Owls strike early dominate Highlanders, 62-14

ELGIN–So much for thinking that Elgin might be looking ahead to next week’s game with Midwest City as the Owls totally dominated MacArthur, 62-14, Friday in Elgin, setting up a title matchup against the Bombers next week in Midwest City.

A huge crowd gathered around Fighting Owls Stadium to watch the No. 4 Owls and No. 10 Highlanders and by halftime the issue was decided except for the final score. The Owls are now 6-0 in District 5A-1, 9-0 overall, and can clinch the title with a win over Midwest City next Friday. MWC beat Noble, 42-34, Friday. Mac will host Noble next week needing a win to keep its playoff hopes alive.

The teams traded early possessions before Elgin came up with a big stop on a 4th-and-1 from the Elgin 42 with 7:49 left in the first quarter.

Then the Owls got moving on a nice 40-yard run by senior back Matthew Lund that set Elgin up at the Mac 20.

It took them some time to score as they faced a 4th-and-13 after a pair of false start penalties. But junior quarterback Tres Lorah fired a 23-yard TD pass to Michael Adesola with 4:46 left in the first quarter. Elgin’s Gabe Dittmeyer missed the PAT kick into a stiff northeast wind.

Mac’s offense appeared to have something going as Aivan Locklin connected with Boux DeLong for a 42-yard gainer and first down at the Owls’ 30. After no gain on first down, Mac was guilty of a holding call and eventually was forced to punt again.

On first down Elgin’s Brody Morrison raced 33 yards to set the Owls up at the Mac 32. The drive was capped by a 4-yard TD run by Lund and Dittmeyer added the PAT for a 13-0 lead with 18 seconds left in the first quarter.

Then the Owls took command for good, scoring five times in that period to take a 55-0 lead at halftime and send many fans heading for their warm cars.

Big defensive tackle Shay Spencer came up with a big play to get the fireworks started, rushing Lockin, jumping high and grabbing the interception and rambling to the Mac 12.

Lorah then made another great throw, rolling out on a bootleg and finding a wide open Treyvon Crabtree for the score.

On Mac’s next series Elgin’s Brody Morrison was able to get in front of a Mac receiver to get the Owls’ second interception at the Elgin 43.

Lorah quickly found Michael Adesola for a 46-yard pass to set the Owls up with a 1st-and-goal at the Mac 6-yard-line. Lund got the score from six yards out on the second play and the lead surged to 27-0.

Another stop by the Elgin defense set up the Owls at their own 20 after a five-yard penalty. Lund covered the 80 yards on the next play, cutting back across the field to outrun the Mac secondary for a 34-0 lead.

About the only thing the Owls did wrong was fumble a handoff that gave Mac the ball at its own 44 but once again penalties caught the Highlanders slowing a drive that ended after four plays on Elgin’s third interception that Adesola returned 47 yards to score.

Then the Elgin special teams got into the act on the ensuing kickoff as a big hit stripped the ball from a Mac returner and the Owls’ Josh Adesola scooped it up and scored at the 3:20 mark.

Mac was unable do do anything on its next possession and was forced to punt. Another high snap allowed Elgin to get good pressure and Triston Kephart blocked the kick, setting the Owls up at the Mac 25.

The Owls overcame two penalties on that drive but eventually Lorah was able to make another great fake, roll out and find Ritson Meyer wide open on a wheel route and laid the ball in perfectly for a 14-yard TD pass. Dittmeyer added the 55th point.

Elgin added a score early in third period as Lund caught an 8-yard TD pass and then the Elgin coaches started getting their younger players into the game. Mac eventually scored a pair of touchdowns on a 4-yard Lockin run and a 29-yard run by Jeremy Hutcheson.

By then it was too little, too late.