Horns present path to easy win
Struggling Chisholm no match as KHS rolls to 48-8 victory
KINGFISHER LINEMEN Wrigley Kennedy (far right) and Braxton Shellstrom (far left) help clear a big hole for Cade Cooper (20) during last Friday’s win at Chisholm. Cooper ran for 117 yards and two TDs and also scored on a kickoff return for the Jackets. [
KINGFISHER’S SLADE SNODGRASS (4) closes in for a tackle in the backfield during Kingfisher’s 48-8 win at Chisholm last week. Snodgrass had five tackles and also returned a punt for a touchdown. [Photo by Chris Simon/www.simon-sports-photos.smugmug.com
Overmatched and overwhelmed.
The former was Chisholm’s situation heading into its Week 2 matchup with Kingfisher last Friday night.
The latter was its fate just a few minutes in.
KHS moved to 2-1 entering a week off with a 48-8 road win in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score and could have been even more lopsided.
The Jackets scored on every first-half possession, had two special teams touchdowns and didn’t allow the Longhorns to reach positive yardage until the fourth quarter.
“They’re struggling a bit right now” KHS head coach Jeff Myers said of the Longhorns. “We just wanted to go in, take care of business and get out as healthy as we went in there.”
The Jackets did go in somewhat short-handed.
They were without three players - Dallen Barton, Tanner Parker and Aaron DeLaTorre - two of which haven’t suited up yet this season.
KHS also went into Friday without two-way starter Kyle Borelli (back) and with a limited Alan Muñoz.
Muñoz leads the team in rushing and starts at inside linebacker, but was limited to kicking extra-points as he nurses a heel injury.
Backup quarterback Paytun Burnham also was out of action after suffering a concussion in the game the previous Monday.
“We’ve been a little banged up and we didn’t want to add to it,” Myers said. “At the same time, we still needed to take care of our business early and not give them any hope.”
That mission was ac complished as KHS led 20-0 after a quarter and 41-0 at halftime.
Jax Sternberger attempted just three passes all night - none after the first quarter.
He completed all three, one of which was a 26- yard touchdown to Cade Covalt on the Jackets’ first possession.
After Isaac Long recovered a fumble on Chisholm’s next possession, Cade Cooper scored the first of three touchdowns on the night.
This one was a 4-yard run for a 14-0 lead at 4:30 of the first.
He added a 62-yard burst on a one-play drive at 9:10 of the second quarter.
That gave the Jackets a 34-0 lead.
With Muñoz not taking any offensive snaps, the bulk of the first-half running load fell to Cooper.
The junior responded with 117 yards on just 11 carries.
“We needed him to step up since he was the primary back and he did that,” Myers said.
Kingfisher also got TD runs of 18 yards from Sternberger and 2 yards from Harrison Evans in the first half.
Sandwiched between them was a 47-yard punt return from senior Slade Snodgrass.
Kingfisher’s defense forced six punts and got one takeaway in the first half.
By halftime, the Longhorns had minus-30 rushing yards and one passing yard and were without a first down.
By that time, KHS was playing a large amount of reserves.
It was almost exclusively reserves in the second half with the exception of Sternberger (no backup quarterback) and center Noah Friesen.
Sternberger spent the entire second half handing it off for simple run plays. Jairo Velarde got a bulk of those.
Chisholm scored its first points of the game - and the season - when QB Jackson Caddell snuck in from 2 yards out with 8:13 to play.
After a two-point conversion, the Longhorns were within 41-8.
The momentum was short-lived, however, as Cooper took the ensuing kickoff 84 yards untouched for a score.
“The game was already essentially over, but I’m going to coach our kids hard for the entire game, no matter who it is,” Myers said. “I’m glad they continued to play hard no matter who it was and what the scoreboard said.”
The Longhorns eventually ended their night with 89 total yards.
Jake Reagan, who got his first start at defensive end, led the team with eight tackles.
Snodgrass added five while Ayden Varnell and Long took part in four tackles apiece.
The Jackets don’t play this week.
They’ll return to action Sept. 24 when they host Bridge Creek for homecoming.
It will also signify the start of District 3A-1 play.
“It’s been a solid start for us,” Myers said. “We’ve had the chance to figure out some guys who are ready to step in and play bigger roles for us and other areas where we need to continue to improve.
“The week off will be good for us to nurse some injuries and hopefully come back ready for our district slate much closer to full strength.”