Tipton captures Class C title as backfield tandem grounds down Waynoka, 62-36

Dynamic senior duo helps deliver program’s eighth state championship

By Glen Brockenbush 

BETHANY - The combination of Prince Dweh and Dakota Sheffield has been a daunting duo for Tipton’s opponents to deal with for the past three seasons.

And they saved perhaps their most impressive performance for last.

In their final high school game - the Class C state championship - the Tigers’ backfield duo bloodied and bludgeoned a stout Waynoka defense, combining for 454 total yards and seven of Tipton’s eight touchdowns in a 62-36 victory at Southern Nazarene University. It marks the eighth state championship in Tipton’s illustrious history, and fifth under head coach Travis White.

“We’ve been working together as a team for this, together from freshman (year) to now,” Dweh said. “I’m kind of speechless, I don’t really know what to say."

In the first half, Dweh put on a show. The 6-foot, 225-pound senior back went for a 68-yard touchdown on the Tigers’ first offensive play of the game, setting the tone for the night - and for a high-flying first quarter.

Waynoka eventually took a slim 8-6 lead when Jace Dunn took a Teegun Allison screen pass 49 yards for the score. But that lasted all of 19 seconds, as Dweh made a 52-yard house call, giving the Tigers a 12-8 advantage.

After Tipton forced a three-and-out, it was Dweh again who hit paydirt, this time from 34 yards out. It was then Waynoka’s turn to have a one-play drive, with an 80-yard run by Landon Seiger.

By the time the first quarter was over, the score was 18-14 and 45 minutes had passed since the game kicked off.

Dweh was at it once again in the second quarter, breaking free for a 62-yard run, his fourth touchdown in barely 20 minutes of game time.

By that point, more than half of his carries had resulted in touchdowns (4-of-7). The 26-14 score would remain intact by halftime.

Dweh would finish the first half with 222 yards on nine carries. While it seemed like he might be on his way to smashing some title game records, his health began to come into play, as White said he was “a little banged up."

Dweh would carry the ball just two more times and play mostly on defense the rest of the night. But the train didn’t stop.

Sheffield, with the exception of one 37-yard run, was largely quiet in the first half, with his other nine touches netting just 17 yards. His coaches told him to be patient, that things would open up for him.

“I just couldn’t give up. I had to hold myself accountable,” Sheffield said. “Everybody plays as a team, we had to work together and that’s what happened.”

Not to be outdone by his backfield mate, Sheffield delivered his own first-play touchdown to begin the second half, chugging 67 yards downfield to put the Tigers up by 20.

After forcing a turnover on downs, Tipton got the ball back. Once again, it took just one play, as quarterback Dallas Chandler found Brayden Fancher open for a 59-yard score.

The Railroaders would need just two plays to answer, scoring on an Allison pass to Landon Seiger for 67 yards, making it 40-22. But that 18-point margin was as close as Waynoka got the rest of the night.

Despite Tipton appearing to be in trouble on its next drive, facing third-and-22, Sheffield came to the rescue, catching a pass from Chandler and going the rest of the way for a 55-yard score.

Waynoka began the fourth quarter with a flourish, as Allison found Dunn, who made a diving catch in the end zone for a 39-yard touchdown. Tipton snuffed out the two-point attempt, keeping the score at 46-28.

But the Tipton run game continued to impose its will on the Railroaders, with back-to-back runs from Sheffield and Dweh picking up a total of 38 yards, putting them at the Waynoka 5. Two plays later, Sheffield rumbled in for his third touchdown of the half.

On the night, Sheffield finished with 162 rushing yards and two touchdowns, as well as the 55-yard touchdown catch.

Dweh would finish with 234 rushing yards. And even though Dweh wasn’t on the field for most of the offensive plays in the second half, he said watching his teammate and best friend score those touchdowns was every bit as sweet.

“Seeing (Sheffield) carry the ball and make touchdowns, that made me happy,” Dweh said. “Seeing the team get hyped together, that made me happy.”

Similarly, Sheffield said his greatest memories of the title-winning season will revolve around the relationships he built, specifically with his running mate.

“Me and Prince have been together forever,” Sheffield said. “He’s my best friend, my partner in crime and we’ve just been dominant.

"That’s my best friend, I just love him.”

Although Dweh and Sheffield had been the focal points for the Tigers for most of the past three seasons, White lauded all his players, especially the seniors, who contributed on Friday night.

Despite a slow start, quarterback Dallas Chandler threw long touchdowns late, while delivering some stinging hits from the secondary. Maxx Babcock made some crucial tackles on defense, while blocking consistently for the run game.

“It was a team win, and if you’re going to be a team like Waynoka, (who has) great coaches and great players, it takes everybody,” White said. “There’s times early, it was rough. And we’re used to blowing people out.

"But our guys just stayed laser-focused and I’m really happy with them.”

One player who maybe wanted a ring as much as anyone was Dallas Chandler. And nobody wanted it for him more than his older brother, Lane, who quarterbacked the Tigers to state championships in 2017 and 2018, and joined the Tipton coaching staff this year, focusing on helping his brother.

Having seen his brother win two titles set a standard for Dallas. He and the Tigers didn’t win titles over the past two years as they competed in Class B.

But on the biggest of nights, Chandler delivered. And he got to do with family on the sideline.

“I’ve always dreamed of playing with my brother when I was younger. But I didn’t get to win one with him, which was unfortunate (the two were both on the 2019 team that lost in the semifinals to Waynoka),” Chandler said. “But him working with us, and us winning together, it’s crazy, it’s a great achievement.”

Tipton completes a perfect 14-0 season, and moves into a tie for 11th place all time in state championships for Oklahoma high school football programs. Two other teams (Heritage Hall and Bixby) also won their eighth titles this week.