McAlester and Hartshorne both had big wins this week; here’s my take on all that went down in Pittsburg County.

MCALESTER BUFFS VS. DURANT LIONS

McAlester dominated the Lions this week at home, 56-14.

Payton’s Take: McAlester came out ready to play this week. I thought this ballgame would be much closer, but I was mistaken. The Buffs were cohesive both offensively and defensively, stifling Durant and owning the Southeast region on Friday night. Caden Lesnau was calm and collected in the pocket and had many teammates aid him on the offensive side of the ball. They played like a team and grinded out a needed win for McAlester.

“I thought our guys played about as complete a game as we have played all year,” Coach Forrest Mazey said. “The defense stepped up and held Durant to two yards rushing on the evening while our offense churned out 621 yards.”

The Buffs will host Sapulpa this Friday for a district contest.

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HARTSHORNE MINERS VS. KONAWA TIGERS

The Miners were a force on the road this week, defeating Konawa 30-8.

The game’s early moments belonged to Kelby Thomason, who proved his worth with two touchdowns in the first quarter. This swift start provided a significant advantage for the Miners. Jackson Moody showcased his precision as he unleashed a 40-yard pass, accurately finding Gus Miller downfield, which resulted in a touchdown.

Payton’s Take: The Miners’ defense was unyielding throughout the game. Acetin Rowell, in particular, stood out with numerous tackles, making it nearly impossible for the opposition to gain ground. Aden Reeves and Carter Johnson made significant contributions with big runs that took the Miners deep into the red zone. Moody’s passing prowess struck again with a touchdown pass to Miller, extending the lead to 20-0. As the game continued, Brock Suddeth displayed exceptional defensive skills. He relentlessly penetrated the opposition’s offensive line, consistently disrupting their plays and contributing to the Miners’ stronghold on the game.

The Miners showcased their prowess in coverage as well, thanks to the efforts of Aden Reeves. Kannen Osier played a pivotal role on both ends of the field, proving to be a versatile player who excelled in various aspects of the game.

Hartshorne will head to Allen this Friday to take on the Mustangs on Week 8.

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Wilburton Diggers vs. Heavener Wolves

The Diggers fell to the Wolves this past Friday, 42-20.

Payton’s Take: Wilburton has some talented athletes in Troy Clark, QB Grossnicklaus and defensive unit Jayvon Leckelt. In this rebuilding season for the Diggers, I feel they are making needed progress weekly. They are better every time they take the field, and I believe they will see success in the coming seasons.

“Heavener is a really solid team offensively, they capitalized on our interceptions,” Coach Troy Bullard said. “Wilkett scored on a pass from Grossnicklaus, Troy Clark ran for two, Austin Brooks scored two-point pass from Floyd Clark. Jayvon Leckelt led the defense with 19 tackles.”

“It is a big road win that sets up the big game vs Spiro for 3rd place,” Heavener Coach Broyles said.

Wilburton will host the undefeated Idabel Warriors this coming Friday.

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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 Losses Plague the McAlester Area – What Happened on Week 6?