OUTLAWS BLAST GUNNERS 60-19

It was sweet revenge as the Stillwater Outlaws knocked off the defending league champion Oklahoma City Gunners on Saturday. The Outlaws lost the Metro Bowl I championship 27-21 after the Gunners returned a kickoff for a touchdown with only 1:24 left to play. The win keeps the Outlaws undefeated with a 5-0 record.

The scoring started early as the Outlaw defense took the field and Gaylon Burris intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown to give the Outlaws a 6-0 lead. On the Gunner’s second possession, Clifton Howard picked up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown to extend the lead 12-0. The Gunners were anxious to get on the board after they recovered a fumble and moved the ball 50 yards to score and cut the lead 12-6. Another costly turnover by the Outlaws was returned for a touchdown and the successful PAT gave the Gunners the lead 13-12. The Outlaws answered by driving the field and scoring on a 1-yard run by quarterback Michael Money. The successful PAT by Jake Jobe put the Outlaws up 19-13. The Gunners took their next possession and quickly moved the ball 44 yards for a touchdown and tied the score 19-19 midway thru the second quarter.

The Outlaws wasted no time in making a decision to dominate the game as they quickly marched down the field and set up a 7-yard touchdown run by Matt Taylor. Another successful PAT gave the Outlaws a 26-19 lead. The Outlaws kicked onside and recovered the ball at midfield. They again drove the field with their power running game and capped the touchdown drive with a 7-yard run by Terrance Burris. Jobe extended the lead 33-19 with another PAT kick. The Outlaw defense returned to the field for the final 4 plays of the half which resulted in two sacks for negative 24 yards. For the first half, the defense gave up only 115 yards to the Gunners while the offense gained 218 yards.

Midway thru the third quarter, Robert Earl Johnson rumbled to the endzone for his first touchdown of the 2009 season. Another successful PAT by Jobe put the Outlaws up 40-19. The fourth quarter brought more disaster for the Gunners as Gaylon Burris made his third interception of the day and returned it for another touchdown.  On their next possession, the Gunners tried once again to rally from the 46-19 deficit using their passing game. This time it was defensive linemen Corey Citizen with the interception and a return to the nine yard line. The offense returned to the field and  it took only one play for Santhony Linzsey to score the touchdown. Another successful PAT by Jobe put the Outlalws up 53-19. In one final attempt to use their passing attack, the Gunners threw yet another interception. This time the ball was picked off by Langston Moore. The Outlaws offense returned to the field and on the 4th play of the drive, Theo Langner broke free for a 61 yard touchdown. It was his first trip to the endzone as well. Jobe extended the lead with the final PAT and the Outlaws held on to win 60-19.

“It was one of those games where everything worked and it was nice to beat the Gunners after losing to them in the championship last year,” said head coach Karey Jones. “Now we must get ready for Ada. They will be much tougher.”

Gaylon Burris not only lead the team in scoring on Saturday by returning two of his three interceptions for touchdowns, but he lead the whole team in scoring for the season with 24 points. Howard, Money, Taylor, Terrance Burris, Johnson, Linzsey, and Langner all had one touchdown each and Jobe made 6 of the 9 extra points. Clay Taylor and Marcus Farmer combined for 5  tackles and 4 sacks. Chuck Burton made 5 tackles.

The Outlaws will not play during the Easter weekend, but will return on April 18th to face the undefeated Ada Blitz. The game will be played at East Tulsa Sports Complex with kickoff scheduled for 5pm. Tickets are $5 at the gate and children 12 and under get in free. More information can be found at www.StillwaterOutlaws.com