FAMILY NIGHT

Saturday didn’t start out so great for Jeff and Riley Myers.

The ending, however, was considerably better.

The Myers family made it a family affair Saturday as the West defeated the East 21-13 in the Oklahoma Football Coaches Association All-State Game presented by Skordle.

Jeff was the head coach while Riley started at defensive end for the team that dominated the fourth quarter en route to winning at Oklahoma Baptist University’s Crain Family Stadium in Shawnee.

Abbie Myers – Jeff’s daughter and Riley’s younger sister – was also the ball girl for the West squad.

“It turned out to be a great night,” the eldest Myers said. “You never know how games like this are going to go, so to get the win and to be able to experience it with my family made the experience that much better.”

Early on, however, the Myers men weren’t sure when they’d make it.

Their vehicle broke down en route to Shawnee, making their arrival for coach and player check-in later than expected.

With help from other family members, though, Jeff and Riley were able to make it to OBU in plenty of time for team photos and a meal.

“I honestly was impressed we were able to make it there as early as we did,” Jeff said.

The game itself brought back a feeling of normalcy in a world of new normals.

Players and coaches throughout the week had to pass daily COVID-19 screenings, including before entering the stadium Saturday.

Every fan who entered the stadium also had to pass a temperature check.

“It felt great to get back on the field again after not doing anything but lifting all summer,” Riley said.

The East scored on the final play of the third quarter to grab a 13-7 lead.

But the fourth quarter belonged to the West.

It answered the East’s third-quarter TD with a 69-yard drive to open the fourth.

Weatherford’s Jaxon Ratterree was 6-for-7 passing on the drive, including a 7-yard completion to Lindsay’s Kaden Merrell to give the West a 1st-and-goal at the 2.

Moore’s Jayce Gardner plunged it into the end zone on the next play and Merrell’s extra-point kick put the West on top 14-13 with 8:31 to play.

The East tried its own answer, but Myers helped derail that.

He pressured Stroud quarterback Grant Elerick into an errant throw, one that Jay’veion Traylor of Carl Albert picked off and returned 47 yards to the East 10.

The West needed just two plays to push it to 21-13 as Ratterree hit Bethany’s Sam Brandt with a 9-yard touchdown pass at the 6:37 mark.

The East gave Stillwater’s Gunnar Gundy - son of OSU head football coach Mike Gundy - a chance to drive his team down for a potential tie.

Gundy drove the East to the West 25 before Nate Edwards of Chisholm picked him off to end the threat.

The West ran off the final 2:52.

Myers, who has signed to play at Northwestern Oklahoma State, was credited with one tackle.

“The nerves were definitely high towards the start of the game,” he said. “But after getting a feel for the other team and the players, I think we made some good adjustments that helped lead us to victory.” The West opened the

The West opened the game with an eight-plusminute drive, but it eventually ended on downs.

After a scoreless first quarter, the West took a 7-0 lead early in the second on Ratterree’s 1-yard run.

Scoring stalled for the West until the fourth quarter, which allowed the East to come back.

Gundy twice found Claremore’s Dylan Kedzior for touchdown passes. One came from 22 yards out with 2:14 to play in the first half, but a missed extra-point allowed the West to maintain a 7-6 advantage.

The East took the lead on Gundy’s 34-yard strike to Kedzior to end the third quarter, capping a 10-play, 91-yard drive.

Kedzior was the East’s offensive player of the game while Elijah Wright of Vian earned the honor for defense.

Ratterree (offense) and Traylor (defense) were tabbed for the West.

Myers was one of three local players picked to play in the game, but KHS teammate Wes Hine (Northern Iowa) and Cashion’s Ryan Baker (preferred walk-on at Oklahoma State) had already reported to their college programs and were unable to participate.

The game is annually hosted by the Oklahoma Coaches Association and contested at the end of its annual week of All-State games and coaches clinics.

However, the OCA was forced to cancel its week of activities due to COVID-19.

The OFBCA stepped in to host the game, allowing the streak of the game being played every year since 1938 to continue.