Booker T. Routs East Central to Claim Class 5A

Originally Published: Dec 4, 2010 4:23 PM CDT

Stephany Speck
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

STILLWATER, Oklahoma -- The Booker T. Washington Hornets claimed the Class 5A state title with a huge 32-3 win over the East Central Cardinals Saturday.

Allowing just three points in the first quarter with a 35-yard field goal by Antonio Escobedo, the Hornets kept the Cardinals’ offense on lock, shutting down Donta Burge. Burge was a huge threat in week three, when the Hornets barely beat the Cardinals, 27-24. Reaching the state title game, Booker T. Washington head coach Darrell Hall knew his defense had to keep the senior shut down. Burge finished with 26 carries for 123 yards.

Isaac Bennett got the Hornets on the board first with a 31-yard touchdown run, but Escobedo’s field goal cut their lead to just three points in the first quarter. Quarterback Dominique Sells punched in a two-yard run to bring the score to 12-3 at halftime.

The Hornets scored once in the third quarter when Bennett ran 46-yards, weaving in and out of the Cardinals defense for an impressive touchdown, bringing the score to 19-3. Sells then connected with senior Tyler Lockett on a 43-yard pass to pull ahead 25-3 in the fourth.

With under nine minutes left in the game, Barnett ran a slant route, dropping back to catch an 18-yard pass and run it in for the final touchdown of the game.

Booker T. Washington finished the game with a total of 402 yards, including 275 rushing yards and 127 passing yards. Their offense was led byBennett, who had 222 yards and two touchdowns. Sells finished his final high school game with one touchdown in the game, a two-yard run in the second quarter.

The win marks their team’s second state title in the last three seasons and the first at Booker T. for new head coach Hall, who led the Star Spencer Bobcats to the state championship last season.