Outlaws Homecoming brings success

Homecoming for the Outlaws was the game that Marlow fans cheered and smiled, start to end. It was also the first win on their home turf this season. It was the win that the Outlaws needed for their homecoming game against Oklahoma City’s Douglass team Thursday. They battled hard to get that 48-0 score, with Douglass pushing back through the entire game.

“We are excited to finally get a win at home,” Coach Matt Weber said. “Douglass brought a talented football team here Thursday night. We were able to keep them out of the end zone and our offense put the game out of reach the first half.”

This win puts Marlow, 5-2 overall, and 3-1 in district. It also knocked Douglass to 2-5 and 0-4 in the district.

Marlow’s Lane Jones scored the first touchdown for the Outlaws, 6-0, with 9:11 left in the first quarter. Keeping that momentum, Avrey Payne caught the 45-yard pass with 8:49 remaining in the first quarter, edging the score to 13-0.

Senior Brian Zhang finished a drive with a 1-yard run, and Cade Gilbert added a successful kick, for a 20-0 score for the Outlaws with 11:58 to go in the 2nd.

Weber was pleased with his team’s defensive line in chasing the football. That allowed the Outlaws to have two goal-line stands.

“On offense, we were able to run and throw with great balance.”

Grabbing attention during the game was Cade Gilbert throwing 298 yards, with 8 of 9 passing, no interceptions. The Outlaws were already up to 27-0 thanks to Jones 30-yard run and a kick from Gilbert with 6:02 in the 2nd quarter; and a pass to Gage, along with a kick from Gilbert bumped them up to 34-0, with 2 seconds remaining, in the same quarter.

Zhang landed on the sidelines with an ankle injury in Thursday’s game. Weber said it is unknown when he will be available.

“Brian is a kid who has waited his turn and worked extremely hard in preparation for the season. He will continue to be a respected leader on our football team.”

Marlow’s biggest challenges face them in the upcoming three games, which are all set against playoff contenders – Sulphur, Plainview and Heritage Hall.

Going into this week, the Outlaws return to their own battleground, against Sulphur, Friday.

“Sulphur brings a big, physical football team to town,” Weber said. “Sulphur has always been known to play hard-nosed football since Jim Dixon (a Marlow graduate) started that tradition in the mid-‘70s. We will have to be able to stop a great running team that also has the ability to beat you over the top.”

Marlow Scoring Summary

Marlow 13; 21; 14, 0, for final 48; Douglass 0 across the board.

9:11 1st – Lane Jones 1 run (kick failed) Marlow 6-0

8:49 1st– Avrey Payne 45 pass from Cade Gilbert (Gilbert kick) 13-0

11:58 2nd -Brian Zhang 1 run (Gilbert kick) 20-0

6:02 2nd – Jones 30 run (Gilbert kick) 27-0

0:02 2nd – Barron Gage 15 pass from Gilbert (Gilbert kick) 34-0

10:43 3rd – King Harrison 16 run (Gilbert kick) 41-0

0:00 3rd - Blayd Harris 10 run (Gilbert kick) 48-0

Individual Stats

Gilbert – Comp 8 Att 9 Yards 298 TD 2; 1 and 3 third downs

Payne – 0 and 1 fourth downs

Rushing Total ATT 31/ Yards 182

Gilbert 9/64; Zhang 4/10/1TD; Jones 7/57/2TD; Harrison 5/36/1TD; Jonathan Brite 3/13; Harris 3/2/1TD; Payne 0/0; Clayton Robinson 0/0; Cody Weber 0/0

Receiving Total 8 and 298 Yards

Payne 3/185/1TD; Gage 4/110/1TD; Weber 1/3; Zhang 0/0; Jones 0/0; Cole Pettit 0/0; Keller Kizarr 0/0; Ely Gray 0/0.

Marlow Douglass

15 First Downs 13

31/182 Rushes/Yds 26/9

298 Passing Yds 247

8/9/0 Comp/Att/Int. 23/28/1