(Free) OCS defeats Luther 23-15
With last week being fall break for most high schools, a large majority of games were played on Thursday, so there was not a lot of football for us to cover on Friday night. But low and behold, OCS and Luther come in the clutch and give us some Friday night lights. This matchup featured 2 red hot teams that went back and forth as OCS came in 5-0 and Luther came in on a 3 game win streak after a tough start to the season. Here’s a more detailed rundown of how the game went.
First Half
OCS would start off slow in this game with a 3 and out on their first drive, but that inefficiency wouldn’t last long as their star WR/DB Collin Matteson Collin Matteson 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Oklahoma Christian School | 2022 State OK would pick off Luther QB Braden Browning Braden Browning 5'10" | QB Luther | 2022 OK on Luther’s first drive and return it for a long touchdown to jump out to a 7-0 lead. Then after a 3 and out by Luther, OCS drove down into the red zone where QB Denver Wilson Denver Wilson 6'3" | QB Oklahoma Christian School | 2021 State OK would find Collin Matteson Collin Matteson 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Oklahoma Christian School | 2022 State OK for a 26-yard touchdown. The Saints led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter and seemed to have all the momentum before Luther’s RB Elijah Scott Elijah Scott 5'7" | ATH Luther | 2022 OK went on a pair of long runs to set up the Lions nicely for a red zone touchdown from Braden Browning Braden Browning 5'10" | QB Luther | 2022 OK to Drew Scheer Drew Scheer 6'0" | Wide Receiver Luther | 2021 OK to make it a one-score game. Luther then struck on defense with an interception from Owen Wilson Owen Wilson 6'4" | ATH Luther | 2022 OK but the Lions were unable to capitalize on the turnover as Browning would throw his second interception of the game to Collin Matteson Collin Matteson 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Oklahoma Christian School | 2022 State OK right before halftime, leaving it 14-7 at the intermission.
Second Half
Luther started with the ball to start the second half but was unable to tie the game up and was forced to punt the ball. On the following OCS drive, Collin Matteson Collin Matteson 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Oklahoma Christian School | 2022 State OK would come up big again with a long punt return and another receiving touchdown to extend the Saints’ lead to 21-7 at the halfway point in the 3rd quarter. If there was much left at the time, all the air and momentum left Luther’s sideline on their next possession as Braden Browning Braden Browning 5'10" | QB Luther | 2022 OK was sacked, a common theme in this game, but this time in the endzone for a safety. At the end of 3 quarters, OCS led 21-7 and seemed to have the game under control. However, filled with turnovers and penalties, the 4th quarter of this game proved to be one of the more unusual I have seen all season. To start, Luther put together a nice drive but was forced to settle for a field goal. The only problem was that it was blocked, again leaving the Lions’ offense empty-handed as the defense trotted out onto the field. On the ensuing possession from OCS, Luther’s Owen Wilson Owen Wilson 6'4" | ATH Luther | 2022 OK would make his second interception of the night but fumbled the ball on the return, which was then recovered by OCS for a fresh set of downs. Luther would ultimately get the ball back on another Denver Wilson Denver Wilson 6'3" | QB Oklahoma Christian School | 2021 State OK interception and score on a 27-yard throw from Browning to Zach Parsons to bring the score to 23-13 before converting on the 2 point attempt to make it 23-15 with around 8 minutes left in the game. Luther then buckled down on defense and had multiple drives to tie the game but would come up short as Collin Matteson Collin Matteson 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Oklahoma Christian School | 2022 State OK would seal the game with a 3rd interception as time winded down. OCS wins 23-15 and improves to 6-0.
Player of the game – Collin Matteson Collin Matteson 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Oklahoma Christian School | 2022 State OK – 5 rushes 25 yards, 5 receptions 63 yards, 3 interceptions, 3 total touchdowns
Looking Ahead
After this win, OCS improves to 6-0 and becomes the only undefeated team in their district. With the way Collin Matteson Collin Matteson 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Oklahoma Christian School | 2022 State OK is playing right now, OCS is certainly in the driver’s seat and should be considered one of the front runners to win the title in 2A.
Luther came into this game at 3-3 and on a 3 game win streak after opening up the season winless. This game puts them back under .500 and makes the rest of the season an uphill battle. The Lions still have an outside shot of making the playoffs thanks to their district record, but they will have to stay hot and win out if they want to be playing into late November.