Choctaw Scores Early, Often in Rout of Knights
Date Posted: November 7, 2025 1:34 AM
You've likely heard the phrase "It was over before it began". That could be a fitting statement for Choctaw's dominating win over Northwest Classen Thursday night at Bill Jensen Field in Choctaw.
The Yellowjackets scored 44 first quarter points and cruised to a 72-0 win, allowing Choctaw to stay in the hunt for the third playoff spot in District 6A-II-1.
Choctaw took the lead on the third play of the game when Mayor Morgan scored on a 38-yard run with just 54 seconds of game clock having left the scoreboard.
On Northwest Classen's first play from scrimmage, a fumbled snap was recovered by Israel Hammons on the nine yard line, where Rocco Tartaglione scored on the next play.
After an interception ended the Knights' next drive, Morgan returned to the end zone on a 55-yard pitch and run.
After a punt, it took the Yellowjackets just one play to get in the end zone again when Landon Gatson went deep to Zaylun Matlock for a 34-yard touchdown pass.
Special teams got in on the action next with Morgan blocking a Northwest punt out of the end zone for a safety. Matlock then followed it up with a 65 yard kickoff return for a 37-0 lead.
Just before the end of the first quarter, another blocked punt resulted in the Yellowjackets taking over at the Northwest Classen 5 yard line, where Tahriq Knighten scored on the next play.
It was 58-0 at halftime after touchdowns by Titus Hawk and a wild 55-yard interception return by Kentrell Gaddis II.
The second half featured a running clock and seniors getting to shine in their final game at Bill Jensen Stadium. Senior Brodee Clifton scored on a 12 yard run. Sophomore Kaison Besteda later capped the scoring on a 36 yard reception.
With the win, Choctaw gives itself a chance to finish third in the district should Putnam City win Friday night at home against Piedmont. Choctaw holds the head-to-head victory with Piedmont, meaning if the two teams were to tie, Choctaw would get the third seed and Piedmont the fourth.
A Piedmont win would drop Putnam City to third, but the Pirates hold the tiebreaker over Choctaw by virtue of their one-point win over Choctaw on October third.
Northwest Classen dropped into a tie for sixth place in the district, but because of U.S. Grant's 1-point loss to Lawton Eisenhower Thursday night, the Knights earned the final playoff spot in the district and will play at Muskogee next Friday.
It's the first time since 1968 that the Knights are in the playoffs. In 1968, the Knights won their first eleven games before falling to Booker T. Washington in the Class 3A title game.
C - Mayor Morgan 38 yard run (Dillon Gambill kick)
C - Rocco Tartaglione 9 yard run (Gambill kick)
C - Morgan 55 yard pass from Landon Gatson (Gambill kick)
C - Zaylun Matlock 34 yard pass from Gatson (Gambill kick)
C - Safety, punt blocked out of end zone
C - Matlock 65 yard kickoff return (Gambill kick)
C - Tahriq Knighten 5 yard run (Gambill kick)
C - Titus Hawk 25 yard pass from Gatson (Gambill kick)
C - Kentrell Gaddis II 55 yard interception return (Gambill kick)
C - Brodee Clifton 12 yard run (Gambill kick)
C - Kaison Besteda 36 yard pass from Gatson (Gambill kick)