How Cushing QB John Hilligoss is determined to help Tigers write different ending in '23
TULSA, OKLAHOMA - Cushing was all the rage in Class 4A last year as it went unbeaten in the regular season, pummeling opponents on its schedule.
But then came the heartbreaking loss to Wagoner in the state final on a last-second field goal and the Tigers were forced to settle for a runner-up finish, taking home a silver ball instead of the elusive gold.
While the focus has since been on Wagoner and a possible repeat by the Bulldogs, the Tigers have emerged back on the scene as a team considered to be among those contending for this year’s state championship.
Cushing (5-2 overall, 3-1 in District 4A-3) played like it Thursday as the Tigers dominated, 41-6, against Tulsa McLain (5-2, 3-1) at Melvin Driver Stadium in a game that kicked off in the late afternoon.
Senior quarterback John Hilligoss led the charge, throwing 281 yards and three touchdown passes while running for two others.
The Cushing defense also impacted the game by forcing sacks and making a few interceptions.
Both teams are tied for second place in District 4A-3 and are one game behind Wagoner (7-0, 4-0), a 61-0 winner against Cleveland Thursday night. McLain takes to the road to play the Bulldogs next week while Cushing meets Cleveland at home in a battle of Tigers (Cleveland has the same nickname).
The 4A runner-up got off to a struggling start Thursday as the Titans drew first blood, with Dennis Nolan running around the right side for 11 yards to the end zone with under six minutes left in the first quarter. McLain missed the extra point and it was 6-0.
That lit a fire in Cushing as it answered on the next drive, beginning a flurry of TDs.
Hilligoss got his first TD on the ground from 9 yards to tie the score. The PAT was missed and the first quarter ended in a 6-all tie.
“We came out slow, but we found our rhythm in the second (quarter) and that shows,” Hilligoss said. “We drove for a lot of points in that quarter.”
Brady Matheson ran in the next TD from 8 yards to break the tie.
Facing fourth-and-10 with under 10 minutes left before the half, Hilligoss hit junior tight end Wyatt Heisler for a 34-yard TD. Hilligoss threw two more scores to junior Lane Wood, covering 55 and 14 yards, making it 34-6 before halftime.
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An interception by sophomore linebacker Kellen Fry set up the TD before the break.
Hilligoss added his second rushing score on a 1-yard keeper in the third quarter.
“We just hyped each other up,” he said. “We know what we got to do for this district game, and that’s what motivated our guys.”
FILLING IN BIG SHOES
Hilligoss took over for Blaze Berlowitz, Cushing’s starting quarterback last season who is now playing at New Mexico State. He apprenticed under his predecessor and talks with Berlowitz often.
“Sometimes I do (talk to him),” Hilligoss said. “We always keep in touch a little bit, because he is now at New Mexico State, and I always like to see what they’re doing through him there."
Hilligoss believes he has meshed into the role behind center well.
“He (Berlowitz) taught me a lot of things about this offense, what was really going to come open, and it shows.” Hillivoss said. “(Scoring) 41 points, it shows that he has really helped me.”
RELOADING AFTER THE STING OF DEFEAT
Cushing beat Wagoner, 42-0, last year in the regular season and appeared destined to win state with dominating wins against their opponents.
But a rematch with its district rival in the 4A title game came out with a different result. After the Tigers built up a 21-7 lead in the first half, Wagoner scored 17 unanswered points, including a last-second field goal that inflicted defeat after the Tigers had been unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in the class all year.
“It hurt us a lot,” Hilligoss said. “At the same time, it gave us something to drive for. We didn’t get the job done last year, but now we want to get it done.
"That (spurred) us all through the summer, it motivated us to work hard in lifting and all that. That motivated our seniors and everybody below us.”
With several key starters lost to graduation, including Berlowitz, there were questions on how the Tigers would fare this season.
As it turned out to be, they just reloaded with Hilligoss, who apprenticed under Berlowitz, meshing into his new role, as well as others who stepped in to replace those who had graduated.
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“Yeah, we did (reload),” Hillivoss said. “That’s what we want. That’s the standard set for us, and we want to get after it.
"That’s where want to get. We want to go to the state (final) game, and we want to go (win it).”
Cushing did lose to Wagoner again last week in the state championship rematch, but the Tigers are confident they’ll see them again.
No doubt, they would love to meet Wagoner down the road in another postseason game.
“I think we’ll get another shot at them,” Hilligoss said.
The Tigers' other loss this season was to Perkins-Tryon in Week 2, which is a force in Class 3A.
Photo of Cushing's John Hilligoss (with ball) by Jason Elmquist, Stillwater News Press
-- Mike Moguin | @SBLiveOK
