The No. 6 Checotah Wildcats came up just a foot short of defeating Holland Hall, however the Dutchmen defense held on to win the Class 3A-3 district game 33-32. It was an exceptional and exciting game as the Checotah Wildcats (5-2, 3-1 3A-3) invaded Hardesty Field Thursday night. Checotah and Holland Hall exchanged leads throughout the contest. However, Dutchmen Rhett Gibson scrambled into the end zone from short yardage to give Holland Hall a 33-32 lead. Checotah would not go quietly as Jayden Ellen took the ensuing kickoff 56-yards before Holland Hall kicker Nash Howell made the game saving tackle.

The Wildcats began their offensive drive from the Dutchmens’ 31-yardline. Checotah used a series of short runs to reach the red zone. The Wildcats received some help as the Dutchmen was penalized for roughing Checotah quarterback Cole Rolland and a pass interference call that moved the football to the three-yard line.

The game ended with two seconds left, the game came down to the final play — where Checotah’s Elijah Thomas, an Oklahoma commit, was stopped inside the 1-yard line after running out of the Wildcat formation.

Dutch quarterback Trey Burleson logged 317 yards and four touchdowns through the air, and receiver Kainon Gibson hauled in seven catches for 203 yards and three scores. Gibson also had an interception and three pass break-ups on defense.

For Checotah, Ellen had 141 yards rushing and a touchdown, and Thomas had 114 receiving yards and two touchdowns on six receptions, to go along with four carries for 39 yards and a TD.

The Wildcats rushed for 184 yards. Brian Love finished with three receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown. Cole Rolland was 16/22 passing for 230 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively Jordan Ellen led the team with 9 tackles, including a quarterback sack and blocked PAT. Kaden Rice had 8 tackles with one for a loss and Preston Cannon had seven tackles and a quarterback sack.