The McAlester football team is this week's Oklahoma Team of the Week, presented by the Oklahoma National Guard.
Courtesy photo
Turnabout is fair play. And revenge is best served at your opponent's
home field.
Whatever the trite saying,
McAlester High School's football team just knows Friday's 47-34
win at Stillwater was sweet.
The Buffaloes avenged a
fairly embarrassing 42-18 home loss to Stillwater, which went on to
record a 3-7 record. McAlester rebounded nicely from last year's
season-opening defeat by going 8-5, losing in the state 5A semifinals to
East Central.
The momentum from last season
evidently carried over, especially junior quarterback
Dalton Wood, who accounted for 427 yards and all seven touchdowns in
the win at Stillwater on Friday.
For his and the
team's performance, McAlester has been selected as the MaxPreps Oklahoma
Team of the Week presented by the Oklahoma National Guard.
Wood completed 22 of 39 passes for 257 yards and
five touchdowns, two going to
Jarome Smith and one each to
Cade Harkins,
Mason Bumphus and
Caden Pratt. Harkins finished with eight catches and 100 yards.
"(Wood) has put in a lot of time and effort and has always been a great
leader," said head coach Bryan Pratt. "He also pushes other guys on the field."
Wood also rushed 18 times for 170 yards and Smith
went for 90 yards on 14 carries. All told, the Buffaloes racked up 555
yards.
"We’re a fast-paced, no-huddle offense, and we snapped the ball about 84
times last week," said Pratt.
McAlester fell behind 13-7 in the first
quarter, but a three-touchdown second-quarter rally gave it a 28-20
halftime lead. Stillwater tied the game in the third quarter at 34, but
the Buffaloes were determined to make amends for last year with two
unanswered touchdowns in the fourth.
"We’re a very mature
team," said Pratt. "We know about the game, we know it’s a four-quarter war."
Wood, Smith and
defensive back
Allen Woodmoore (seven tackles, interception, pass break-up) were
picked as Players of the Game by Pratt.
The Buffaloes continue their season Friday at home
against Washington, which beat McAlester 27-17 last season. More revenge
is on the mind of the Buffaloes, who have gone 41-10 the last four-plus
seasons under Pratt.
The program won state titles
in 1968 and 1988.
Do you know a team that deserves
consideration for Oklahoma Team of the Week? Email us with your
nominations at OKteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.
