It would be grabbing at the low-hanging fruit to say Kingfisher played lights out last Friday night.

Regardless, it’s fair to say Kingfisher played extremely well, whether the lights were shining or when the lights were out as they pummeled visiting Clinton 4820 on homecoming night.

“I felt going in that if we played well, we were going to win the game,” said KHS head coach Reagan Roof. “I could not have ventured to think we would dominate them the way we did.”

The win moved KHS to 2-0 for the first time since 2017.

The dominance bucked the recent trend as the two teams went into overtime in each of the past two seasons.

And it started early. As in the first play. Clinton mishandled a knuckling kickoff on the bounce and freshman Steel Snodgrass was there to recover for the Jackets.

That set up KHS at the Clinton 22 and, a few snaps later, Brett Calamateo ran in a 4-yard touchdown.

The thumping was just beginning as the Jackets built up a 27-0 lead with 9:03 still left in the first half.

That included a highlight reel touchdown for the second score.

Quarterback River Roof dropped back to pass, but had to evade pressure.

He twice avoided being sacked before making a lastditch effort pitch to fellow sophomore Drew Snider.

The latter took the lateral and did the rest, breaking multiple tackles en route to a 37-yard touchdown.

Prior to the game, seniors Carter Stephenson and Brinley Reese were crowned the homecoming king and queen.

Stephenson then set up the Jackets’ next score with a 37-yard reception from Roof. The drive was finished off by Roof’s 1-yard plunge to make it 20-0 early in the second quarter.

The Jacket defense forced a third consecutive Clinton punt, a short one that gave KHS great field position.

On the next snap, Calamateo hit Kaden Cline, who grabbed a pass just below his knees, then raced untouched for a 39-yard TD.

Fifteen minutes into the game and it was all Kingfi sher.

The next 9 minutes belonged to the Reds.

They started a drive at their own 34 with 8:57 to play in the half and pieced their way down the field.

It ended with 32 seconds left when Ethan Lofland caught an 8-yard pass from Easton Powell.

That brought the Reds within 27-7 and gave them momentum entering halftime.

“I was really disappointed in that drive,” Roof said. “Whether missing tackles or assignments or having a penalty, we gave them some plays they shouldn’t have had.”

But it also gave the coaches some halftime ammunition.

“We reminded them that we were up on them at halftime each of the last two years,” Roof said. “And both times we let them come back and send it to overtime.”

But not this time. After a couple of minimal gains on the first two snaps of the second half, the Jackets showed they weren’t ready to try to ride out the clock.

Calamateo and Brody Boeckman connected for a 33-yard gain before 25 percent of the stadium’s lights went out.

The southwest pole suddenly lost its power, leaving a portion of the stadium the end that Kingfisher was headed - fairly dark.

After a discussion with the officials, both coaches agreed to play on.

It certainly benefited the Jackets as, on the next snap, Calamateo found Collin Farrar for a 37-yard touchdown.

The Jackets forced Clinton to punt on its first possession of the half and went on a 58-yard scoring drive. Boeckman finished it off with a 4-yard run for a 41-7 lead as the lights began to turn back on.

Powell, who had accounted for more than 500 rushing yards in Clinton’s first two games, finally broke off a big play when he busted loose for a 63-yard score later in the third quarter.

That run accounted for more than his overall rushing yards for the game.

He ran for 86, but was also sacked four times and eventually had a net of 54 yards.

One number he constantly saw was 44 in a blue jersey.

Senior end Eduardo De La Torre led KHS with eight tackles.

Six of those went for a loss and two were sacks.

“They didn’t have any kind of answer for him,” Roof said. “He was dominant.”

Clinton managed just 177 total yards in the game.

Camden Weinmeister added six tackles, including a sack, from the other end position.

Snider also had six tack-les and Boeckman had four, including two for a loss.

Overall, KHS dropped Clinton in the backfield 11 times.

“We felt pretty confident going in we knew what they were going to do on both sides of the ball,” Roof said. “And even though they were bigger than us at some positions, we felt we could be the more physical team when it came down to it.”

It played out that way as the Jackets countered with 147 rushing yards and 262 through the air.

Snider finished with 97 yards on 15 attempts, which was 6.5 a carry.

Calamateo and Roof went a combined 10 for 10 passing.

Roof was 7 for 7 for 153 yards and Calamateo 3 for 3 for 109 and two TDs.

Stephenson didn’t find the end zone, but made the most of his touches.

He had three catches for 90 yards.

Boeckman’s two passes covered 50 while Farrar’s two receptions accounted for 52.

“The efficiency in the passing game has been outstanding so far,” Roof said. “It’s allowed us to not be one-dimensional on offense.”

That efficiency helped KHS out-gain Clinton by 232 yards.

“I think from special teams to offense to defense, we hit them in the mouth and never backed off and they weren’t sure how to respond,” Roof said.

The two downers on the night were penalties and a scary moment.

Minutes after having a punt return for a touchdown called back due to a penalty, Snodgrass nearly broke another one.

However, his legs were cut from under him and he landed awkwardly and lay motionless on the turf for several moments.

Snodgrass was woozy while being helped off, but showed positive signs even before the game was over.

And, for a second week in a row, penalties were an issue for the Jackets.

Against Cashion, it was constant holding calls. Those were corrected for Week 2, but KHS still was flagged 16 times for 160 yards.

Several of those were of the 15-yard variety and, as Roof pointed out before and after watching film, the Jackets were goaded into many of those.

“There’s a fine line where you want the to be tough and physical, but also smart and disciplined,” Roof said. “So we cannot react whenever they’re trying to get us to react.”

The Jackets now face their first road game of the season - and final non-district game - when they visit Bridge Creek this Friday.

The Bobcats were off last week after opening their season with wins of 34-14 over McLoud and 33-14 against Noble.

“They’re better than they have been in years past,” Roof said of Bridge Creek. “We have to build on what we did last week and just try to continue to improve.”