Sand Springs Sandites Fall to Jenks Trojans in Finale

Originally Published: Nov 6, 2009 11:37 PM CDT

Joe McCann
Oklahoma Sports Tulsa Executive Producer

SAND SPRINGS, Oklahoma – One day after learning their playoff hopes had been dashed by a forfeit due to an ineligible player, the Sand Springs Sandites saw their season come to an end with a 56-21 loss to top-ranked Jenks. The Trojans, who dealt with a more severe ineligibility issue earlier this season, finish the regular season 10-0 and cap off a perfect 7-0 run through District 6A-3.

Jenks capitalized early off a Sand Springs turnover, as the Trojans recovered a fumble in Sandite territory on the game’s opening drive. Jenks would march down the field and cap off their own drive with a touchdown run by Zach Langer to take a 7-0 lead.

The Jenks defense would get the ball back soon after that, and the Trojans would again get Langer in the endzone to extend the lead to 14-0. The Jenks offense would continue to wear down Sand Springs, and the Sandite offense just never got going in the first half as the Trojans took a comfortable 42-7 into halftime.

On Thursday, it was learned that Sand Springs played an ineligible player two weeks ago against Claremore and was forced to forfeit that win. Due to that loss, Sand Springs was eliminated from playoff contention before Friday’s game began. Otherwise, Sand Springs would have at least had a chance to earn a playoff spot had they been able upset Jenks or if Muskogee would have lost to Memorial. As things turned out, the Sand Springs forfeit hurt Muskogee more, because the Roughers would have earned the fourth and final playoff spot with Friday’s 45-13 over Memorial. Instead, Claremore benefits from the forfeit and earns the fourth playoff spot of District 6A-3.

Jenks earns top seed out of 6A-3 and will meet the fourth seed from 6A-4 in the first round of the playoffs next week. Sand Springs finishes the season at 4-6.