OKLAHOMA CITY – Top-ranked Muskogee dominated Putnam City North, 36-0, Thursday (Nov. 7) before storms ended the Senior Night game at halftime in a 6A-II-1 contest.

Muskogee (10-0, 6-0) took the opening drive of the game 73 yards in just under three minutes for a score as senior quarterback Jamarian Ficklin connected with sophomore Payton Lang for an 8-yard score. North blocked the extra point to make it 6-0 with 9:03 left in the opening quarter.

North (7-3, 5-2) fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving the Roughers a short field. That led to another score, a 3-yard run from from senior PJ Wallace with 5:55 left. Ficklin hit junior Jamie Beasley for the 2-point conversion to make it 14-0.

North’s first offensive possession with 5:48 left in the opening quarter and it was one of their best shots to get on the scoreboard.

Sophomore Jonnas Stins-Powers returned a short Rougher kick 27-yards down the Muskogee sideline to the Rougher 43-yard line.

The Panther offense couldn’t get going, however. Senior Milton Alford was stuffed for a 1-yard loss on first down. Fellow senior Kyran Axtell had a 4-yard gain on second down. Junior Mason Jones misfired across the middle on a pass to Axtell on third down. He connected with senior Lewis Moreland on fourth down but he was brought down two yards shy of the sticks, ending the scoring chance.

Muskogee moved down the field quickly Wallace sprinting 42 yards on the first play of the drive. Wallace scored his second touchdown of the game on a 5-yard run with 2:09 left in the first quarter to extend the lead to 22-0 after another 2-point conversion.

On the next drive, North’s was offense was stuck in neutral and had to punt after three plays. However, a roughing the kicker penalty on Axtell’s 56-yard punt kept the drive alive for North.

Alford had his biggest run of the night on the next play, a 25-yard scamper. He followed that with a 10-yard run to get the Panthers to the Muskogee 28-yard line. A false start penalty followed to put North behind the sticks. From there, the drive fizzled and North turned the ball over on downs.

The teams traded punts on the next two possessions. The Roughers followed with a 62-yard drive, capped off by a 37 yard strike from Fricklin to senior EJ James. After Fricklin and Beasley connected for another 2-point conversion, Muskogee’s lead was 30-0 with 1:00 left in the second quarter.

On the next possession, Jones was intercepted by Ficklin at the North 32-yard line on the first play, setting up the game’s final score.

After a short drive, Ficklin scored from 11 yards out. The conversion failed to make it 36-0 with :21 left before halftime.

North’s Alford got a 7-yard gain of the final possession of the half before the clock ran out.

The lightning that was in the area kept inching closer as widespread storms moved over the area. At the beginning of halftime, the North band attempted to take the field, but close lightning strikes sent everyone scurrying, putting the game in a lightning delay.

After multiple lighting strikes kept lengthening the delay, Putnam City schools administration made the decision to call the game.

The North offense finished with 66 yards of total offense. Jones ended the night 4-of-8 for 17 yards and an interception.

Alford rushed the ball five times for 37 yards. Moreland caught one pass for six yards.

Ficklin ended the shortened game 10-of-16 for 122 yards and two scores.

James caught three passes for 60 yards and a score. Lang added five catches for 20 and a touchdown.

Wallace finished the night with 97 yards on the ground on 13 carries with two touchdowns. Ficklin added 32 yards on six carries and a score.

With the win, Muskogee clinched a perfect 10-0 regular season and the top-seed in the 6A-II playoffs.

6A-II DISTRICT 2	DISTRICT RECORD	OVERALL RECORD
Muskogee	7-0	10-0
Sand Springs	5-1	6-3
Putnam City North	5-2	7-3
Sapulpa	4-2	4-5
Bartlesville	2-5	3-7
Putnam City West	1-5	2-7
Ponca City	1-5	2-7
Capitol Hill	0-7	1-9

UP NEXT

Putnam City North (7-3, 5-2) awaits the 6A-II action Friday (Nov. 8) to find out its opponent for the first week of the playoffs next Friday (Nov. 15).

The Panthers sit in third place in the 6A-II-2 standings after the loss.

Photographs courtesy of Richard T. Clifton

	1	2	3	4	F
Muskogee (10-0, 7-0)	22	14	X	X	36
Putnam CIty North (7-3, 5-2)	0	0	X	X	0