CRUTCHFIELD'S FOURTH-QUARTER KICKOFF RETURN LEADS MUSKOGEE PAST SAND SPRINGS

After taking a 13-point lead in the first quarter, losing it, then getting it back, Sand Springs lost to Muskogee on its homecoming night. Class 6AII No. 9 Muskogee took to the air to beat No. 8 Sand Springs, 40-34, on Friday at Memorial Stadium. Rougher quarterback Jacob Medrano threw four touchdowns to two receivers, the longest a 79-yard pass to Diante Crutchfield. Sandite running back Payton Scott scored the first touchdown of the game, and quarterback Caden Pennington found Luke Bratcher on a 2-yard pass for a 13-0 Sand Springs lead. But Muskogee (3-4, 2-2 District 6AII-2) scored the next 30 points for a 30-13 advantage in the third quarter. Medrano threw back-to-back touchdowns to Crutchfield, and Donald Mayes Jr. caught back-to back scores after a 20-yard field goal from Manuel Espinoza. Muskogee held a 16-13 lead at halftime and scored the first two touchdowns of the second half when Medrano hooked up twice with Donald Mayes Jr. Trailing 30-13 in the third, Pennington threw touchdowns to Daren Hawkins and Garrett McCallie, and the Sandites (4-3, 2-1 6AII-2) cut the deficit to three points early in the fourth quarter. Scott then scored his second touchdown of the game on a 9-yard run, giving Sand Springs a 34-30 lead with only 4:03 left in the game. The Sandites hadn’t led since 2:10 in the first quarter. However, Muskogee answered quickly, stealing the lead back. Crutchfield took the kickoff back 96-yards for the 37-34 Rougher advantage. Muskogee added three more points on a field goal from Espinoza, and the Muskogee defense held Sand Springs on its last drive as time ran out. Turnovers were an issue for Muskogee. The Roughers fumbled the ball away four times, and Sandite safety Braden Askew recorded an interception and a fumble recovery. Kris Edwards grabbed two fumbles, and Hayden Cramer had one. Scott now has 21 rushing TDs, which ties the all-time record at Sand Springs. He has three games to score one more to overtake that record. This season, Scott rushed for 362 yards, a new school record