Everything the Lawton Wolverines did right in their opening week 49-3 victory over the Selina, KS South Central Mustangs, went wrong early in their battle against the cross town MacArthur Highlanders Friday night. The Wolverines fought back in the second half, but fell just short as the Highlanders took the first game in the Lawton City Championship 35-33.

The Highlanders struck early, putting two scores on the board before the seats at Cameron Stadium were warm. Davon Finkley scored on a two yard run on MacArthur's first drive of the game and after a two point conversion, the Highlanders led 8-0. After a short drive by Lawton, Highlander quarterback Will Collins capped a 67 yard drive with an 18 yard scamper and after the extra point, MacArthur led 15-.0.

The Wolverines finally showed signs of life with 2:37 left to go in the first quarter as Jack Meservy hit running back Darreyl Patterson on a swing pass out of the backfield and 39 yards later, Patterson found the end zone to draw within 15-6. A two point conversion failed and there the score would remain. The Highlanders would strike back. After the Highlanders recovered a fumble at the Lawton 24, Collins would call his own number and scamper 24 yards to stretch the lead to 22-6.

The Wolverines would finish off the first half scoring by driving 65 yards, finishing it off with a 37 yard Meservy to Bryce Birt post pattern and Caitlyn Cox's extra point would send the game to the half with MacArthur leading 22-13.

After winning the opening coin toss, Lawton deferred to the second half and showed why as they opened the third quarter by driving 51 yards, capping it off with a 3 yard dive play by Patterson and after Cox's extra point, it was now a 2 point game, with the Highlanders leading 22-20. After the two teams traded punts, MacArthur stretched the lead to 28-20 on 35 yard touchdown touchdown pass by Collins to Cody Corvi. The two point conversion failed and it was an 8-point ball game.

The Wolverines refused to say die and with 1:03 left in the third quarter Meservy hit Mahlik Hanna with a 37-yard touchdown pass and after the two-point conversion failed, the Wolverines trailed 28-26.

The Highlanders stretched the lead as the fourth quarter opened as Davon Finkley finished off a 70 yard drive with a 1 yard dive into the end zone and after the PAT, the Highlanders now lead 35-26. But Lawton's Wolverines refused to go away and with less than 5 minutes remaining, Jack Meservy once again found Darreyl Patterson out of the back field on a wheel pattern with Patterson taking it 57 yards to pay dirt. After Caitlyn Cox' PAT, the Wolverines were within 2 at 35-33.

LHS needed a big defensive stand after the score and got one as Mikal Thompson came up big, first knocking away a sure touchdown pass and then intercepting a Will Collins pass at the Mac 46 to set up one final drive. Meservy and company drove the ball to the Mac 48, but that's where the comeback ended as the Highlanders held on a fourth a four to take the ball over and allow Collins a couple kneel downs to run out the clock as the Highlanders sealed a 35-33 victory.

MacArthur will next take on the Eisenhower Eagles next Friday night; a victory in the second game of the City Championship will secure the cup for the Highlanders. Next up for the Wolverines will be Sepulpa. LHS will host that game Thursday night at 7 pm at Cameron Stadium. You'll be able to catch all the action on Z94 and at Z94.com.

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