Muskogee edges Stillwater to capture Oklahoma 6AII state championship (12/1/2023)

Roughers claim first gold ball since 1986 after stopping Pioneers on late 2-point conversion try

A rematch of both teams' regular season finale was on tap for Friday afternoon's Oklahoma Class 6AII state championship game.

Stillwater, the defending 6AII state champions, defeated Muskogee in that Week 10 finale on Nov. 3. But in Friday's rematch, the Roughers got revenge.

Behind four total touchdowns by quarterback Jamarian Ficklin and a late stop on a potential game-tying two-point conversion try, Muskogee defeated Stillwater, 28-26, at Chad Richison Stadium in Edmond.

Friday's win gave Muskogee its first state championship since 1986.

Oklahoma Class 6AII state championship preview: Familiar district rivals Stillwater, Muskogee square off 

Below is our Live Update Feed created as the contest progresses. Read from the bottom up to follow from the beginning and refresh often for the latest updates throughout the game.

FINAL: MUSKOGEE 28, STILLWATER 26

POSTGAME

-- Muskogee wins its first state title since 1986 with a 28-26 win against defending 6AII state champion Stillwater.

-- Muskogee had 325 yards of total offense, while the Pioneers finished with 378.

FOURTH QUARTER

-- Muskogee recovers the onside kick, and the Roughers will run out the clock and win their first state title since 1986.

-- Muskogee stops Stillwater short of the end zone on the two-point try. Roughers still up by two with 20 seconds left. Onside kick coming.

-- Stillwater scores a touchdown with 20 seconds left on Holden Thompson's 2-yard run. The Pioneers now need to convert the two-point conversion to tie the score.

-- Stillwater now has the ball at the Muskogee 6 with 32 seconds remaining.

-- With 1:17 left, Stillwater has a first down at the Muskogee 27.

-- Stillwater moves the ball to midfield with under three minutes left.

-- Stillwater gets a huge break as the Pioneers force a fumble, with Trace Clark making the recovery at his own 23 with 3:41 left after a drive in which Muskogee held the ball for about seven minutes.

-- Muskogee is inside the Stillwater 20 with five minutes left, seeking to get a possible game-clinching score.

-- Muskogee quarterback Jamarian Ficklin completes a pass to Kayden McGee, and a personal foul penalty on Stillwater gives the Roughers a first down in Pioneers' territory.

-- Stillwater faced another fourth-down near the Muskogee 10, and had converted its previous four fourth-down tries. But this time, the Roughers make the stop and take over with the lead with 10:16 remaining.

-- Stillwater converted on fourth down on the first play of the fourth to keep the drive going.

THIRD QUARTER

-- The third quarter comes to an end with Stillwater facing a fourth-and-1 at the Muskogee 17. The Pioneers have out-gained the Roughers, 293-265.

-- Jamarian Ficklin is having a game so far for Muskogee. He has a hat trick in rushing touchdowns now, the latest a 2-yard keeper as the Roughers build an eight-point lead with 3:24 left in the third. Ficklin has accounted for all four Rougher TDs.

-- Stillwater gets its third touchdown, as Talon Kendrick runs it in from a yard out. However, the extra-point is missed, keeping the Roughers in the lead with 6:56 left in the third. Kendrick has all three Pioneer TDs thus far.

-- Stillwater converts on a fourth-down play near midfield, and the Pioneers have the ball near the Muskogee 40.

-- Muskogee takes the second-half kickoff and goes down to score. Jamarian Ficklin ran it in from 19 yards out, and now has two TDs rushing to go with a passing TD. Roughers back in front, 21-14, with 9:25 left in the third.

-- The second half is about to start. Muskogee will be on offense to start the second half.

HALFTIME

-- Stillwater tailback Holden Thompson has rushed for 67 yards on 14 carries. Quarterback Chance Acord has completed 8-of-10 passes for 50 yards and a TD. Talon Kendrick has a TD rushing and a TD receiving.

-- Muskogee quarterback Jamarian Ficklin is 5-of-6 passing for 75 yards and a TD and has also rushed 14 times for 52 yards.

-- In the first half, Stillwater ran 34 offensive plays and generated 171 total yards. Muskogee has run 29 offensive plays for 146 yards, with the Roughers running for 71 yards and passing for 75 more.

-- Halftime, Muskogee and Stillwater are tied up at 14-all.

SECOND QUARTER

-- Stillwater ties up the game with 12 seconds left in the first half as quarterback Chance Acord hooks up with Oklahoma State commit Talon Kendrick from 13 yards out, as the Pioneers completed a 75-yard drive.

-- Muskogee appeared to come up with a big stop as Anthony White intercepted a pass, but it was nullified due to a penalty. Stillwater now has the ball inside the Roughers' 15.

-- Pioneers putting together a last-chance drive before the half, as Stillwater has reached the Muskogee 25-yard line.

-- Muskogee regains the lead, as Jamarian Ficklin throws a 25-yard TD strike to Ondraye Beasley, as the Roughers finish off an 11-play 77-yard drive with 1:38 remaining in the first half.

-- Roughers are putting together a drive late in the first half, as they have the ball at the Stillwater 25.

-- Muskogee goes three-and-out, and will punt the ball back to the Pioneers.

-- The Pioneers tie things up, completing a 13-play 84-yard drive with an 18-yard sweep to the end zone from Talon Kendrick. The PAT evens things up at 7-all with 11:02 left until halftime.

FIRST QUARTER

-- The first quarter comes to an end with Muskogee leading, 7-0. The Roughers had 69 total yards that quarter, while the Pioneers had 46.

-- Muskogee appeared to force Stillwater to punt it again. But the Pioneers execute a successful fake punt, as Tan Booth runs it up the middle for a first down to the Rougher 35.

-- Muskogee goes 48 yards in seven plays for the game's opening points. Quarterback Jamarian Ficklin finishes off the drive with a 1-yard sneak for the touchdown. Roughers add the PAT for a 7-0 lead with 3:17 left in the first.

-- Muskogee's defense forces its second straight three-and-out, and the Roughers will get the ball in great field position near midfield.

-- Muskogee is also forced to punt on its first series, and the Pioneers get the ball back deep in their own territory.

-- Stillwater took the opening kickoff but went three-and-out on offense. The Roughers start their first drive near their own 25-yard line.

PREGAME

-- Cloudy, overcast skies right now in Edmond. But unlike Thursday night's 4A title game, the 6AII championship contest should be kicking off on time.

-- After winning its first state title since 1967 last season, the Pioneers now look to repeat as 6AII champs. Muskogee, meanwhile, wants to break a title drought of its own, as the Roughers haven't won the gold ball since 1986.

Photo by Michael Kinney

-- Buck Ringgold | buck@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveOK