Clint McKnight
It was a hard fought battle all night but the Deer Creek football team lost a tough one Friday night to the Altus Bulldogs 21-7 on Senior Night in Deer Creek.
Injuries continued to plague the Antlers, star rusher Colten Sander was still unable to go, his loss added to offensive line injuries already hurt DC before the first snap. However more injuries mounted, Quarterback Alex Christensen gutted out the game with a broken finger and backup QB Tyson Wade, who was being utilized effectively in passing situations, broke his collarbone in the second half.
“I was proud of the way guys fought all night long, in 26 years of coaching football I have never seen this many injuries in one season you don’t like to make excuses but injuries have definitely been the name of the game this season” head coach Grant Gower said.
The first half was a defensive struggle for both teams, neither gaining traction and both offenses opting to play field position rather than risk turning the ball over on downs. Both Altus and Deer Creek’s special teams played a vital role in the first, DC blocked a Bulldog punt that reversed the field for the offense, but Altus would turn around and block a Antler field goal when the snap was on the turf and kicker Cole Mount had to wait for the hold. The half ended in a 0-0 tie.
The second half the Bulldogs got their ground game going chewing up big chunks of yards on a drive that last over five minutes finally scoring at the 6:49 mark in the third. The extra point gave Altus the lead 7-0.
An interception by defensive back Dakota Buck gave DC new life late in the third, he would pick off a Bulldog pass at the 2:27 mark and return the ball 30 yards setting up the Antler offense. DC could not capitalize though, Christensen’s pass would get picked off on the very next series and the third quarter ended with the score still showing the Bulldogs on top 7-0.
The fourth started off with some trickery by Altus, on the first play of the fourth a double reverse got the Bulldogs into the red zone. A twenty yard TD pass two plays later gave the Bulldogs what would seem to be a commanding 14-0 lead with 10:39 left to play.
Back and fourth play continued until the DC defense forced a fumble that linebacker Michael Coleman would recover giving the Antlers hope. One play later Christensen would float a pass downfield to receiver Jacob Romig who took the ball away from an Altus defender and DC had a huge 34-yard gain that set them up deep in Bulldog territory. Three plays later Christensen found the end zone for a 4-yard score and Mount’s extra point closed the gap to 14-7.
DC was forced to try an onside kick with only 2:15 left on the clock and it would go out of bounds giving the Bulldogs the ball with precious little time left. Altus would punt it back to DC but a last ditch heave from Christensen would be intercepted and returned for a score and the final stood at 21-7 in favor of Altus.
“Next week becomes a playoff for us, if we go to Lawton and win we have a chance to get to week 11, all we can do is go play hard and see what happens” Gower said.
The Antlers will look to put it all on the line next week in Lawton, when the face Lawton MacArthur for a chance to sneak into the playoffs.
