BLANCHARD - Elgin traveled to Blanchard to start the OSSAA Playoffs on Friday, Nov. 13.
The Owls secured a spot in the playoffs when the OSSAA decided to open up the playoffs to everyone that wished to play. The decision by the OSSAA was made because of all the cancellations that had been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Finishing eighth in District 4A-1 meant that the Owls would face the winner of District 4A-2 to start the playoffs.
Blanchard, who upset Tuttle the week before, won the district to set up a rematch from week two of the regular season. The Owls won the coin flip and elected to defer their choice to the second half of the game. Blanchard took the opening kickoff and went on a drive to open the game which ended when Blanchard’s Zach Garrett scored from five yards out to give the Lions an early 7-0 lead. Blanchard added another touchdown later in the first quarter to build a 14-0 cushion heading into the second quarter.
The Lions added two more touchdowns early in the second quarter to take a 28-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. Elgin and Blanchard played on even terms through most of the third quarter until Blanchard added another touchdown with 2:58 remaining in the third quarter. Elgin had a snap go over Ricardo Smith’s head and the ball wound up in the endzone which Blanchard recovered to take a 41-0 lead over the Owls.
Blanchard kicked off to Elgin where Freshman, Trey Crabtree, picked up the kickoff on the right side of the twenty-two-yard line and circled to the left where he found nothing but green turf between him and the goal line. Seventy-eight yards later Trey had put the Owls on the board. Blanchard tacked on another touchdown late in the third quarter and one more late in the fourth quarter to arrange the final score of 54-7.
Elgin finished the 2020 campaign with a record of 0-9. The Owls season saw two games canceled due to the pandemic. The Battle for the Wichita’s and the game against Elk City were not played. Elgin will lose some talented Seniors but look forward to the 2021 season with talented underclassmen looking to reload and make a playoff run next season.