Sep. 16—OOLOGAH — The Battle of Rogers County became a block party for Claremore’s defense on Friday night.
Only two weeks into the season, the Zebras have shown they can win in different ways. After a shootout victory against Bartlesville in Week 1, they relied on a dominant defense to take control against Oologah, setting the tone early and never letting up in a 23-6 road victory.
The first half was a defensive masterclass by Claremore, with each of Oologah’s five drives ending with a blocked kick or an interception.
Michael Robertson blocked a 30-yard field goal attempt on the Mustangs’ opening drive, and the momentum only grew from there. Graham Williams followed with a punt block, and interceptions from Andrew Hancock and Hayden Lee derailed Oologah’s next two drives.
Josh Feliciano capped the defensive onslaught by blocking another punt before halftime, completely shutting down any offensive rhythm for the Mustangs.
“We have guys who can make plays,” Zebras coach Jarrett Hurt said. “We’re excited to make plays like blocking kicks in the kicking game, and we’re excited to get interceptions. When we can get more turnovers than they get, you have a good chance to win on Friday night. We won the turnover battle, and we’ve been limiting our turnovers on offense all year long.”
That string of defensive plays gave Claremore’s offense prime opportunities, and quarterback Brad Hoisington took full advantage.
The former Oologah standout showcased his versatility, rushing for two touchdowns and leading the Zebras’ balanced attack. Hoisington finished with 60 yards on 13 carries and added 131 yards through the air on 11-of-16 passing.
Claremore’s offense was powered by its ground game, with senior running back Cecil Garrett IV carrying the ball 22 times for 102 yards while Grimett chipped in with 24 yards on six carries to…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/football-claremore-defense-dominates-victory-034600717.html
Author : Claremore Daily Progress, Okla.
Publish date : 2024-09-17 03:46:00
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