LARRY OWEN

SPORTS EDITOR

The Okmulgee Bulldog varsity football team kicked off the 2022 season this past Friday at Star Spencer High School.

Behind a 3-TD night from junior quarterback Joseph Robertson, the Bulldogs began their journey towards their first winning season since 2009 with a 20-0, shutout, victory over the host Star Spencer Bobcats.

The Okmulgee gridiron squad will seek their second-straight win of 2022 this Friday in the Bulldogs’ home opener against the Antlers Bearcats.

Friday’s home opener is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at historic Harmon Field in Okmulgee.

Okmulgee Public Schools will hold its annual Homecoming Festivities during halftime.

In Friday’s season-opening win, the first 12 minutes of action were a defensive battle between both teams, leaving the game scoreless after one quarter of play.

With 8:04 left before halftime, the Bulldogs put the first points of the season on the scoreboard when Robertson connected with a wide-open Nolan Yates on a 36-yard TD pass. Darin Miles crossed the goal line for the conversion to give the visitors the 8-0 advantage.

Neither team was able to find the end zone the remainder of the second quarter to send the season-opening showdown to the halftime break with the Okmulgee squad clinging to a narrow 8-0 lead.

With 4:41 left in the third quarter, the Bulldogs extended their lead to 14-0 on a 2-yard TD run by Robertson on a QB keeper. The try for two was unsuccessful, leaving the Okmulgee lead at 14 points.

The OHS squad put the finishing touches on their season-opening shutout win at the 7:20 mark of the fourth quarter, as Robertson raced across the end zone on a 4th-and-Goal play for his third touchdown of the night. The pass attempt on the conversion was unsuccessful to make it a 20-0 advantage for the Bulldogs.

The Okmulgee defense kept the host Bobcats out of the end zone the remaining seven minutes of regulation to walk away with the 20-0, shutout, win.

--- Okmulgee 20, Star Spencer 0

Okmulgee: 0 - 8 - 6 - 6 (20) Star Spencer: 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 (0)

First Quarter

No Score

Second Quarter

Okmulgee - Nolan Yates, 36-yard pass from Joseph Robertson (Darin Miles run); 8:04 Third Quarter

Okmulgee - Robertson, 2-yard run (Run Failed); 4:41

Fourth Quarter

Okmulgee - Robertson, 3-yard run (Pass Failed); 7:20 --- Okmulgee Team Stats

First Downs: 14 Rushing: 41-210 Passing: 6-18-0 50 Total Offense: 59-260 Fumbles: 1-1 Penalties: 14-81 --- Okmulgee Individual Stats

Rushing: Quez King 17-76; Joseph Robertson 5-51, 2 TDs; Darin Miles 9-51; Javin Hutchinson 4-22; Nolan Yates 6-10.

Passing: Joseph Robertson 6-18-0 50, TD.

Receiving: Nolan Yates 2-36, TD; Gavin McCurdy 2-8; Jorden Bolden 1-6; Tre Swan 1-0.