Football Preview: Stigler Panthers vs. Checotah Wildcats
A feisty cat fight will be fought when Panthers takes on the Checotah Wildcats at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Stigler took a loss when they played away from home two weeks ago, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Friday. They won a match that couldn't have been any closer, slipping by Idabel 29-28. The Panthers' offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.
Stigler was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 222 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Checotah waltzed into their contest on Friday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They had just enough and edged the Bulldogs out 48-45. The 48-point effort marked the Wildcats' lowest-scoring matchup of the season, but in the end it didn't matter.
Elijah Thomas continued his habit of posting crazy stat lines, picking up 196 receiving yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 58 yards and a touchdown on only five carries. He also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, making seven total tackles (3.0 for loss) and defending a pass in addition to snagging two interceptions.
On the other side of the ball, a lot of the credit has to go to Checotah's defensive line and their 3.5 sacks. Preston Cannon was particularly dangerous to the passing game, picking up twohimself.
Stigler's victory bumped their record up to 2-3. As for Checotah, their win was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 4-1.
Things could have been worse for Stigler, but things could have been a whole lot better as they took a 28-13 loss to Checotah in their previous matchup back in November of 2023. Can Stigler avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
