PRAGUE — The Vian Wolverines had not lost a district football game since Oct. 9, 2020, in a road game against Tulsa Cascia Hall — that was until Friday night.
After the Wolverines scored in the waning seconds to force overtime, the host Red Devils scored in OT to stun the Wolverines 29-23 on Friday night.
The Wolverines (6-3 overall, 5-1 in District A-8 play) will need to beat Sequoyah-Tahlequah on Senior Night at 7 p.m. this Friday at St. John Stadium to secure second place and a home playoff game against District 2A-6’s third-place team, the Heavener Wolves, on Nov. 10.
If Vian falls to Sequoyah- Tahlequah, the Wolverines will end up third in the district and will have to travel to the loser of this Friday night’s Eufaula-Idabel game, which will determine the District 2A-6 championship.
Mikayah Mendoza’s 33-yard field goal with 18 seconds left tied the game at 23-all to force overtime, but the Red Devils (9-0, 6-0) scored on a 3-yard touchdown run in OT to win at least a share of the district championship. Prague can win the district outright next Friday night with a road win over Okemah.
The Wolverines scored first on Masyn Wright’s 63-yard touchdown run. Mendoza’s extra point put Vian ahead 7-0 with 10:25 left in the first quarter.
The Red Devils got the game tied at 7-all after a period on a 16-yard TD run and PAT with 18 seconds remaining in the quarter.
The Wolverines regained the lead on Wright’s second touchdown run of the game, a 16-yarder, with 10:49 left before halftime. Mendoza’s extra point put Vian back on top 14-7 at the half.
After Prague tied the game at 14-all with 3:35 left in the third quarter, Riley Ellis put Vian back ahead on a 1-yard TD run with 1:16 remaining in the period. However, Mendoza missed the PAT to keep the Wolverines ahead 20-14.
The Red Devils scored a safety with the snap went over the Vian punter’s head with 8:58 left to play, followed by a 28-yard touchdown pass with 2:48 remaining in the game, to put Prague ahead 23-20.
However, the Wolverines responded with the game-tying drive to force overtime.
In defeat, Wright rushed for 176 yards and two TDs, but Vian struggled in the passing game as the Wolverines only mustered 21 yards.
