By Chuck Reherman
Sports Editor
Each week, Yukon has been climbing the hill trying to get over the top.
The Millers got closer Thursday night, but just couldn’t breach the summit.
Owasso scored 16 unanswered points in the second half and pulled away from the Millers, 36-17, in a district 6AI-2 contest at Miller Stadium.
Yukon led twice in the game, the second at 17-14 with 1:38 remaining. Owasso regained the lead with 15 seconds left and the Rams shut down YHS drives in the second half to earn the win.
The Millers dropped to 1-6 overall, 0-4 in district play and have Edmond North, Norman and Edmond Santa Fe remaining on the schedule. Owasso is 2-2 in the district and 3-4 overall.
The Millers were in Owasso territory three times in five second half possessions, but couldn’t get any closer than the 29-yard line.
“The challenge to the players all week was to play a complete game and I felt like they responded to that challenge and did that tonight,” Miller head coach Marshall Hahn said. “We talked about three areas, turnovers, explosive plays and special teams and turnover, we won the turnover battle, but we had a couple of turnover on downs that hurt use. Explosive plays, we were able to get a couple of explosive plays and limited them and I felt like we performed well on special teams.
“They had the one big play at the end of the half that led them to a touchdown,” he said. “He is a fast kid and they seamed it up pretty well. We were able to get Heath (wide receiver Sperry) a couple of wheel routes on their man coverage. Logan (Troxell) had the big run and we were able to give ourselves chances, we just weren’t quite there.“With the expanded playoffs, we are still playing for an awful lot. We just have to find a way to get one and once we get one, we get two and then find a way to get three. There is still the opportunity to play at least one more week.”Owasso did take the lead on their opening possession, driving 80 yards in 13 plays with Nicholas Weeks scoring on a two-yard run.
The Millers evened things up on their second possession on a one-yard Jesse Eakers touchdown run. The play was set up when Troxell found a seam in the Owasso defense and ran 85 yards before being dragged down from behind at the Owasso one-yard line. The Millers score came with 2:07 left in the opening quarter.
Yukon took their first lead of the night on their next possession after a high snap led Owasso to a short punt at their own 39 yard line.
The Millers reached the 27 yard line, but stalled there and Ethan Nakolo nailed a 45-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead with 10:36 left in the first half.
Owasso regained the lead on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Mason Willingham to J’Karri Thomas for a 14-10 lead with 5:38 left.
An Owasso fumble set up the Millers go ahead touchdown. Lucas Jones scooped up the loose ball and returned it 59 yards to the Rams seven yard line.
Logan Davis scored two plays later on a four yard touchdown run. YHS led 17-10 with 1:38 remaining.
Willingham teamed up with Thomas on a 39-yard pass play that set up a five-yard scoring run from Weeks to take a 21-17 lead at the half.
A safety by Owasso on the opening series of the second half gave the Rams a 23-17 lead.
Willingham ran for a two-yard score and passed 68 yards to Anthony Hills to open the 36-17 lead.
The Millers will go on the road for their next two games, to Edmond North next Friday and to Norman on the 28th. The Millers are home Nov. 4.
