New Football Stadium Ready For Play In Beggs

By Dan Bewley, The News On 6

BEGGS, OK -- Football season kicks off in style in a small Okmulgee County town on Friday night.  Players and fans in Beggs are breaking in their brand new, multi-million dollar athletic complex with a game against Kellyville.

The new Golden Demon Stadium welcomes its first football game on Friday, thanks to a $2.8 million bond.  It features wireless scoreboards, a running track and brand new locker rooms complete with flat screen televisions.

"It's an awesome opportunity, I mean, not many schools get to be out on a field like this," said Beggs Football player Miles Yarnell. 

It's the field that has players talking because it is artificial.  It is the only one of its kind at a public school in Oklahoma's class 2A. 

"It's better on the legs," said Beggs Football player Miles Yarnell.

A year ago if it was raining on game day there might have been some concern, possibly even some talk of postponing the game, but not anymore, not with the artificial turf.

"We can get two inches of rain in an hour and fifteen minutes later it's bone dry," said Beggs Athletic Director Justin Norman.

One look at the old Demon Stadium and it's easy to see why everyone is so excited.  Its age is evident by the stone supported bleachers and weed infested field.  Coaches say the conditions made it hard to go to work.               

"The other place didn't have air conditioning.  It was hot.  You couldn't keep it clean," said Beggs Football Coach Bob Craig.

The team says all that's left is for the season to live up to the standards set by their new home.

"We're going to turn a lot of heads this year. We have great senior leadership and, I think, we're going to be top dogs in the district," said Beggs Football player Miles Yarnell.

School officials say the track is open for the public to exercise.