Okmulgee County’s high school football teams made their presence felt in the first round of the playoffs on Friday, Nov. 15, with dominant performances by Beggs, Wilson and Dewar, while Henryetta’s valiant effort fell short against a tough Salina squad. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the action.

— Dragons destroy Depew in 60-0 shutout The Dewar Dragons, led by Coach Josh Been, delivered a resounding victory against the Depew Hornets on Friday, November 15, 2024, in the first round of the Class B-1 playoffs. Playing in front of an energized home crowd, the Dragons secured a 60-0 win with a masterful performance on both sides of the ball.

— First Quarter: A Scoring Frenzy

The Dragons wasted no time making their mark. On Depew’s opening drive, Ben Atoigue intercepted a pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown. Bentley Thrall added the extra point, putting Dewar on the scoreboard with a 7-0 lead.

Dewar’s first offensive possession began at 9:40 in the first quarter, and quarterback Peyton Kilhoffer quickly found Braelin Lewis for a 20-yard touchdown pass just four seconds later. Thrall’s PAT extended the lead to 14-0.

The Dragons continued to dominate as Cash Faulkner broke free for a 30-yard run, setting up a 29-yard touchdown scamper by Lewis at the 7:50 mark. Thrall’s reliable kicking made it 21-0.

Moments later, Jo Jo Waters intercepted a Depew pass, positioning Dewar’s offense near midfield. Kilhoffer capitalized with a 43-yard strike to Dakoda Smith for another touchdown. Waters then converted the two-point attempt, bringing the score to 29-0 with 6:54 left in the quarter.

Thrall’s 32-yard run set up Lewis for a 1-yard touchdown plunge, followed by another PAT from Thrall to increase the lead to 36-0. A late field goal before the end of the quarter put the Dragons up 39-0 as the first quarter closed.

— Second Quarter: Sealing the Victory

With a commanding lead, Coach Been began rotating in younger players, but the Dragons’ defense continued to shine. At 6:41 in the second quarter, Malachi Brown intercepted another Depew pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. Thrall converted a two-point attempt to make it 47-0.

Brown wasn’t finished. With 4:01 left in the half, he snagged another interception at the 15-yard line. On the ensuing play, Brown powered into the end zone on a 15-yard run. Braxton England added a two-point conversion to extend the lead to 54-0.

Freshman quarterback Bentley Thrall capped the Dragons’ offensive showcase with a final touchdown run with just 1:30 left in the half, closing the scoring at 60-0.

— A Look Ahead

The Dragons’ flawless execution in all phases of the game secured their place in the OSSAA State Quarterfinals. With an 11-0 record, Dewar now prepares to host Turpin (10-1) in a highly anticipated matchup on Friday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m.

The Dewar Dragons are poised to keep their championship hopes alive. Fans are encouraged to pack the stands and cheer on the Dragons as they aim for another dominant performance in the playoffs.

— Beggs crushes Goldbugs on the road

The Beggs Golden Demons traveled to Alva and delivered a commanding 43-0 shutout, showcasing their offensive firepower and defensive dominance. Quarterback play and a strong rushing attack overwhelmed the Goldbugs early, while Beggs’ defense allowed no room for Alva to mount a response. With the victory, Beggs improves to 9-2 on the season and advances to face the undefeated Vian Wolverines (11-0) on November 22. Vian, coming off a 38-7 win over Kansas, will provide a formidable challenge in what promises to be a thrilling Class 2A-II matchup.

— Tigers roar past Davenport in Round 1

The Wilson Tigers put on a clinic against the Davenport Bulldogs, securing a 52-7 victory in front of their home crowd. The Tigers’ balanced attack, spearheaded by star performances on both sides of the ball, left little doubt about their playoff ambitions.

The Tigers, now 9-1, advance to face the Okeene Whippets (10-1) in the second round. Okeene earned their spot with a 58-26 win over Alex. Wilson led by a strong defense and explosive offense, will need to maintain their momentum to secure a spot in the Class B-I semifinals.

— Knights fall to Salina in home-game heartbreaker

In a hard-fought battle, the Henryetta Knights’ season came to an end with a 26-12 loss to the Salina Wildcats. The Knights fought valiantly, but Salina’s dynamic offense proved too much. Henryetta, finishing the season at 8-3, showed grit throughout the year under Coach Weston McGill.

Salina, now 7-4, will meet the undefeated Stroud Tigers (12-0) in the second round. Stroud is coming off a dominant 45-12 victory over Community Christian, setting the stage for another tough playoff bout.

— Round 1 Results Class B-I

• Laverne 51, Snyder 0

• Caddo 47, Foyil 0

• Yale 46, Savanna 0

• Garber 36, Empire 8

• Hollis 46, Pond Creek-Hunter 0

• Drumright 20, Keota 0

• Dewar 60, Depew 0

• Turpin 56, Waurika 6 — Class B-II

• Seiling 66, Thackerville 6

• Cherokee 36, Copan 8

• Covington-Douglas 56, Wesleyan Christian 0

• Shattuck 44, Wetumka 20

• Weleetka 54, Boise City 6

• Waukomis 56, Webbers Falls 6

• Wilson 54, Davenport 7

• Okene 58, Alex 26 — Class 2A-II

• Stroud 45, Community Christian 12

• Salina 26, Henryetta 12

• Adair 44, Antlers 14

• Davis 48, Hennessey 34

• Holdenville 38, Luther 14

• Colcord 40, Valliant 0

• Vian 38, Kansas 7

• Beggs 43, Alva 0 – Okmulgee County fans are in for another exciting week as these teams aim to bring home victories and continue their playoff journeys.