WARR ACRES — With Putnam City clinging to a 1-point lead and Muskogee driving for a probable go-ahead field goal in the 6A-II quarterfinals Friday (Nov. 21), Pirate senior Steven Matthews saw something familiar when Muskogee quarterback Kason Delgado took a shotgun snap.
“(Muskogee senior Jamie Beasley) was running a post,” Matthews said. “I speed turn, I see the ball. I’ve got to go catch it now.”
Matthews said the Pirates had been practicing their defense against post and corner routes during the week in practice after seeing the Roughers use those routes in game film. So, he knew he had to help his cornerback.
Matthews stepped in front of Beasley and caught the ball. His interception with 32 seconds left sealed a 21-20 Putnam City win, sending the Pirates to the state semifinals for the first time since 2003.
The win capped a big night on the ground for the Pirates and and a comeback from a 14-0 first quarter deficit.
The first score came after Muskogee took advantage of a failed fourth down conversion from Original at the PC 45-yard line. Two plays later, Rougher senior Marquis Chapman broke free on a 40-yard touchdown run.
The Pirates stalled on the next drive and Muskogee followed with a 69-yard drive, capped off by a 3-yard run from senior Coda Barnoski.
In a two touchdown hole, the Pirate offense finally started to click with steady doses of senior tailback Rodgerick Sloan, Jr. and senior quarterback CJ Turnbull.
An 11-play, 71-yard drive ended with a touchdown as Turnbull dragged defenders into the end zone on an 8-yard run with 9:47 left in the second quarter.
Putnam City forced a Rougher punt after a pair of Muskogee holding penalties and went to work again on the ground.
Original unloaded a 9-play, 67-yard drive. Turnbull scored his second rushing touchdown of the game with a 1-yard sneak and the game was tied, 14-14.
Muskogee took the opening kickoff of the second half and retook the lead. Chaplin scored found a seam up the middle for a 34-yard touchdown run. However, Rougher senior kicker ZeVvelyn Balalong pushed the extra point to the right and the Pirates trailed, 20-14 with 7:53 left in the third quarter.
Turnbull and Sloan went to work again on the ensuing drive, which was kept alive by a roughing the punter penalty. The Pirates drove to the Muskogee 17-yard line but turned the ball over on downs as Sloan was stopped for a loss.
After a Muskogee punt, PC drove 64 yards in over seven minutes with the same recipe of Turnbull and Sloan. Then, Turnbull found senior Savion James on a slant route for a 15-yard touchdown.
Yanez got the extra point inside the right upright to give Putnam City its first lead, 21-20, with 3:47 left in the game.
That led to the Roughers’ last chance. Muskogee seemed poised to score at least a field goal. Beasley caught a 26-yard pass on the second play of the drive to get into PC territory.
The Roughers made it the Pirate 23-yard line but a false start backed them up on third down. On the next play, Matthews got the pick for the win.
Sloan finished with 136 yard on 25 carries and Turnbull added 86 yards on 16 carries before two kneel-downs to end the game.
On a brisk fall night, the Pirates relied on the run game a bit more.
“Elements play a factor,” Putnam City coach Willis Alexander said. “When you get to this point of the season in the state of Oklahoma, you’ve got to be able to run the football in order to be able to win and get to UCO (host of the state title game).
“You gotta be able to establish a running game and control the line of scrimmage. I thought we did enough to survive.”
Sloan, who also caught three passes for 24 yards, said the offense adjusted to Muskogee’s defense.
“The running game was working at the start. They start overloading the box and we started throwing it and airing it out a little bit.”
In the air, Turnbull was 11-of-19 for 99 yards and a score. After a 6-of-12 performance in the first half, Turnbull completed 5 of 7 passes in the second half.
Senior Mitchell Taylor caught four passes for 24 yards.
Alexander praised Muskogee and coaching legend Dale Condict
“That’s a football team two years removed from a state title and a state runner-up. They played their behind off and we didn’t expect nothing less.
“Coach Condict is one of the best coaches of all time in the state, so he’s gonna always have his programs ready.”
UP NEXT
The third-ranked Pirates (9-2) face top-ranked Sand Springs (9-2) next Friday (Nov. 21) at 7 p.m.
The Sandites eliminated Piedmont, 35-13, Friday.
The neutral site for the semifinal contest will likely be announced Saturday.
Photographs courtesy of Danielle Johnson.
Photographs courtesy of Richard T. Clifton.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muskogee (6-6) | 14 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 20 |
| Putnam City (9-2) | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
MUSKOGEE – Barnoski 3 yard run (Balalong kick), 2:28, 1Q
PUTNAM CITY – Turnbull 8 yard run (Yanez kick), 9:47, 2Q
PUTNAM CITY – Turnbull 1 yard run (Yanez kick), 3:53, 2Q
MUSKOGEE – Chaplin 34 yard run (kick failed), 7:53, 3Q
PUTNAM CITY – James 15 yard pass from Turnbull (Yanez kick), 3:47, 4Q
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
Stillwater 34, Southmoore 9
Choctaw 43, Sapulpa 21
Sand Springs 35, Piedmont 13
Putnam City 21, Muskogee 20
SEMIFINALS/FRIDAY, November 28, 2025
Stillwater vs. Choctaw, 1 p.m. (At Edmond North)
Sand Springs vs. Putnam City, 7 p.m. (At Edmond North)
CHAMPIONSHIP/FRIDAY, December 5, 2025
TBD, 7 p.m. (University of Central Oklahoma)
West Metro Sports 
One response to “Matthews pick sends Pirates to semis”
[…] senior Steven Matthews sealed the quarterfinal win over Muskogee with an interception late in the contest Friday (Nov. 21). He said the team is […]
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