Sperry Pirates Win First Gold Ball, 35-14

The Sperry Pirates are state champions after winning the 2A title game against Beggs 35-14.

Nearly five weeks ago, Sperry and Beggs played an emotional game following the murders of one of the Beggs players, Kayson Toliver, and his sister Kloee.

The two school and communities forming a bond following that game - and meeting again Thursday night in the 2A Championship.

The storybook ending was a Beggs Demon state championship: two teams, and towns, united by tragedy playing in a seemingly meant-to-be state championship in Owasso.

You could see the mutual respect between the two teams from the coin toss.

After a couple early punts, Dalton Spring - good luck stopping him - he's in from close and Beggs leads, 7-0 in the first quarter.

But next Sperry possession, Beau Teel answers right back. He gets in and the first quarter ended tied 7-7.

Then the defenses make some plays. In the second quarter, Teel going deep. Shaidan Jordan made an over the shoulder interception, but the Demons couldn't do anything with it.

The Sperry Pirates led 14-7 at the half after Teel capitalized on a Cooper Park interception.

The second half of the game was a reverse of the regular season meeting. It was all Sperry in the third quarter. Joe Whiteley went around the end for a TD leading 21-7.

Then in the fourth - the backbreaker - Walker Niver plunges his way in to seal the Pirates first title game in a half center.

The Sperry Pirates can say, for the first time ever, they are the state champs winning 35-14.

After the game, both coaches had nothing but good things to say about the other squad. No matter the outcome, the teams have a bond - and also, the Sperry Pirates have a gold ball.