Undefeated McAlester faces another showdown, this time with 5-0 Coweta

By Ty Loftis | Photo by Karen Schwartz 

McAlester and Coweta meet up on Thursday with both teams looking to remain undefeated.

The Tigers survived an early season scare against Wagoner, and McAlester most recently came back to beat Del City in overtime last week in a showdown between undefeated squads.

Both teams are averaging more than 35 points a game, and both teams have plenty of playmakers to take over a game.

That was on full display last week when McAlester’s Erik McCarty helped his team come back from 10 points down in the last 90 seconds to get an overtime win against Del City, which entered the game 4-0. In that game, he scored four touchdowns, blocked a punt and had 10 tackles.

“That was a great team win,” McAlester coach Forrest Mazey said. “We learned a lot about ourselves from that and we had some great individual performances.”

The duo of Mason Ford and Will Mason has powered Coweta so far this year. In three and a half years, Ford has compiled more than 5,500 yards and scored 50 touchdowns.

Mason has surpassed 2,500 yards and 20 touchdowns for his career.

Coweta coach Tim Harper says he looks forward to seeing how his team matches up Thursday night.

“It’s going to be a physical ballgame,” Harper said. “We have to come out and set the tone early. Playing at home, hopefully we can do that.”

Harper says McCarty will be one of the best athletes his team sees all year. He explains what it will take to slow him down.

“Someone like him, I don’t think you can completely stop him, but you can contain him,” Harper said. “We have played well defensively, only giving up 30-something points, but this will be a new test for us.”

Mazey said Coweta’s 4-3 defense is difficult to attack because they show so many different looks in hopes of confusing the offense.

“They play smart, sound football on the defensive side of the ball,” Mazey said. “Watching film has been important this week so that we know what we will be seeing and won’t be caught off guard with certain looks.”

Despite the offensive stats from last week, Mazey said a highlight from last week's win against Del City was holding the Eagles to four field goals in the red zone.

Harper remarked it will be important for the Tigers to take advantage of those red zone opportunities when given the chance.

“They have athletes all over the field,” Harper said. “It will be important for us to put as many points on the board as possible, especially when in position to do so.”

Both teams have double-digit wins in the last two years. Heading into Thursday night’s matchup, Harper, whose team made it to the Class 5A quarterfinals, hopes to use this game as a springboard for the rest of the season.

“We have gotten off to a good start and with a win, I think that could only be a sign of bigger and better things to come,” Harper said.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. this Thursday from Coweta.

It will be the second straight season McAlester has visited Coweta. Last season, the Buffaloes rolled past the Tigers, 33-2, getting revenge for a Coweta win in McAlester the year before.