EDMOND – You can’t blame Altus High School Head Football Coach Lyn Hepner if he was extra happy after his team came away with a 21-7 victory over the Deer Creek Antlers on Friday night.

Sure he would naturally be happy in just getting the win. But it was the manner in which the Bulldogs won that was especially gratifying.

There have been many second half frustrations this year in which the Bulldogs have let some games get away from them. But not this time. Tied 0-0 at halftime, Altus dominated the second half of play, something they hadn’t done against a quality opponent all season long.

“The defense played so well,” Hepner said. “You could just see it in their eyes, they knew that they had it under control. We went in at halftime and told the defense just to keep it up. We told the offense look how good they are playing. Let’s just pick it up little bit more, hold your blocks a little bit longer. Just do what you do but do it better. We didn’t make many adjustments maybe a formation here or there.”

The offense struggled in the first half but came alive in the second half. On its opening possession AHS drove 69 yards in nine plays. They picked up four first downs on the march and that was more than they had in the entire first half.

A 15 yard run by Tyler George on the eighth play of the drive gave Altus a first and goal on the one. Then disaster nearly struck. Senior running back Trevor Sterling carried on the next play and the ball came loose. There was a big pile up and when it unfurled Sterling had covered the fumble in the end zone for a Bulldog touchdown, Michael Perez added the extra point and Altus Led 7-0 with 6:49 left in the third period.

Then it came down to the fourth quarter which hasn’t been kind to the Bulldogs all season.

Altus was in good shape thanks to an interception by senior linebacker Ryan Feller who returned the pick 37 yards to the Antlers 36 yard line on the last play of the third quarter.

On the next play Dom Nortonen carried on a reverse and picked up 16 yards to the 20. Three plays later the Bulldogs faced a third and nine from the 19. Quarterback Austin Beisel dropped backed to pass and did get some pressure from the rush. He stepped up into the pocket and found a wide open Lane Billarrial over the middle who raced into the end zone untouched for 19 yard TD play. Perez added the PAT and Altus led 14-0 with 10:31 left in the game.

Deer Creek avoided a shutout when Alex Christiansen scored from four yards out on the quarterback keeper. The extra point made it 14-7 with 2:15 left in the game.

An on side kick did not go the required 10 yards and Altus took over on the Deer Creek 47. The Bulldogs did not pick up a first down and punted to the Antlers who started from their 33 with 38 seconds left in the game.

Three straight incomplete passes brought up a fourth down. Christian threw deep down field. Junior cornerback Bob Laub intercepted the aerial near the Deer Creek sideline. He headed straight down the sideline out racing everyone to the goal line.

“He nearly had two interceptions but they made some circus catches,” Hepner said. “I was glad to see him get that one. You saw him, he’s got another gear in there.”

The PAT by Perez made it 21-7 with six seconds left.

Bulldog notes: Deer Creek was billed as the big physical team coming into the game. But it was the Bulldogs who was actually more physical Friday night. Defensively Altus had eight tackles for losses and put constant pressure Christiansen when he tried to throw.

It kind of caught Hepner by surprise.

“This week in practice it was little scary,” Hepner said. “It didn’t seem like they (the players) were focused. I told them I hope that I’m wrong, but you guys are loosier and goosier than I would like to see a team. I’m old so the maybe that’s the way the new athlete is. Before the game, we had concentration stuff (problems in warm-up). I told them again I hope I’m wrong. But I hope the football team that represents Altus will show up. Then I’m talking to coach Pruitt (Defensive Coordinator Gerry Pruitt) about what defense to run He calls the defense and gets the interception for the touchdown and again I was wrong.”

Big Gamble

Late in the second period with the score tied, Altus faced a fourth and 20 situation from mid field. Hepner ordered a fake punt that was thrown for a two yard loss and gave the Antlers good field position.

“At that time we were trying to make something happen,” Hepner said. “That’s was another decision I made that didn’t turn out good.

Playoff possibilities

Laub’s interception return for the touchdown gave Altus an advantage over Deer Creek in case it gets down to a three-way tie for the final playoff spot.

Here’s the situation: If Altus defeats Chickasha and Lawton MacArthur beats Deer Creek, the Bulldogs are in the playoffs as the fourth place team in the district. If Altus wins and Deer Creek downs MacArthur it would create a three way tie for the third and fourth spots. Laub’s TD took seven points away from Deer Creek and shifted it to Altus’ side.

Right now MacArthur has 40 points, Altus 17 and Deer Creek 8. Teams can only gain 15 points in game. However if they lose points are subtracted.

How They Scored

Altus – Trevor Sterling 1 run, (Michael Perez kick) 6:49, 1st qtr., Altus 7-0.

Altus – Lane Billarrial 19 pass from Austin Beisel (Perez Kick) 10:31, 4th qtr., Altus 14-0.

Deer Creek – Alex Christiansen 4 run (Cole Mount kick) 2:15, 4th qtr., Altus 14-7.

Altus – Bob Laub 48 interception return (Perez kick) 0:06, 4th qtr., Altus 21-7.

Individual Statistics

Altus

Rushing – 7-29; Sterling 7-41 1TD; Woodhouse 4-26; Feller 8-29; George 5-45; Nortonen 7-30; Ybarra 1-(-2)

Passing

Beisel 2-11-18 1TD

Receiving

Billarrial 1-19-1TD; Laub 1-(-1)

Kicking

Perez 3-3 PATs

Punting

Beisel 5-26

Interceptions – Feller 2, Laub 1 for 1TD

Deer Creek

Rushing

Price 7-28; Christiannsen 17-35; Patterson 2-10 Wade 3 (-8)

Passing

Christainsen 5-15-84 2INT; Wade 2-4 1 Int

Kicking

Mount 1-1 PAT 0-1 Field goal

Punting

Mount 3-38

Fumble recoveries – Coleman, Patterson