Yellowjackets dismantle NRC 34-0

Kingfisher really needed this one.

Kingfisher got it…in a big way.

Putting together perhaps its most impressive outing of the season, KHS dismantled North Rock Creek 34-0 Thursday on senior night.

The game was moved up 24 hours to avoid predicted bad weather and was promptly delayed 15 minutes by lightning.

After that, the Jackets delivered the Thunder with big plays on offense, defense and special teams to secure its spot in the playoffs.

“Considering what was at stake, that was probably our best game of the season,” said coach Reagan Roof.

The victory moved KHS to 6-2 overall, eclipsing last year’s win total. KHS moved to 4-1 in District 3A-1.

The Jackets could lose out and still get fourth in the district, but can also earn a home playoff game.

With two games remaining, the Jackets are tied with Plainview - their Week 10 opponent - for second in the district. They’re one game ahead of Anadarko - this week’s opponent - which was defeated by Plainview Thursday night.

Each of the final two games is on the road.

“That makes the next two extra tough,” Roof said.

But it likely wouldn’t have mattered had the Jackets dropped their Week 8 game to the visiting Cougars.

The defense seemed prime from the start and the offense pieced together two methodical scoring drives in the first and second quarters.

Quarterback Jhett Birdwell scored on a 1-yard keeper to cap a 54-yard drive at 1:26 of the first quarter and Brett Calamateo scored from 2 yards out at 9:32 of the second quarter.

The Cougars drove just inside Kingfisher’s red zone on the ensuing drive, but it ultimately ended with a turnover on downs.

That gave Kingfisher the ball at its own 19 with 5:20 left in the half - up two scores and with the comfort of also receiving the ball to start the second half.

The hopes of adding to the two-score lead before the half were seemingly dashed when Birdwell was picked off at the Cougar 4 with 2:17 remaining.

However, the half would provide much more action before its end.

The visitors attempted to run it out of the shadow of the end zone, but were forced to punt.

Carter Stephenson’s solid return gave KHS the ball at North Rock Creek’s 23 with 49 seconds showing.

One snap later, Willbanks snagged a Birdwell offering out of the air for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 21-0.

With a bit more urgency, NRC tried to end the half with some momentum and got into KHS territory.

That’s when Calamateo stepped in front of a Landon Rosser pass and returned it 59 yards to the Cougar 13.

With just 4 seconds left, Roof opted for a field goal try and senior Rhett Schlegel rewarded him with a 30-yard field goal to end the half.

“That field goal was just a momentum killer for them,” said Roof. “To get the touchdown, the interception and the field goal was such a big way to end the half.”

Not satisfied, Roof preached to his team the importance of finishing in the second half. Finishing meant getting off to a good start.

“I’ve always thought the first drive of the third quarter is a big one,” Roof said.

Kingfisher responded with a 69-yard scoring drive to start the third quarter.

Birdwell and Willbanks hooked up for the second time, this one from 13 yards out.

“To be able to drive the field and score like that re- ally shut the door on them,” Roof said.

The defense helped take care of the rest.

Kaden Cline picked off a Rosser pass on the Cougars’ next drive. Kasen Blair got an interception near the end of the third quarter.

The latter set up a 26yard field goal from Schlegel early in the fourth.

A first-year senior player, Schlegel continued his impressive season not just with the field goals, but by knocking down all four extra- point attempts, making him 37 for 37 on the season.

The Jackets got the three takeaways and also forced two turnovers on downs.

North Rock Creek ran for 100 yards on 28 attempts 36 yards came on one run in the second quarter - and had just 145 total yards.

Rosser completed only 6 of 20 pass attempts.

Birdwell’s late first-half interception was nearly his only miscue of the night.

The senior finished 16 of 20 for 149 yards and two touchdowns in just three quarters.

Blair caught seven passes for 70 yards and Willbanks five for 59.

The Jackets had 128 rushing yards on 30 attempts.

Calamateo delivered 58 yards and a touchdown on his 13 touches.

Izak Oaks, another senior, contributed 47 yards on 10 carries.

Overall, KHS had 282 yards of offense.

Roof said he was proud of the way the Jackets started each half.

“With the lightning delay, there wasn’t a lot of atmosphere and I thought the guys played through that and created it,” he said. “And the touchdown to start the second half was huge.

“We just played with a sense of urgency all night and had an understanding of how important this game was for us.”

While the evening was the final regular season home contest for the Jackets, it wasn’t necessarily the last home game. They now control their own destiny in claiming district runner-up and the reward of a firstround home playoff game that comes with it.

“We talked this week about needing to win these last three to accomplish that,” Roof said.

“We’re one-third of the way there.”