Disruptive. Is there any other way to describe Tonkawa’s defense? No, they didn’t have any epic goal-line stands. (They had four last week in an 8-0 win at Perry) So what did they do? Well, they held neighboring Blackwell to just three total yards offense and not one completed pass in a 40-6 rout in the annual Chikaskia River Showdown! It was the tenth straight win for Tonkawa since renewing the rivalry in 2014. The News has learned the series will not be renewed for the 2024 season.Buc defenders lived in Blackwell’s backfield all night long -- to the tune of 89 yards worth of tackles behind the line of scrimmage.It was a thing of beauty -- defensively, that is! In on those tackles were Jax Thompson, Hayden Grell, Dalton Pierce, Dom Grein, Barrick Wano, Isaiah Lively, Derek Strong and Peyten Keith.Pressuring the Maroon quarterback were Grein, Kade Ditmore, Pierce, Thompson and Lively. As a result, Peyten Keith intercepted one pass for a touchdown. Grell, Grein and Ditmore caused fumbles. Wano covered one. Blackwell’s punter was so disrupted by the pressure he was sacked by Lively for a 14 yard loss on fourth down that led to a 20 yard drive for a touchdown late in the game. He had a 3 yard punt that led to a Buc TD the series before. And another punt went for a mere 14 yards.Tonkawa left little in doubt on their first possession of the game going 60 yards in 7 plays, scoring on a 5 yard pass play from Ryan Morgan to Cayden Duvall. Clayton Lopeman had a 32 yard run in the game. The PAT kick failed.Barrick Wano covered a fumble at midfield and Morgan picked up 21 yards. The Bucs had a first down at the Blackwell 15, but failed to get into the endzone, turning the ball back on downs at the 21.Punts were exchanged. The Bucs went up 12-0 on a 50 yard run by Lopeman. In the 7-play, 82-yard drive, Lopeman also had runs of 16 and 15 yards. He finished the night with 229 yards on 23 carries, nearly 10 yards per carry. The PAT pass failed.Just before half, Tonkawa drove to the Blackwell 10. On first down, the Maroons intercepted, then ran out the clock to halftime. In the drive, Morgan completed passes to Duvall for 15 yards and Westyn Freeman for 12. Peyten Keith ...
