Published: November 05, 2009 11:04 am      

Buffs host rival Cougars

If you hear students scream “potac,” no need to raise the alarm. Students at McAlester High School have an acronym —Pounce On The Ada Cougars (POTAC) — for the annual McAlester-Ada football rivalry match.

The Buffs host the Cougars Friday at Hook Eales Stadium, with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff time.

“It’s a good thing the game is here instead of over there,” Head Coach Bryan Pratt said. “We’ve gone to Ada the past two years. This will be like a treat for us.”

The Buffs (8-1, 4-1 district) have just as much on the line this week, with the Cougars (7-2, 3-1 District), as they did last week in their, 6-22, loss against the undefeated Tulsa East Central Cardinals.

“We told the kids before the game last week, before TEC, ‘this isn’t a make or break game,’” Pratt said. “Obviously the game didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to. We still have a chance to host a playoff game with a win tomorrow night against Ada.”

The Buffs’ final regular season game against the Cougars will determine who will stay home and host a playoff game or head out on the road to play the No. 1 team in the state, the Bishop Kelley Comets, in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.

Pratt said he expects to see the same “well coached” Ada football team they have seen the last couple of years on the road. Pratt has the Buffs 3-0 against the Cougars under his command.

The first time Pratt faced the Cougars away from Hook Eales Stadium was two years ago. The Buffs defeated the Cougars with a goal line stand. Just last season the Buffs and the Cougars battled it out in double overtime before the Buffs triumphed.

“Coach (Matt) Webber gets those kids to play really hard and sound,” Pratt said. “I anticipate Ada sticking to their game plan and to do things right. We’ll continue to do the same thing we’ve been doing all year. Hopefully we’ll get some breaks that go our way and we won’t turn the ball over, like we did last week.

“I can’t say it enough, it’s a big game for us and Ada is going to play really tough from whistle to whistle. There’s a lot on the line Friday night.”

The Cougars will have fast running quarterback Qumain Black taking snaps behind center as running back Justin Todd gives their offense more depth in the backfield.

The Buffs are led by sophomore quarterback Tony Kiefer who has 815 yards rushing with 16 touchdowns, even though, he missed two games with an ankle injury. Kiefer has 11 passing TDs with 1,300 yards passing. He will be throwing to McAlester’s senior Tyler Crabtree who has 28 receptions for 302 yards on the season with three touchdowns. The Buffs are balanced with running back Caleb Carney who has a season 90 carries for 407 yards; sophomore receiver Alvery Braxton, 20 receptions for 373 yards. Braxton averages over 18-yards a carry. He has four TD receptions on the season.

The Buffs will go for an undefeated home record against the Ada Cougars. Pratt expects their will be a big crowd on hand to support the Buffs and the Cougars.

“The fans usually get their money’s worth at a game like this,” Pratt said. “Anytime you have crowd support, it makes your team play better. It will be a little more relaxed for us because it’s our home setting. We’ve had some good luck at home the past few years with our crowd. We anticipate a loud rowdy crowd and hopefully that will carry with us on the field.”

Contact Porky Falcon at pfalcon@mcalesternews.com