Weatherford falls to Cushing 34-30

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  • Murphy Beck dives for a ball and makes a catch against Cushing. Josh Burton/WDN
  • Below, Brett t Bozarth fields a punt against Cushing. Josh Burton/WDN
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Weatherford’s season came to an end Friday night as the Cushing Tigers fought back from an early deficit to defeat, and eliminate, Weatherford 34-30.

“We learned to cherish every moment we have playing football,” coach Reagan Roof said. “It can end any time and we did not make enough plays, but Cushing did. As a result, we got beat and this was a bad loss which will hurt for a while.”

Cushing scored on the first play from scrimmage after the kickoff on a pass play. Weatherford fired right back with a long drive with plays like Malachi Johnson running hard in the red zone, picking up a first down to keep the drive going. Weatherford scored a couple plays later as quarterback Gunnar Gaunt scored on a quarterback sneak, tying the game, 7-7.

Weatherford scored quickly after that play as defensive end Ethan Downs intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown. Downs was defending a slip screen and he ran it back 25 yards, giving Weatherford a 14-7 lead.

Cushing had a long drive and scored a touchdown, making the score 14-14 after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Weatherford moved the football well with plays like Gaunt finding Jacob Wilson open on a pass play for a first down. Weatherford took the lead as running back Sam Hoffman scored a short rushing touchdown with 9:22 to play in the second quarter. The score was 20-14.

The Eagles held strong on defense, forcing a 3-and-out and Michael Mayfield had an interception putting Weatherford in prime position to take a two touchdown lead. They did that as Hoffman scored an 8-yard rushing touchdown with 1:55 left in the second quarter and the score was 27-14. Weatherford forced another stop and they was ahead 27-14 at halftime.

“We played sloppy at times and gave up a couple big plays,” Roof said. “We kept fighting and we have a two touchdown lead. We just need to continue to play hard and our defense has to keep their composure. Dumb penalties are killing us and we have to cut some of those out. We are doing a good job putting pressure on the quarterback and need to continue to do that, as well as keep making plays. This first series on offense is important because we need to go score and take some time off the clock as well.”

However, Cushing got back in the game, getting a stop, then scoring to only be down by one possession. The score was 27-21.

Weatherford needed some momentum and got it as Gaunt found Murphy Beck open on a pass play. Beck also had a big run. The Tiger’s defense held strong and kept Weatherford out of the end zone, forcing Weatherford to try a field goal. Kicker Ray Blatknick made the 37-yard field goal, making it 30-21. Weatherford remained solid on defense with plays like linebacker Tyler Jack Hoffman sacking the quarterback.

Weatherford had the ball with 7:40 left in the game, but Cushing tipped a pass and intercepted the ball and scored on the interception on the play, making the score 30-28. Weatherford got the ball back and ran the ball well on a couple plays. However, Cushing recovered a fumble, giving the Tigers the ball back in Eagle territory.

Cushing ran the football a couple times and picked up a first down to keep the chains going. Cushing scored on a pass play, taking the lead with less than 3 minutes left in the game. The Tigers went for 2, but Mayfield intercepted the pass in the end zone, making the score 34-30.

Weatherford got the ball, but they could not move it on offense and turned it over on downs on a 4th-and-2.

Cushing fumbled with less than a minute left and Beck recovered the football, giving the Eagles the football and a chance to score.

Weatherford moved the ball as Gaunt, but pass interference was called against Cushing, giving the Eagles new life. However, Cushing intercepted a pass and took a knee to close out the game, winning 34-30.

This was Cushing’s first playoff win since 2016 when they were in Class 3A and made a semifinal run. Cushing advances to the quarterfinals and will play at Hilldale.

Roof said the late turnovers were the difference late in the game.

“The difference in the second half was the turnovers,” Roof said. “We made some mistakes which cost us. We had some opportunities to make plays when they had turnovers, but we did not make the plays. You do not get very many second chances to make plays in the playoffs and we could not take advantage.”

Weatherford finishes the season with a record of 8-1. Roof said they will be back at work this offseason to prepare for next season.

“I really have not thought about the next season just yet,” Roof said. “We will treat it the same as we do every year. We will regroup and get back to work soon.”