Star struck down by Jackets

Much like its contest at Heritage Hall, Kingfisher’s matchup with Star Spencer last Friday was a bit different than the final score might suggest.

KHS returned home last Friday to defeat Star Spencer 41-22 and keep alive its playoff hopes.

That came eight days after the Jackets were defeated 46-23 at Heritage Hall. In that game, the Jackets were within 10 points entering the final quarter before the Chargers tacked on a pair of late touchdowns.

Against Star Spencer, it was never close.

KHS took just 18 offensive snaps, led 35-0 at halftime and pushed it to 41-0 when freshman Daxx Compton took the second half kickoff 84 yards to the house.

The clock ran the entirety of the second half and the Bobcats pieced together a pair of scoring drives and also returned a punt for a touchdown against Kingfi sher’s reserves.

“We expected to be able to handle them, but it was even more lopsided than we thought going in,” said KHS coach Reagan Roof. “We caught them on a tough week for them because they were on fall break and had fewer kids than they normally do.”

Kingfisher was at full strength and led 14-0 after taking just three offensive snaps and gaining only 40 yards.

After holding the Bobcats to a three-and-out, Kingfisher watched Star Spencer’s punt pick up negative yardage, setting up the Jackets 30 yards from the end zone.

Jhett Birdwell pitched forward to a sweeping Santiago Ortega on the first snap and the latter found the end zone after evading one tackle in the backfield.

Star Spencer’s next possession saw the Bobcats fumble the punt snap, giving Kingfisher the ball at the 10.

The Jackets needed two carries from freshman Brett Calamateo to score with the TD coming on a 6- yard run.

On the next drive, Birdwell found Jackson Willbanks for a 69-yard touchdown pass.

Compton took care of the Jackets’ next three scores.

The first was a 39-yard run around the left side of the line as he went untouched into the end zone for a 28-0 lead with 4:25 left in the half.

Willbanks blocked Star Spencer’s punt on the next possession and Compton capped a 30-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run.

Kingfisher had 230 yards of offense on just 12 snaps in the first half (they lost yardage on six second- half offensive plays).

Compton came out of the break with his long kickoff return.

Despite just five carries on the night, Compton had 95 rushing yards.

Calamateo added 18 yards on four attempts and Abe Prieto, who played quarterback in the second half, picked up nine yards on two carries.

Birdwell completed all three of his pass attempts for 117 yards and two scores.

Ryker Long led the defense with five total tackles.

KHS moved to 3-4 on the season and 2-2 in District 3A-1 games as it heads to the “business” part of its schedule.

The Jackets head to fifth-ranked North Rock Creek on Friday night.

If they win their three remaining games, the Jackets will undoubtedly qualify for the playoffs.

Anything short of two wins most likely leaves KHS at home for the postseason for the first time since 1999.

Kingfisher’s last two games are at home against Anadarko (5-2, 2-2) and No. 6 Plainview (6-1, 3-1).

North Rock Creek’s lone district loss to date was 35-20 to Heritage Hall in Week 4. It plays Plainview in Week 9.

The Cougars feature running back Caleb Hawkins, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior who is committed to North Texas.

“They’re right there with the likes of Pauls Valley,” Roof said, noting the Cougars beat Pauls Valley 41-34 in overtime two weeks after the Jackets let a big lead slip away in a 43-40 loss to the Panthers.

“They are a good, tough team, but it’s one I feel we can be right there. We’ve been ‘right there’ in a few tough games this year, but haven’t beaten this type of team yet.

“We have to do it now.”