McAlester Buffaloes Shut Down Tulsa Central

Originally Published: Oct 16, 2009 11:24 PM CDT

Joe McCann
Oklahoma Sports Tulsa Executive Producer

MCALESTER, Oklahoma – In a battle of two Oklahoma Sports 5A Top 10 teams, both #7 Tulsa Central and #5 McAlester showed they belong among the state’s elite in a well-played defensive battle. When the clock read 0:00, the Buffaloes had escaped with a hard-fought 13-7 victory.

The Buffaloes got on the board early with a long first-quarter drive that ended with a short touchdown run by quarterback Tyler Crabtree. McAlester’s defense would stymie the Braves for the rest of the half to take a 7-0 lead into halftime.

Central came out strong on the third quarter. The Braves marched the ball down the field, and Tennessee commit Demarco Cobbs hit Patrick Wallace for a 22-yard touchdown strike to tie the game.

McAlester would add a late score and continue to dominate defensively in the fourth quarter to pull out the 13-7 win. It was just the latest in a string of dominating defensive performances for the Buffaloes. McAlester (7-0, 4-0) has only allowed one opponent this season to reach double digits (Ardmore in a 26-18 victory in Week 3).

The win Friday puts McAlester in good position for the district title, but there is still work to be done. After next week’s game at home against Tahlequah (2-5, 1-3), McAlester finishes the season at East Central (6-1, 4-0) and at home against Ada (6-1, 3-1).

Central (5-2, 2-2) will look to get back in the win column next week on the road at Thomas Edison (0-7, 0-4).