SWEET, SWEET HOMECOMING

Roughers end slump with 39-8 rout of Tulsa Edison

By Patrick Kays, Editor The Muskogee Roughers football team is winless no more. The first win of the 2013 season came on Homecoming as big turnovers helped Roughers down the Tulsa Edison Eagles, 39-8, earning their first win on the new turf. Muskogees offense led by quarterback Quintahj Cherry sparked a big momentum swing by scoring easily on their first two drives. He hooked up with Anthony King for 35 yards to set up another pass to King for a 7 yard touchdown. King would have six catches for 127 yards on the day. The next drive Cherry hooked up with JyReece Vanhook for 32 yards, then King for 24, and then a 14 yard pass to Bryson Bell, giving the Roughers an early 14-0 lead. The sticky hands of Rougher receivers helped Quintahj earn the Muskogee Phoenix Player of the Week. Cherry was 10-14 for 196 yards and The defense was also a major part of this homecoming victory. With the absence of senior stars, Tramal Ivy at safety and Mackenzie McCall at linebacker, things were going to be

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young on the defensive side of the ball. That wouldnt be an issue for Muskogee as they would keep Edison scoreless through three quarters until Edison would score in the middle of the fourth on a one yard run from Akylen Mayfield and a successful twopoint conversion. The Roughers would pick up five turnovers that shifted much needed momentum. Sammy Richardson and Luke Leatherman would pick up fumbles and Tavian Davis and Keshon Burns would each pick off a pass. Tavian Davis interception was returned for 26 yards to make it a 21-0 game. I read the quarterbacks eyes the whole time. I slowed down a little bit just to see if he would run or pass it. As soon as he pulled his arm back to throw it, I knew it was mine to catch and I told myself this is your chance to shine and I took it to the house, Davis said. Muskogee led 27-0 at the half, after Jacouri Freemans 43 yard touchdown run. Tyriq Beasley also ran one in from 23 yards out and would

Photo by John Hasler

Jacouri Freeman takes a 43-yard run to the endzone during the rout of Tulsa Edison in the Homecoming game.

finish the day with 84 yards rushing on 8 carries. Theyre a lot better than they were last year and Ive said were better than last year,

but so is every other team in our district, Blankenship said. Well go evaluate and correct mistakes but our deal now is to win the next one.

SOFTBALL SEASON ENDS BITTER-SWEET

Continued from page 1 Muskogee would unleash their offensive game to finish off a 7-5 win over Union to win the Regional Championship. The offense was jump-started by Lexi Watsons solo home-run followed by Nia Maxwells double that would score two more runs. Maxwell also scored Carlee Gann who just hit a two run double right before her to score 3 more runs in the fifth inning. Kaisers hit in the seventh would score Brook Hendrickson from third after her big triple

to start off the inning. Shaylee Rowland would lead the defense to record the final out increasing her pitching wins to 23 on the year. The Lady Roughers softball career as a Rougher is not over. Our motto all year has been dont quit playing hard until you get the ring., said Carlee Gann. They get to try again for gold come this spring for slow-pitch.

Volleyball falls in first Regional Title Appearance

By Claire Farmer and Emiley Sexton

BoSox take the Series Red Sox defeat the St. Louis Cardinals in Game
6 to win their 3rd World Series in 10 years
By Patrick Kays, Editor

A three-run double in the third from Shane Victorino, and a dangerous pitching staff of Brandon Workman who cleaned out the eighth and Koji Uehara retiring the ninth, earned the Sox earn a 6-1 win over St. Louis to win the 2013 World Series. The Red Sox finished the Cardinals in six games, which was indeed a magical year for Boston after fighting through the horror of the explosions during the running of the Boston Marathon at the beginning of the baseball season. After having gone 86 years without a World Series before the Red Sox historic comeback on the Yankees to face the Cardinals in the 2004 World Series, where the Red Sox would sweep to win the title, would not be the last. The Red Sox won in 2007 and then now in 2013. Boston and St. Louis have combined to win five of

Photo by Associated Press

Koji Uehara is hoisted in the air after recording the final out, to win Boston the World Series.

the last ten World Series. Jacoby Ellsbury single to open the third inning was the start to the push for Victorinos big double. Ellsbury moved to second on a ground out by Dustin Pedroia. David Ortiz was then intentionally walked and Wacha struck out Mike Napoli to give himself a chance to escape the inning but the St. Louis

nightmare didnt end. Jonny Gomes was hit by a ptch to load the bases and Victorino followed by hitting the Green Monster in left field. All three runners scored to send Boston into a frenzy That celebration would ensue once more after Matt Carpenter would be retired for the final out.

The Lady Roughers volleyball won its first playoff match in school history after a tiebreaker win over Westmoore in the first round of the 6A regional volleyball tournament. Sadly, the hope for its first state appearance was shortlived as the Lady Roughers would be swept 3-0 by powerhouse Bishop Kelley in the Regional championship. Westmoore is a great defensive team, Muskogee coach John Hammer said. They dont have the power that Bishop Kelley has offensively, but most teams dont. We knew it was going to be a tight match. The 2013 Lady Roughers (24-11), will go down as the best volleyball team in school history as they hold the best record. Claire Farmer who was named the Muskogee Phoenix Volleyball Player of the Year, out of all teams in the area, had 20 kills against Westmoore. Junior Jensen Martin who made the All-Phoenix team had 41 assists. The Roughers lost two good ones said coach Hammer as to the loss of Brett Allen and Alexis Rosson who finished out their high school career. Muskogee won the first two sets against Westmoore before falling in the next two. The Roughers then won the tie-breaking match 15-4 to make history.But the regional title game was a tough one. The Roughers would face one of the best volleyball teams in the nation, the Bishop Kelley Comets. The Comets took the quick lead with 25-7 win and 25-15 win over the Roughers. The Lady Comets went on to win 25-12 to the state tournament, ending the Roughers season. Coach John Hammers outlook on the team moving forward is very positive. Losing only 2 seniors, the team will have more experience next year in hopes to move on to State for the very first time. Were taking strides every year, getting better and better. Its fun to be around these kids, Hammer said.