Stilwell Football: a Seventy Nine Year History
By Gregg W. Stilwell
Part Five : The End of a Century, The Beginning of a New Era
According to pre-season prognosticators the final high school football campaign of the 20th Century was supposed to be a forgettable one for Stilwell. Coming off a 1-9 record in 1999, the Indians were picked to finish last in the eight-team District 4A-3 by both the states major daily newspapers.

First year head coach Jeff Streun knew more about the talent on hand than the so-called experts however and boldly proclaimed in the Stilwell Democrat-Journal 2000 football preview "We will be disappointed if we don't make the playoffs."

The one-two punch of defending Class 4A state runner-up Fort Gibson and eventual 2000 state runner-up Sallisaw in the season's first two weeks left the Indians with an 0-2 record. Three turnovers staked Fort Gibson to a 21-0 first period lead as the Tigers coasted to a 35-8 victory, despite a school record 20 tackle night by Senior linebacker Steven Skoch. Sallisaw's Josh Simmons rushed for 116 yards and four touchdowns in the Black Diamonds 35-7 victory in week two.

The Indians would rebound the next week defeating Class 3A #5 ranked Muldrow 25-19 at Bulldog Field. Junior Quarterback Justin Latta completed 8 of 13 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns, the most passing yards by a Stilwell QB in a winning effort since 1970. Senior tailback Kyle Williams had 102 yards and two scores, but the Bulldogs stayed in the game until Skoch sacked Muldrow quarterback Coy Morgan on fourth down at the Indian 23 in the games final seconds.

The Indians opened District 4A-3 play by traveling to Oologah. Head coach Rocky Kime had guaranteed a victory for his struggling Mustangs "...against a weak Stilwell team.", but a 141-yard, two touchdown performance by Williams powered the Indians to a 20-0 victory.

A pair of fumbles on the Miami one yard line proved costly the next week in a heartbreaking 7-6 loss at Robertson Field. The Wardogs marched 99 yards in the closing minutes to pull out the victory. The loss to Miami would eventually cost the Indians the district championship.

The Indians returned home to face 5-0 #4 ranked Collinsville on Homecoming night at Bradley Park. Stilwell bolted out to a 7-0 lead on a 75 yard scoring run by Williams just 1:17 into the game. The Indians defense outplayed their much heralded counterparts, forcing five turnovers on the night. When Senior Matt Scraper recovered a Corey Ryder fumble with :19 seconds left in the game the Indians began celebrating a 14-6 victory.

The defense had to switch from a running to a passing mode the following week when they traveled to Grove to face one of the state's top quarterbacks, Joe Ferguson. Senior Wes Bigfeather had three sacks and the offense rolled up 254 yards on the ground as the Indians jumped to a 25-6 lead before surviving a late Ridgerunner rally for a 25-20 win.

Skiatook was the fourth top five-ranked team to visit Bradley Park. The Bulldogs led 17-7 in the third period before "Indian Magic" took over. A short touchdown run by Williams cut the deficit to 17-14, then, with 4:02 left in the game, Latta connected with Junior Adam Carter on a 51 yard touchdown bomb that put the Indians in front 20-17. Carter preserved the win a few minutes later with an interception at the 1:25 mark.

The win moved Stilwell into sole possession of first place in 4A-3, but not for long. A 28-6 upset loss at Jay sent the Indians into the final week of the season unsure of a playoff berth.

The Indians had to defeat Pryor at Bradley Park in a pouring rain storm to win a trip to the post season, and with a little help, they could also earn a home playoff berth. Scoring runs of 51 and 14 yards by Williams moved the home team ahead 17-8 at halftime before the field became a sea of mud. The Tigers would cut into the lead, but Frank Catron would block a potential game-tying field goal to preserve the victory. The win coupled with a Jay loss at Miami secured the District 4A-3 runner-up spot for Streun's Indians.

Stilwell would play their first home playoff contest since 1989 against Okmulgee the following week, but lost a defensive struggle to the Bulldogs 7-0 to close at 6-5.