First Victory Since Tragedy: Choctaw Yellowjackets Soar Over Westmoore

Choctaw High School had a big win Thursday night against Westmoore High School. This is the Yellowjacket's first game since a teenager was shot and killed at a football game between Choctaw and Del City High School two weeks ago.

“If you ever been to a game in Choctaw it's different out here. We have the best atmosphere that you could ever ask for,” Choctaw High School Football Coach Jake Corbin said.

Corbin said they might've been playing in Moore, but the energy was still electric. The Choctaw Yellowjackets beat the Westmoore Jaguars 29-10.

“Last night was maybe more special,” Corbin said.

This win comes after a deadly shooting two weeks ago. It happened during Choctaw's first game.

“All of our players and staff just immediately evacuated the field,” Corbin said. “Players immediately went into rescuing cheerleaders' acts of bravery that I’ll never forget with our players.”

Superintendent David Reid said they did the work to get to this victory.

“The first few days were making sure that everybody was emotionally and psychologically back and getting the help they needed through counseling,” Reid said.

He said it's important to bring back a sense of normalcy.

“It was healing to get back on the field,” Reid said.

“The overwhelming response from our football team is we want to go play football,” Corbin said.

But, things won't be going back to normal completely.

“These are weapon detection systems,” Reid said.

There's going to be more restrictions and security.

“It will also alert an SRO who will be at the game on their cell phone, and it will let the SRO know if something goes through the system that's not supposed to be in it such as a gun, a knife,” Reid said.

All of this will be implemented for their first full home game.

“We believe in gratitude, ownership, leadership, discipline,” said Corbin. “These guys have been wanting to grow up and be yellowjackets and put on a gold helmet since they were little kids. It's finally their turn.” 

“The Yellowjackets said Thursday’s game was supposed to be their homecoming game, but they moved it to the end of the month. They're looking forward to filling their stadium on September 28th.”