Despite the loss, Roland claimed a playoff berth with a fourth-place finish in District 3A-4. The Rangers dropped to 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the league while Bristow closed its season at 4-6 and 2-5.
After a scoreless first quarter, the home team went in front when quarterback Brett Vess broke loose for a 54-yard touchdown run. Roland’s Michael Kightlinger blocked the extra point and Bristow led 6-0 with 10:11 left in the half.
The Rangers took the ensuing kickoff and drove down to the Pirates’ nine-yard line, but a fake field goal on fourth down was unsuccessful.
Bristow took a 6-0 lead into the third quarter and made it 13-0 after Fullbright‘s seven-yard touchdown run with 6:33 left in the period. Tommy Gatewood had a big gain on the drive, running for 25 yards with a 15-yard personal foul tacked on to the end of the play.
Roland battled back and cut the deficit to 13-6 on Drew Roberts’ four-yard touchdown run and Jeff Roberts’ extra point kick. Teven Thompson sparked the drive with runs of 15 and 12 yards and Drew Roberts completed passes of 11 and nine yards to Kightlinger, whose second reception put the ball at the Bristow four-yard line. Roberts scored on the next play as time ran out in the third quarter.
The Pirates were able to put the game away in the fourth period with a five-play, 35-yard drive after forcing Roland to punt from deep in its own territory. Fullbright got the touchdown on a 15-yard run and Austin Corwin booted his second extra point of the night with 4:45 left in the game.
Fullbright led Bristow with 94 yards on 14 carries while Vess ran 14 times for 88 yards and completed 4-of-10 passes for 44 yards.
Roland quarterback Drew Roberts completed 7-of-16 passes for 153 yards. Kightlinger was the top receiver with five catches for 66 yards, while Blake Brunk and Kyle Ulmer both had one reception apiece. Thompson led Roland’s ground game with 21 carries for a game-high 129 yards.
