Despite the final score that showed Sand Springs winning Friday’s game with the Ponca City Wildcats 35-10, it was the Ponca City defensive unit that Coach Scott Harmon singled out for praise.

“I am really proud of the defensive effort,” Harmon said. “They kept us in the game. The game was very close except for at the very end. They wore us down some and at the end were able to expand their margin.” To Harmon’s point about the

To Harmon’s point about the game being close most of the way, the first quarter was scoreless. Sand Springs scored a touchdown in the early stages of the second quarter, but that was it as the half ended with the Sandites leading 7-0. In the third quarter, each team added seven points and the score was 14-7 until the Sandites scored with 56 seconds remaining in the period. Ponca City scored a field goal and the Sandites added 14 points to flesh out the final score.

Highlighting the defensive effort was a goal-line stand in the first quarter when Sand Springs had the ball at the Ponca City one-yard line and failed to score. On two consecutive plays the Wildcats forced a fumble with Sand Springs recovering the first and the Wildcats pouncing on the second in the end zone to stop the scoring threat.

Sand Springs’ only first half touchdown was set up by a Ponca City fumble on a punt which gave the Sandites the ball on the Wildcat 36. The visitors were able to punch the ball into the end zone five plays later.

Another Sand Springs touchdown involved the special teams as Jamon Sisco returned a Ponca City kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. And yet another Sandite score was set up by a series of penalties against the Wildcats which put the ball deep into Wildcat territory.

Ponca City’s offense struggled at times, but Harmon’s team is regrouping with the loss of starting quarterback Grant Harmon who is sidelined with a shoulder injury. Grant Harmon is liekly to be on the sidelines for several weeks.

“People know we have some offensive limitations right now and they are playing accordingly and trying to take advantage of that,” Harmon said. The coach had indicated earlier that the Wildcats will be a quarterback by committee team for awhile.

But a plus Friday was that sophomore running back Cameron Jackson had another good night. He carried the ball for more than 200 yards in the Wildcats’ 23-22 win over Tulsa McLain and Friday he continued running well, picking up 170 yards on 20 carries. He accounted for almost all of Ponca City’s 185 yards gained rushing.

Ponca City gained 56 yards through the air with quarterback Aiden Wetzel completing two passes for 56 yards and quarterback Nate Harbeson completing six passes for 28 yards and one touchdown.

The Wildcats are preparing for their second district contest which will be Friday at Choctaw. The Yellowjackets are new to the district, but showed their mettle Friday with a 26-22 win over Booker T. Washington.

Among area games Friday, Woodland defeated Caney Valley and Pawnee topped Hominy.

WOODLAND 46, CANEY VALLEY 6

FAIRFAX -- The Woodland Cougars added another win to their record Friday by whipping Caney Valley 46-6. It was the first district game for both teams.

The game was never in doubt as the Cougars took charge early and pretty much dominated play.

Quarterback Nate Lockert, who has been a real force this year for the Cougars, had one touchdown as he rushed six times for 79 yards. He completed one pass for 52 yards.

Running back Jake Kennedy rushed 15 times for 108 yards and two touchdowns, fullback Ben Brock rushed seven times for 36 yards and two touchdowns, and wide receiver Mason Dysart had one reception for 28 yards and one touchdown and two two-point conversion receptions.

Reserve quarterback Aidan Rhodes carried the ball seven times for 30 yards and completed three of four passes for 67 yards and one touchdown.

The Cougars are 4-0 on the season and have a big game at Pawnee Oct. 2

PAWNEE 36, HOMINY 0

HOMINY -- The Pawnee Black Bears began district play Friday with a 36-0 shutout over the Hominy Bucks.

Pawnee led 14-0 after the first quarter and 30-0 at the half.

half. Blake Skidgel got the Black Bears on the scoreboard with a 34-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Trevor Mitchell ran for two points to gve Pawnee an 8-0 lead. Two minutes later, Mitchell ran 26 yards for a touchdown, but the two-point attempt failed to make the score 14-0. Skidgel score two more times, on a 20-yard run in the second quarter and on a one-yarder in the third quarter. Nicky Caesar ran 19 yards for the other Bear touchdown. Skidgel completed passes to Mitchell and Caesar for twopoint conversions.

Trevor Mitchell carried the ball 22 times for 159 yards. Skidgell had 16 rushes for 150 yards. Caesar run six times for 51 yards and Jake Mitchell had six carries for 40 yards. Pawnee had 435 yards total offense to Hominy’s 146.

An early season district showdown will be next Frdiay when Pawnee hosts the unbeaten Woodland Cougars. Pawnee is now 3-1 on the season.