The Midwest City Bombers (9-2) were chopping at the bit at the chance to knock off the undefeated Jenks Trojans (11-0) in the Trojans own backyard. The Oklahoma weather would delay their opportunity when icy conditions moved the game from Friday night to Saturday afternoon. When the game finally did get underway, it was clear the Bombers had bitten off more than they could chew falling to the Trojans 33-14.
It seemed like Midwest City was down 14-0 before they even got off the bus. After trading defensive stops, Jenks running back Cameron Booty busted off a 50-yard run deep into Midwest City territory. Two plays later, it was Jenks quarterback Cooper Nunley hooking up with wideout Steven Parker on third down for the first score. The 6-yard touchdown throw put Jenks up 7-0 after the made extra point.
On the second play of the very next drive for the Bombers, Midwest City sophomore quarterback Brendon Brown was picked off by Dylan Harding who returned the interception 40 yards for another Jenks touchdown. After the extra point, the Bombers were down 14-0 and off to terrible start, but Midwest City head coach Darrell Hall said the weather delay wasn’t the cause.
“The weather change had nothing to do with the way we played,” said Hall. “In life, you can prepare all you want to but there’s going to be changes made.”
Midwest City made some changes of their own in an effort to fight back heading into the second quarter. The defense held strong to force a Jenks three and out. Still, the offense led by senior running back KeSean Brown couldn’t get going. Brown had only 5 yards on 5 carries to that point.
Finally, the Bombers caught a break when the Trojans fumbled four minutes into the second quarter. The Bombers had the ball on the Trojans 16-yard line and were ready to move. Six plays later, the Bombers were on the board with a nifty option play from Brendan Brown to KeSean Brown for a 1-yd touchdown run. Jenks still led 14-7, but could this be the spark Midwest City needed on the road?
Unfortunately for the Bombers, it was the Trojan offense that found a spark. The next possession, Nunley was able to lead a pass attack off the run threat. Nunley went 4-4 with 49 yards on the drive. He capped it off with another hook up with Parker for a 15-yard touchdown. After a botched hold on the extra point led to an incomplete 2-point conversion attempt, the Trojans led the Bombers 20-7.
The Bombers couldn’t afford to let Jenks get out of sight, but KeSean Brown still couldn’t get going. Midwest City was forced to punt yet again, but a strong defensive stand on the goal line with help from a personal foul penalty forced Jenks into a 38-yard field goal before halftime. Jenks led Midwest City at the half 23-7.
The second half became an extension of the last minutes of the first half. The Bombers offense punting, and the defense holding the Trojans at the goal line. Jenks capitalized on only one of two trips to the red zone adding another 16-yard field goal to up their lead to 26-7.
Finally, the Trojans busted the game open in the fourth quarter with a 97-yard run by Kalen McDavid. Midwest City had pinned Jenks on their own 3-yard line but McDavid on the first play of the drive erased any hopes of life with his touchdown bolstering the Jenks lead up to 33-7.
“Until that kid [McDavid] hit that 97-yard run on us, I still thought we had a chance because it was still within reason,” said Hall of the game sealing run. “They’d only scored 3 points on us in the second half until then.”
Midwest City would add a KeSean Brown 13-yard touchdown in the closing minutes of the quarter but fell to Jenks 33-14 ending their playoff run. Midwest City never got the pass or run game going. KeSean Brown ended his night with 14 carries for 44 yards with 2 touchdowns. Brennan Brown was 10-20 with 94 yards and 2 interceptions. Coach Hall credited Jenks for being the better football team but said their youth would give them something to build on.
“Well, we’re excited about where we came. We’re disappointed on the way we ended,” said Hall. “I’m so proud of the way they [seniors] stepped up from what happened last year and we expect to get better. We expect to be better.”