logo
Login Subscribe
  • News
    • Obituaries
    • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • E-edition
  • Calendar
  • Archives
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisers
    • Form Submission
    • About Us
    • News
      • Obituaries
      • Lifestyle
    • Sports
    • E-edition
    • Calendar
    • Archives
    • Contact
      • Contact Us
      • Advertisers
      • Form Submission
      • About Us
Google Play App Store
Turnovers doom Vian in state title game; Wolverines fall to Davis Wolves
sports
December 11, 2024
Turnovers doom Vian in state title game; Wolverines fall to Davis Wolves
By David Seeley Sports Editor

Vian football coach Gary Willis said his team could not commit turnovers if the Wolverines were going to have the best chance of bringing home a gold football and a state championship for the first time in 53 years. Unfortunately, his fears came to fruition.

The Wolverines committed four turnovers, three of which were turned into touchdowns by Davis as the Wolves denied the Wolverines a perfect season and that all-elusive gold ball with a 28-18 win in the Class 2A, Division II state title game Saturday afternoon at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Chad Richison Stadium.

The Wolverines end the season at 13-1.

With the game tied at 7-all at halftime, the Wolves (10-4), who ended the season by beating two unbeaten teams at the time with a semifinal win over undefeated Stroud prior to beating undefeated Vian, attempted an onside kick, but it was Vian’s Tristan Wiley who made the recovery at the Vian 44yard line with 11:58 left in the third quarter.

The Wolverines marched as deep as about the Davis 15-yard line, but as Vian wildcat quarterback Masyn Wright was looking for somewhere to run, Davis defender Jaxon Wright literally stripped Wright of the ball at the Davis 20 and rambled 39 yards to the Vian 41 with 9:56 remaining in the period.

Five plays and 41 yards later, the Wolves took the lead for good on a 3-yard touchdown run by quarterback Dax Owens. However, Vian’s Cash Collins blocked Davis place-kicker’s Levi Pullen’s extra point, keeping Davis ahead 13-7 with 7:28 remaining in the quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, Vian’s Draighton Fletcher tried to catch the pop-up kick, but fumbled the ball. Davis special teams player Brendyn Pierce made the recovery at the Vian 28-yard line.

Thanks to converting a fourth down at the Vian 3-yard line, the Wolves went 28 yards in eight plays as Brenden Rawls leaped into the end zone for a 1-yard TD plunge. The Wolves went for two points, and got them, as Owens hit Dalton Hefley on the two-point conversion pass to up the Davis advantage to 21-7 with 3:46 left in the period.

On the Vian ensuing possession, the Wolverines got as deep as the Davis 11, but had to settle for a 39-yard field goal by Mikayah Mendoza to cut the Vian deficit to 21-10 with 1:03 left in the quarter.

Perhaps the play of the game came on the ensuing kickoff as Owens rambled 89 yards to paydirt with 50 seconds remaining in the period. Pullen’s extra point increased the Davis lead to 28-10 after three quarters.

On the ensuing Vian drive, the Wolverines drove into the Davis red zone, only to have their fourth turnover stop the drive as quarterback Cash Trammel’s pass was picked off by Davis free safety Trey Melton at the Davis 8-yard line with 11:12 left to play in the game.

The final score of the 2024 season for Vian came on Wright’s second TD of the game, a 2-yard run with 3:27 remaining in the game. He also scored the twopoint conversion to cut the Vian deficit to 2818.

The Wolverines tried an onside kick, but Davis special teams player Maverick Alexander made the recovery, and the Wolves ran out the clock.

“Hats off to Davis,” Willis said. “We turned the ball over too much.”

The Wolverines had the first good crack of breaking the scoreless tie. The Wolves got the opening kickoff but did nothing with the possession. The Davis punter shanked the punt, giving the Wolverines the ball at the Davis 31-yard line.

Facing fourth down, the Wolverines went for it, but Trammel’s pass led Jacob Brannick too far to the near sideline as when Brannick caught the ball he was out of bounds. Thus, the Wolverines were stopped on fourth down with the Wolves taking over at their own 25-yard line with 7:52 left in the first quarter.

Again, the Davis offense was stopped on a three-and-out, and the Wolverines took over possession at their own 42-yard line with 5:53 remaining in the period.

On the very next play, Wright, who rushed for 132 yards and scored two touchdowns, went straight up the middle virtually untouched for a 58-yard TD run with 5:43 remaining in the quarter. Mendoza’s extra point put Vian ahead 7-0 after one quarter.

The Wolves finally solved the Vian defense in the second period. The Wolves drove as deep as the Vian 43-yard line but were stopped on fourth down as the tandem of Wiley and Collins brought down the Davis ball carrier for a 2-yard loss. Vian took over possession at its own 45-yard line with 3:19 left before halftime.

However, it was the Davis defense that rose to the occasion. On the second play of the ensuing Vian drive, Wright fumbled the ball with the Wolves making the recovery at midfield with 2:30 remaining in the first half.

Eight plays and 50 yards later, the Wolves hit the end zone as Dakota Carter caught a 6-yard TD pass from Owens with 14 seconds remaining before halftime. Pullen hit the PAT to knot the game at 7-all at halftime.

The drive was aided by a personal foul penalty and an offside penalty on the Wolverines.

Willis was still proud of the season his team had this fall.

“These guys did a great job,” he said. “We were blessed all year by God and stayed healthy. We were very thankful. The guys came up short in this one. We told these guys we love football. We live and die by it. (Losing) hurts, but football doesn’t define who we are. The sun will come up in the morning, and we’ll go back to work.”

Officer returns to work, key safety decisions made
news
Officer returns to work, key safety decisions made
By AMIE CATO-REMER Editor 
May 7, 2025
In a meeting marked by both solemn acknowledgments and forward-looking decisions, the town of Webbers Falls conducted its regular council session on April 8. The meeting began with a heartfelt gesture...
this is a test
news
Police chief announces zero tolerance policy on loose dogs
By AMIE CATO-REMER Editor 
May 7, 2025
In response to a growing public safety concern, Vian Police Chief Mark Harkins announced that the town is launching a zero tolerance initiative aimed at holding negligent animal owners accountable. “W...
this is a test
Fletcher, Peoples reappointed as mayor, vice mayor
news
Fletcher, Peoples reappointed as mayor, vice mayor
By AMIE CATO-REMER Editor 
May 7, 2025
The Town of Vian and Vian Public Works Authority (VPWA) went over a packed agenda during their regular joint meeting on April 21, reappointing town leadership, approving multiple community events, and...
this is a test
Cherokee Nation makes donation to local police departments
news
Cherokee Nation makes donation to local police departments
May 7, 2025
Cherokee Nation Districts 5 and 6 Tribal Councilors E.O. “Jr.” Smith and Daryl Legg, along with Cherokee Nation Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner recently donated a total of $78,724 to local law enf...
this is a test
news
Blackgum community sale May 9 and 10
May 7, 2025
The Blackgum community sale is back! Come shop this Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Blackgum Community Building, located on Hwy. 100, one mile east of Tenkiller State Park.
this is a test
news
Town of Webbers Falls events
May 7, 2025
May 6: Food Giveaway WF First Baptist Church, the first Tuesday of each month. May 10: Town of Gore’s Cruise Night. May 13: ECOWA and Town of Webbers Falls meeting, 6 p.m. May 16: Webbers Falls High S...
this is a test
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
Band of Gold performs
news
Band of Gold performs
May 7, 2025
The Vian Band of Gold performed during the pre-game show at the Arkansas Naturals vs the Tulsa Drillers baseball game on April 25 in Springdale. The band wishes to thank their sponsors who made this d...
this is a test
Brown brings family and flavor together
news
Brown brings family and flavor together
By AMIE CATO-REMER Editor 
May 7, 2025
Nestled on the hills of Blackgum Mountain near Moonshine Road, the scent of sizzling fry bread often wafts from a cozy home where tradition, family, and flavor come together. That’s the home of Ashley...
this is a test
news
Gore announces spring cleanup day
May 7, 2025
Gore Public Works Authority (GPWA) customers will be allowed to dispose of undesirable items with some exceptions during the town’s spring cleanup day on May 24, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The following it...
this is a test
news
Eyeglass donations being accepted by Lions
May 7, 2025
Anyone wishing to donate old or no longer used eyeglasses can do so by dropping them off at the Vian Lions Club donation box. The box is located in front of the old Vian Town Hall on Thornton Street. ...
this is a test
news
Date set for Vian’s All School Reunion
May 7, 2025
Vian’s All School Reunion will be held during Memorial Day weekend, on Saturday, May 24, from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Vian High School Cafetorium. The reunion committee is inviting all alumni from both Vi...
this is a test
Facebook
Twitter
Tweets
Twitter
Tweets

VIAN TENKILLER NEWS
Address: 603 W. Schley Vian, Oklahoma
Phone:+1 918-773-8000

news@bigbasinllc.com

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 Vian Tenkiller News

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy