Wolverines claw Pocola Indians
Travel to Spiro on Thursday for district opener
POCOLA — Vian football coach Gary Willis has been looking for a full four quarters of football from his team, and he got it — at least for the most part.
POCOLA — Vian football coach Gary Willis has been looking for a full four quarters of football from his team, and he got it — at least for the most part.
The Wolverines stayed undefeated with a 67-34 romp over the host Pocola Indians last Friday night at John Carter Field.
The Wolverines (3-0) scored 33 points in the opening quarter for a 33-12 lead after the first period en route to a 54-12 halftime advantage and a 67-26 lead after three quarters.
Vian had the Wright stuff on the night, as in Masyn Wright, who rushed for 310 yards and two touchdowns as well as scoring one two-point conversion. Draighton Fletcher scored two TDs and rushed for 110 yards and scored a pair of two-point conversions.
Jacob Brannick caught two passes on the night, but both went for touchdowns on a 27yard and a 35-yard pass from Cash Trammel, who was 4-of-9 passing for 89 yards and two TD passes and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.
Trace Sanders scored on a 50–yard interception return.
Mikayah Mendoza kicked a 33-yard field goal in the opening quarter and hit four extra points.
“I wasn’t pleased with the defensive effort, but offensively we played a pretty good game,” Willis said. “It was hot and humid, and we can make excuses, but we didn’t play the way we wanted to play defense. We came out healthy, and we got the win. We’ll take it. There’s a lot of good things to build on, and a lot of things to preach on. There’s still room for improvement.”
It will be a short week as the Wolverines get ready for District 2AII-4 play at 7 p.m. Thursday against Spiro at Spiro’s McClain Stadium.
“They have a good, tall quarterback (Brycen Graham) who can run it and throw it,” Willis said. “They’re pretty balanced. I think they’re about 53 percent passing and 47 percent on the run. They’re going to throw it around, and there’s some stuff we need to work on in that area (defensively).”
Willis said it will take a sound performance in all aspects to give the Wolverines the best chance to open district play 1-0 as well as stay undefeated on the season.
“We have to go out and contain their offense, and get ours going,” Willis said. “We feel confident about that. We would like to see some improvement in some areas.”
Another concern is that it will be a short week.
“It’s a short week,” Willis said. “We need to get in and out of practice, get what we need done and go over there and see how Spiro is.
Willis cannot express the importance to begin district play at 1-0.
“We plan on winning them all,” Willis said. “If you’re going to win the district, you about have to do that (go undefeated). You want to go out and set the tone and get it rolling.”
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TO GET THERE — Take Interstate 40 east to Sallisaw. Take U.S. 59 south to Oklahoma State Highway 9. Take Highway 9 east to Spiro.
