Reign Delay: Blanchard takes down defending champion Wagoner for Class 4A championship
EDMOND — Wagoner junior quarterback Kale Charboneau rolled to his left but was quickly met by a pair of Blanchard defenders as he looked down the field.
With no time left on the clock and Wagoner having begun the play on Blanchard’s 12-yard line, Charboneau was desperate and knew he had to keep the play alive if the Bulldogs were going to defend their title.
Although he briefly lost his footing, Charboneau popped up, dashed to his right and let it fly as he took a hit.
Ultimately, Charboneau’s pass was too high.
It flew through the back of the end zone, and the Blanchard crowd roared as the Lions went ectatic on the field.
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Because for the third time in school history and first since 2012, Blanchard was getting ready to raise the gold ball.
Third-ranked Blanchard defeated No. 1 Wagoner 19-14 Thursday night in the Class 4A state championship at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Chad Richison Stadium.
The game was delayed more than two hours due to weather, and Blanchard — which forced six turnovers (four interceptions and two fumble recoveries) — never trailed.
“It’s been our identity all year,” Blanchard senior quarterback Carson Cooksey said. “We’re hard-nosed, tough. We came up with a huge stop at the end, and I think that really caps our season off with our identity.”
Cooksey, who finished 18-of-35 passing for 200 yards with one score and one interception, led Blanchard on a 94-yard opening drive that ended with a 19-yard touchdown run on a reverse by junior receiver Brayson Carter.
It was a close battle from there.
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The Lions (13-1) took a 13-0 lead with 6:31 left in the second quarter as Cooksey tossed an 8-yard touchdown to junior Coric Pierce — who also finished with two interceptions on defense — but Wagoner answered on the ensuing kickoff as senior Shaun Atkins returned it 77 yards for a score.
Although Cooksey had a key 10-yard touchdown run with 25 seconds left in the third that gave Blanchard a 19-7 lead, Wagoner (13-1) pulled to within five after senior Vanderbilt commit Witt Edwards caught a screen pass and reached the end zone for a 20-yard score with 11:53 left in the fourth.
But Blanchard’s defense came through after that.
The Lions got a big fourth-down stop at its own 18-yard line with 6:49 remaining, and senior lineman Jake Carter got an interception later in the quarter.
With the ball on Blanchard’s 36-yard line, Charboneau dropped back to pass and was hit by sophomore linebacker Cole Watkins as he was throwing.
The ball flung into the air, and Carter came down with it before getting tackled with 1:50 left.
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“Because of turnovers, we were able to come out on top,” Blanchard coach Jeff Craig said.
Wagoner got the ball back and drove down the field but ran out of time.
“It’s the greatest feeling ever,” said junior receiver and defensive back Hudsen Periman, who recovered a fumble on Blanchard’s punt team with 2:24 left in the third and had two catches for 33 yards.
“I’ve won a state championship in baseball before, but I don’t think it compares to (winning in football).”
Edwards, a receiver and linebacker, had a stellar performance in the loss. He had a highlight-reel interception along the sideline in the third and had nine receptions for 143 yards and one score.
Charboneau finished 15-of-29 passing for 198 yards and one touchdown and ran for 150 yards on 19 carries.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma high school football: Blanchard downs Wagoner for 4A title
