Yellowjackets lock it up
Week 10 victory over Anadarko secures playoff spot
KHS LINEMAN Daniel Guerrero (50) holds up the football after recovering a fumble during the second quarter of last week’s game. The takeaway led to a KHS touchdown just before half, giving the Yellowjackets a two-touchdown lead in what turned into a 31-
The threat of losing was still a long way away, but Kingfisher’s collective backs were against the proverbial wall.
That’s when Dallen Barton stepped up.
On a night when seniors were recognized before the game, Barton provided the spark in what turned into a 31-13 home victory last Friday against Anadarko.
After the Warriors marched 80 yards on their opening drive to stake a 7-0 lead, the Jackets needed an answer to ignite their side of the stadium.
Barton delivered an 88yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the ensuing play, tying a game that KHS dominated the rest of the night.
“That was a huge play,” interim head coach Stan Blundell said after the game. “They were down 7-0 and needed to make something good happen.
“We played pretty well after that.”
The win moved the Jackets to 4-6 as they concluded their regular season. It’s just the second time since 2000 that KHS has had a sub-.500 regular season.
More importantly, though, Kingfisher’s playoff streak is still alive.
The victory gave the Jackets a 4-3 district mark.
North Rock Creek’s 40-7 loss at Metro Christian and McLoud’s 54-13 win over Mount St. Mary gave NRC and McLoud similar 4-3 district marks.
Those three teams vied for the final two district spots and since neither team swept the other two, the tie-breaker came down to district points.
KHS proved the victor in that category with 40, therefore earning third place.
North Rock Creek had 12 points while McLoud finished with minus-8.
That gave NRC the fourth and final spot in the playoffs from 3A-1.
With a loss, KHS would have missed out on the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
“I’m really proud of them,” Blundell said. “Especially with everything that’s happened this season.”
Barton’s kickoff return didn’t instantly make the Jackets catch fire.
It took the offense much of the first half to get going, but finally found the end zone when the senior tailback had a clear opening from a yard out with 2:40 to go.
The score was set up by a 40-yard screen pass from Jhett Birdwell to Barton.
The Warriors didn’t have an answer as Kasen Blair picked off Jacobi Talent on the Warriors’ next possession.
The Jackets didn’t capitalize, but still had another takeaway in them.
Daniel Guerrero was in pursuit of Talent on Anadarko’s next possession when Talent lost possession.
Guerrero jumped on it to give KHS the ball at the Anadarko 25 with 23 seconds left in the half.
This time Kingfisher did take advantage.
With just 4 seconds left in the half, Birdwell fired a shot to Jackson Willbanks, who made the 13-yard scoring reception for a 21-7 halftime lead.
The Jackets made it 34-7 by the end of the third quarter.
Jake Sisk booted a 26yard field goal and Barton added another 1-yard scoring run.
This time his TD was set up by his 58-yard run to inside the 5.
Barton did it all for the Jackets.
On their first drive of the day, he completed a halfback pass of 40 yards to Damien Haynes.
His 12 rushing attempts netted 100 yards.
All told - between rushing, receiving, passing and kickoff returns - Barton accounted for 288 yards and three touchdowns.
Still not done, he also led the team with 12 tackles.
The Jackets also got 10 tackles from Jose Santoyo while Jairo Velarde and Ethan Karcher had six each.
Kingfisher only gave up 64 rushing yards to the Warriors on their 24 attempts.
Talent was 23 of 33 for 180 yards.
The Jackets had three takeaways overall.
The offense accounted for 349 total yards.
Birdwell was 7 of 15 for 128 yards.
Jake Reagan had two big catches for 46 yards, both times moving the first down chains.
Haynes’ two catches tallied 49 yards while Willbanks also caught two total passes for 23 yards.
The run game produced 181 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per carry.
Senior Ethan Karcher contributed nine carries for 35 yards.
The Jackets begin their playoff quest Friday at Sulphur.
The Bulldogs are 7-3 overall and finished second in District 3A-2 behind Heritage Hall. The Bulldogs were 6-1 in district games.
They’re coming off a 30-20 win over Plainview in Week 10.