Coweta Rally Falls Short
When you score 35 points in the span of 15 minutes, odds are you're probably going to win. But, that wasn't the case Friday night as Coweta put up five second half touchdowns, but couldn't dig themselves out of a big halftime deficit, falling 45-35 to Lawton MacArthur in the Class 5A quarterfinals.Char(13) Char(13) It was the second win for the Highlanders over Coweta this season. In the season opener, MacArthur topped the Tigers 20-to-8 in Lawton.Char(13) Char(13) Lawton Mac (10-2) raced out to a 31-0 lead early in the third quarter, then held on as the Tigers (9-3) scored 22 points in the fourth quarter to pull within ten. But, Coweta just ran out of time.Char(13) Char(13) The Highlanders got on the board first when Javon Harris hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Ryan John. Harris pushed the lead to 14-0 with a one-yard run later in the first quarter.Char(13) Char(13) John added a pair of second quarter touchdown passes -- a 35-yard toss to Jarrod Purser and a 32-yard strike to Norris Wrenn as the Highlanders built a four touchdown lead by halftime.Char(13) Char(13) The lead would grow to 31-0 on a 29-yard field goal by Daniel Schwarz early in the third quarter. It would remain a 31-point lead until late in the third quarter, when Coweta's offense finally got going.Char(13) Char(13) Amos Cherry scored on a two-yard run to finally get the Tigers on the scoreboard. But, Mac quickly responded, getting a 70-yard touchdown pass from John to Brad Harmon. Coweta answered with a 7-yard run by Colton Sisco, but again MacArthur retaliated with a 71-yard bomb from John to Barry Williams just before the end of the third quarter.Char(13) Char(13) Heading to the fourth quarter, things looked very bleak for the Tigers, trailing 45-to-13.Char(13) Char(13) But, Coweta didn't quit.Char(13) Char(13) Quarterback Dillon Vaughan began the fourth quarter with a one-yard run. The defense set up the next touchdown as Cherry scooped up a Highlander fumble. A few plays later, Michael Webber pulled in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Vaughan, who then added a two-point conversion run to make it 45-27 with just over five minutes left.Char(13) Char(13) The defense again came up big, forcing a three-and-out on MacArthur's next possession. After the punt, Coweta went to the air again with Vaughan launching a 60-yard bomb to Eric Dandridge. Cherry added the two-point conversion, pulling the Tigers within ten points with 3:25 remaining.Char(13) Char(13) While Coweta didn't get the onside kick recovered, they did get the ball back. But, Vaughan was intercepted, ending the furious comeback charge.Char(13) Char(13) Coweta's pass defense was shredded by John, who passed for 421 yards and five touchdowns, including 260 yards and three scores in that big first half.Char(13) Char(13) For the Tigers, the season ends at 9-and-3 under first-year head coach Bubba Burcham. After a 1-and-2 start, the Tigers won eight straight and won the District 5A-4 crown.Char(13) Char(13) But, it will be Lawton MacArthur who will advance to next week's semifinal game against the winner of tonight's game between Carl Albert and Bixby.