Okmulgee begins Coach Jackson era with 18-0 loss
The Okmulgee Bulldog varsity football team began its 2023 season on a sour note this past Friday night at historic Harmon Field in Okmulgee.
Eight turnovers, including five in the first half, spelled doom for the Bulldogs, who dropped the 2023 opener by an 18-0 margin to the visiting Star Spencer Bobcats.
Friday’s shutout loss came in the head coaching debut for longtime OHS assistant Randy Jackson, who took over the reins of the Bulldog gridiron squad following the dismissal of Brent Scott, who coached at Okmulgee the previous four seasons.
The outcome of Friday’s season opener could have been a lot worse for Coach Jackson and the Bulldogs, as Star Spencer had three touchdowns called back due to penalties.
The Okmulgee gridiron squad will take to the road for the first time this season on Friday, traveling to Antlers to battle the Antlers Bearcats in the Bulldogs’ second non-district game of the 2023 campaign. Friday’s non-district battle (Antlers’ 2023 season opener) with the Bearcats is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m. in Antlers.
In Friday’s season opener, Star Spencer’s defense tallied the first points of the 2023 campaign, as Trevaughn Butler returned an Okmulgee interception 25 yards to paydirt at the 4:27 mark of the opening quarter. The PAT kick was off the mark to give the visitors the early 6-0 advantage.
The remaining 16:27 of the first half went scoreless to send both teams to the halftime break with the host Bulldogs still trailing by one score, 6-0.
With 4:25 remaining in the third quarter, the Bobcats doubled their lead, 12-0, on a 28yard TD pass from Kaleb Moore to Coreyon Moore. The Okmulgee defense stopped the conversion run attempt near the goal line to make it a 12-point deficit for the Bulldogs.
The visitors put away any comeback attempts with a late score in the final frame. Butler connected with Kaleb Moore on a 24-yard pass attempt at the 1:29 mark to put the finishing touches on the 18-0 outcome.
The Bulldogs attempted to avoid the season-opening shutout loss, moving the ball down the field in the final 90 seconds of regulation, but were unable to reach the end zone on their final offensive drive, suffering the 18-point setback.
— Star Spencer 18, Okmulgee 0 Star Spencer: 6 – 0 – 6 – 6 (18) Okmulgee: 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 (0) First Quarter
Star Spencer – Trevaughn Butler, 25-yard interception (Kick Failed); 4:27 Second Quarter No Score
Third Quarter
Star Spencer – Coreyon Moore, 28-yard pass from Kaleb Moore (Run Failed); 4:25 Fourth Quarter
Star Spencer – Kaleb Moore, 24-yard pass from Butler (Pass Failed); 1:29
