10/10/2026
💪💪
This was the moment that I'll remember for awhile.
I was feet away and my biggest regret was that I hadn't started recording.
Sapulpa had already turned the tables on McAlester earlier that evening, trailing at 6-7, then 12-14 as the game hit halftime. I don't know what was said in that locker room before 3rd quarter started, but they turned a corner and QB Braddox Broughton launched a long one (as he did several times that night), and it started the Chieftains on the road to dominating the Buffaloes for the rest of the night.
After scoring a TD and a 2-point conversion to take the lead at 20-14, Sapulpa had a stroke of incredible luck as a loose ball got scooped up by Sapulpa, who ran it just a few yards and scored again, taking it to 27-14.
But that was pure luck, right? An anomaly. A fluke. Could Sapulpa use that momentum to keep McAlester's offense at a safe distance? Sapulpa was close to scoring again, but the Buffs were intent on holding the line.
On the 4th down, and just 10 yards away from the end zone, Broughton took the snap and tried to run it in himself. McAlester was ready for him, and though he got close, it became evident he wasn't going to make it. Instead of going down and letting the Buffaloes have what would have been a great starting spot for the Chieftains down the field, Broughton showed his maturity and determination when he lobbed the ball to Wide Receiver Brodie Chalakee, who had run the length of the end zone and was looking for the pass as he reached the corner.
Broughton ate the turf, but Chalakee caught that ball, and that cemented the Chieftains win for the night, and furthermore, it turned their loss against Bishop Kelley last week into a distant memory.
Coach Holt told me earlier this week his team needed to learn how to fight the fatigue and stick it out. "We have to play four quarters, not just three," he said. McAlester didn't score the entire second half of the game. I'd say the Chieftains learned how to play all four quarters.
Photo courtesy of Sheri Waldrop.
Watch the highlights from Friday's game on Hudl: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/ok/sapulpa/organization/7288/sapulpa-high-school/watch?hr=SGlnaGxpZ2h0UmVlbFN1bW1hcnk2YWM5Zjc2NzU0NzYwOTllNjc5NTg3OTQ%3D&ot=TEAM&oi=18096