By LYNN WOMACK
TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — The Hulbert Riders were led by Skyler Heaton in the 52-6 win over the Okay Mustangs Friday. With the win, the Riders kept the Horse Trophy in their possession and now lead the all-time series 4-1.
Heaton got the Riders on the score board in the first with a 27-yard pass to Brett Walker. Mark Squyres ran for the two-point conversation for an 8-0 lead.
Marcus Smith added another score in the first as he went 11 yards then Heaton ran it in for a 16-0 lead. Smith added a six-yard run for a 22-0 lead and Heaton went in from five yards for the final touchdown of the quarter. Squyres ran for the two-point conversion on the last score for a 30-0 lead after one quarter.
The Riders scored one touchdown in the second as Heaton found Tyler Harmon for 12 yards to make the score 36-0. The final score of the quarter came as the Mustangs Spencer Sellers was tackled in the end zone for a safety for a 38-0 lead at the half.
"I said all year if we scored first we would get our confidence,” said Riders coach Brad Ferguson. “We got the momentum early and keep it. The guys really played well tonight.”
Hulbert scored 14 points in the third quarter Heaton ran for one yard and Smith added the two points for a 46-0 lead. Dakota Jackson went six yards for the final score for the Riders for a 52-0 lead.
The Mustangs got the final touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter as Trey Mahone went five yards. The run failed for the final score of 52-6.
The Riders outgained Okay 139 to 39 on the ground. Through the air, Heaton was 9-of-13 passing for 90 yards while Okay had 24 yards passing. The Riders had 229 yards in total offense to 63 yards for the Mustangs.
Marcus Smith was the leading rusher with 11 carries for 127 yards and Walker had six catches for 72 yards with one touchdown.
Steven Swinford was the leader in tackles with 13 putting his total to 99 for the year. Squyres and Harmon had a half a sack each and Jayce Coulburn had one sack. Squyres and Marcus Smith had six tackles each.
“We have been through a lot this year with a lot of injuries that have set us back, but we have worked our way through them and have continued to improve,” said Ferguson. “I thought we played good tonight. I was proud of the effort we put out.”
The Riders are now 1-7 in district play and 1-8 overall. Okay falls to 0-8 in district and 0-9 overall.
The Riders will travel to Commerce for their final game of the year Thursday. The Tigers are coming off a 34-6 win over Quapaw. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m.
