Alan wrenches Mount’s upset bid

In a sense, Kingfisher’s fate in extending its streak of making the playoffs a 22nd straight year rested on the foot of Alan Muñoz.

The streak is intact.

Muñoz once again proved heroic in a dire situation as he booted a 33-yard field goal last Friday with 3:59 remaining to turn a KHS deficit into a one-point lead.

One defensive stand and one big fourth down run later and the Yellowjackets had secured a 15-13 victory over visiting Mount St. Mary.

The win moved Kingfisher to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in District 3A-1.

It secured the Jackets’ spot in the playoffs yet again. They haven’t missed the postseason since 1999.

“This was big for that reason,” head coach Jeff Myers said. “But it was also good to respond after not playing well last week.”

Had Muñoz not nailed the kick and Kingfisher not found another way to score, the playoffs weren’t an impossibility with two games left, but they would have - at the very least - been in doubt.

“It feels very exciting knowing coach Myers trusts in your kicking when it comes down to it,” Muñoz said.

It wasn’t the first time Myers had called upon the senior in a critical situation this season.

Muñoz nailed a 25-yard field goal with 26 seconds left on Oct. 1 to lift the Jackets to a 30-28 victory at Douglass.

“I get nervous doing it, but I just wanted to find a way to make it.”

Kingfisher had led the Rockets much of the game, but found itself trailing when Salvador Jackson found a crease and turned it into a 43-yard touchdown run.

Although the Rockets missed their extra-point attempt, they still led 13-12 with 9:18 to play.

The play was one of the few letdowns by the defense, which forced four turnovers overall and had turned away the Rockets on six of their first seven possessions.

Meanwhile, the offense had gone stagnant after scoring on its first two drives of the game.

The first drive covered 92 yards and ate nearly 5:00 off the clock.

Slade Snodgrass capped it with a 4-yard run and was set up in part by a 41-yard run by Muñoz.

Ironically, that run may have led to his missed extra-point.

“I was exhausted,” Muñoz said. “I told Slade (the holder who also calls for the snap) to wait so I could catch my breath. I messed up my steps and just hit it way left.”

That touchdown drive was set up by a Snodgrass interception.

Mount St. Mary’s next drive saw Jake Reagan block a punt and recover it. That gave the Jackets possession at the Mount St. Mary 14.

Snodgrass again finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run to give KHS a 12-0 lead with 9:57 to play in the second quarter.

Kingfisher’s defense quickly forced another punt.

“We were in a great position,” Myers recalled. “Our defense was really good and our offense had them on their heels for a bit.”

That part changed. Kingfisher’s next possession was derailed early by penalties that put it in a passing situation.

Snodgrass attempted a backward pass to Muñoz, one that fell incomplete and was eventually covered by the Rockets.

On the very next play, Joseph Krug hit Jaxyn Ward for a 32-yard touchdown pass. The Rockets were within 12-7 with 6:57 to play in the half.

“We were in control and, just like that, they were back in it,” Myers said.

But Kingfisher’s defense continued to respond.

Marcus Lemon recovered a fumble that was poked out by Wrigley Kennedy on Mount St. Mary’s next possession.

Ethan Karcher ended the Rockets’ final possession of the first half with an interception.

Then, on their initial possession of the second half, Karcher struck again.

A QB pressure from Harrison Evans forced Krug to throw it up for grabs and Karcher got his second pick of the night.

But Kingfisher’s offense struggled mightily to take advantage of the Rocket miscues.

“It’s been super tough because teams catch on to you,” Muñoz said. “They know what you’re doing when you have to run it every single play.”

It’s been that way for much of the past month as quarterback Jax Sternberger has been out with a hip and abdominal injury.

Snodgrass has filled in admirably, but attempted just the one pass against Mount St. Mary.

“It can get really exhausting out there just blocking and running every play,” Muñoz said. “You can’t really get a break because your regular QB is out.”

Muñoz gets no breaks. He starts in the offensive backfield and is an inside linebacker.

He handles kickoffs and is on the kickoff and punt return teams.

On top of being the placekicker, he’s also the team’s punter.

He was on the field when the Rockets took their lead in the fourth and on the field when KHS had to find a way to answer.

The drive started at Kingfisher’s 40 with 9:12 to play

A combination of runs by Muñoz, Snodgrass and Evans saw the Jackets get as far as Mount St. Mary’s 10.

However, penalties pushed back and eventually halted the drive, setting up the need for Muñoz’s kick.

“I was just thinking I’ve got to make this for my teammates,” he said. “We’ve got to come out with the win somehow.”

Although Muñoz nailed it, the Rockets still had ample time to reply.

Those hopes were dashed when they turned it over on downs, which included a big pass breakup by Cade Cooper on third down.

The Jackets still needed one more first down to ice the game.

They faced a 4th-and-6 at the Rocket 30.

Convert and they win. Fail and the Mount still had a shot.

Snodgrass, with help from his line and Muñoz in the lead, gained seven on the play.

First down. Game over.

Snodgrass ended his night with 117 yards on 24 attempts.

Muñoz’s 15 carries covered 93 yards. Evans added another 43 on six attempts.

The Jackets as a team ran for 251 yards.

The wealth on defense was widespread.

Konner Baartman and Snodgrass led the team with six tackles each.

Evans, Lemon, Muñoz and Cooper had five each.

Reagan, Karcher and Kennedy took part in four apiece.

They helped the Jackets continue their long run of playoff appearances heading into this week’s showdown at Heritage Hall.

“That’s one less thing to worry about,” Myers said of reaching the postseason. “Now it’s time to continue to try to get healthy and prepare for these final two weeks of the regular season.”