By Jake Sermersheim
Going into Friday, Nov. 3’s match-up, Tahlequah Head Coach knew what to expect from the Bartlesville Bruins. Or so they thought.
While the Bruins have a similar attack to that of Stillwater’s, the Bruins mixed up their explosive plays much more, airing the ball out. The Bruins were able to take the win 51-20. The win not only added a tally to the Bruins’ record but also ensured that the Tigers would hait the road for the first round of the playoffs.
“They are a good team, we made too many mistakes early,” Gilbert said. “It is a good football team you can’t do that. I thought they were ready and they weren’t that is on me. We just have to go back to the drawing board.”
BHS was led by a two-head tandem of P.J. Wallace and Damien Niko. The duo combined for six touchdowns in the first half and throughout the game.
The scoring started early when Wallace and Niko connected in an unexpected way. After getting handed the ball, Wallace looked as though he was going to rush, but pulled up and sent a wide-arching pass to Niko to put the Bruins on the board.
BHS added another score shortly after when the Tigers went to punt and the snap got sent past Bodie Jimmerson. Jimmerson had to scramble in the end zone and despite trying to avoid a safety was called for intentional grounding to give the Bruins a quick two points.
On the ensuing kickoff, Niko once again found the end zone, blowing away THS defenders on a 35-yard screen route to put BHS up 16-0 to end the first quarter.
Wallace’s strong day would continue in the second quarter when he picked up a 15-yard touchdown untouched for his first rushing touchdown of the day.
While the Bruins were able to get some explosive offensive plays, the Tigers were struggling with the little things. Through the first half, the Tigers had three fumbles [all recovered by THS] and struggled with personal fouls throughout.
A fumble from THS’s Beckett Robinson killed THS’s momentum allowing the Bruins to set up Wallace in the red zone. From the five-yard line, Wallace punched it in to put the Bruins up 37-0.
“When you are playing behind the chains offensively and making mistakes on both sides it is hard to get into the flow of things that is part of it. We have another opportunity next week in the playoffs,” Gilbert said.
The lone THS bright spot in the first half came on the Tigers’ next offensive play. Quarterback Cash McAlvain connected with tight end Brayden Northington over the middle. Once in his hands, Northington used his speed to burn past the BHS defenders.
Despite picking up some momentum, THS gave up another touchdown to Niko.
With time running out on the clock, the Tigers punted the ball away. While most teams would normally run out the clock, the Bruins took the gamble to go for it and it paid off. After an unsuccessful throw downfield, Wallace was fed the ball around the 45-yard line and was able to snake his way to the end zone to put BHS up 51-7 going into halftime.
Out of the locker room the game was much different. The Tigers locked in and did not allow the Bruins to pick up another score. THS also picked up touchdowns from Synjin Sampson and Kingston Hall.
“Not really anything different defensively,” Gilbert said. “We played cleaner we did not hurt ourselves with penalties. We tossed the shut out in the second half, it was just cleaner and you could see it.”
The loss ensures that the Tigers hit the road for the first round of the playoffs. Going into the game, the Tigers are expecting to travel to Putnam City High School.
Gilbert had a message for the Tigers going into the playoffs.
“We have to just flush this, we really do,” Gilbert said. “We have to forget this and put our eyes on what is in front of us. We have a playoff game and if we go out there we have a good chance to win.”
