Chieftains fall to Sandites 64-54 in Highway 97 Rivalry season opener

The Sapulpa Chieftains scored 54 points against the Sand Springs Sandites Friday evening to open the 2024 high school football season. Unfortunately for the boys in blue, the Sandites put up 64 points of their own.

The 2023 edition of the Highway 97 Rivalry proved a contest of surprises, not the least of which was the combined 118 points. With a temperature of 95 degrees at a kickoff that was delayed an hour due to the heat, it was the Sandite defense that burned the Chieftain offense first. After the Chieftain defense held the Sandite offense scoreless on the game’s first possession, Sand Springs’ Gatlin Gunn scooped up a fumbled Chieftain punt on Sapulpa’s first offensive drive, taking it to the end zone and giving the Sandites a 7-0 lead at the 7:24 mark of the first quarter.