Eight Eagles score in shutout win over Tahlequah
Jeremiah Miles takes a handoff from Cash Koertner. Photo by Jeff Harrison
By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon
Del City’s football team has a lot of options on offense.
And they exercised several of them Friday night in a 56-0 win over Tahlequah (4-4, 2-3) at Robert Kalsu Stadium. Eight different players scored in the District 5A-4 rout.
“We’re just really talented this year and the good thing is we’re not using the same guys on offense and defense,” said coach Robert Jones. “Ever since I’ve been here, we always had some guys going both ways. But now we’re able to go one way and that’s a product of what we’ve built here.”
Cash Koertner threw for 290 yards with three touchdowns and one interception and ran for another score.
Jeremiah Miles showed his blazing speed with a 92-yard touchdown run. Kaleb Blackwolf, Ricklan Holmes and D’Marion Turner each ran for scores.
Ke’Darrius Palmer led the team with five catches for 79 yards and one touchdown. Mishaun Graham and Josiah Chester also each had a receiving touchdown against Tahlequah.
The Eagles (7-1, 5-0) led 28-0 at halftime and delivered some key defensive stops in the second half.
“Even though I don’t want us to do bad, I’m glad that we had some hiccups and issues,” Jones said. “We must have some adversity before we get in the playoffs.”
The Eagles were able to break a few big runs but had a tough time on the ground much of the night.
“They were coming off the ball and stopping our run game a bit and made us do some other things,” Jones said. “But any time you win 56-0 it’s hard to find stuff to pick at.”
Del City took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a pair of short touchdown runs by Koertner and Turner.
In the second quarter, Koertner connected with Chester for a 15-yard score, and Palmer on a 31-yarder. The Eagles led 28-0 at halftime.
Koertner threw an interception on the opening drive of the second half. But the Eagle defense held their ground with a stop in the red zone. JJ Cheatom sacked the Tigers QB on fourth down from the Eagles 4.
Blackwolf scored on the next possession for a 35-0 lead.
The sophomore followed with a big punt return to the Tigers 23. Holmes later found the end zone for a 41-0 lead early in the fourth.
Del City finished the night with a pair of big plays. Miles took a handoff at his own 5-yard-line and blazed by defenders for the score. Koertner connected with Graham on a 62-yard touchdown pass to round out the night.
The Eagles will hit the road Friday to take on Claremore (7-1, 4-1) in a key district matchup. They beat the Zebras last year in the state semifinals. Claremore’s only loss this year was against Pryor, who will face Del City in the final regular season game on Nov. 8.
“We know what they bring to the table, and they’ll throw the kitchen sink at us,” Jones said.
