Victory against Colcord sends Wolverines to 2A-II title game

WAGONER — With the undefeated season Vian is enjoying thus far, the Wolverines have shown they can win in a multitude of ways.

They’ve done it offensively. They’ve done it defensively, and certainly they’ve had excellent special teams, which was definitely evident in Friday night’s Class 2A-II semifinal against Colcord.

That tone was established when Vian’s Cash Collins blocked two first-quarter punts, the latter setting up the Wolverines’ opening score — a score which allowed Vian to maintain a lead for the remainder of the contest.

Junior standout Masyn Wright eventually accounted for all five Vian touchdowns on the night, and the Wolverine defense helped keep Colcord’s high-powered offense in check as the Wolverines stayed undefeated with a 35-16 win at Wagoner’s Dale Condict Stadium.

“(I’m) just proud of the boys and proud of the coaches,” Vian coach Gary Willis said. “Our defensive coaches put in a heck of a game plan, and (Colcord) made some yards but some of that was us defending the pass and letting them have some running up there. I’m really proud of the kids and the coaches.

“Defensively, we played really well. Getting those blocked punts were huge and getting up a couple of scores kind of got them out of their main offense.”

Now, one more game remains on the docket for the Wolverines. One more game, and one more chance for Vian to finally break its state-title drought.

Vian will face Davis for the inaugural Class 2A, Division II championship, with the kickoff at 1 p.m. Saturday at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Chad Richison Stadium in Edmond. Davis punched its ticket to Edmond with a 14-6 win against previously undefeated Stroud in the other state semifinal played Friday night at Noble.

The Wolverines (13-0) are seeking its first gold ball since 1971. The Wolverines played for what was then the Class 2A title in 2006 and again in 2019, but lost on both occasions.

The players hope that all the time they have invested in the season, and in the months before the season, culminates with a championship coronation.

“It’s great … It’s exciting,” Vian senior defensive lineman Tristan Wiley said. “We go through Summer Pride, do all the workouts, all the effort, everything. Then we go through practice every day. It’s a great feeling to be out here succeeding.”

Wright scored three rushing TDs, all within the opening 18 minutes of the semifinal, finishing with 162 yards on 19 carries. He then threw two TD passes, part of completing all four of his attempts for 63 more yards.

“(I was) just coming out, just playing my game and doing what I do best — and got the ‘W,” Wright said. “(We) just came out with the win, thanks to my line and everyone else around me.

Vian couldn’t have asked for a better start in its semifinal, forcing a fourth down on the opening series. Colcord attempted a quick kick, but Collins was able to get a hand on the ball, giving the Wolverines strong field position.

However, the Wolverines couldn’t take advantage, turning it over on downs. However, after forcing Colcord to try a punt once again, thanks to Wiley making a sack on third down, lightning struck twice.

Once again, it was Collins breaking through to block the kick, and Vian took over at the Colcord 25 yard line. Three plays later, facing a third-and-1 at the 16, the Wolverines, thanks to the second punt block from the player called “Cash,” literally and figuratively cashed in.

Wright took a handoff on a trap and found running room on the left side, racing into the end zone untouched from 16 yards out. Mikayah Mendoza came on to kick the extra point, giving Vian a 7-0 lead with 3:55 left in the first quarter.

Wiley recorded another third-down sack on the next series, leading to another Colcord punt attempt. This time, the Hornets were able to execute the kick, but Colcord was flagged 15 yards for a late hit on the return, giving Vian the ball at its own 44 yard line.

The Wolverines needed five plays to reach the end zone once more, and Wright delivered again with a nine-yard TD keeper after taking a direct snap in the Wildcat. A key play in the drive was a 35-yard pass from quarterback Cash Trammel to receiver Jacob Brannick on the opening play of the second quarter down to the Colcord 9 yard line, where Wright scored on the ensuing play.

Following Wright’s second TD, Mendoza converted his second PAT, and Vian built a 14-0 advantage with 11:18 left in the opening half.

The Hornets (11-2) advanced past midfield on its next drive. Once again, though, Wiley came up with a third-down tackle and the Hornets elected to punt, with the ball landing at the Vian 14 yard line, but the Wolverines were undeterred with the most challenging field position at that juncture, simply using another efficient drive to extend their lead.

Vian needed just six plays to score again, and the capper was Wright getting a hat trick. His third rushing TD was a 65-yarder as Wright — who earlier converted a Wildcat keeper on third-and-short that moved the chains — took a handoff, went to his right while seeking space, found his opening and finally broke loose down the sideline. Mendoza’s PAT made it 21-0 with 6:10 left in the half.

“Masyn was Masyn (on Friday), and we needed him to be,” Willis said of Wright. “He made several plays running and throwing, and defensively. It’s nice to have him.”

Colcord finally got on the scoreboard on its next drive, going 55 yards in five plays, and the Hornets added a two-point conversion to get within 13, but once again, Vian’s special teams delivered.

Draighton Fletcher fielded the kickoff and darted 44 yards before being run out of bounds at the Colcord 34 yard line. One play later, Wright made another six-point contribution, this time using his arm.

Taking another snap behind center, Wright went to his right before suddenly launching a deep pass. Brannick was there to grab it near the goal line, and he completed the 34-yard pitch-and-catch.

With the extra point from Mendoza, Vian made it a 20-point game at 28-8 with 4:48 remaining in the half.

Vian defensive back Adoff Stahl stopped Colcord’s next drive by picking off a pass near his own 30-yard line. The Hornets got the ball back late in the first half and put together another strong drive, getting near the Vian 10. but Vian held, with Wright snuffing out an end-around reverse, Colcord being penalized for delay of game and the Hornets throwing incomplete passes on third and fourth down. With seconds to go, Vian ran out the clock to go into the locker room still up 28-8.

Late in the third quarter, Colcord advanced inside the Vian 30 yard line but turned it over on downs yet again, as Tyson Murphy stopped a receiver on a pass in the left flat.

Vian took over at its own 27-yard line and, for all intents and purposes, put the game away with a 10-play, 73-yard drive as action shifted into the final quarter.

It ended with Wright’s second TD pass, quickly firing a seven-yarder to Wiley in the back of the end zone. Earlier, Trammel threw a fourth-down pass to Riley Ellis, setting up a first down deep in Colcord territory. Ellis also threw a 17-yard pass on a trick play to Brannick for another first down, highlighting the possession.

Mendoza’s fifth and final successful PAT attempt gave Vian a 35-8 lead with 9:47 to go, and the Wolverines and their fans were starting to make plans for Edmond.

Colcord got its last TD on an 81-yard pass play with 15 seconds left on the clock, and the Hornets got another two-point conversion, but the outcome was never in doubt.

Stahl grabbed the kickoff, landing on the turf near his own 25 yard line. A snap later, Trammel took a knee in victory formation.

Before that late 81-yard Colcord TD, Vian’s defense had held Colcord to 235 yards total offense. The Wolverines also limited the Hornets to 108 yards rushing.

“You know, it’s just all fundamentals,” Wiley said of what Vian was able to do defensively. “They (the coaches) preach it every day, we go over film, we sit there, practice it and run it over and over … It’s just fundamentals and doing your job and trusting your teammates to do theirs.”

Vian finished with 379 yards of total offense, 202 rushing and 177 more through the air. Trammel was 9-of-14 passing for 97 yards, and Brannick ended up hauling in seven catches for 133 yards.

Once again, the Wolverines showed consistency in all three phases, and it’s something Willis pointed out they need to do again one more time.

“They have, and that’s what it takes,” Willis said. “that’s what we’ll continue to emphasize because we’re going to play Davis, and they’re going to be a solid football program. They’re going to play well in all three phases also, so you can’t make mistakes.”

Playing mistake-free football is definitely an objective for the Wolverines with one final game now, with the gold ball at stake. Wright believes his team will be ready for the moment come this Saturday afternoon.

“It feels good, really good,” he said. “This crew that’s with us right now, we’ve been planning for this for a really long time, and it’s really exciting. Hopefully, we get it done.”