The McAlester Buffaloes are set to take on the Muskogee Roughers this Friday night, looking to put a stop to the Roughers' momentum following an exhilarating victory last week. Muskogee comes into this matchup filled with confidence after securing a dramatic 19-13 win against Springdale, Arkansas, thanks to a remarkable 98-yard touchdown run by running back Anthony Hytche.
In a nail-biting finish, the Roughers found themselves in a precarious position late in the game. With just over four minutes remaining, they were pinned at their own 3-yard line. A holding penalty pushed them back even further to the 2-yard line, and a botched snap in the end zone could have spelled disaster. However, Hytche managed to scoop up the loose ball and sprinted 98 yards for the game-winning touchdown. Muskogee head coach Dale Condict described the play as “lucky,” emphasizing the fortunate circumstances that allowed Hytche to make such a pivotal play.
“Let me tell you what happened so you know how lucky we were: we snap the ball, and it hits our H-back in the arm, and it just happened to roll right to where we were running it,” Condict explained. “(Hytche) picked it up and was able to get through there. The ball bounces any other direction, it’s probably a safety or touchdown for them,” he added, reflecting on the unpredictable nature of the game.
Hytche’s performance was outstanding, as he finished the game with a staggering 239 rushing yards, making him a key player for the Buffalo defense to focus on this week. The junior running back entered the season with high expectations after a promising sophomore year, and he has certainly delivered thus far. However, the Buffaloes face a significant challenge in containing him, especially with their own defensive lineup facing injury troubles.
McAlester's defense struggled last week against Broken Bow’s standout player, Greydon Howell, and now they must shift their focus to Hytche. Compounding their difficulties, senior inside linebacker Trevin Simons, who led the team in tackles last season, is still recovering from an ankle injury sustained during a preseason scrimmage. Coach Jeff Craig indicated that Simons might not be available for this week’s game either. Additionally, sophomore defensive lineman Madden Goodner is dealing with a shoulder injury, further complicating the Buffaloes' defensive strategy.
Despite these setbacks, McAlester is not alone in facing injury concerns. Muskogee's starting quarterback, Brayden McMullen, is also uncertain for Friday's game due to a concussion he suffered against Springdale. Backup DJ Hill stepped in admirably, throwing two touchdown passes, but the team will be eager to have their starting quarterback back on the field.
As McAlester prepares for this critical matchup, Coach Craig emphasized the importance of learning from their previous game. “We’ve got to learn to do things at a championship level, and that was pretty much what we focused on this weekend,” he stated. The Buffaloes are determined to show significant improvement from their week-zero performance, where they fell short of expectations.
Craig expressed optimism about the team's growth, stating, “I think what we can present them defensively and what we can present offensively is going to be an improvement.” The Buffaloes are looking to travel to Muskogee for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff, hoping to turn their fortunes around and secure a much-needed victory.
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