Second-Half Defense Lifts Stillwater To Win

Gerald Goodridge, NewsOn6.com

OWASSO, Oklahoma -- The Pioneers fell behind 28-21 at halftime, but pitched a shutout Friday to knock off the Owasso Rams 31-28 to claim the top spot in District 6A-4.

The Rams picked up where they left off last week; with Kason Key connecting with Keon Hatcher on a 16-yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. However, Stillwater answered with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Jerame Littell to Cory Hassel to tie the game 7-7.

Owasso retook the lead late in the first quarter thanks to a 16-yard touchdown run by Scottie Prealow, but Stillwater responded on its next drive capped by a one-yard Jesse Vester touchdown run.

In the first minutes of the second quarter, Jaylen Lowe connected with Hatcher for a 47-yard touchdown pass to put Owasso up 21-14. Six minutes later, Vester scored his second rushing touchdown of the night to tie the game at 21 with 6:48 left to play.

Hatcher's third touchdown of the night came on a 63-yard bomb from Key to give Stillwater a 28-21 lead over Stillwater with 5:20 in the second half.

The Pioneers opened the second half with a nearly three-minute drive, capped off by a four-yard touchdown run to tie the game 28-28. Stillwater forced a punt and then kicked a 29-yard field goal to take a 31-28 lead with 5:18 left in the third quarter, a lead that held to the fourth quarter.

Stillwater remains in the driver's seat in district play as they head to Enid next week to take on the Plainsmen, while Owasso will try to get back on track at home against Bixby.