on a 5-yard run with 50 seconds left in the half.
The third quarter was filled with errors. Sapulpa raced to the Sandite 16, then self-destructed. Levi Pickering was called for offensive pass interference for pushing off on Sand Springs' Tyler Khalil, negating Pickerings' TD receptions from Williams.
Sand Springs blocked a punt and took over at the Chieftains' 24, but Sapulpa's Jake Estes intercepted Harger on first down.
SAPULPA 21, SAND SPRINGS 14, OT
Sapulpa 7 7 0 0 7 - 21
Sand Springs 7 7 0 0 0 - 14
SS: McLaurin 29 pass from Harger (Swearingen kick)
Sap: Davis 9 pass from Williams (Moses kick)
SS: McVicker 78 pass from Harger (Swearingen kick)
Sap: Williams 5 run (Moses kick)
Sap: Pickering 12 pass from Williams (Moses kick)
SAPSS
First Downs1715
Rushes-Yards34-10527-73
Passing Yards171243
Comp.-Att.-Int.15-25-018-31-1
Punts-Avg5-29.06-38.3
Fumbles Lost220
Yards Penalized7-5012-110
Published: 9/18/2010 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 9/18/2010 9:46 AM
SAND SPRINGS - The Sapulpa Chieftains and Sand Springs Sandites snarled at one another from rival packs just before the opening kickoff, then played a wildly entertaining game.
What would one expect from flawed, promising and equally matched young teams representing schools that had met at least 80 times before?
It took overtime to decide, and Sapulpa won 21-14 because junior quarterback Tyler Williams found tight end Levi Pickering in single coverage for the go-ahead 12-yard touchdown, and the Chieftain defense stopped the Sandites a yard short on the final play.
"Winning overtime games is fun," Sapulpa first-year head coach Mike Gottsch said.
Trevor Tolliver and a flock of teammates converged to stop Luke Owens on fourth-and-goal from the Chieftain 2, setting off a celebration. Sapulpa had lost four straight to their Highway 97 archrival.
"This feels a lot better than last year," said Toliver, who remembers the Chieftains going 0-10 and 1-9 the past two years. "We have a lot of the same guys, but we have heart now, and I think that's gonna carry us a long way."
Williams, who threw four interceptions in a 27-0 loss to Bixby last week, atoned by throwing two TD passes and running for a third.
"I was just focused on this game and nothing else," Williams said.
Sapulpa improved to 2-1 while Sand Springs fell to 0-3. The Sandites host Stillwater in their District 6A-4 opener next week, while Sapulpa hosts Norman in its 6A-3 opener.
Sandite quarterback Darrack Harger threw for 243 yards and both Sandites scores, but his only interception cost his team a chance to take the lead in the third quarter after the teams battled to a 14-14 halftime tie.
Sand Springs blocked a punt and took over at the Chieftains 24, but Sapulpa's Jake Estes intercepted Harger on first down.
"It was whoever was going to screw up last," Sandite head coach Dustin Kinard.
The Sandites lost three turnovers, giving them nine in three games. But both teams erred frequently, each fumbling twice in the first half.
Sand Springs raced 71 yards on its first possession, capped by Harger teaming with sophomore Raymond McLaurin on a 29-yard screen pass for a score.
Sapulpa's Trevor Hall returned the ensuing kickoff 50 yards, setting up the Chieftains. Williams threw 38 yards to Kendall Davis down the right sideline and followed with an 11-yard scoring strike to Davis in the left-rear corner of the end zone.
The teams traded fumbles and scoring chances on the next four possessions. Sapulpa's Lance Simmer raced 14 yards to the Sandite 2 before fumbling through the end zone.
Sand Springs led 14-7 when Harger uncorked a 78-yard bomb to Devlin McVicker with 3:50 left in the first half, but the Sandites were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and had a short kickoff, setting up the Chieftains to go 44 yards for the tying score.
Williams converted three third- and fourth-down plays with passes before scoring on a 5-yard run with 50 seconds left in the half.
The third quarter was filled with errors. Sapulpa raced to the Sandite 16, then self-destructed. Levi Pickering was called for offensive pass interference for pushing off on Sand Springs' Tyler Khalil, negating Pickerings' TD receptions from Williams.
Sand Springs blocked a punt and took over at the Chieftains' 24, but Sapulpa's Jake Estes intercepted Harger on first down.
SAPULPA 21, SAND SPRINGS 14, OT
Sapulpa 7 7 0 0 7 - 21
Sand Springs 7 7 0 0 0 - 14
SS: McLaurin 29 pass from Harger (Swearingen kick)
Sap: Davis 9 pass from Williams (Moses kick)
SS: McVicker 78 pass from Harger (Swearingen kick)
Sap: Williams 5 run (Moses kick)
Sap: Pickering 12 pass from Williams (Moses kick)
SAPSS
First Downs1715
Rushes-Yards34-10527-73
Passing Yards171243
Comp.-Att.-Int.15-25-018-31-1
Punts-Avg5-29.06-38.3
Fumbles Lost220
Yards Penalized7-5012-110