Eagles upset Thomas 20‐9 to begin the season
THOMAS — A clutch completion between quarterback Joe Jackson and wideout Phoenix Whiteshirt helped seal a 20-9 Eagles victory Friday night in Thomas, cementing the upset win in Skylar Watson’s first game as Watonga head coach.
Thomas entered the season ranked as Class A’s preseason No. 8 team by The Oklahoman, having advanced all the way to the state championship game in 2020 before falling to Cashion. But the Eagles dominated Thomas in every phase of the game, and probably could have won by more if not for two drives that stalled in the red zone, penalty problems, and one big play from Thomas in the fourth quarter.
That big play, a 37-yard completion down the left sideline, set up Thomas’ first touchdown of the game and narrowed Watonga’s margin to 12-9. That led to a nailbiting few minutes for the Eagles, who seemed to have lost all the momentum — especially so after a pictureperfect, deep Jackson pass slipped through his receiver’s hands on third down the next drive, forcing another punt.
But the Eagles defense, as it had all game, held stout. And that’s when Jackson and the offense scored one last insurance touchdown to seal the deal with just minutes remaining.
That touchdown drive started with good field position but soon went sour when Watonga was popped for three straight penalties, giving it a long 1st and 30 near midfield.
The Eagles didn’t let that dissuade them. Jackson, flushed from the pocket, kept his eyes downfield while scrambling toward the left sideline before finally uncorking a throw 30 yards downfield to Whiteshirt. Whiteshirt gained another 20-plus yards after the catch and didn’t come down until he was tripped up around the Thomas 7 yard line; Caymon Wieczorrek scored a gritty rushing touchdown one play later, and the two-point conversion was good.
The game started well for the Watonga defense but horribly for its offense. After forcing a three-and-out on Thomas’ first possession of the game, Watonga was pinned at its own 5 yard line due to a stellar punt from the Terriers.
Standing on his own goal line, Jackson awaited the first snap of the game — which promptly sailed over his head and through the end zone for a safety to put Thomas up 2-0.
But the Eagles settled down on their next possession, taking the ball at their 41. Jackson busted out a 9-yard first-down run and then, two plays later, hit wideout Deondre Dunn downfield for a 35-yard gain deep into Terriers territory. One play later, Jackson was flushed out of the pocket to his right but found Dunn in the back right corner of the end zone for an acrobatic touchdown throw and catch. The blocked extra point put Watonga up 6-2, where the score remained after one quarter.
Watonga nearly added on at the end of the quarter, but a 2-yard touchdown run from Wieczorrek was called back with a penalty, and two plays later Jackson threw a fluke interception near the goal line that slipped through an Eagle receiver’s hands before landing in a Terrier’s.
Dunn started the second quarter with a big highlight, stealing a Thomas pass deep downfield for a Watonga interception that set the Eagles up at their own 26.
Plays later, Dunn capped off the drive he started with a 12-yard touchdown reception, his second of the game, putting the Eagles up 12-2 after a failed two-point conversion. Neither team scored again until the fourth quarter.
After his first Watonga win, Watson was exuberant but well aware that there’s a long season ahead.
“It’s amazing,” Watson said. “Anytime you can beat a quality team like that, it’s always a great opportunity. … We’ve got a lot of work to do, but I couldn’t be more proud.”
“We’re going to savor it tonight,” he said, “but tomorrow we understand there’s more games to play.”
Watonga returns this Friday night at 7 p.m. with a road contest against Hobart. The Bobcats finished 6-4 last season and started the 2021 campaign with a 48-15 loss to Fairview.