Following a dramatic two-minute rally to take the lead over rival McAlester with just 47 seconds remaining it looked like the Durant Lions had an upset of the Top 10 ranked Buffaloes right within their grasp last Friday night.
Jubilation turned to heartache in a matter of moments, however, as the host Buffaloes threw a swing pass on the very next play from scrimmage, broke four tackles in a zig-zag 80-yard touchdown to snatch a 21-15 victory from the jaws of defeat in the waning seconds.
The Lions fell to 2-7 on the season and will close out the campaign this Friday night back home against Tulsa Bishop Kelley for a 7 p.m. Senior Night finale.
A 78-yard run earlier in the final stanza set up McAlester’s only other second half score. Those two plays netted 158 of the Buffaloes’ 252 yards in the contest as the Durant defense yielded only 94 total yards on the other 37 plays from scrimmage.
After a scoreless first stanza, McAlester took the initial lead of the contest midway through the second quarter in spite of managing only 36 yards before halftime.
A Buff interception and return deep into Durant territory set up a two-yard scoring run on the very next play and 7-0 edge.
Shajen Davis answered for the Lions in returning the ensuing kickoff 43 yards to midfield. From there Cole Robbins connected on three passes and eventually ran it the final eight yards into the end zone just 42 prior to intermission. Otto Baskin’s extra point knotted the score at the break.
With McAlester threatening midway through the third period with its best sustained drive of the night, Ryder Jones stepped in front of a Buff receiver for an interception and returned it 25 yards out of harm’s way.
That Durant possession moved into McAlester territory, as did the next, before each stalled and finished with no points.
Following a fourth down defensive stand at the Lion 42, Durant took over with only 2:11 remaining on the clock.
Robbins kept the drive alive with a 12-yard strike to Holdan Robinson on fourth and long and he connected with Stephen Manhard on the very next play to advance to the Buff 35.
Two plays later the Durant quarterback found Jayden Rangel in the end zone as he outfought a McAlester player for the scoring pass with less than a minute remaining. Durant then went for a two-point conversion to take the lead with Robbins hitting Jones with a pass.
The Lion faithful were still in celebration mode when McAlester countered with the decisive play.
Robbins had one final chance, hitting Rangel with a 31-yard strike that got them to the Buff 39 but that’s as close as they came.
The Durant QB carried 21 times for 92 yards and added 156 yards passing on 17 of 31. Jones had four catches for 38 yards with Rangel snagging the two for 66 yards.