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    • Newcastle upset Pryor to advance to the 5A semifinals
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    Newcastle upset Pryor to advance to the 5A semifinals

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    NEWCASTLE – Kaden Longman sat in the shade, his eyes on Pryor quarterback Braden Ward.

    Newcastle’s star defender knew the moment was coming; all he had to do was read the signs.

    As Ward dropped back to pass in the waning moments of the Class 5A quarterfinals, Longman scanned the receiver’s stance. A quick glance at his feet told Longman all he needed to know.

    “A receiver’s alignment will often give away the telltale signs,” Longman said after Newcastle’s 38-37 win over Pryor in the Class 5A high school quarterfinals in Oklahoma.

    With the game on the line and Pryor on his way to what could have been a winning score, he made his move.

    Longman anticipated the throw, stepped in front of the receiver and intercepted the pass. His 30-yard return put Newcastle into enemy territory and sealed the victory.

    The Racers are headed to their first state semifinal since 2004.

    “We were in Cover 5 and I saw the seam route developing,” Longman recalled. “When I saw the quarterback staring at his receiver, I jumped for the ball. We’ve been studying film all week and we knew it was coming. That was probably the biggest play of my life so far.”

    That interception was not only the most pivotal moment of Longman’s career; it was the decisive game of the season for Newcastle.

    The match was a rollercoaster of emotions with five lead changes in the second half. Ward turned in a monster performance for Pryor, accounting for all five of his team’s touchdowns. The junior quarterback threw for 400 yards on 23 of 35 passes and scored four touchdowns.

    But Newcastle’s attack was equally explosive. Longman played a starring role on that side of the ball, catching six passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

    Quarterback Jackson Schanuel also had a standout performance, completing 77% of his passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns. Schanuel added 48 rushing yards and two more scores, leading the Racers to their eighth straight win.

    “We’ve been in those back-and-forth situations again and again this year, so I wasn’t surprised at all to see us do it again,” Schanuel said.

    “This team is strong. We fight for everything and stick together. We shocked everyone that we made it this far, and we’re good enough to keep this thing going.”

    Two months ago, a state semi-final appearance seemed like a distant dream for Newcastle.

    The Racers started the season 0-3, including three straight losses to top-tier 4A programs in Tuttle, Blanchard and Elgin. In September, the locker room was filled with doubt and postseason ambitions seemed far from attainable.

    But then came a turning point. A three-game win streak in mid-October reinvigorated the team, culminating in a crucial Week 7 win over Lawton MacArthur.

    “That win really changed the momentum,” Longman said. “We all knew after that game that we could do something special. We still have a lot to achieve, but once you get that feeling, you just know.”

    Newcastle have a week off before taking part in the highly anticipated semi-final against Guthrie on December 6.

    For eighth-year head coach Jeff Brickman, the trip was a dream realized in the program’s first season in 5A. With momentum on their side and a clear goal in sight, Newcastle are set for their most important play-off run in decades.

    The Racers aren’t just chasing a semifinal win, they’re chasing history.

    “The grit and resilience these guys have shown all year never ceases to amaze me,” Brickman said. “So of course it was no surprise that we came back to win tonight. I’ve coached a lot of teams, but there’s just something about this group that’s different. The camaraderie between our players and coaches here is extraordinary.”

    Jordan Davis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Do you have a story idea for Jordan? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @jdavis34_. For more high school coverage, sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter. Support Jordan’s work and that of other Oklahoma journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at Subscribe.oklahoman.com

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