Lions leave Mustangs in the dust
Keota’s football team scored 50 unanswered points to throttle previously unbeaten Arkoma 64-14 at home on Oct. 13.
Arkoma (6-1) challenged Keota (4-3) early in the game. After Keota scored on a long pass from Trevor Bryant to Knute Dumas, the Mustangs closed the gap to 8-6 with a short touchdown pass.
Bryant gave the Lions a 14-6 edge with a two-yard touchdown run with 54 seconds left in the opening period.
The Mustangs used screen passes to march quickly down the field before scoring early in the second quarter on a Seth Key touchdown run to tie the game. Shortly thereafter, Bryant ran 16 yards for a touchdown, his second of four rushing touchdowns.
Responding to Arkoma’s success with screen passes, Keota moved Bryant to help cover receivers.
“We made a few adjustments before half. Then, at halftime, we sat down and explained it to the kids. In the second half, it helped shut them down on defense,” Keota coach Eric Henry said.
That helped shorten Arkoma’s next drive, as two screen passes fell short of a first down near midfield. Then, Keota stopped two running plays, forcing a turnover on downs. With 6:59 left in the first half, Bryant dove over Arkoma’s linemen for a touchdown, giving Keota a 30-14 edge.
Bryant pitched a 52-yard touchdown pass to Dumas with 38 seconds left in the half, allowing the Lions to enter the locker room leading 38-14.
“They stacked the box against us. They put everyone up and attacked us. You can run, run and run. It draws them tight and then we’re able to go over the top and loosen things up,” Henry said.
Four minutes into the third quarter, Bryant ran 13 yards for a touchdown. After forcing Arkoma to turn it over on downs for the second time inside Keota’s 20-yard line, Dumas dashed 80 yards for a touchdown.
Logan Scoggins recovered the ensuing onside kick for Keota. A few plays later, Garren Drummonds ran 24 yards for a score. Dumas returned his second interception 71 yards. That set up the game-ending score, a one-yard touchdown run by Keota lineman Kevin McKenzie.
Dumas finished with 163 yards rushing, 130 yards receiving and 19 tackles. Bryant ran for 165 yards, threw for 160 yards and had eight tackles. Kaleb Heffner had five tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery.
After toppling its main competitor for the district crown, Keota now prepares for its Oct. 21 homecoming game against Gans, the other team with a 2-0 district record. The Grizzlies (4-3) come off their biggest offensive output of the year in a 46-24 home win against Porum. Henry hopes to see the Lions stay focused on getting a key win.
“On homecoming, there are going to be distractions. Gans is going in 2-0 and we’ve got to win that next game or we take a step back on that ladder,” he said.