Buffaloes' season ends with loss to Eagles

McAlester's 2023 football season came to a close with a 45-16 defeat to Del City on Friday. The Buffaloes had already been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention and were without starting quarterback Brody Parker and lineman Langston Weger due to injuries. Despite these setbacks, McAlester remained determined to compete.

Grant Mullins connected with Brandon Smith for a 45-yard touchdown pass, leading to a halftime score of 35-8. McAlester opted to go for a two-point conversion, which Trevin Simons converted to make it 35-6 at halftime. The Buffaloes managed to score one more touchdown late in the fourth quarter, settling for a final score of 45-16.

Coach Jeff Craig explained that the team decided to go for two-point conversions to utilize the plays they had practiced all season. Del City's strong offense, particularly in passing, contributed to the Buffaloes' loss, amassing 342 passing yards. McAlester's defense struggled with coverage mistakes, missing opportunities to secure plays.

The Buffaloes finished the season with a 4-6 overall and 3-4 district record, just outside the playoff picture. They finished as the fifth seed in the district, with two teams below them, Sapulpa and Coweta, having a 5-2 district record. McAlester had a narrow chance to beat Coweta at home in the final seconds of the game, but it was blocked, resulting in a 29-28 loss for Sapulpa.

Sapulpa won against McAlester 34-14, a game which was closer than the score suggested. Despite missing out on the playoffs for the first time since 2018, McAlester coach Craig expressed disappointment over the season, lamenting how many chances the team had to flip the season and make a playoff run like they did the previous year.