Part 1

-The memories come rushing back as if no time has passed – the chill of an early December evening, the roar of the crowd at Norris Field in Ada, and the unshakable belief that somehow, someway, the Okmulgee Bulldogs were not done yet.

When Coach Dan Sulivant leans back and smiles at the recollection, it’s clear those moments haven’t faded a bit. To the longtime coach, teacher, counselor and mentor even after retirement – that year was a special one, his voice steady but filled with pride.

“We had a group of young men who refused to quit.”

The year was 1975, and Okmulgee High School football was fighting to reclaim its place atop Oklahoma’s storied gridiron tradition. Just six years earlier, in 1969, the Bulldogs had hoisted the state championship trophy, adding to earlier glory in 1947. But in the seasons that followed, heartbreak seemed to haunt their every return to the finals – runner-up finishes in 1971 and 1972 left a bitter taste that only a title could erase.

Now, in the mid-’70s, a new chapter was about to be written one that would test the resilience, character, and sheer determination of a small-town team that refused to let history define them.

— The Rough Beginning

The 1975 season didn’t begin with fireworks or fanfare. It began with losses – hard, humbling ones. Okmulgee opened against powerhouse Muskogee, falling 27-13. A narrow 28-27 win over Bartlesville College High School briefly lifted spirits, but a frustrating 12-10 loss to Tulsa Rogers dropped the Bulldogs to 1-2.

For most teams, that kind of start might have broken confidence. For Sulivant’s Bulldogs, it lit a fire.

Sulivant knew his squad was special, and knew ‘they just had to stop beating themselves up and start believing in what they were capable of.’

That belief began to take shape in Week 4 a turning point that no one in Okmulgee would ever forget.

From that point on, the Bulldogs didn’t lose another game.

— The Streak Begins

It started quietly – a 16-14 win over Tulsa Kelley – but soon snowballed into an unstoppable force. The Bulldogs found their rhythm, anchored by an offense that could beat opponents through the air or on the ground and a defense that delivered when the pressure was highest.

In all, 11 straight wins followed the early stumbles.

The scoreboard told the story of dominance:

• Okmulgee 16, Tulsa Kelley 14

• Okmulgee 20, Sapulpa 13

• Okmulgee 23, Sand Springs 14

• Okmulgee 27, Tulsa Webster 13

• Okmulgee 27, OC Northeast 6 Each week, momentum built. Each victory deepened the sense that something special was happening.

By late October, the Bulldogs were no longer underdogs – they were contenders.

— The Heart of the Team That transformation wasn’t luck. It was built on leadership, grit and sheer talent.

At quarterback was Steve Hunnicutt, a composed field general with a golden arm and ice in his veins. When the Bulldogs needed points, Hunnicutt delivered – whether threading a pass between defenders or calmly nailing a field goal with the game on the line.

In the backfield, the offense had thunder and lightning.

R.C. Morrow, the explosive running back, was the engine of the Okmulgee ground game – piling up more than 1,400 rushing yards over 14 games. His running style blended power and speed; he could break tackles or simply outrun defenders.

Beside him was Bobby Moore, equally dangerous on the ground or catching passes out of the backfield. Moore wasn’t just a contributor – he was a playmaker, responsible for game-turning moments time and again throughout the season.

Up front, the offensive line anchored by Mark Garner and Collis Jones gave their quarterback time and opened lanes for Morrow’s surging runs.

The defense – tough, physical, relentless – was the Bulldogs’ backbone. Donald Lang, Larry Wyatt and Bobby Moore again shined on that side of the ball, coming up with crucial interceptions and fumble recoveries that swung games.

Coach Sulivant often described them as “a blue-collar bunch.” They weren’t flashy – but they worked harder, hit harder and believed deeper than any team around.

— The Playoff Path: Survival & Heart

The road to Ada was anything but easy.

After clinching the conference championship, the Bulldogs entered the playoffs as a confident but battletested squad.

McAlester was the first opponent to fall, 13-0, in a game that showcased Okmulgee’s defense at its best. From there, it was Stillwater, a defensive slugfest that would live in Bulldog legend.

For four quarters, the scoreboard refused to budge. Both defenses stood tall. Both teams refused to break.

In overtime, Okmulgee had the ball first at the Stillwater 10-yard line. Three plays later, the Bulldogs faced fourth down – no room for error.

Coach Sulivant didn’t hesitate. He sent out Hunnicutt.

The quarterback lined up, calm as ever, and drilled a 21-yard field goal through the uprights. Okmulgee led, 3-0.

Then it was Stillwater’s turn. The Pioneers lined up for their own attempt – a chance to tie and force a second overtime.

The snap. The hold. The kick – wide.

Okmulgee’s sideline erupted. The Bulldogs had survived.

That narrow win became a defining moment of the season proof that this team, no matter how tense the situation, would not fold.

But the real test came next.

— The Miracle Against Tulsa Mason In the quarterfinals against Tulsa Mason, the Bulldogs’ dream nearly ended.

The game was a grinder from the start, a backand-forth struggle that tested every ounce of energy the Bulldogs had left. By the fourth quarter, time was running out – and so were Okmulgee’s chances.

Tulsa Mason led 2117.

Hunnicutt had just thrown what looked like the game-ending interception. The Mason crowd erupted, believing their team had sealed the win.

But fate – and Bulldog determination – had other plans.

Okmulgee’s defense dug in, forcing Mason into a fourth down. The Mason punter mishandled the snap, and suddenly the Bulldogs had the ball back – just over a minute to play, no timeouts, and the season on the line.

Coach Sulivant gathered his offense. “This is it,” he told them. “Do what you’ve worked all year to do.”

Hunnicutt took the field and orchestrated a brilliant, methodical drive – short passes, quick runs, every yard earned.

With the clock draining to zero, Hunnicutt dropped back one last time. He spotted Moore breaking free in the corner of the end zone and fired.

Touchdown. As the scoreboard flipped to 23-21, the Bulldogs celebrated in disbelief and joy. They had survived again – this time with no time left on the clock.

It was the kind of game that teams never forget – and that towns talk about for generations.

— The Final Push

Now, only one hurdle remained – the Ardmore Tigers, standing between Okmulgee and a third state title.

It was December, the air crisp and the stakes enormous. Norris Field at East Central University was packed with 8,000 fans, their breath hanging in the cold air as the Bulldogs took the field.

From the opening kickoff, the game was a battle of wills.

Ardmore fumbled the opening kick, and Collis Jones pounced on the ball, igniting the Okmulgee sideline. Two plays later, R.C. Morrow powered into the end zone from three yards out.

Moments later, Hunnicutt drilled a 35-yard field goal, pushing the Bulldogs ahead 10-0.

But Ardmore was no pushover. The Tigers stormed back with 10 unanswered points in the second quarter, sending the teams to halftime tied 10-10.

Early in the third, Ardmore struck again, taking a 17-10 lead. For the first time, doubt crept in.

On the sidelines, Coach Sulivant gathered his players. “We’ve been here before,” he reminded them. “You know how to fight back. Now go finish it.”

They did exactly that. — The Comeback & The Crown In the fourth quarter, with Okmulgee trailing and time running short, Hunnicutt spotted Bobby Moore slipping out of the backfield. The quarterback launched a perfect spiral that hit Moore in stride. Moore streaked down the field, evading defenders for a 62-yard touchdown, tying the game at 17-17.

The crowd was on its feet. Okmulgee’s sideline was electric.

Moments later, the Bulldogs’ defense came up with yet another crucial stop. Larry Wyatt recovered a fumble, handing the ball back to the offense.

This time, the Bulldogs didn’t miss.

Morrow, who had been punishing the Tigers’ defense all night, took the handoff on a goalline play and plunged into the end zone from one yard out.

Hunnicutt’s extra point was true.

Okmulgee 23, Ardmore 17.

The defense sealed it. Donald Lang intercepted a late Ardmore pass, while Moore – who had already picked off two others – patrolled the secondary like a shadow.

As the final whistle sounded, the field erupted in chaos and celebration. Helmets flew into the air. Fans rushed the turf.

Okmulgee had done it. For the players, that moment represented years of hard work, heartbreak, and brotherhood. For Coach Sulivant, it was the culmination of a vision – a team that had learned to trust, to persevere, and to play with heart.

That championship wasn’t just a football win; it was a reflection of the community itself – resilient, proud and unwilling to back down.

— The Legacy

The 1975 Bulldogs finished 12-2, but numbers alone don’t capture their impact.

They became a symbol – not only of athletic excellence but of what small-town football can mean when a community rallies behind its own.

Their triumph ensured that Okmulgee’s name would forever be etched into the annals of Oklahoma high school football, joining the proud legacy of champions from 1947 and 1969.

For the players – Morrow, Moore, Hunnicutt, Lang, Jones, Garner, Wyatt and so many others – that season was more than a memory. It was a defining moment in their lives.

Coach Sulivant’s leadership was at the heart of it all – his calm under pressure, his insistence on discipline and unity, and his unwavering belief that no deficit was too big to overcome.

As the decades have passed, the stories of that team have become part of Okmulgee’s heartbeat – told and retold at class reunions, in living rooms and across kitchen tables.

Looking back now, fifty years later, the story of the 1975 Bulldogs remains a beacon of pride.

It was a year that began in doubt and ended in glory – a testament to teamwork, leadership, and faith in one another.

From those who played under the lights to those who cheered from the bleachers, it remains – as the headline declared – “A Year Never to Forget.”

And while Part 1 celebrates the team, the next chapter will shine a spotlight on the man who made it all possible – Coach Dan Sulivant, the quiet architect behind one of Okmulgee’s greatest triumphs.

A special event to honor the 1975 championship coaches and team is planned for Friday, Nov. 7, at historic Harmon Stadium. More details will be coming soon about the event.