One tough month for KHS

Kingfisher had two ways it could respond in the second half at Heritage Hall.

Down big, the Jackets could pack it in and limp into Week 10 or they could show some fight and salvage something on the Chargers’ Oklahoma City campus.

They chose the latter.

KHS was ultimately beaten 50-7 by third-ranked Heritage Hall, but it wasn’t broken.

Trailing 40-0 entering the second half, the Jackets strung together several big plays, many of which fired up the sideline and the fan base.

“We challenged them at half to continue to work hard and continue to play hard,” head coach Jeff Myers said. “We did some good things in that second half, but none of them was ‘lay down.’

“That’s what we wanted to see from them as coaches.”

Kingfisher earned a first down on its first possession of the second half before being forced to punt.

On that play, deep snapper Paytun Burnham raced down the field and tackled Heritage Hall standout Gavin Freeman just as he fielded the punt.

The play ignited the KHS sideline as Burnham garnered cheers from players and coaches alike.

“That was the kind of fire we were looking for and it got contagious,” Myers said.

Two plays later, Konner Baartman’s tackle on Nick Keith forced a fumble that was pounced on by Alan Muñoz.

That play set up Kingfisher’s lone scoring drive of the night, one that was ultimately finished by Slade Snodgrass’ 40-yard touchdown run.

On the ensuing kickoff, Freeman offered a highlight-reel return that included a few broken tackles.

However, senior Isaac Long recovered from one of those missed tackles to track him down and dislodge the ball.

Baartman jumped on it to give the Jackets possession again.

“That play was indicative of our guys’ attitudes,” Myers said. “Isaac got beaten once on the play, but he didn’t give up and he made something happen for the team.”

Still, all that happened after Heritage Hall dominated the first half.

The Chargers scored five touchdowns, four of which covered at least 40 yards.

Brigham Evans had touchdown runs of 58 and 40 yards and had over 100 yards rushing on just four carries before being injured early in the second half.

Will Paque didn’t have an incompletion in the first half. He threw touchdowns of 69 and 15 yards to Freeman, a Texas Tech commit who is on pace to break Wes Walker’s school record for receiving yards, and 54 yards to Cooper Cookson.

“They’re a talented team, but there were also several plays where we made it way too easy for them,” Myers said. “That was another way we challenged them at the half.”

The Jackets attempted just two passes on the night.

Instead, the Chargers got a large dose of Snodgrass and Muñoz with some Cade Cooper sprinkled in.

Muñoz ran for 65 yards on 17 attempts.

Cooper’s eight carries got him 53 yards.

Snodgrass toted it 2 times for 97 yards.

He and Long also led the team with five tackles apiece.

The night likely ended a run of four straight starts at the QB position for Snodgrass.

Prior to Oct. 8, the senior had never played the position in his football life.

Jax Sternberger is expected to return from injury this week.

“We asked a lot of Slade,” said Myers. “We put him in a tough position and he responded. We wouldn’t be in this position if it weren’t for him.”

Kingfisher’s position sees it entering the final week of the regular season with a playoff spot already secure, but still jockeying for position.

The Jackets, now 6-3 overall and 4-2 in District 3A-1, host Anadarko for “Senior Night” this Friday.

The Warriors are 4-5 overall, but have an identical 4-2 district mark, meaning the winner of this contest takes third in the district and the loser fourth.

“We still have some things to play for,” Myers said of the game. “We’re going to be healthier than we have been the last month and this could be the last time our seniors play on their home field.

“We want to make it as memorable a night as possible.”