Over the last decade, Roland has had a good feeling when the Rangers saw Heavener on the schedule.
The Rangers had won six straight games in the series since a 20-14 overtime loss against the Wolves in 2013.
In addition to going 6-0 in the series, Roland had a stretch of easy wins, outscoring Heavener by an average of 49.1 points to 11.5 points per game.
Overall, Roland held a 17-4-1 lead over Heavener in a series that dated back to 1970, but there has been a change over the last couple of years as the Rangers have struggled and Heavener has been on a renewal as Heavener went 7-4 last season, making the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
This year, Heavener entered Friday’s game 3-2 overall and 1-1 in District 2AII-3 play. Roland was 1-4 and 1-1 after a blowout loss to Kiefer last week with the lone win coming over a struggling Okmulgee team.
Heavener continued its recent success against the Rangers, building a comfortable lead early and downed Roland, 48-21, Heavener’s biggest win ever over the Rangers.
The Wolves (4-2, 2-1) built a 27-0 lead before Roland got on the scoreboard late in the third period on a 47-yard touchdown run by Trevor Lasiter.
Heavener scored two more times before the Rangers (1-5, 1-2) added scores on a 15-yard run by Nate Criswell and a 58-yard scoring run by Billy McElhaney against Heavener’s reserves. Both extra points were good to make the score 41-21 before Heavener quarterback Zaid Rodriguez added the final score with 32 seconds left on a 40-yard run.
Roland makes the long trip to Bethel High School near Shawnee for its next game at 7 p.m. Thursday.
• To Get There — Take Interstate 40 west to Oklahoma State Highway 102. Take Highway 102 south from Dale to Clearpond Road. Turn left to Bethel High School.
