Huskies make playoffs, face Rejoice Friday
The Pawhuska Huskies football team, 6-4 during the 2018 regular season, is slated for a playoff showdown at 7 p.m. Friday at Rejoice Christian, in Owasso. Rejoice is 10-0.
The Huskies concluded the regular season with a 44-18 loss at Pawnee, and ended up in a three-way district tie with Hominy and Pawnee. Hominy had the most district points of the three schools, and Pawhuska finished higher in district points than Pawnee.
Pawhuska Coach Matt Hennesy said Monday he thinks the Huskies have a chance to be competitive with Rejoice because the Eagles are another spread-style team, and chances are good that could provide an advantageous matchup for Pawhuska.
Whatever happens Friday, Pawhuska has gone from zero wins a year ago to at least six this season.
“Going from 0-10 to being in the playoffs is a pretty good accomplishment,” Hennesy said.
Pawhuska’s offensive production last Friday at Pawnee was limited, with the Huskies running for just 46 net yards on the ground and passing for a little over a hundred yards. PHS scored three touchdowns, all on the ground.
On defense, the team’s leading tackler, Hunter Reed, had a record-setting night with 37 tackles overall, 29 of them unassisted. Hennesy said Reed set a school record. Pawnee ran 67 plays from scrimmage, so Reed was in on the tackle more than half the time.
Other leading tacklers for Pawhuska during the Pawnee game were Bryce Drummond with 16 and Tell Richardson with 15.
For the regular season, Bryce Drummond threw for 1,867 yards and 21 touchdowns, with 11 interceptions. Easton Kirk led the team in rushing with 575 yards, followed by Drummond with 349.
J.T. Waddle had the most pass receptions, with 38, but Cade McNeil led in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns with 627 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Tonkawa, 9-1, and Morrison, 9-1, were the top regular season teams in District A-5, the district in which Pawhuska played this season. Tonkawa has a first round game at home against 7-3 Colcord. Morrison is at home against 5-4 Oklahoma Union.