OUTLAWS WIN METRO BOWL

The Stillwater Outlaws beat the Oklahoma Maddogs 45-14 in Metro Bowl II, the championship game of the Oklahoma Metro Football League. The Outlaws finish their season 11-0 and the Maddogs end up 9-3. The second year team made their second consecutive appearance in the championship game. Last year they suffered a disappointing loss 28-21.

The Outlaws dominate running offense got the game started by marching 88 yards down the field and taking over seven minutes off the clock. The drive was capped with Terrance Burris scoring the first touchdown of the game on a 1 yard run. Jake Jobe converted the extra point kick to give the Outlaws the lead 7-0. Early in the second quarter, the Outlaws marched 64 yards and capped off a drive with a 23 yard run by Santhony Linzsey. Jobe tacked on another PAT to widen the lead 14-0.

The Outlaw defense was equally as dominate in the first half. After allowing the Maddogs only 3 yards on their first three processions, Trae Stanton picked off a pass and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown. Another PAT by Jobe widened the lead 21-0.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock in the first half, the kicking team rushed on to the field and Jobe made a 37 yard field goal to extend the lead 24-0. The Maddogs ended the first half with negative  yards, no first downs, and committed one turnover which was returned for a touchdown. The Outlaws finished the first half with 219 yards of offense.

The second half started out strong for the defense as they held the Maddogs to negative 4 yards on their first procession. Their second procession resulted in another interception by Stanton who returned it 35 yards for a second defensive score. The PAT by Jobe extended the lead 31-0.
The Maddogs did get on the board in the third quarter with a 45 yard pass by the Maddogs. A successful 2-point conversion cut the lead 31-8. On the following procession the Maddogs picked up a first down for the first time with 6:35 left in the 3rd quarter. 15 seconds into the 4th quarter they were again able to reach the endzone and cut the outlaws lead 31-14.

Special team standout and league co-MVP Gaylon Burris returned the ensuing kickoff 71 yards for a touchdown. It was the first kickoff returned for a touchdown by the Outlaws in team history. Another PAT by Jobe made the score 38-14.
The Maddogs were able to move the ball during the 4th quarter and keep the Outlaws offense off the field. However, late in the 4th quarter the Maddogs threw another interception to Stanton who returned the ball to mid-field. On their next procession, Linzsey came in for 2 plays at cornerback and was able to get an interception and return it 55 yards for another defensive score. The PAT by Jobe finished the scoring at 45-14.

“I’m proud of all these players and coaches who have worked so hard to make this happen,” said Matthew Jones, general manager of the Outlaws. “We have been at this every weekend since December and when you win the championship… that makes it all worth it.”

The Outlaws were limited to only 76 yards of offense in the second half. The Maddogs were successful in keeping them off the field by throwing 3 interceptions and allowing a kickoff return for a touchdown. At the end of the night, Trae Stanton was named MVP of Metro Bowl II for his contributions on defense of 3 interceptions with 2 of them being returned for touchdowns.

 “It was a great way to end an exciting year,” said head coach Karey Jones. “Last year Coach Tabbish told the team ‘we’re not here to win games, we’re here to win championship’ and it was nice to see us get it done. I’m looking forward to this championship helping us recruit more players from all over the State – guys that want to play for a team like this one!”