By Kenton Brooks
Mike Easley bided his time last season, listening and watching Kyle Coleman quarterback the Checotah Wildcats. Then, Coleman graduated and it was his turn.
“Kyle was a good leader,” Easley said. “I’ve tried to pick up where he left off.”
Easley, a 6-foot-4, 175-pound junior, has lifted the Wildcats to a different kind of heights with his passing. While Coleman was more of a runner, Easley fills the air, just like he did this past Friday night.
He completed all but three of his passes (17 of 20) for 270 yards and three touchdowns —all in the first half — in the 50-13 win at Hugo to help the Wildcats clinch third place out of District 3A-4
Easley receives the season’s final Player of the Week honor for his performance.
After Coleman led Checotah to its first district title in 50 years last year, coach Brandon Turley didn’t put any pressure on Easley coming into this season.
“The main thing is I didn’t want him to worry about being Kyle,” Turley said. “They’re a different type of quarterback. I knew going into this season that Mike was going to be the guy for us. Over the last three weeks, he’s done a good job at picking up his receivers and growing into his own at the position.”
Easley led the Wildcats to their first back-to-back playoff appearance since the 1994-95 seasons. Also, he has grown in maturity, gaining the experience with each game he plays.
“It’s been a great year and a lot of fun,” he said. “I knew it would be. I love to compete.”
Easley has completed 157 of 266 passes (59 percent) for 2,078 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. He has thrown only 11 interceptions.
In the win against Hugo, he didn’t throw any interceptions.
“(Some) of those incompletions were actually dropped balls or he would’ve been 19 of 20,” Turley said. “One of our assistant coaches said it best, that Mike was making all his reads. If he didn’t see the No. 1 receiver open, he went to No. 2 and so on. Mike knew what he wanted to before we as coaches knew what we wanted.”
Easley credits his receivers (Dexter Reeves, Austin Baker, Clint Newell, Ryan Goad and Keifer Williams) for his success this season.
“It’s nice to have receivers who can turn a five-yard hitch pass into a 60-yard touchdown,” the quarterback said. “I’m seeing the open guy but the receivers are doing a good job for getting off their coverages and getting open for me. The receivers are pretty good.”
Easley has a chance to throw more passes as the Wildcats, ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press poll last week, play at Berryhill in the opening round of the playoffs on Friday. No. 5 Berryhill is the runner-up from 3A-3.
Honor roll
Mitch Stevenson, Muskogee — Passed for four touchdowns (14-of-27, 268 yards) as Muskogee beat Memorial 45-13.
Kyler Harris, Muskogee — Ten catches, 129 yards and three TDs..
Victor Williams, Muskogee — Rushed five times for 105 yards and a touchdown.
Chris Carr, Checotah — Ran for 142 yards on 15 arries and scored four touchdowns on runs of 13, 5, 15 and 10 yards — in the first half — against Hugo.
Austin Baker, Checotah — Caught five pases for 91 yards and a 25-yard TD in the first half of the win over Hugo.
Ryker Salazar, Sequoyah — Scampered for 173 yards on 23 carries and scored touchdowns on runs of 3 and 1 yards in the 35-7 win over Colcord.
Rowdy Simon, Vian — Rushed for 159 yards on 15 carries, scoring twice in Vian’s 56-12 win over Chouteau.
Colby Ross, Vian — Had two interceptions.
Eric Ridgway, Porter — Six rushes for 101 yards, including a 90-yard run, in Porter’s 46-0 win over Oaks.
Marcus Bruner, Porter — Had a 25-yard reception for a TD and a 60-yard interception return.
Jake Hollingshead, Midway — Had four sacks in the 48-0 win over Claremore Christian.
Michael Campbell, Midway — Gained 115 yards on just nine carries and scored three times, including a TD pass catch, in the win over Claremore Christian.
Stoney Rodriguez, Midway — Ran for three touchdowns en route 96 yards rushing and passed for 48 yards and two more TDs in the win over Claremore Christian.
Kylar Welch, Keys — Scored four times, two rushing, one a 30-yard reception and another a 39-yard interception return in a 38-0 win over Westville.
Josh Cullom, Hilldale — 18 rushes for 104 yards in a 14-13 loss to Wagoner.
Dylan Farley, Hilldale — Had 25-yard interception return for a score.
Logan Andrews, Gore — 29 carries, 125 yards and threw for 73 yards in the Pirates’ 14-6 win over Savanna.
Colton Harris, Okay — Had a 90-yard kickoff return for the Mustangs’ only score in a 38-6 loss to Fairland.
