Muskogee Phoenix
Saturday-Sunday, December 2-3, 2023
www.muskogeephoenix.com
Watch party goers cheer Roughers By Cathy Spaulding cspaulding@muskogeephoenix.com
As the Muskogee Roughers clinched the Class 6A II state championship Friday, some of the loudest cheers came from 133 miles away. “They’ve been saying they were going to win state before the season even started and they made it happen,” said Gabby Rosson, who joined a table of fans at Maxine’s Gastropub, which showed a live-streaming of the 28-26 Roughers’ victory. Fans who filled the restaurant, and a live-streaming at the Roxy Theater, cheered nearly every Rougher play. Earnie Asbill, who watched the game with his son at Maxine’s, called it a “well-played game.” “We partially blocked that extra point attempt, and that was the margin of the game right there,” Asbill said. “They made it a two-pointer. Those can come back to haunt you. It was a well-played game on both sides.” Asbill said he didn’t graduate from Muskogee, but lived here for 45 years. “We’re doing good,” he said. “I’ve been a Rougher fan for a long time.” Unity made this year’s Roughers a great team, he said. “They’ve played together since they were freshmen,” he said. “A lot of them are seniors now. Plus, we’ve got a new stadium, new facility. That can’t do anything but help.” People at Rosson’s table also listened to the game on the radio, which was six minutes ahead of the live-streaming. They kept their cheering to a minimum so the other fans could watch the game on their own. At the Roxy, long-time Tony Goetz kindergarten teacher Jennifer Hunter cheered nearly every positive play. “I have many kids I taught out there on that field,” Hunter said. Muskogee Public Schools was dismissed Friday, allowing Hunter, and other Muskogee Public Schools staff and students to watch the game. Cherokee Elementary third-grader Xzavier Franklin joined his grandmother, Dee Vann to watch the game at the Roxy. “I’m here to watch the Roughers win,” the boy said. Early Friday morning, dozens of fans and family members gathered in front of Rougher Village to send the team off. Several fans carried signs supporting individual players. A sign cheered the “Dynamic Duo 1 and 8,” quarterback Jamarian “Bird” Ficklin and wide receiver Kayden McGee. Kim Jones, whose daughter is on the MHS dance team, joined in the cheering. She said she planned to attend the game. “We’ve been watching them play since they were in the second grade,” Jones said. “Watching their confidence grow each year, being humble. It makes a mama’s heart proud.”
CATHY SPAULDING/Muskogee Phoenix
Muskogee Rougher fans, from left, Dee Vann, Cherokee Elementary third-grader Xzavier Franklin, Trudy Cooper and Kamisa Wilson cheer the first Roughers touchdown of the state championship game.
Muskogee Rougher fans, from left, Karlie Toon, Abigail Scott, Chell Fausett, Dice Dawson, Tracy Scott and Gabby Rosson, huddle around a smart phone, listening to a radio broadcast of the tense final seconds of the Roughers’ state championship victory over the Stillwater Pioneers.
FRIDAY’S PREP ROUNDUP, SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE Phoenix staff reports FORT GIBSON 54, HILLDALE 49 (B) — In a back and forth game Fort Gibson was able to hold on for the win. Cooper Wicks paced the Tigers (1-1) with 16 points while Ky Murrell and Blane Scott both finished with 10. Hilldale (0-2) was led by Ty Wilson, Cole Leach and Mason Forhan all with 14 points. OKTAHA 75, CANADIAN 43 (B) — Tyler Roby had 32 points to power Oktaha (4-0) while Alfred Taylor added 18. BRAGGS 61, WEBBERS FALLS 23 (B) — Braggs (5-1) had a dominate showing as it led 35-10 at halftime and was powered by Sam Hensley who finished with 16 points. Stryker Chappell had 11 points for Webbers
Falls (1-1). EUFAULA 62, MORRIS 34 (B) — Maddox Bridges scored 14 of his 23 points in the second half as the Ironheads earned the win. Eufaula (1-1) led 31-15 at the break. PORUM 46, ARKOMA 37 (B) — Michael Wright scored 23 points to help Porum (1-3) to the win. MOUNDS 66, HASKELL 60 OT (B) — After trailing the entire game and down 50-30 after three quarters, Haskell mounted a monumental comeback outscoring the Eagles 288 in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime. The Haymakers (0-2) were led by Dylan Ozinga and Brady Neal with 25 and 20 points, respectively. SUMMIT CHRISTIAN 50, PORTER
24 (G) — Lauren Lindell and Kassidy Pickard both had seven points in leading Porter. The Lady Pirates (0-1) trailed 41-17 after three periods. FORT GIBSON 48, HILLDALE 20 (G) — Fort Gibson had little trouble in defeating its rival Hilldale as it turned a 21-11 halftime lead into a 37-15 advantage after three periods. Addy Whiteley led the Lady Tigers (20) with 17 points while Darian Diles had seven for the Lady Hornets (1-1). MCCURTAIN 67, GORE 41 (G) — The Lady Pirates found themselves down early 17-4 in the first period and saw the deficit grow to 30-19 after the second. Natalie Casteel finished with 18 points for Gore (0-2). OKTAHA 65, CANADIAN 37 (G) — Ava Scott was on fire for Oktaha
as she had 24 points followed by Mileigh Needham with 12. The Lady Tigers (5-0) were tied at the end of the first period, 15-15 but then went on a 23-5 run in the second quarter to go into the break with the 38-20 advantage. WEBBERS FALLS 53, BRAGGS 29 (G) — Braggs dug itself into a deep hole in the first period as it fell behind 26-3 and could not recover as the deficit widened to 38-8 at intermission. Bridgette Baer led Webbers Falls (2-0) with 16 points and Teralynn Colston added 11. For the Lady Wildcats (0-6) Kaylee Ashley registered 15 points and Katelyn Chandler had 10. EUFAULA 51, MORRIS 28 (G) — Eufaula led 20-18 at halftime, but a 22-3 run in the third quarter was the
difference stretching the Lady Ironheads’ lead to 42-21. Maddie Ballard finished with 13 points for Eufaula (1-1). PORUM 61, ARKOMA 20 (G) — Courtney Pease had 19 points, Mesa Coulston added 12 and Adisen Dishman finished with 11 to lead Porum (4-0). HASKELL 46, MOUNDS 35 (G) — Riley Westmoreland had a triple-double in the Lady Haymakers’ win as she had 12 points, 10 rebounds and 13 steals. Hayden Ward led all scorers with 13 points. Haskell improved to 1-1.
Saturday schedule
BASKETBALL Porter at Gore, 3/4:30 p.m.
2
Muskogee Phoenix Saturday-Sunday, December 2-3, 2023
Outdoors/Sports
FISHING REPORT
Fort Gibson: November 25. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 58°F and clear. (USACE Lake Level) Crappie fair on hair jigs, minnows, and tube jigs around brush structure, docks, and main lake. Blue catfish good on shad around channels, main lake, and points. Paddlefish fair snagging around channels and main lake. Report submitted by Cody Morris, game warden stationed in Wagoner County. Grand: November 26. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 55°F and stained. (USACE Lake Level) Largemouth bass fair on Alabama rigs and crankbaits around brush structure, coves, and shorelines. Blue catfish fair on chicken liver, cut bait, and hot dogs below the dam, docks, and main lake. Crappie fair on hair jigs and jigs around brush structure and docks. Report submitted by Riley Willman, game warden stationed in Delaware County. Greenleaf: November 26. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 58°F and stained. Largemouth bass good on Alabama rigs, crankbaits, plastic baits, and spinnerbaits around brush structure, docks, main lake, and points. Crappie fair on minnows, slabs, and small lures around brush structure and docks. Channel catfish slow on chicken liver, cut bait, and worms around channels, main lake, and points. Report submitted by Dylan Langford, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. Keystone: November 28. Elevation is 3 ft. below normal and stable, water temperature 62°F and stained. (USACE Lake Level) Largemouth bass slow on hair jigs, jigs, and plastic baits around brush structure, coves, and rocks. Crappie fair on jigs, minnows, and plastic baits around brush structure, docks, and standing timber. Blue and channel catfish slow on chicken liver and cut bait. Report submitted by Bradley Magby, game warden stationed in Creek County. Lower Illinois: November 25. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 58°F and stained. Rainbow trout fair on caddis flies, in-line spinnerbaits, midges, and PowerBait below the dam. Comments: Best times are early morning and late evening, and best areas are below the dam and at the Watts area. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Sequoyah County. Tenkiller: November 26. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 60°F and clear. (USACE Lake Level) Crappie good on minnows, tube jigs, and worms around brush structure, docks, and main lake. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass fair on crankbaits, jigs, and plastic baits around brush structure, channels, and docks. Report submitted by Cody Youngblood, game warden stationed in Cherokee County. Webbers Falls: November 26. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 58°F and stained. (USACE Lake Level) Largemouth and spotted bass fair on Alabama rigs, crankbaits, jigs, and plastic baits around brush structure, coves, main lake, and shorelines. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around brush structure and main lake. Blue catfish fair on chicken liver and cut bait below the dam, river channel, and river mouth. Report submitted by Dylan Langford, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. Eufaula: November 24. Elevation is 1.5 ft. below normal and stable, water temperature 55°F and stained. (USACE Lake Level) Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass fair on crankbaits, jigs, lipless baits, and plastic baits around main lake, points, riprap, and rocks. Blue, channel, and flathead catfish fair on chicken liver, cut bait, dough bait, live bait, live shad, and shad around channels, river channel, and river mouth. Crappie good on crankbaits, hair jigs, spoons, and worms around channels, docks, riprap, and rocks. Report submitted by Jake Rowland, game warden stationed in McIntosh County. Robert S. Kerr: November 24. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 50°F and murky. (USACE Lake Level) White bass good on hair jigs, jigs, and minnows below the dam. Blue, channel, and flathead catfish good on chicken liver, minnows, shad, and worms below the dam, river channel, river mouth, and tailwater. Crappie good on hair jigs, jigs, and minnows below the dam, creek channels, river channel, and tailwater. Report submitted by Logan Shimp, game warden stationed in Haskell County.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXTENSION
The northern bobwhite’s range (pictured) is nearly statewide, while the scaled quail is restricted to the western edge, including the Panhandle.
Tips for quail hunters If quail hunting is your bag of oats, there’s no better time than the present to pick up your shotgun, grab a box or two of shells and, by all means, if you have a good bird dog, bring it along as well. While I no longer pursue this delectable tasting upland game bird as often as I’d like, it does bring me back to a time in my early teenage years and my first honest to goodness “organized” quail hunt which turned out to be a humbling experience to say the least. Two gentlemen from our neighborhood in Bixby were excellent bird hunters and they both had bird dogs. I had a spot to hunt over in the steep hollers of Westville and they took me, as I couldn’t drive just yet. Their dogs pointed, and we located a lot of quail. Unfortunately, I’ve never been a good wing shot. For the novice quail hunter, be
vation, there are two species of quail found in Oklahoma. The northern bobwhite’s range is nearly statewide, while the scaled quail is restricted to the western edge, including the Panhandle. Both species are ground-dwellers, primarily foraging on seeds JOHN KILGORE and insects. Areas with high amounts of forbs can act as a prepared to burn up the calories food source in two ways – providing nutritious seeds, and and wear tread off the sole of attracting protein-rich insects. your boots. Though insects are seasonal in While hunting, I was struck with a bad case of cramps in my nature, forb seeds are long-lastlegs like I’d never experienced at ing and can be utilized into fall and winter. any time. Prime foraging or “bugging” I was in great shape since I areas have a wide diversity of was playing football and wresforbs, including ragweed, crotling for Bixby. However, these two older gen- tons, sunflowers and legumes. In addition to a reliable food tlemen had to almost carry me source, quail require adequate out of a holler or two that day. nesting, protective and loafing In retrospect, I appreciate them taking the time to take me cover. Though able to nest in a vaafield. riety of places, quail prefer According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conser- building nests in mature, native
Kilgore’s Corner
bunchgrasses 12 inches in diameter and eight inches in height. Once chicks hatch, they are immediately moved to “weedy” areas with high insect activity. Morning and afternoon feeding sessions are separated by time spent resting and digesting while in loafing cover. The ideal cover is at least three feet tall with a closed canopy and relatively open ground conditions. You can chase quail from Nov. 11 through Feb. 15 statewide. Daily limit is 10, with 20 in possession after the first day. One regulation is that no covey of quail can be shot while resting on the ground which is commonly called “pot shooting.” Please consult the full ODWC hunting regulations. Be sure of your target. Gun safety is top priority. Contact Kilgore at jkilgoreoutdoors@yahoo.com.
QUAIL HUNTING RULES AND REGULATIONS Season Nov 11, 2023 - Feb 15, 2024 Statewide.
Pot Shooting At no time may any quail or covey be shot while resting on the ground, commonly called “pot shooting.”
Daily Limit 10 daily, 20 in possession after the first day.
Public Lands Seasons on public lands may vary from statewide seasons. Consult public hunting lands special regulations.
Legal Means of Taking Shotgun (conventional or muzzleloading), longbow, legal raptors and as otherwise provided under General Hunting Regulations.
Shooting Hours Official sunrise to official sunset.
– ODWC
Former Colorado players were told they weren’t ready for Prime Time Associated Press
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — Luke Eckardt recalled the excitement of finding out that Deion Sanders would be his new head coach at Colorado. After all, who wouldn’t want to play for the charismatic Pro Football Hall of Fame member and ex-major leaguer known as “Prime Time” during his playing days and now just “Coach Prime?” “It was a feeling of awe because it’s Deion Sanders, and you play video games like ‘Madden’ and he’s on there,” Eckardt said in an interview with The Associated Press. “You’re playing with a
controller. Now it’s different. It’s a real dude. That’s what I thought at first. But then it was like a seeping feeling of fear.” At his first meeting with his new charges, Sanders told them no job was safe and there were transfers on the way. Video of his talk went viral. Eckardt chose to take it as a challenge and work even harder during winter conditioning and spring practice. Eckardt practiced with the Nos. 2 and 3 offensive lines, got positive feedback from his position coach and thought he performed well at right tackle in the spring game. In his mind, he had done enough to stick around.
He was cut the next day after a meeting that lasted less than five minutes. By the end of the spring, Sanders had cut more than 50 players and another 20 left on their own in what is believed to be the biggest roster overhaul ever seen in college football. Sanders ended up with 86 newcomers on the 114-player roster, kicking off a season where the Buffaloes started 3-0 and were the talk of the nation for weeks before fading to a 4-8 finish, three wins better than last year but without a bowl trip. Most of the displaced players entered the transfer portal.
Some walked away from football. And some more will leave the Buffaloes soon enough because Sanders has been adamant that there are more holes to fill. He promised to bring in more talented players after watching his quarterbacks, including son Shedeur, get sacked 56 times; only Old Dominion was worse across the 133 teams in the Bowl Subdivision. Some coaches criticized Sanders for leaning so hard on the transfer portal to revamp his roster. Coach Prime offers no apologies, though he indicated he and his staff will be more targeted in filling needs this time around.