After completing the regular season with a 9-1 record, the number-4 ranked Muskogee Roughers begin their chase for the Class 6A-II state championship with a quarterfinal matchup against Ponca City this Friday night at Rougher Village.
After Ponca City closed the gates on historic Indian Bowl with a 35-28 victory last year, this week’s meeting will be the 21st meeting between Muskogee and Wildcats with the Roughers holding a 12-7-1 series advantage including a 2-0 playoff advantage including quarterfinal victories in the 1980 and 2005 campaigns.
Ponca City enters Rougher Village with a 6-5 record following a 35-7 home field victory over Tahlequah last week in the opening round of the 2022 OSSAA playoffs. Friday night’s winner will advance to the 6A-II semifinals against the survivor of the Choctaw-Sand Springs contest.
Coming off the opening week having earned a bye in the first round, the Roughers are healthy and ready to go with an offense and defensive unit that have been productive. The Muskogee defense has limited their opponents to 16.8 points per game while the offensive group has averaged 44.5 points per outing. The Roughers have roughed up their opponents with 59 tackles for loss including 20 quarterback sacks while forcing 18 turnovers including 16 pass interceptions. Junior linebacker Trayveon Houston has 101 tackles while senior Brandon Tolbert has charted 13 stops for minus yardage among his 98 tackles this season. Anthony Watson has been a wrecking ball on the defensive front recording six QB sacks.
The Roughers high octane offense is averaging 442 yards per game with a ground game totaling 189.3 yards while the air attack is averaging 259.6 yards. Sophomore quarterback Jamarian Ficklin has completed 66-percent of his passing attempts resulting in 36 touchdown passes to a quintet of receivers anchored by Kayden McGee, who has 13 touchdown receptions totaling 708 yards and Jayden Bell, who has 25 catches for 516 yards. Sophomore Ondraye Beasley is a two-way threat with a combined run-pass receiving total of 998 yards and nine trips to the end zone.
Game time is set for 7pm tonight at Rougher Village. The game will be broadcast via livestream on YouTube.com/RougherTV and can also be heard on radio on KTFX 101.7fm.
