OKLAHOMA CITY — Western Heights got just enough offense and a fourth quarter goal line stand on defense propelled the Jets to a 14-12 win over 5A Classen S.A.S. Friday (Sept. 11).

The victory snapped a 20-game losing streak. Western Heights’ last win was a 12-0 shutout of U.S. Grant in the 2024 season opener.

Jet coach Jarvis Pitts said the win was a big one for his squad.

“We found out a lot about ourselves and how tough and resilient we are,” Pitts said via phone. “I think that a win like that can really kind of change our culture, which we’ve been preaching for the past few months since the summer. Just getting kids to believe that they can accomplish big things. And, definitely defensively that, and at the crunch time that you guys can make plays and turn things around.”

The Jets trailed 6-0 when sophomore quarterback Jameel Smith found senior Triston Young in the front corner of the end zone. Young, who plays basketball and competes in the high jump for the Jets, blocked out his defender and jumped up to snag the pass for the score.

“He’s a massive nightmare (to defend),” Pitts said of yong. “We just saw something offensively in that moment that just give one of our best receivers a shot, and he came down with the ball.”

The score was set up by a 33-yard connection from Smith to Young, who is known as T.Y.

“He’s a young man that has just been awesome for this program, been awesome for the school. I’m really, really proud of him and his leadership and where he’s come from since he was a freshman.”

Young also had an interception on defense.

Tied at 6-6 in the third quarter, Western Heights went to the ground for its other score. Junior David Lewis sprinted around the left end and snuck into the corner of the end zone. Smith’s 2-point conversion gave the Jets a 14-6 lead.

The score was set up by a 26-yard run around the right end by Smith

The Comets added a score but didn’t get the conversion. Late in the game, the Western Height defense stopped Classen S.A.S. in the red zone on third down. On fourth down, sophomore Michael Doh knocked the Comet ball carrier out of bounds at the 2-yard line to seal the win.

“Our defense played well all game,” Pitts said. “We got multiple turnovers, multiple stops, forced punts. We just played an all-around great game defensively.”

Pitts said the losing streak was “hovering” around his team but none of his players talked about it.

“I think the players that were here before knew of it, obviously,” Pitts said. “It was just one of those things once we were able to secure the victory, man, we just kind of have a collective sigh of relief and was able to just be excited about the moment.”

In building the program, Pitts is trying not to dwell on past struggles.

“I know it’s hard, but we’re just trying to just preach one day at a time, preach trying our best to go 1-0. This isn’t the ’25 season or the ’24 season. This is the ’26 season. And so what we do this year will throw us into the offseason, into the next year.”

UP NEXT

Western Heights hosts Capitol Hill next Friday (Sept. 18) at 7 p.m. for Homecoming.

The Red Wolves (0-3) suffered a 48-0 loss to the OKC Patriots homeschool team Friday (Sept. 11). Capitol Hill has been outscored 125-0 this season.

Pitts called the game against Capitol HIll a “great opportunity to get better” but isn’t looking at the Red Wolves as much as he is at his own team.

“We’re just trying to look to erase some mistakes that we had offensively that really put us in that 14-12 game. And, just working on execution, playing a play out and be able to move the ball.”

The Jets’ offensive line is young and inexperienced but Pitts is starting to see some confidence.

“We’re growing the confidence that we can pass the ball, definitely run the ball with our running backs.”

CLASSEN S.A.S. – Unknown score, 2Q
WESTERN HEIGHTS – Young 12 pass from Smith, 2Q
WESTERN HEIGHTS – Lewis 10 run, 3Q
CLASSEN S.A.S. – Unknown score, 3Q