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Collin Matteson (3) lines up against Connor Smith (2) -
Brooks Klein (2) lines up against Cayden Ayers (13) -
Collin Matteson (3) catches a deep pass from Denver Wilson
Denver Wilson dropped back, looked downfield and heaved a perfect pass to Collin Matteson.
Matteson made the over-the-shoulder grab, setting up one of many touchdowns by the Oklahoma Christian School football team en route to a 70-41 win against Kellyville.
The Saints (9-0) scored at will Friday night in Edmond as they made their way to the third round of the 2A playoffs.
Kellyville (7-4) made several big offensive plays but had no answer for the OCS scoring bonanza.
Although the Ponies could not keep up with the Saints’ scoring, they put up a respectable performance against a solid OCS defense. Senior running back Trevor Jones scored four touchdowns, including a 61-yard run on Kellyville’s first offensive play.
OCS coach Brooks Stephenson said the Saints need to work on tackling and fundamentals.
“Defense has definitely been our strength,” he said. “Really, at this point, I know 41 doesn’t make it seem like it, but when Kellyville’s been a team that’s consistently put up 50 to 60 points on other guys, looking at the averages, we did an OK job.”
This was OCS’s first game in three weeks. Senior running back Peyton McIntire, who led the Saints with four touchdowns, said the coaches are the reason they were still able to perform.
“(The) coaches kept us motivated through those bye weeks,” McIntire said. “They just told us what our goal was this whole game.”
Wilson had a great game. The senior quarterback threw three touchdown passes and rushed for another. He set up his rushing score with another big run earlier in the drive.
Matteson, a junior wide receiver, set the tone by returning the opening kickoff to the Kellyville 47. He caught two touchdown passes, rushed for a two-point conversion, and made several other big plays throughout the night.
Matteson said the Saints play hungry every week.
“We just stayed focus and kept our eyes on the ultimate goal, which is to get a ring,” Matteson said.
OCS’s long layover from its last regular season game to its first playoff game had a clear effect on the second half. Despite the big lead, the OCS starters remained in the game until the end. Stephenson said he wanted to give them a full game to get back in rhythm so they will be ready for the next one. OCS committed numerous penalties, which Stephenson attributed to fatigue.
Stephenson said games like this make the postseason fun.
“They’re a really, really good bunch over there, and we’ve got a really good bunch, too,” Stephenson said. “Now, we’re playing against really good competition the whole way. It’s gonna be fun games like this.”
OCS moves on to the third round to face Community Christian.