40-Point Second Half Lifts Eagles Over Minco

MINCO – The fourth quarter was ticking away, and it looked like Watonga’s comeback attempt was about to come up short.

The Eagles had just scored their fifth touchdown of the second half, a Deondre Dunn reception from nearly 40 yards out, and a successful two-point conversion left Watonga trailing by just one point at 41-40. Still, there were under seven minutes left in the ballgame, and the Eagles would need a stop to keep their hopes alive.

But the Minco offense, anemic during the second half after a blistering first two quarters, was able to drive the ball deep into Watonga territory. It looked like the Bulldogs would be able to waste the clock and put more points on the board.

The Bulldogs handed off to their workhorse freshman running back, Carson Littlejohn, near the Watonga 15. Littlejohn met a group of Eagles and struggled forward toward the 10, fighting for every yard; that’s when the ball was ripped loose and Kale Smith, tackling Littlejohn from behind, fell on the fumble to start Watonga’s game-winning drive. Minutes later, quarterback Joe Jackson rushed into the end zone for a 15-yard score to put the Eagles on top for the first time all day. Minco managed one first down in response, but its drive stalled near midfield with incomplete passes and the Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs, effectively cementing the Eagles’ 46-41 victory.

At halftime, that outcome seemed all but impossible.

Minco had taken the opening kickoff and scored the game’s first points after a long, demoralizing drive that ate more than seven minutes of the first quarter. Quarterback Reed McMurtrey proved to be a threat both on the ground and with his arm, and the Bulldogs were boosted by third- and fourth-down conversions on the drive, including one gifted by a Watonga offsides penalty.

Watonga’s first possession was not so impressive – a three-and-out.

Still, Watonga got good field position after a Jackson kick return late in the first quarter, and capitalized on that with a 35-yard Dunn touchdown catch plays later. That brought Watonga to within 13-6, but it would prove to be the Eagles’ only score of the first half.

Watonga was down 21-6 when it punted the ball away to Minco with 1:14 left in the second. The offense hadn’t been clicking all night, but getting a stop would keep Watonga squarely in the game after halftime.

It didn’t happen. A pass interference penalty helped Minco find the end zone in just a handful of plays, and Watonga went into the half down 28-6. And things only got worse from there, as frustration boiled over and the Eagles were flagged multiple times for unsportsmanlike conduct heading into the locker room.

At least they would be taking the third-quarter kickoff, right?

Wrong.

A pregame miscommunication between players and officials forced the Eagles to kick off again, this time from inside their own 15. Naturally, this provided Minco with some pretty good field position, which it used to score yet another touchdown and go ahead by what seemed like a comfortable 34-6.

Watonga outscored Minco 40-6 through the rest of the game.

First it was a 52-yard quick strike from Jackson to Dunn to make it 34-12. Then Caymon Wieczorrek capped a drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to pull Watonga within 16 with 4:31 left in the third.

One possession later, the Eagles had three straight incompletions and appeared forced to punt for the first time all half. Standing on their own 26, Minco was poised to inherit amazing field position with a stop.

But the Eagles didn’t punt, and Minco didn’t stop them. Head coach Skylar Watson decided to go for it, and his decision paid off bigtime when Jackson found Chris Sanders near the midfield logo. Sanders dodged some tacklers and put on the jets for a 74-yard touchdown. Watonga finally nabbed the two-point conversion this time, narrowing the margin to 34-26 and swinging the momentum firmly to the Watonga sideline.

Minco tried hard to grab it back. It finally scored another touchdown early in the fourth quarter, then attempted an onside punt to catch the Eagles off-guard and secure good field position. It didn’t work; Watonga recovered near midfield and scored another touchdown in one play, a Jackson keeper, answering Minco’s score immediately.

Minco moved the ball effectively on its next two drives but got no points in either, ultimately fumbling the ball to Smith to set up Watonga’s incredible gamewinning score.

So what did Watson say at halftime to encourage his team’s turnaround?

“Just to stop making excuses for ourselves, and play our game,” Watson said. “The biggest deal for us was just going out and executing, trusting their training and trusting their coaching. Just doing what our offense entails, and not trying to do too much.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the way our kids came out in the second half and competed,” he continued. “We came out sloppy, came out slow. We dug ourselves into a hole, but you can never doubt the heart of these kids and the way that they competed.”

Jackson finished the game with 286 passing yards and six touchdowns, including two rushing scores. Dunn caught three touchdowns and had 166 total yards; Sanders went for 96 yards and a score.

Watonga is now 4-0, having gone undefeated through non-district play. But its biggest test of the season looms this Friday night, as Watonga will travel to Cashion to take on the defending Class A state champs.

Cashion is 3-1 this season, having dropped its first game to 2A school Rejoice Christian. But the Wildcats are still considered the class’s top team by The Oklahoman, while MaxPreps pegs Cashion at No. 2, behind only Ringling. MaxPreps ranks Watonga No. 13 on that list.

The game kicks at 7 p.m.