It was senior night and the Ponies were playing their last home game of the season against the Morris Eagles, who’s record of 3-5 had us hoping for a win. Up until a pivotal moment in the 4th quarter, it looked as though Kellyville was going to get that win.
The usual suspects were easy to find on the Pony offensive line: Pickering, Beem and Hutchins running the ball and Ayres acting as QB. This game saw some nice plays by Freshman Jeramy Hicks as well, and good kicking by Junior Hector Garcia.
Right out of the gate, you could tell it was going to be tough. Morris scored their first TD on their first possession, just a few minutes into the game by way of a pass to No. 15 (name unknown). Then they added insult to injury with a 2-point conversion, leading the Ponies 8-0.
Ponies answered with a nice run by Pickering, who ran it all the way down to the 2 yard line, at which point Hutchins ran it into the end zone for 6, followed by Freshman Jeramy Hicks running it in for 2 points, tying it up.
At this point, Kellyville defense stepped it up and forced a punt, which Hutchins ran all the way down the field for another Kellyville TD. While Garcia came on the field as though they were going to punt, Pickering picked it up and ran it in for another 2 points. Kellyville was now leading 16-8, and we weren’t even through the first quarter.
Morris Senior Logan Stacy was the standout player for the visiting team, and he started proving it right here with a 60 yard run into the end zone, bringing up Morris up to 14. They tried for two and failed.
Deep into the 1st quarter, Kellyville fumbled the ball and Morris took over, eventually going for a field goal that didn’t pan out.
After more back and forth, Morris scored again just before the half, and with a 2-point conversion they went into the locker rooms leading 22 to Kellyville’s 16.
There were two very pivotal moments in the game for Kellyville. The first one was thanks to a high snap by Morris on a 4th and 15, which led to Kellyville getting the ball back at the Morris 1 yard line. Hicks ran it in on the next play and the kick brought Kellyville back in the lead at 23-22.
Snap is high! Eagles take it to the 1 yard line. Kville will take it there!
— Sapulpa Times (@sapulpatimes) October 20, 2017
The other one comes along in the fourth quarter, but we’ll get to that.
Morris takes the ball and hands off to Stacy again and again, except this time it leads to a flag and at 2nd and 17 they tried for a pass and it was intercepted by Kellyville. A handoff to Pickering and he runs it in, plus a kick that puts Kellyville at 30 to Morris’ 22. We’re about done with the 3rd quarter.
Morris scores but misses the attempt at 2 points, so they’re still trailing Kellyville 30 – 28. They then do an onside kick that, amazingly, works for them and Morris recovers the ball at the Kellyville 38 yard line. An offsides penalty on Kellyville gives Morris the yards they need to make it into the end zone, but they missed the 2 point attempt again. 34-30 Morris.
3rd quarter horn blows. Start of the 4th.
Kellyville picked up enough personal foul flags at this point that the audience is hollering for them to “get back in the huddle” before they get into more trouble.
Pickering grabs another TD and the kick is good. Kellyville now leading in the fourth at 37 to 34. Morris can’t seem to make their running game stick and just miss out on a first down. By this time, the crowd is roaring. We’re late into the 4th quarter, and it looks like the Ponies are going to win it.
And here’s the other pivotal moment: Pickering and Hutchins hustle to get the ball down the field, a few yards at a time, despite penalties. Two yards forward, 5 yards back. We’re now at 2nd and 12, and the ball is handed off to Hutchins. As he tries to run down the middle, one of the Morris defenders just straight up snatches the ball out of his hands. Ponies are in such shock that we can’t catch him. Morris scores, and with the kick, they’re leading 41-37.
Fumble and the ball is just yanked out of Hutchins hands, Morris runs it down for a TD.
— Sapulpa Times (@sapulpatimes) October 20, 2017
The biggest problem is that there’s now just 2 minutes left in the game and Kellyville doesn’t have enough time to run the ball down the field. Not with the Morris defense the way it is. But they’ll try to get us close. Ponies are only able to make to the 46 yard line, before they’re forced to change it up. Freshman Colton Ayres tries twice to throw a pass, but they both fail, the second sailing over Carson Brown’s head.
We’re down to under a minute when Morris takes the ball. They run the clock out and take home the win, much to the chagrin of a dejected team and stadium.
Kellyville is now at 4 – 4. They play Okmulgee on the 27th.
This will be Sapulpa Times’ last live-coverage of a Kellyville game this season.
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Featured image courtesy of Chelsey Roth Photography.
