By Byron Beers/Sports Editor

Five years of frustration came to a screeching halt for the El Reno football program Friday night at Memorial Stadium.

The Indians ended a five-year drought and guaranteed themselves a playoff berth with a dominating 35-0 win over Southeast.

El Reno hasn’t been in the postseason since the 2000 season when it won 11 games and finished second in the district behind Carl Albert. The Indians reached the 5A semifinals that year before falling to Ada.

It will also be the first time head coach Dal Nichols has taken El Reno to the postseason.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Nichols, whose team improved to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in District 5A-2. “I’m extremely proud of the kids and the way they went about it.

“They’ve worked so hard all season and we’ve done a good job of maintaining our focus. We came through when we needed to against a good Southeast team.”

El Reno can finish third in the district standings with a victory at winless John Marshall on Thursday. Marshall lost to Harrah 54-30 Friday night.

Friday’s final score didn’t even indicate how in command El Reno was from start to finish.

The Indians cruised to their second consecutive shutout as the defense disrupted the Spartan offense, holding them to just 93 yards of total offense and five first downs. El Reno also forced four Southeast turnovers.

El Reno gashed Harrah 49-0 the previous week for its first shutout of the season. The defense has allowed only six points in the last three games, those coming to Woodward during a 7-6 El Reno win.

Senior linebacker Corey Comer and junior defensive end Dylan Hughey were in the Spartan backfield all game long. Comer registered a game-high 15 tackles, while Hughey followed with 10 tackles, two for losses, and one quarterback sack.

“They played really well,” Nichols said of Comer and Hughey. “Our key guys on defense are starting to come through for us again.

“Our defense just played outstanding again. They really controlled the game for us.

“We stuffed them down in there and played on their end of the field all night long.”

The offense was also productive for the second week in a row. The Indians took advantage of a short field throughout.

El Reno produced 167 total yards, all on the ground, and had 12 first downs.

“We did enough things on offense to get it going again,” Nichols added. “That very first series we go stick it right in their ear, go score and take control of the game the rest of the way.”

Senior quarterback Cory Powell took matters into his own hands on the game’s opening possession. Powell marched the Indians 55 yards in seven plays and scored on a 19-yard touchdown run.

Powell ran on every play of the drive but one and accounted for all 55 yards. The only play that didn’t produce yards was an incomplete pass by Powell to senior wide receiver Alex Weaver.

Powell would finish with 98 yards rushing on 22 carries. He added his second touchdown during the third quarter from five yards out.

Special teams play was also a contributing factor for El Reno. Comer blocked a Spartan punt and recovered it in the end zone with 43 seconds left in the opening quarter to give the Indians a 14-0 lead.

El Reno added another touchdown in the second quarter on a five-yard run by junior running back C.J. Raney.

Raney also scored the game’s final points on a 9-yard touchdown run at the 5:53 mark of the third quarter. Raney finished with 46 yards on the ground on only six carries.

Southeast, which falls to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in league play, was led offensively by senior running back Tony Anderson. Anderson rushed 13 times but only netted 25 yards.