TULSA -- There were three differing segments to Friday’s game between Booker T. Washington and the Ponca City Wildcats.

Booker T. dominated the first quarter and led 13-0 at the end of the period. The second quarter was Ponca City’s as the Wildcats pulled within three at 13-10. But the final segment was the second half, which went Booker T.’s way and the Hornets wound up with a 41-10 victory.

Ponca City kicked off to Washington to start the game. The first play was an incompleted pass. But from that point the Hornets marched 80 yards on eight plays to score a touchdown. Running back Ethan Washington ran the final eight yards of the drive to put his team ahead 6-0. The Hornets tried to catch Ponca City off guard and ran a two-point conversion attempt but it was no good. Quarterback Lathan Boone did most of the heavy lifting on Booker T.’ s opening drive, completing two passes for 17 yards and running the ball three times for 41 yards.

Ponca City’s first possession was three and out as the Wildcat’s could muster only four yards. After a punt Booker T. took the ball at the 30 and drove 70 yards for another touchdown. This drive took nine plays. DJ McKinney had a big run at the end to register six points on a 33-yard carry. Washington was the workhorse on this drive carrying the ball five times. The kick on the point after was good to give the Hornets a 13-0 lead.

Once again Ponca City was three and out. The Wildcats’ punt was blocked and Booker T. got the ball as the 32 yards line. It looked like the Hornets were going to score quickly as on the first play a pass from Boone to Micah Tease got the ball to the 17. After that however, the Hornets were hit by multiple penalties, a malady that was going to hurt them throughout the second quarter. This possession ended with them punting the ball to Ponca City, which took over at its own 10. The Wildcats earned two first downs, their first of the game, but then punted after failing to earn the third. A Washington punt returner didn’t field the ball cleanly and Ponca City was able to cover the ball at the Hornets’ 32. Aided by a couple key penalties, Ponca City got the ball deep into Hornet territory and when its drive stalled, kicker Kayden Anderson booted a 22-yard field goal to give the Wildcats their first points.

The next Booker T. drive was stalled both by the Wildcats’ defense and more penalties, forcing a punt. Ponca City took possession at the Hornets’ 46 yard line and six plays later had a touchdown. Blake Bristow scored on a nine-yard carry. Bristow ran the ball five of Ponca City’s six plays on the drive. Again two penalties, including a pass interference call, aided the Wildcats’ effort. Anderson added the kick and the Wildcats trailed by only three 13-10 with 2:13 left in the half.

Booker T. was unable to do much offensively the remainder of the half and the score was 13-10 at the end.

Ponca City got the ball to start the second half, but went three and out punting the ball away. It took the Hornets only three plays to move 53 yards for a touchdown. A 27-yard pass from Boone to Jordan Drew was good for six points. With the kick, BTW led 20-10.

An interception set up the Hornets next touchdown. Gentry Williams picked off a Tay Moore pass and returned it to the Ponca City 12. McKinney was dropped for a four-yard loss on the first play of the drive, but then Boone scooted 16 yards for a touchdown. A kick made the score 27-10.

Ponca City had a promising drive on its next possession, which was aided by two pass interference calls against the Hornets. But the drive eventually bogged down and the Wildcats attempted a field goal, which was a bit wide.

The third quarter ended at 27-10, but seven plays into the fourth period, the Hornets scored again. This time Washington ran for a yard touchdown. With 9:05 left in the game, the conversion kick made the score 34-10.

Ponca City again went three and out, punting the ball away. Booker T. scored its final touchdown six plays later as Boone ran the final eight yards. The kick put things at 41-10 with 4:13 remaining.

Ponca City was forced to punt after another three and out, and it appeared the score was going be worse when McKinney returned the punt 55 yards to the end zone. However, a holding penalty wiped out the touchdown and the Hornets held the ball the remaining 2:32 of the game.

The loss gives Ponca City a 3-5 overall record and a 2-3 record in district play. It would appear that the Wildcats’ playoff hopes were dashed by Friday’s loss. Booker T. now is 6-2 on the year and 4-1 in district play.