The Henryetta Knights proved they were a force to be reckoned with Friday night, coming close to defeating the Morris Eagles on the road. Henryetta matched Morris almost point for point in the first quarter before the Eagles went on a 22-point rampage.

The Knights turned things around in the third and fourth quarters, but still struggled against the Eagles’ quarter back Kolby Adams. Even though the Knights tied the game 38-38 in the fourth quarter, they fell behind towards the end of the quarter resulting in a 54-38 loss for the Knights.

In the first quarter, Adams kickstarted the Eagles offensive barrage in the first quarter, finding Corbin Clark open for a 64-yard touchdown. Adams, who earned 147 passing yards against Quapaw, was a key player for the Eagles once again. His passing touchdown to Clark, combined with a two-point conversion completed by Mateo Terriquez, earned the Eagles an uncontested 8-0 lead.

The Eagles’ uncontested lead didn’t last long with the force of Henryetta’s sophomore wide receiver Cameron McKinney leading the Knights to their first touchdown. Gaining possession on the punt, McKinney drove in the ball for an 84-yard rushing touchdown to contest the Eagles’ eight-point advantage. A kick from junior guard Tyler Wilson garnered the Knights a close 8-7 decision in the first quarter.

The Knights breathed down the Eagles neck in the second quarter, attempting to hold back the Eagles’ offensive power. Despite matching the Eagles 8-7 in the first quarter, the Knights lost control of the field which allowed the Eagles to gain a 22-point scoring streak. The Eagles more than doubled their first-quarter score with wide receiver Mitchell Poyndexter kick starting the barrage. The Eagles closed in on the end zone, leaving just six yards between them and another touchdown. Poyndexter carried the ball for a six-yard touchdown, but a failed two-point conversion still put the Eagles ahead 14-7.

The Knights were unable to hold back Morris’ junior running back Jerry Ramos, who led the Eagles to their next two touchdowns. Ramos rushed 37-yards for his first touchdown, earning a third touchdown for the Eagles, while a two-point conversion tapped a 22-7 lead for the Eagles.

A 13-yard running touchdown from Ramos garnered a 23-point lead for the Eagles, 30-7.

With the second half looming over the field, the Knights got the ball close to the end zone before the end of the second quarter. Wilson kicked a 31-yard field goal for the Knights at the end of the second quarter, 30-10.

In the second half, the Knights reclaimed the field with two touchdowns, closing in on the Eagles 20-point lead. The Eagles were able to extend their lead with a touchdown and two-point conversion, 38-10.

After running the ball down the field, Knight sophomore running back Alex Hudson finished the drive with a 17-yard pass from quarter back Jakob White for a touchdown. Wilson’s power kick returned for another point, 38-17.

McKinney helped close in on the Eagles even more towards the end of the third quarter. White found McKinney open for a 39-yard reception, nabbing the Knights a third touchdown of the game. A successful field goal put the Knights only 14-points behind the Eagles, 38-24.

Returning in the fourth quarter, the Knights rampage wasn’t over yet with quarter back White running in a seven-yard touchdown. Combined with a Wilson field goal, the Knights were now only behind the Eagles 38-31.

The Knights gained the opportunity to tie the score after recovering a fumble. Making it to the end zone, Wilson’s field goal propelled the Knights into a 38-38 tie with the Eagles. Try as they might, the Knights couldn’t hold back the Eagles’ offense in the last minutes of the game. Terriquez and Adams both scored touchdowns to secure a 54-38 win for the Eagles.

Both teams were close in offensive and defensive strength. The Knights earned 366 passing yards, which mirrored the Eagles 433 rushing yards, showing the difference in offensive tactics. White led the Knights in passing yards with 367 and also had the most rushing yards with 28. The Knights first loss of the season could be contributed to the number of interceptions thrown, which were tallied up to four.