Carl Albert edges Ardmore for 3rd straight state championship

EDMOND — Each time a Carl Albert coach gave a 5-minute warning to the locker room, sophomore quarterback Ben Harris got nauseous.

Adrenaline and nerves combined with snacks were almost too much. Then he would settle down, only to go through the motions again and again and again.

He lost track of how many times that happened.

“Was it three delays?” Harris asked. “I was nervous. There were many times I wanted to throw up. A lot, a lot, a lot.”

On a night where No. 1 Carl Albert won its third straight Class 5A state championship with a 17-10 victory over No. 2 Ardmore, things got wacky at Edmond Santa Fe High School with three delays — two from weather and another due to light failure.

But the Titans remained focused to win a state-best 36th straight game and complete a second straight undefeated season.

“I’ve been doing this for 26 years and there’s been some craziness, but that was the craziest game I’ve ever been involved in just with all of the different stuff,” second-year Carl Albert head coach Mike Corley said. “Just unbelievable.”

The game was initially delayed nearly 90 minutes before kickoff as a storm passed over the stadium. Once the game kicked off, the Titans (14-0) took an early lead on their second offensive play when star senior running back Dadrion Taylor broke free for a 75-yard touchdown.

But minutes later, the teams were sent back to their locker rooms for another 63-minute weather delay.

“We were all hyped up and ready to go and then all of the momentum went down,” said Taylor, who rushed for 128 yards. “We had to come out and get hyped again.”

In the locker room, Taylor focused on keeping his teammates’ attention on the game. New plays were even developed.

Ardmore (13-1) still took control behind senior quarterback Tero Roberts’ legs. He scored on a 1-yard keeper and then after Harris threw an interception, Tigers senior kicker Raphael Interiano kicked a 36-yard field goal as time expired on the half for a 10-7 lead.

Harris responded with a 74-yard touchdown pass to Chris Veales in the third that put the Titans ahead for good. Harris finished 9 of 16 with a touchdown and an interception.

“He’s a stud,” Taylor said. “He’s going to be something to watch next year.”

But even the game’s decisive play needed some added drama.

Facing fourth-and-7 on Carl Albert’s 14 with 5:03 remaining, the lights throughout the stadium went out as part of an energy saver mode after being on for an extended period.

A 14-minute delay followed as the lights reset and fans attempted to light the field with their cell phones.

“I was like, ‘Oh god. Their offensive line gets another break?’” junior linebacker Reise Collier said. “They were already tired. It was hard.”

Carl Albert’s defense still delivered. Junior defensive end Alphonse Joseph sacked Roberts to seal the victory.

And finally, a wild night most realized likely would never be topped in their lifetime was able to end early Saturday morning with a celebration, the 14th for the program overall.

“I’m ranking it No. 1,” Taylor said holding the gold ball trophy.