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Metro's Malachi Penland carries the ball -
OCS offensive line vs Metro defensive line -
Will Watson walks to join his team in the locker room at halftime -
Dylan Scott returns a Metro kickoff
TULSA - The navy-clad player sprinted into the backfield and engulfed the ball just as the punter put his foot into it.
The blocked punt set up the first of many Metro Christian touchdowns as the Patriots defeated the Oklahoma Christian School football team 55-28 in Tulsa on Friday night.
The Saints (11-1) fell short in their bid at an undefeated season as they were unable to stop the Patriots’ offense most of the night.
Metro (11-2) will defend its 2A state championship against Washington at UCO next weekend.
OCS coach Brooks Stephenson said Metro has a great program he admires.
“We’ve been talking about the fact we’re going to see better and better teams,” Stephenson said. “We had a couple of coverage busts here and there. They do put a lot of stress on your defense, especially with how often they go to those empty formations and things like that… I’m excited to watch them going forward next week.”
Metro ran two quarterbacks in the game. Sophomore Kirk Francis threw five touchdown passes, while starter and senior Colton Cook threw one.
OCS senior quarterback Denver Wilson threw one touchdown pass to junior Collin Matteson.
Wilson, who transferred to OCS this year from Casady, said he is thankful for this season.
“(I) could have never dreamed of this,” Wilson said. “Going 11-1 like that. (I) only won just a couple games in my high school career at Casady, and now I’m having a winning season like that. It’s just unreal. I’m just thankful for the man above. It just shows you have crazy of a year it’s been, but how wonderful of a season it’s been. I can’t believe it.”
OCS took a 7-0 lead on the game’s opening drive when senior Peyton McIntire ran the ball in from the 1-yard line following a big fourth down pass from Wilson.
Metro got its punt block on OCS’s second drive and took over in the red zone, setting up a 12-yard touchdown pass from Francis to senior Malachi Penland, tying the game.
The Patriots dominated the rest of the night. Starting late in the second quarter and extending into the start of the third, Metro scored on three consecutive offensive snaps, pushing the lead to 41-7 and out of reach.
The Saints scored some late points thanks to Metro mistakes. Senior Travis Brown recovered a Metro fumble for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. On Metro’s next drive, the snap sailed over the quarterback’s head. Sophomore Devyn Fisher recovered in the end zone.
Stephenson said he could not be prouder of the way the Saints fought to the end.
“Even the officials after the game came over… saying, ‘Man, this is one of the best bunches that we’ve ever seen as far as handling yourselves out there,’” Stephenson said. “That’s what these guys do, they’re just thankful to play for each other, and I knew that they were going to continue to do that all the way down to the wire.”
A year after finishing 5-6, the Saints reached the state semifinals before losing. Stephenson’s first year in charge saw a massive upswing in OCS. Although seniors such as Wilson and McIntire are moving on, several juniors return.
Wilson said he is excited to see what they can do next season.
“I think those boys next year…, they’re going to do something special,” Wilson said. “I’m very excited about them, and I think a lot of those names in the junior class, they have a chance to do some big things.”