The 109th meeting was a game for the ages, a game that went to the last seconds, as the Checotah Wildcats edged in-county rivals Eufaula Ironheads 13-7. This was like two heavyweight boxers squaring off or gladiators fighting in the Roman colosseum. It was not pretty at all as both athletes and fans absorbed the wind and the downpours of rain.
Both teams gave it everything they had.
Late in the fourth quarter with the score at 13-7, Luke Hodgins of Eufaula recovered the second Checotah end zone fumble thus giving the Ironheads a chance to drive down field to win the game with just under 2:00 in regulation.
“I did everything I could and gave it my best tonight,” Eufaula linebacker Luke Hodgins said.
Quarterback Ledger Folsom guided the Ironheads downfield with a series of runs by him and running back Peter Lee. Eufaula drove the length of the field as fans on both sides held their breath. The Ironheads drove inside the red-zone and Folsom tried to throw a pass in the corner of the end zone and it was deflected as time expired sealing the end of Eufaula’s 2-8 season.
The game started with Checotah quarterback Cole Rolland throwing a deep pass on the game’s first play to receiver Elijah Thomas. However, Maddox Bridges and Elijah Holley of Eufaula broke up the pass.
“I was excited to be playing in this game. You hear about it all the time and to be a part of it was great. They’re a great defensive team and played hard but we were able to run and pass the ball more effectively and it worked out for us,” Checotah quarterback Cole Rolland said.
Checotah scored first late in the first quarter as Thomas ran it in from 14 yards out. Their second touchdown came in the second quarter with 5:38 on the clock. Rolland gave the football to Thomas from short yardage who barely managed to shove the ball past the goal line as he was swarmed with Ironheads to make it 13-0 at the halftime break.
Both linebacker units for each team were a major factor in the game. It was brutal, violent and physical on both sides.
Eufaula started the third quarter with another drive but was forced to punt the football after Lee was stopped short of the first down mark. Checotah then put together a long- time consuming drive with runs by Jayden Ellen, Thomas and short passes by Rolland.
The drive, however, ended when Ellen fumbled the football in the end zone and recovered by Eufaula.
The Ironheads then drove downfield as Folsom found Dresden Chiles for a 70-yard gain prior to Peter Lee darting in from 10 yards out to make the game 13-7 with 3:49 in the fourth.
Peter had 15 carries for 91 yards in the first half and finished with 169 yards and a touchdown.
Checotah then fumbled in the end zone by Ellen on the next offensive possession that took time off the clock.
Ellen finished with 181 yards on 18 carries. Thomas finished with 57 yards rushing on seven carries with a pair of touchdowns. Rolland threw for 57 yards while Checotah finished with 283 total rushing yards and 340 yards of total offense.
Folsom finished going 5 for 6 for 110 yards passing. Eufaula rushed the football for 203 yards and finished with 313 total yards of offense.
Defensively both teams made hard hits and vicious tackles. For Checotah, Elijah Thomas led the team with 15 tackles, Preston Cannon 10 tackles (three for a loss and two quarterback sacks), Dylan Robinson, Jax Harding and Jaydon Casey made multiple tackles.
For the Ironheads, linebackers Aaron Spoehr, Luke Hodgins, Bryan Lynn and Blayden Neill made bone jarring tackles. Defensive linemen Braeden Blevins, Carson Luna, Day Day Shine, Connor McAllister and Simeon Hill ended their senior seasons playing with heart and emotion.
In 109 meetings, Checotah leads with the record moving to 55-53-1. Checotah will play Cascia Hall in Tulsa in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.
