Stout defense lifts Spiro

By CRAIG HALL
SPIRO—Whoever was supposed to tell Spiro it wasn’t supposed to win Friday’s game against Hartshorne dropped the ball.

Hartshorne had a share of a three-way tie for the district lead going into the game while Spiro had lost to the other two teams in the tie, Stigler and Valliant.

Photo by CRAIG HALL Spiro's Jeff Walden (12) brings down Hartshorne's Mario Hardin early in Friday's game. Walden and his defensive teammates held Hardin and the Miners in check during the 21-6 win.

But on this cool Friday evening, playing in front of a small but vocal crowd, Spiro’s defense was outstanding, except for the final 15 seconds of the first half and the Bulldogs clinched a playoff spot and likely knocked Hartshorne from first to fourth place in the district with a 21-6 win.

Stigler and Valliant are still tied for first in the district. Thanks to its win over the Miners, Spiro is tied with Hartshorne for third place, but with the head-to-head win, if the Bulldogs win next week at Heavener, they will go into the playoffs as the third-place team.

Spiro held a previously-potent Hartshorne offense in check throughout and gave standout Mario Hardin no room to run.

The Bulldogs countered with quarterback Clayton Mitchem and running back Elliot Hawkins, who both rushed for over 100 yards and scored a touchdown.

The win lifts Spiro to 4-5 overall, 4-2 in district play. Hartshorne drops to 6-3 and 4-2.

Spiro’s first score came in the second quarter, set up by an interception by Shane Thompson at Hartshorne’s 36.

The Bulldogs drove down deep and scored on Mitchem’s 4-yard run to gain a lead they never relinquished. After the touchdown, Hartshorne jumped offside and the Bulldogs went for two, a wise move after Hawkins barged in to give Spiro an 8-0 lead.

Spiro’s only blemish came late in the first half. After a short punt, Hartshorne took over on its own 41 with 15 seconds left before halftime. After an incompletion on first down, backup quarterback Ross Rose hit C.J. Nelson crossing across the middle. Nelson broke several tackles and managed to get into the end zone on the final play of the half.

The two-point conversion failed and Spiro still led, 8-6.

Spiro got good field position in the last half because of long punt returns by K.J. Booze. Finally, in the fourth quarter, Spiro took advantage.

After converting on a fourth-and-two play, the Bulldogs scored a touchdown on an 8-yard run by Elijah Lee. The kick failed, leaving Spiro ahead 14-6 with just over eight minutes remaining.

Spiro’s defense continued to throttle Hartshorne’s offense, forcing another punt. The Bulldogs put the game away as Hawkins broke through the Miners’ defense, outran his pursuers and scored on a 64-yard run to clinch the win.

Hartshorne managed only 35-yards rushing against the Bulldogs’ tough defense and 102 passing, but 59 came on the touchdown.

Hawkins led Spiro’s ground attack with 115 yards on eight carries while Mitchem had 104 on 21 carries.

(Published 10-30-2009)