(Cushing, Okla.) The Cushing Tigers defeated the heavily favored Kingfisher Yellowjackets 26-14 in the 3A state semi-final contest Friday night (12/5/2014). Having lost to Kingfisher early in the season, Coach Barrett Shupe’s Tigers came out fighting against returning 3A state champs Kingfisher with its D-1 talent-laden team.
Ian Jones sparked the team with scampers of 41 and 16 yard scampers in the first quarter. Kingfisher clawed back with touchdowns in the second and third quarter, but Cushing pulled ahead with a 39-yard field goal by Sean Bozworth.
The play of the game may have happened when Ian Jones launched a long pass downfield intended for England Honeybuss but was intercepted by a Kingfisher defensive back. Unfortunately for Kingfisher, that play ended at Kingfisher’s 1-yard line with Honeybuss making a savvy tackle and keeping the defender from making any progress with the interception. On the next play, Cushing’s swarming defense stopped the Yellowjackets in the end zone for a safety. On the following drive, Jones scrambled out of the pocket and threw downfield for Blake Burden who caught the ball off-balance and raced into the end zone to put the Tigers on top for good at 26-14.
Not having been to the state championship since 1961, the Tigers now have to wait a few more weeks before they find out their opponent in the state championship game due to the controversy surrounding the Locust Grove/OKC Douglass quarterfinal game last week that has ended up in the courts. Coach Shupe says he has no control over that situation and will use the next few weeks to heal up, keep the team in shape, and continue refining the Tigers’ offense and defense. As this victory attests, the Tigers look good in all three phases of the game and will be ready for whoever their opponent winds up being.
***
