By Audrey Dodgen

OKLAHOMA CITY — Amid tears and hugs from their teammates, El Reno High School’s senior players bid farewell to their football careers Friday night after a 29-16 win over Western Heights.

Western Heights fumbled on the opening play of the game. El Reno recovered to set up their first scoring drive. Junior tailback Wes Brown and senior quarterback Ross Carter combined to run the ball 16 yards on five carries. Carter pushed the ball over the goal line on a five-yard rush.

Alex Weaver’s point-after try made the score 7-0, less than two minutes after the game’s opening kick off.

Western Heights answered with an 80-yard drive that took 14 plays and used six minutes of game time. The score was tied 7-7 with 4:06 left in the first quarter.

The Jets kicked a high onside kick which was fumbled by Dylan Hughey. Western Heights recovered and mustered two yards on two plays before Byron Chapel intercepted a pass by Albert Coleman.

The Indians began the drive at their own 30 yard line, and had advanced the ball 46 yards when Carter was intercepted.

In the second quarter, the Indians drove to the Jets 10-yard line, but were forced to attempt a field goal. Weaver’s 27-yard try was no good, and the score remained tied at 7-7.

Weaver’s next try, a 23-yard attempt with 5:25 left in the half, pushed the Indians ahead 10-7. The Jets matched the score with a 49-yard field goal two minutes before the break.

El Reno attempted a third field goal with 18 seconds left in the half, but missed.

Western Heights took a knee to run out the clock with the score tied 10-10.

Hughey blocked a punt on Western Heights’ first possession of the second half, which set up El Reno’s go-ahead drive.

The Indians took possession on the Jets’ 35 yard line and scored on their sixth play, a 27-yard pass from Carter to Chapel. A failed point-after try left the score 16-10.

El Reno scored again with 2:30 left in the third quarter when Brown rushed one yard to cross the goal line. The Indians led 23-10.

Brown scored the Indians’ final touchdown with 7:52 left in the game on a 38-yard run. The two-point conversion failed.

With 5:17 left in the game, Western Heights scored for the final time, a 2-yard touchdown run.

Brown led the Indians in rushing with 126 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.

Carter followed with 52 yards on 11 carries.

He was 22-of-48 for 255 yards passing, with one interception. Chapel led the receivers with 84 yards on six catches. Weaver picked up five balls for 63 yards, and Brown snagged four for 54 yards. Senior Todd Palmer rounded out the leading receivers with four catches for 43 yards.

“It’s always great when you go out on a win,” Carter said.

“I probably had one of my better games. My teammates stepped it up. It’s easy to play your best when everyone around you is playing well.”

Carter said the evening was bittersweet.

“The ride was rough, but there’s no where else I’d have rather done it than here, with them (the other seniors). I’m going to miss them sincerely,” he said.

Carter and Brown both said they expect the underclassmen to work hard to continue the success the team has had.

“Work hard, and realize it goes fast, so don’t take it for granted. You’ll never know what snap will be your last. Go hard every down and keep it rolling,” Carter said.

Brown, who has also played his last game as an Indian, said he was proud of what his team accomplished.

“I’m gonna miss ‘em. They’re not the only ones leaving. I’m going to Florida. I had a great time playing with them. We played a great game, finished hard. Had that rough spot in the middle, but we came through,” he said.
“We showed we’re willing to fight through, and this will help them build on for next year.”

Head coach Dal Nichols said he was pleased with the way his team performed.

“It’s always nice to go out with a win. To have a winning season, that’s something these seniors have been battling for a long time. I’m proud of them and proud of their effort,” he said.

The underclassmen will have to work on their core strength and fundamentals during the off season to continue to have success, he said.

“This will be a chance for us to really work individually. We’re going to have to replace some players, but this will be a time for us to look at our team and see what we have,” he said.

Despite the disappointment of missing the playoffs, Nichols said his seniors had much to be proud of.
“I’m proud of them. I really am. They battled hard. There’s not one of them who doesn’t want to be in the playoffs, and they deserve to be able to go out like that, but they came back tonight and played hard and got it done,” he said.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”