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HS Football: Klein Oak picks up a road win over Oak Ridge

By: JD Hurd II
| Published 10/17/2019

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THE WOODLANDS, TX -- It hasn’t been the season that Oak Ridge hoped for this year. That said, the War Eagles flashed moments of excellence in the 34-14 loss to Klein Oak on Thursday night. All three phases made plays to allow Oak Ridge to hang around for the majority of the ballgame.

It seemed as if Klein Oak was going to cruise to a big victory when the Panthers jumped out to a 13-0 lead early in the first quarter. Klein Oak QB Montrell Bolton had success throwing across the middle for touchdowns to receivers Elyjaiah Durden and Cameron Williams to start the game.

The Oak Ridge offense couldn’t get going early on in the game. Their plans of getting the football out wide were stifled by the lateral quickness of the Klein Oak defense. After punting each possession, and only stopping the Panthers once in the first quarter, a short punt to start the second seemed like it was setting the War Eagles up to be behind three scores quickly. However, on the return, the Oak Ridge punt team forced a fumble recovered by Aidan Chambers to give the team some life. Oak Ridge was unable to turn the gift into points, but it effectively cooled off a hot starting Klein Oak team, buying Oak Ridge more time to find their rhythm offensively.

The War Eagles would find that rhythm just over halfway through the second quarter. Starting near midfield, Oak Ridge would hit their first big play of the game when Alton McCaskill broke free into Klein Oak territory to set the War Eagles up with a prime scoring opportunity for the first time of the night. A few plays later, Kywon Morgan fought his way into the end zone for the one-yard touchdown run. Klein Oak would respond near the end of the half, thanks to Jamal Stephens’ nine-yard TD run to give the Panthers another 13-point lead heading into the locker room.

The second half was mostly uneventful outside of two big plays, one from each team.

Dwight McGlothern has been one of District 15-6A’s most explosive players all season. He had yet to break the game wide open, but each time he touched the football, it felt as if something big could happen at any moment. With five minutes remaining in the third quarter, McGlothern fielded a punt and went into video game mode. McGlothern changed directions multiple times, zigzagging his way into the end zone for the score.

Just as McGlothern can be explosive as a wide receiver and a punt returner, Oak Ridge’s Alton McCaskill can also electrify crowds when he gets the ball in his hands. On the very next possession, McCaskill torched the Panther defense for a 60-yard touchdown run to keep Oak Ridge within range of a comeback. However, a late score by Klein Oak would seal their 20-point win and keep them out in front of the district playoff race.

For Oak Ridge, they suffered their fourth district loss and second loss in a row. Up next will be a trip to Klein Memorial Stadium for a meeting with Klein Cain.

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