Talihina wins state for second time

Talihina wins a state football championship for the second time Thursday as the Golden Tiigers defeated Hominy, 26-20, to win the Class A-II state title.

Talihina also won state in 1966. Poteau was the only other LeFlore County team to win state by beating Weatherford in 2019.

The win capped off a perfect 14-0 season for the Golden Tigers and avenged a loss in the state championship game to Woodland last season. Hominy finishes with an 11-3 record.

Watch video highlights HERE.

Talihina built a big lead, then had to hold off a late charge by the Bucks in the game played at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.

After stopping a Hominy drive and recovering a fumble at Talihina’s 8, the Tigers took the lead late in the first quarter on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Landen Griffith to Noah Lloyd.

The Tigers added another score early in the second quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by Griffith with the PAT coming up short, giving Talihina a 12-0 lead.

With only a couple of minutes left in the second quarter, Grifith teamed up with Cy Ammons on a 17-yard scoring throw to increase the lead to 18-0 after the PAT failed, leaving Talihina ahead, 18-0.

After a Hominy score, Griffith added a 1-yard touchdown run and completed the PAT pass to Lloyd for a 26-8 lead.

The Bucks added another scoring pass late in the third quarter to trim the deficit to 26-14.

After a Talihina fumble, Hominy recovered at the Tigers’ 30, the Bucks scored again and missed the PAT to pull within 26-20.

Hominy drove to Talihina’s 9 with a couple of minutes left before having to turn the ball over on downs.

Talihina was able to run the clock out, bringing the gold ball back to southern LeFlore County.