Apache, OK
Friday night in Apache, Oklahoma, the Warriors and Blue Devils battled it out in a district matchup. Both teams were searching for some momentum halfway through the season to carry them and attempt to make a run at the post season. Defense and penalties played a huge role in this one as it wasn’t a clean game from either team.
Apache scored first in the game and took a 6-0 lead with 7:01 remaining in the first quarter. Walters created the first turnover of the game when Apache fumbled the ball late in the first. A missed Blue Devils field goal would end the first quarter and the Warriors remained on top.
Walters started the second off with an interception and after an added 15 yards off a penalty, started with the ball on their own 43-yard line. After two more Walters’ interceptions, the Blue Devils finally found the endzone with a one-yard touchdown rush from #30, Clay Graham, and tied the ball game.
With just 35 seconds left in the first half, the Warriors hit paydirt again on a one-yard rush from #10, Triton Ivy. The half ended on an interception from #20, Nick Lindsey, of the Warriors and Apache would head into the locker room up 12-6.
Early in the half, however, a small skirmish ensued as shoves were traded and a couple of punches thrown. This led to a player from each side being ejected and a chippy game followed. Head coach of the Warriors, Larry McDaniel, had this to say about his teams’ discipline.
“We just have to do a better job”, said McDaniel, “We can’t do that against the upper teams in the district. That will be something we talk about Sunday.”
The second half started slow for both teams. After trading punts and turnovers in the third quarter, the score remained 12-6 heading into the final frame.
The fourth quarter was all Apache. Early in the fourth, Apache pushed Walters all the back inside the five-yard line and blocked a punt that rolled out the back of the endzone and was ruled a safety. That made it 14-6 with 11:13 remaining. The Warriors would block another punt later in the quarter. They would also add two more scores and cause another turnover to finish the game strong. Apache won 28-6 and is now 2-3 (1-1 A-4).
McDaniel had this to say about his teams’ performance.
“We struggled putting points on the board early… came out in the second half and played much better. We consider special teams apart of our defense and we take a lot of pride in our defense.”
Apache heads to Mangum next week.
Walters will face Hobart at home next Friday.
We will see you in two weeks, under the lights. – Greydon Buhlig
