Jackets start season with resounding victory

Statistically, the Jackets dominated Putnam West, which has won only one game in the last three seasons. Choctaw rushed the ball 33 times for 193 yards, averaging 5.8 yards for the game. When the Jackets did pass, it was effective as quarterback Zach Rapp completed five of nine attempts for 52 yards and two scoring strikes.

Senior wide receiver Taylor Gossett caught three of Rapp’s passes, including two touchdown grabs. Gossett also rushed for a TD and caught a 2-point conversion pass.

Coaching in his first game as a Class 6A head coach, Choctaw’s Richard Tuberville said he was thrilled with the win, but admitted the Jackets have much work to do in some areas.

“Anytime you can get a win in 6A, you’re going to be happy. I would have liked to move the ball a little more, but I thought our defense played really well,” Tuberville said. “Our special teams play needs to improve and we had way too many penalties. We’re going to need to exercise more discipline.”

Choctaw punted three times for an average of 30.6 yards a kick. However, two punts went for less than 30 yards, including a 15-yard kick that failed to get over the defenders’ heads. The Yellowjackets also were penalized 11 times for 95 yards, including four major violations.

TWOFERS
Still, the Jackets were the better team and it showed. On the team’s second possession, Choctaw marched 65 yards in six plays with Rapp passing the final 13 yards to Gossett. Senior tailback Marcese Dickson tallied the 2-point conversion with 1:34 left in the first quarter.

Choctaw opted for the 2-point conversion on three of its four touchdowns since the team’s starting kicker was suspended for violating team rules. Three other would-be starters also served a one-game suspension for violation of team policies, Tuberville said.

In the second quarter, Putnam West committed two game-changing mistakes and Choctaw took advantage of the miscues.

Unable to move the ball early in the second quarter, the Patriots tried to punt the ball, but the snap went over the head of punter Brett Lopez, who recovered the ball but was tackled at the 7-yard line. Two plays later, Gossett scored on a 4-yard run with 9:53 left before halftime. Sophomore Kenny Tisdale converted the 2-point play as Choctaw extended its lead to 16-0.

Still unable to move the ball on its next possession, Putnam West went into punt formation again. For the second time, the snap from center was low and Lopez bobbled the ball as Choctaw defenders recovered at the Patriot 18-yard line.

Three plays later, Rapp went around left end for his first rushing TD of the season. On the first play of the short drive, Rapp kept the ball as he rushed through the middle of the Patriot defense for 21 yards. Rapp connected with Gossett on the 2-point conversion try as Choctaw led 24-0.

The Jackets extended their lead to 32-0 after recovering a fumble by Patriot quarterback Reggie Alford at the Putnam West 15. Three plays later, Rapp rolled to his right and hit Gossett in the back of the end zone on a 5-yard scoring strike with 20 seconds left before intermission. Gossett also caught the 2-point conversion pass from Rapp.

Each team scored a touchdown in the final quarter for the final 39-7 margin. Choctaw’s TD came on a 5-yard scamper by Rapp with 17 seconds left in the game.

Defensively, Choctaw held the Patriots to 115 rushing yards on 29 carries. Putnam West’s passing game was anemic as Alford completed just one of seven attempts for 12 yards.

Choctaw will take its 1-0 record to Edmond North Sept. 9. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Wantland Stadium on the University of Central Oklahoma campus.