After Muskogee eliminated Putnam City in the 6A-II quarterfinals last season, Putnam City coach Willis Alexander said winning a game like that would be a “breakthrough” for the Pirates.

A year later, third-ranked Putnam City (8-2) gets another chance for a semifinal berth. This time, Original hosts the Roughers Friday (Nov. 21).

“When we break through, you know, I think we got a opportunity to raise that gold ball, but you know, we just still have to find a way to break through and make plays, get that breakthrough win for us,” Alexander said via phone after the 14-0 loss a year ago.

Since then, the Pirates have revved up the offense (averaging 44.6 points a contest) while rebuilding a stout defense (allowing 16 points a game with four shutouts).

Putnam City had plenty of big wins leading up to this point this season: finally knocking off Choctaw, surviving Southmoore and redeeming themselves against Piedmont.

The Pirates’ two losses came in the opener against a resurgent Yukon squad and on a strange, stormy night in Stillwater.

WRITING A NEW CHAPTER

Putnam City hasn’t reached the semifinals since 2003, but Tripp Alexander sees a quarterfinal win as the next step to the ultimate goal.

“I feel like we could do something real special. Something which hasn’t been done in a long time ago, man.

“We’re going after that gold bowl.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

The numbers are big for senior CJ Turnbull: 1,513 yards in the air and 563 on the ground. Turnbull has accounted for 31 touchdowns (20 in the air and 11 rushing).

Turnbull has only five interceptions, three of which came in the Stillwater loss.

Muskogee coach Dale Condict had high praise for Turnbull.

“He’s the definition of dual-threat quarterback and is one of the finest athletes I’ve seen all season,” Condict told the Muskogee Phoenix.

Fellow senior Rod Sloan anchors the run game with 717 yards and eight scores. Sloan is averaging seven yards a carry. Junior Kahmi Herrera follows with 217 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Savion James has caught 20 passes for 512 yards and nine scores. Sloan is also a weapon as a receiver with 17 catches, 385 yards and four touchdowns.

Turnbull also has targets in senior Mitchell Taylor (22 receptions, 248 yards and four touchdowns) and junior Shawn Jones III (14 catches, 140 yards and two scores).

The Pirates defense has three players with over 60 tackles. Senior Deshawn Buford has 66 tackles with nine for a loss and three sacks. Junior Evan Metoyer has 63 tackles and seven for a loss. Senior DJ Ackerson follows with 60 tackles, 13 of them for a loss and three sacks.

Original has put other teams behind the sticks by being in the backfield. Senior Johnnie Efferson also has 13 tackles for a loss and seven sacks. Seniors Nasir Nelson and Tripp Alexander each have 12 tackles for a loss. Sophomore Shaun Brown follows with nine tackles for a loss.

Senior Jarius Polly leads the team with two interceptions.

Juniors Jonnas Stinson-Powers and Keandre Huffman have made an impact in the secondary. Stinson-Powers has eight defended eight passes while has six.

Condict has coached against Alexander before, including when Willis Alexander’s Douglass squad beat Condict and Wagoner in 2010, so he knows what to expect defensively.

“I know defense will be a great focus for him, and they’re one of the better defensive teams I’ve seen on film,” Condict said.

ROUGHER SEASON FOR MUSKOGEE

It’s been an up-and-down season for the Roughers who are 6-5 and unranked in the Associated Press 6A-II poll after a 12-1 state runner-up campaign a year ago.

Muskogee started 0-3 with losses to 5A Booker T. Washington, Rogers (Ark.) and Bentonville West (Ark). The Roughers settled into 6A-II-2 play with only back-to-back losses to Sand Springs and Sapulpa.

Junior quarterback Kason Delgado has thrown for over 2,000 yards.

Senior Marquis Chaplin has two 100-yard games under his belt on the ground.

Photographs courtesy of Richard T. Clifton.

Class 6A-II OSSAA Football Championship
FIRST ROUND/FRIDAY, November 14, 2025
Southmoore 21, Ponca City 14
Choctaw 52, Putnam City North 13
Piedmont 53, Bartlesville 28
Muskogee 62, Northwest Classen 16
Stillwater, Bye
Sapulpa, Bye
Sand Springs, Bye
Putnam City, Bye

QUARTERFINALS/FRIDAY, November 21, 2025
Southmoore at Stillwater, 7 p.m.
Choctaw at Sapulpa, 7 p.m.
Piedmont at Sand Springs, 7 p.m.
Muskogee at Putnam City, 7 p.m.

SEMIFINALS/FRIDAY, November 28, 2025
Stillwater/Southmoore vs. Sapulpa/Choctaw
Sand Springs/Piedmont vs. Putnam City/Muskogee

CHAMPIONSHIP/FRIDAY, December 5, 2025
TBD, 7 p.m. (University of Central Oklahoma)