CHICKASHA - Anyone who doesn't believe that special teams are a big part of football should have been at the Altus High-Chickasha football game Friday night.

Altus scored two touchdowns with the help of the kicking game and that propelled the Bulldogs to a 31-14 victory over the Chickasha Fightin Chicks.

The win clinched a playoff berth for the Bulldogs.

But it wasn't just the kicking game that helped Altus. Defensively the Bulldogs held the Chicks to just 75 yards in total offense and a minus 25 yards in the second half.

"I tell you what, it's very satisfying to set up there, call the plays and the kids do what they are coached to do," Altus defensive coordinator Jay Benway said. "We told them all week, it doesn't matter what we call up there, you guys have to be the ones that get it done. They showed they could get the job done and I was real proud of them"

Offensively Altus had some success in the passing game, something that has been a disaster all year. There was a touchdown pass to tight end Braden Cunningham and another pass to Cunningham that set up another score.

It was a special teams mishap that dug Altus into a hole early in the game. Chickasha blocked a Raegan Vaughan punt and that gave the Chicks the ball at the Bulldog 1-yard-line. Quarterback Greg Giardi sneaked it on the next play and Billy Holt's extra point gave Chickasha a 7-0 lead with 5:45 left in the first quarter.

Altus bounced right back. The Bulldogs went on a methodical 12-play 57-yard drive for a score which was aided by a pass interference penalty by Chickasha. The Bulldogs faced a third and goal from the five when quarterback James Holt faked to fullback Zacc McCaskill and passed to a wide open Cunningham in the end zone. for the score. Vaughan added the extra point and the score was tied with 11:56 remaining in the first half.

Chickasha retaliated with a a 72-yard drive for a score. It took 13 plays and was aided by a 15-yard personal foul penalty on Altus. Maloney capped the drive with a 3-yard run and the Chicks led 14-7 at halftime.

Vaughan kicked a 30-yard field goal on Altus' first possession of the second half. That cut the Bulldogs' deficit to 14-10 with 7:54 left in the third quarter.

The play that turned the game around occurred on Chickasha's next possession. The Chicks picked up one first down but then had to punt from its own 38. However, the center snap sailed over the head of Holt. A scramble went on for the loose ball which was batted back into the end zone. Michael Hayes recovered to give Altus a touchdown and the 17-14 lead with 4:50 remaining in the third quarter.

Momentum had swung Altus' way and Chickasha could never get it back. "We said in there before the game that in a close games special teams can make a difference and it did," said special teams coordinator Lyn Hepner.

Chickasha went three downs and out on its next offensive series as did the Bulldogs. From the Altus 24, Vaughan punted. It fell into the hands of Chickasha's Kai Kirby who mishandled the opportunity. Kirby tried to gather the ball in but Tim McClain jarred the ball loose and Jose Lopez was there to fall on the fumble and Altus had possesion at midfield.

Altus put together another time-consuming drive. They drove the 50 yards in 11 plays. Senior halfback Omar Nails powered over from the four and Vaughan's extra point made 24-14 with 8:06 left in the game.

Once again the Bulldogs defense stymied Chickasha. Desperate for a score, the Chicks gambled on a fourth and four at their own 38. Quarterback Greg Gardi dropped back and his pass was defelected by defensive tackle Drew George.

The Bulldogs then scored five plays later when Holt went right on the option play and scored with 3:38 left.

Chickasha had one more possession. On third down from its own 47 Farr, Zach Hammond, Austin Leverett and George swarmed Giardi for a 8-yard loss and a sack.

On fourth down George knifed through to sack Giardia. Altus then ran the clock out.

"We got the momemtum and we kept it going,"AHS head coach Jim Holloway said. "We played at a level of effort and enthuisasm like we should have been playing all year long. I don't know what makes kids do things the way they do. We didn't coach any different and we didn't approach any different. They just went out there and played a heck of a football game."

The victory may have been a costly one for the Bulldogs. Senior halfback and linebacker DeArteuy jones left the game in the third quarter with a sprained knee. His status is not known.

Altus will entertain Ardmore Friday night. A victory over the Tigers would give the Bulldogs a second place finish in District 5A-1 and a first round home playoff game.

HOW THEY SCORED

CHS - Troy Maloney 1 run (Billy Holt kick), 3:38, 1st qtr., CHS, 7-0.

AHS - Braden Cunningham 5 pass from James Holt (Raegan Vaughan kick, 11:56, 2nd qtr., 7-7.

CHS - Maloney 3 run (Holt kick), 6:55, 2nd qtr., CHS, 14-7.

AHS - Vaughan 30-yard field goal, 7:54, 3rd qtr., CHS, 14-10.

AHS - Michael Hayes recovers fumble in end zone (Vaughan kick), 4:50, 3rd qtr., AHS, 17-10.

AHS - Omar Nails 4 run (Vaughan kick), 8:04, 4th qtr., AHS, 24-14.

AHS - Holt 15 run (Vaughan kick), 3:38, 4th qtr. AHS, 31-14.

Individual Statistics

Altus

Rushing - Holt, 9-33, 1TD; McCaskill, 8-30: Nails, 22-85, 1TD; ones 10-33; Flagg 2-4; Davis 1-18.

Passing - Holt 3-8, 1TD.

Receiving - Cunningham, 2-21, 1TD; Nails, 1-15.

Fumble recoveries - Farr.

Chickasha

Rushing - Gardi, 5 (-33) 1TD; Maloney 17-90, 1TD; Lambrose, 2-2; Richie ,1-3; team loss (-38).

Passing - Gardi, 5-12-35.

Receiving - Maloney 2-19; Kirby 3-16.