Coming into Friday’s clash with Durant, Sapulpa’s super-charged offense had put up 148 points while surrendering 127 points on the defensive side of the ball, notching wins in two of the three games, all against Class 6A-II opposition.
The homecoming crowd at Collins Stadium on Friday evening was treated to Chieftain dominance on both sides of the ball in Sapulpa’s authoritative 56-0 thrashing of the Durant Lions.
In both team’s district opener, Durant (2-2, 0-1) crossed midfield only twice during the first half. The Lions’ only serious scoring threat came early in the third quarter when a field goal attempt on 4th and goal at the Chieftain 10 yard line ended in vain on a bobbled snap that was recovered by the Chieftains at the Sapulpa 30 yard line. The series also proved to be the Lions’ longest drive of the evening, gobbling up six minutes of the third stanza. Sapulpa (3-1, 1-0) capitalized on the miscue two plays later when Sapulpa quarterback Colton Howard rushed in for a Chieftain touchdown from the Durant 20 yard line.
The Chieftains scored seemingly at will, with Sapulpa running back Marco Smith adding two rushing touchdowns to his 2023 tally. Howard bagged a rushing touchdown of his own in addition to three touchdown tosses to Kylen Edwards, David Richardson, and Dakota Chaney. Blake Hurt added one rushing score to the count, while the Sapulpa defense lit up the scoreboard with a Christian Sonich scoop and score on a blocked Durant punt. Sapulpa’s kicking game hit the mark, with Cavin Pepper going a perfect 8 for 8 on extra point attempts.
Sapulpa took a 28-0 lead into the half. After the Chieftain defense held the Lions to a three and out at the Durant 13 yard line on the game’s first series, Howard needed only one play and 12 seconds to draw first blood on a 52 yard strike to Edwards to put the Chieftains up 7-0 with 10:08 left in the first quarter.
The home team took a 14-0 lead on their next possession when Smith found the endzone on a five yard rush with 5:14 left in the opening frame.
After Durant crept across midfield to the Chieftain 48 yard line on the Lions’ next possession, Sapulpa scored on a 63 yard toss from Howard to Richardson to put the Chieftains up 21-0 with 11:49 left in the second quarter.
After a Lion holding penalty and a tackle for loss by Sapulpa linebacker Logan Hicks on a Durant reverse resulted in a net loss of one yard on Durant’s next possession, Sapulpa looked primed to add to its lead at the 7:16 mark of the second quarter. However, Durant defensive back Jaylon Saxon picked off a Howard pass at the Lions’ two yard line to end the Chieftain scoring threat.
After Durant’s next possession advanced no further than the Lions’ own 19 yard line, Sapulpa marched 53 yards to put the contest at 28-0 with 58 seconds left in the first half when Howard found an open Dakota Chaney in the endzone.
The Chieftains took the opening kickoff of the second half 81 yards in two plays when Smith scored on a one yard rush to put the home team up 35-0 with 11:08 left in the third quarter. The score was set up one play earlier when Smith sprinted 80 yards before being caught by the Lion defense.
Durant looked certain to finally light up the scoreboard on their next possession, marching 52 yards before stalling on fourth and goal at the Chieftain 10 yard line. A bad snap on the Lion field goal attempt landed at the Durant 30 yard line where the Chieftains set up shop. After Howard found Chaney on a 50 yard strike, Howard took care of the remaining 20 yards himself to put Sapulpa up 42-0 with 4:10 left in the third quarter.
Sapulpa’s next score came on Durant’s next possession when Sonich blocked a Durant punt at midfield, scooping up the loose ball at the Lion 40 yard line and finding the endzone to put the home team up 49-0 with 37 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Chieftains closed the book on the contest with 4:02 left in the game when Hurt bagged his first touchdown of the season on a four yard rush to seal the deal at 56-0 for the Chieftains.
The Chieftains travel to Coweta next Friday to take on a Tiger squad coming off a 55-7 pasting of Glenpool before returning home on October 6 to square off against Del City.
