Buffs trample Tulsa Hale

By John Yates
Special Correspondent

September 29, 2007 05:01 pm

— There wasn't a contest for long Friday night at the East Tulsa Sports Complex, as the McAlester Buffaloes trampled Tulsa Hale's Rangers 62-0 in a 5A-3 conference win, perhaps spoiling the Rangers' football homecoming night.
McAlester (5-0, 2-0) didn't take long to score.
Getting the ball after a very brief opening possession by Hale, quarterback Justin Klusak connected on a 17 yard scoring strike to Chris Patterson with 10:40 left in the first.
Kicker Josue Rios made the first of his eight-for-eight PAT's to give McAlester the 7-0 early lead, but the Buffalo stampede was just beginning to pick up speed.
After head coach Bryan Pratt's defense held the Rangers on their next possession, special teams came up with a big play.
The punt was blocked, and MHS senior Herman Walters scooped up the ball and carried it 33 yards for a touchdown at the 4:57 mark.
Less than three minutes later, Walters would pick up the second of his four touchdowns on the night, taking the ball 41 yards to the house.
Tulsa Hale would get one red zone opportunity against McAlester, and that came during the first half, when a kickoff was ran back 93 yards from the Rangers two to the McAlester five yard line.
Faced with a first and goal, Hale's miscues helped McAlester’s defense hold, with two five yard penalties helping drive them back. The Rangers came away from the series with zero points.
In the second quarter, McAlester would put another 21 points on the board. It started with a 13 yard run by Klusak at 10:06 in the second.
With 4:35 left in the half, Walters would score on a three yard run, and the PAT put the Buffaloes up 35-0.
First half scoring wasn't over yet. At 1:07, junior James Maddox would go in from four yards out, and the PAT gave McAlester a 42-0 lead at the half.
After a lengthy halftime intermission, things didn't get any better for the Rangers.
McAlester was to receive the opening kickoff of the second half, which Walters did, and ran it back from the 13, going 87 yards for the score.
Several McAlester players had chances to play in the second half, and reserve quarterback Brady May had lots of snaps.
May took advantage of the opportunities, scoring McAlester's final two touchdowns of the game on 10 and three yards runs in the third, respectively.
Walters had an outstanding night in all three phases of the game Coach Pratt stresses; offense, defense and special teams.
Defensively for McAlester, Jordan Lane, a junior, intercepted a Rangers' pass.
McAlester hosts Durant Friday night at Hook Eales Stadium, with game time set for 7:30 p.m.