Elgin makes another statement, blanks Ardmore to stay undefeated
By Glen Brockenbush
ELGIN — In their first season in Class 5A - and two seasons removed from a winless season - the Elgin Owls felt they were still having to earn the attention and respect of the rest of the state, even after a 4-0 start.
Consider that respect received. Or at least it should be by Monday’s polls.
From the first long-range missile of a touchdown pass to the defense’s constant harassment of one of the state’s best quarterbacks, Elgin showed it meant business against Ardmore. The Owls shut out the Tigers, 35-0, at Elgin Owl Stadium on Friday.
Elgin was riding a six-game win streak and the best start to a season since 1998. But without the likes of Matt Lund, Treyvon Crabtree and Casey Britton, Elgin was going to be missing some serious playmakers, especially with Lund having rushed for 672 yards through four games.
In Lund’s place, Elgin turned to freshman Ritson Meyer, who had played extremely well through the first games, but had not yet started. Though nervous at first, Meyer - who also happened to celebrate his 16th birthday on Friday - shook off the nerves to guide an Elgin rushing attack that racked up 252 yards.
“I knew I had to go crazy, man,” Meyer said. “I did have some butterflies, my stomach was feeling it before the game, but I went through it.”
It was a defensive struggle through most of the first quarter. But on third-and-6 on their own 23, the Owls turned to a play that has been so successful for them in the past.
That was Tres Lorah lobbing a ball down the sidelines and into the waiting arms of Michael Adesola, who outran the rest of the Tiger defense to the end zone for a touchdown with 4:39 left in the first quarter.
Defensively, the Owls came into the game knowing they’d need to slow down Ardmore quarterback Cal Swanson. And from the get-go, the defense hurried, harried and harassed Swanson.
And even when he was able to use his scrambling ability to avoid a sack or big hit, the Illinois commit still looked discombobulated and uncomfortable, exactly what Elgin defensive coordinator Jack Baker wanted.
“We had to contain the quarterback, cause trouble,” Elgin head coach Chalmer Wyatt said. “He just never looked comfortable. And that’s hat's off to our defense. They’re fighters.”
The speedy, aggressive Owl defense held the Tigers to 174 total yards, while keeping Swanson in check with a stat line of 10-of-28 for 86 passing yards.
After the Adesola touchdown, the Owls relied heavily on the run, with chunk plays to Austin Elam and Chandler Zimmerman being the exception. But with a depleted backfield, Meyer, fellow freshman Brody Morrison and junior Peyton Christensen carried the load.
Meyer collected two touchdowns on the night, while Morrison and Christensen each tacked one on.
Regardless of who is in the backfield, the play of Elgin’s “Roughriders” offensive line has been a constant force over the past couple of seasons, and it wasn’t any different on Friday.
“I’ve got to thank my line; my line really carried me,” Meyer said.
With Friday’s result in Elgin, along with El Reno’s win against Noble, the District 5A-1 race appears it could be more muddled than previously predicted. And Elgin certainly has the look of a potential district contender at the moment.
Between the defensive shutout (which featured several fourth-down holds), the offensive efficiency and overall clean play (only two penalties on the home team for 15 yards), it was practically the perfect night for Elgin football. But being good is no longer the bar in northeastern Comanche County.
The Owls want to enjoy this moment in the season, but don’t want it to be the moment of their season.
“Our goal is playoffs and we’re controlling our fate at the moment,” Wyatt said. “But we know there’s a standard we’ve got to play to, and there’s a lot of tough games on our schedule.”
Elgin (5-0, 2-0 in District 5A-1) travels next to Altus, while Ardmore (2-3, 0-2) hosts Lawton MacArthur.
