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CHECOTAH – Ray Grandstaff Stadium turned into the OK Corral Friday night when the Locust Grove Pirates came to town to take on the Checotah Wildcats in a wild shout out.

Defenses were almost non-existent with 110 total points being scored over the four periods. The Pirates opened the scoring quickly on the first play from scrimmage, when Pirates QB Titan Hix broke over the left side of the Checotah line for a 62-yard touchdown run with over 10 minutes still remaining in the opening period.

The Wildcats answer with a 47-yard scamper by Elijah Thomas for his first of four touchdowns on the night to tie the score at 6-all.

The ensuing Pirate drive ended at the Wildcats 3 yard line when an interception by Jaydon Casey gave the ball back to Checotah.

After a long drive and several penalties, Jayden Ellen gave Checotah their first lead of the game 12-6 after a second 2-point conversion failed.

Locust Grove answered in the second quarter with a touchdown toss from Hix to Ryan Summers in the left side of the end zone. With a successful 2-point try, the Pirates led 14-12 with 6:49 remaining in the half.

Locust Grove extended their lead with just over 2 minutes left in the first half with a 6-yard touchdown run by Hix to make it 22-12 Pirates.

After the Pirates short kick-off, on the first play from scrimmage, Thomas scored his second of the night on a 49-yard touchdown pass from Cole Roland with 1:52. With the successful 2-point conversion the Wildcats were within 2 points 22-20.

Thomas registered his third touchdown of the night on a 30-yard “Hail Mary” from Roland with 30 ticks remaining in the half.

In the second half, The Pirate kicking game woes became more apparent when on their opening drive, when a fourth-and-for from their own 40 yard line failed to give Checotah the ball in Locust Grove territory.

Three plays into the drive, the Wildcats would score again but once again a failed extra point left the score at 32-22 Checotah.

Jett Stevans cut into the Checotah lead with a 51-yard touchdown reception from Hix to bring the score within 2-points 32-30.

The Wildcats answered quickly with a 30-yard touchdown run by Ellen, and with a successful 2-point try by Preston Cannon the Wildcats opened up their lead to 40-30.

The ensuing Pirate drive again ended at the 2-yard line when Hix fumbled on a dive attempt into the end zone to give the ball back to Checotah with 3:19 remaining in the third quarter.

Ellen shortened the field with a 64 yard run to the Locust Grove 15 yard line. With 0:30 left in the third period, Ellen finished the drive with a 3-yard dive to pay dirt  and the Traegan Duvall extra point ended the quarter with the Wildcats leading 47-30.

Stevans made it a bit closer in the fourth with 10:12 remaining to bring the Pirates within 11 points 47-36.

Ellen added to the Wildcat advantage with another touchdown run 2 minutes later and with the Duvall kick it was 54-36 Checotah.

Thomas capped off his scoring with his fourth of the night on a 25-yard touchdown run to lift the wildcats over the 60-point mark 62-36 with 5:29 left in the game.

Ellen added another tally on an 85-yard touchdown run with 3:36 left.

Locust Grove would score again late in the period, but it was too little too late, and Checotah walked away with the win 68-48.

Checotah (3-1) will hit the road next week to take on the Muldrow Bulldogs (4-0) and Locust Grove (2-2) returns home to challenge the 0-3 Eufaula Ironheads.