It lived up to its billing as the Checotah Wildcats (6-4, 4-3 District 3A-3) defended a Eufaula Ironheads’ (2-8, 2-5 District 3A-3) rally late in the fourth quarter to win 21-14, winning the McIntosh County Championship Trophy for the third consecutive year and securing a playoff spot.

It was a game of physicality, big hits, great receptions, on-side kicks and fumbles lost. Checotah took the opening possession down field with a series of Cole Rolland runs and great receptions by Landynn Thomason. Eli Patterson capped it off with a touchdown pass to Rolland.

The Wildcats tried an onside kick but was recovered by Ashton Box. Eufaula began its drive with a Peter Lee short gain, an incomplete pass then a fumble recovered by Ironhead quarterback Koltyn Lane. This would be one of many poor snaps to Lane throughout the game and Eufaula was forced to punt.

The Wildcats looked like they were going to score again after Cole Rolland threw a dart to Landynn Thomason to the Eufaula seven-yard line. However, a holding penalty would bring the football back to the 45-yard line. Rolland would cut up the middle of the field on a seven-yard run only to take a big hit by Blayden Neill. On the next play Rolland connected with Thomason again on the 11-yard line with Luke Hodgins on the stop, saving a score. The Ironheads battled throughout the game and held the Wildcats to four and out and took over with 1:05 remaining in the first quarter.

Eufaula began their drive with the running game of Peter Lee. Lee would dart for seven and six-yard carries until Checotah stopped them on a 3rd and 9-yard situation and Eufaula would punt. Checotah received the ball on their 22-yardline with 10:02 on the clock.

Rolland would hit multiple receivers for short gains and running back Jayden Ellen runs. With the football on the 43-yard line Rolland connected with Elijah Mohammad on a six-yard gain. The next play Rolland broke loose on a long run only for it to come due to another holding penalty. Checotah finished with five penalties for 50 yards and the Ironheads had six for 55 yards. And both teams committed them in crucial situations that prevented them from scoring.

It appeared that the Ironheads would hold Checotah but Rolland found Ellen on a reception for first down inside the Ironheads’ red zone. After a series of short runs Rolland darted in for a one-yard touchdown to make the score 14-0 with 4:08 remaining in the second quarter.

Eufaula converted a pass from Lane to his little brother Doltyn to the Checotah 19-yard line with 2:57 left in the first half. On the next play another bad snap caused a fumble but Lane recovered it but threw two incompletions under heavy duress by Elijah Mohammad and the Checotah secondary. Eufaula went for it on fourth down and the pass attempt was batted down by Hudson Pollard, ending the drive as the visiting crowd roared.

The Wildcats started the drive on the 22-yard line and on the next play Neill hammered Rolland for a quarterback sack. Eufaula forced a fumble on the next play but fumbled the ball on the very next play and the Wildcats ran down the clock, taking a 14-0 lead into the halftime break.

Both teams punted on their first possessions of the third quarter. Again a penalty would negate a long run by Peter Lee. Two plays later Cale Thompson would pickoff a pass and run it to the 25-yardline of Eufaula. Two plays later Ellen dashed into the end zone to give the Wildcats a 21-0 lead with 6:58 on the game clock.

Eufaula would score early in the fourth quarter as Peter Lee threw a touchdown pass to Hodgins, 21-7.

The Ironheads then kicked a successful onside kick recovered by Hodgins and Eufaula started the drive with great field position. They would score again when Lee broke free on a 71-yard touchdown and the home crowd erupted with cheers and the home team had momentum. Checotah would then make a methodical drive downfield to the 21-yardline of the Ironheads. But, the Ironheads’ defense held the Wildcats to a failed fourth down conversion and took over with 5:04 remaining in the game.

Eufaula drove to the 44-yard line of the Wildcats when Mohammad sacked Lane on a fourth down attempt. Checotah took over and two plays later Rolland ran up the middle for a 31-yard gain and the Wildcats ran out the clock, sealing the 21-14 victory and ending the season for Eufaula.

“We knew going into it that they played us tough and they did. We have a lot of respect for Eufaula and they never quit. We didn’t either,” Checotah running back Jayden Ellen said.

The win gave Checotah a 56-53-1 record against Eufaula.

“We had our chances and didn’t capitalize on them. I thought our guys played extremely tough, especially on defense. Congratulations to them and on a good game. I just feel sorry for our seniors. They played their hearts out and we came up just short,” Eufaula head coach Larry Newton said.

Checotah advances to the Class 3A playoff and will travel to Inola on Friday to take on the Longhorns in the first round of the playoffs.

“This was a tough and brutal game. We were lucky to come out on top. They really played well. I’m just very proud of how we responded and competed. It was a typical Eufaula and Checotah football game,” Checotah head coach Zac Ross said.

INDIVIDUAL STATS Rushing

Peter Lee 22/163 yards 1 TD Jayden Ellen 18/82 yards, 1 TD Cole Rolland21/83 yards, 1 TD Passing

Koltyn Lane 6 of 21 for 79 yards

Cole Rolland 8 of 19 for 118 yards

Receiving

Doltyn Lane- 4 receptions for 63 yards Luke Hodgins- 2 receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown.

Landynn Thomason-5 receptions for 85 yards.