Muskogee Topples Stillwater For 6A-2 Title

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong><em><strong><em><strong><em><strong><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></strong></em></strong></em></strong></em></strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In another state championship game that came down to the final seconds, it was #2 Muskogee knocking defending champion and top-ranked Stillwater 28-26 to win their first state championship since 1986. For the second straight week, the Roughers had a goal line stand on a two-point conversion attempt in the final seconds to hold on to the win. Senior standout [player_tooltip player_id='129399' first='Kayden' last='McGee'] recovered an onside kick and finished off his high school career with one more big play. Junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='211556' first='Jamarian' last='Ficklin'] was spectacular in the win, completing 10-11 passes for nearly 150 yards and a touchdown. He was also the leading rusher with 86 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the win, Muskogee completed one of the better comeback stories in Oklahoma over the last several years. Head coach Travis Hill took over the Rougher program in 2021 and they went through a 2-8 season. But anyone who watched them knew that something special was brewing. They went 10-2 last season and they came into this season as the favorite in Class 6A-2. Despite a 30-20 loss to Stillwater in week ten, the Roughers would finish the journey from 2-8 to state champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Muskogee started early with stout defense and methodical drives on the offensive side of the ball. After Stillwater went three and out on their first two possessions, Ficklin would score from a yard out to go up 7-0 in the first quarter. The Pioneers would respond early in the second quarter as [player_tooltip player_id='611314' first='Talon' last='Kendrick'] would go into the wildcat position and scored from 18 yards out to tie the game at 7. Halfway through the second quarter, the Roughers would score again as Ficklin ran the ball six consecutive times and then found [player_tooltip player_id='598826' first='Ondraye' last='Beasley'] for a 25-yard touchdown. But the Pioneers had enough time to respond again. They marched eight plays and finished it off with a [player_tooltip player_id='375968' first='Chance' last='Acord'] touchdown pass to Kendrick with just 12 seconds left. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second half began with Muskogee driving down and Ficklin scored from 19 yards out to go up 21-14. Stillwater answered with another Kendrick touchdown run but the extra point was no good and the Pioneers trailed 21-20. That would obviously impact the end of Friday's game. Muskogee drove down and scored on another Ficklin quarterback sneak from a few yards out. They would up 28-20. Stillwater turned the ball over on downs early in the fourth quarter and then Muskogee nearly put the game away. They would go on a 13 play drive that took nearly seven minutes off the clock but a fumble was recovered by Trace Clark and the Pioneers had life.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stillwater would then go on a drive that will be remembered for a while. They marched 14 plays, 77 yards and senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='215207' first='Holden' last='Thompson'] scored from a few yards out with 20 seconds left to give the Pioneers a shot to tie the game. Thompson continues to show why he's one of the best running backs in the state. He finished the game with 35 carries for 199 yards and a touchdown. A Kendrick run on the two point conversion came up short, the Roughers would recover the onside kick, victory formation, and Muskogee became state champions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma for more state championship coverage of this game and from the other four title games in Edmond this weekend!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->