Ponca City loses, but Hannaford sees progress

By Jason Kersey
jkersey@oklahoman.com

Ponca City lost a heart-breaker to Sand Springs Friday night, 21-19, in which the Wildcats roared back from a 21-7, fourth quarter deficit and missed what would have been a game-winning field goal in the final seconds.

Despite the loss, coach Bo Hannaford said he sees something in his team that it didn’t have last year: Perseverance.

“I was proud of (the team),” Hannaford said. “Last year, we would have folded when we were down. The kids rallied together and made the comeback.”

It was a true team effort, as 10 different Wildcat receivers caught passes from quarterback Adam Schiltz.

Schiltz finished the game 12-of-22 for 87 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

After taking an early 7-0 lead on an interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Rob Davis in the first quarter, the Wildcats gave up 21 consecutive points over the first three quarters. 

After clawing back into the game, sophomore kicker Brady Baird missed a field goal with about 20 seconds left in the game to seal the two-point loss.

* Linebacker Ben Harrison, who has been hampered with a foot injury, played Friday night and played well. He had seven tackles and a key interception that set up the Ponca City touchdown that brought the team within two points in the fourth quarter. Hannaford said he is still noticeably sore, but is getting better day by day.