After some heated contests in Week 4, here’s my take on all that went down in the McAlester Area.

McAlester Buffs vs. Tulsa Memorial Chargers

The Buffs had a big win over the Chargers this past Friday on the road, 55-0.

Payton’s Take: I was impressed with McAlester this week, the team was fired up and ready to play. The Buffs came out aggressive and hungry for a win after last week’s rivalry loss to Ada. The Buffs were cohesive on offense and defense, unyielding to any adversity from Tulsa Memorial.

Caden Lesnau was a force at quarterback, passing for 145 yards with a completion percentage of over 80%. He also threw two touchdown passes and had an average of 14.5 yards per pass.

Some other standout players include Jaxon Lauerman and Carter Lance, who caught the ball effectively for productive yards. Zac Rogers also was a player to watch on the offensive line. His leadership skills were evident as the linemen were working as a united front.

“It was a good win,” Coach Mazey said. “I thought our kids were clicking on all cylinders for a good decisive win.”

McAlester will host Del City this Friday on Week 5 of play.

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Hartshorne Miners vs. Savanna Bulldogs

The Miners had a decisive victory over Savanna, 56-14.

Payton’s Take: Hartshorne began their first drive with a 45-yard touchdown run from quarterback Jackson Moody. Moody played well throughout the game; he was decisive and accurate in his throws and ran hard all night long. He also disrupted plays and pressured the opposing quarterback at the defensive end position.

“I felt it was a good game to get prepared for Stroud,” Moody said.

Acetin Rowell and Kelby Thomason were unstoppable at running back and linebacker, as they both rushed for well over 100 yards a piece.

Savanna quarterback Brayden Williams, though the score did not reflect it, played a heck of a ballgame in my opinion. Though he didn’t have much time in the pocket, Williams was able to create “something out of nothing” many times during the game. His passes were accurate and solid, and he made smart decisions when given the time. Against Hartshorne’s seasoned defensive front, Williams didn’t flinch and played well.

Hartshorne will travel to Wewoka this Friday, while Savanna will head to Mounds to face the Eagles.

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Wilburton Diggers vs. Antlers Bearcats

In this district matchup, the Diggers fell short at home against Antlers, 26-21.

Payton’s Take: Though Wilburton may not have won the ballgame, I feel they made great strides this week against a good football team. The Diggers have struggled early in the season, but they are finding their groove as the fall progresses and it’s showing on the field.

The Wilburton offense and defense played well in a game where they were outsized and outnumbered.

Troy Clark rushed and passed for well over 100 yards at both the quarterback and running back positions. Jayvon Leckelt had 20 tackles to lead the defense. Clark scored on 3 yard run, and Braiden Grossnicklaus and Jaden Evans both scored on passes from Clark. Kicker Tanner Long was 3/3 on extra point kicks, a small but vital part of the Wilburton offense.

“We are getting closer each week at putting a complete executed game together,” Coach Bullard said. “These young men are a delight to coach, they are starting to become sponges and learning every week. They are fun to coach. Great team effort last night.”

Wilburton will host the Hugo Buffaloes this coming Friday in a district contest.

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I am so excited to be covering SE Oklahoma, my home! If you have any information to share on your team or you would like to recommend specific school coverage in the Southeast Area, please email me at payton.moody@vype.com.

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If you’re interested in reading more content about high school sports in Southeast Oklahoma, check out “In their own words” – What did these players think after Week 3 of play? – McAlester Area!