Published: November 28, 2009 07:58 am      

Wildcats advance to championship game

A punishing running attack lifted the Seiling Wildcats to a 35-6 win over Forgan in the Class C football semifinals at Boomer Stadium Friday night.

Casey Cook, Jordan Nelson and Zach McDonald all scored rushing touchdowns as the Wildcats improved to 12-1 and reached their first 8-man championship game.

Seiling will play undefeated Timberlake next weekend at a site and time to be determined. Timberlake downed Deer Creek-Lamont 52-14 in the other semifinal.

The Wildcats also used some opportunistic defense in the game, forcing four turnovers and scoring directly on one when McDonald grabbed a loose ball in the air and went 40 yards for a touchdown.

That play gave Seiling a 28-6 lead and likely sealed Forgan’s fate.

Offensively, Seiling piked up 333 yards, 315 on the ground.

Cook had 130 yards on 15 carries and Nelson picked up 154 yards on 13 attempts.

Outside of one long touchdown pass, Forgan had problems moving the ball with any consistency.

The Bulldogs were trying to get to the state finals for the first time since 2002 when they lost to Pond Creek-Hunter. Forgan finishes its season 8-5.

Seiling never trailed, going 65 yards in 7 plays on its initial possession to take an 8-0 lead.

Cook got the last 35 yards with a powerful run, breaking at least three tackles along the way.

Cook added the conversion to make it 8-0.

Forgan countered after recovering a Wildcat fumble near midfield.

Rhett Radcliff hit twin-brother Ryan Radcliff on a 46-yard touchdown play to make it 8-6. The conversion failed.

After an exchange of punts, Seiling went 87 yards in 11 plays for a 14-6 lead.

Nelson’s 35-yard run was the big play to get the march started, then he had a 16-yard run on third and six to the 15. Three plays later McDonald followed a big offensive line surge into the end zone on a quarterback sneak.

Nelson’s interception halted Forgan’s next drive.

A penalty during the return put the Wildcats ad their 33-yard line to start.

They covered the 67 yards in 12 plays and McDonald scored with just 19 seconds left before halftime.

Down 22-6, Forgan had the ball to start the third period and picked up two quick first downs before disaster hit as a fumble went right to McDonald who sprinted 40 yards for the touchdown.

Nelson got Seiling’s final score on a 47-yard run and Michael Draper kicked the extra point for the 35-6 final.

In the Class A playoffs on Friday, District 1 powers Hennessey and Oklahoma Bible Academy advanced with wins over Talihina and Salina. Watonga was eliminated by Tonkawa 19-7 and Cashion fell to Stround.

Kingfisher moved on in Class 2A, defeating Sperry 35-14.