Warriors remain undefeated, mercy rule Arkoma thanks to seven TDS by Shelby

ARKOMA — It took a while, but once the Webbers Falls Warriors hit the warpath, they did so convincingly.

After leading by only two scores at halftime, the Warriors used a 34-point third quarter to mercy rule the homestanding Arkoma Mustangs by a score of 60-14 Thursday night at Mustang Field in a game that ended by the 45-point mercy rule with 3.1 seconds left in the third quarter.

It was a seventh heaven for Webbers Falls quarterback Maddux Shelby, who rushed for six touchdowns and had an interception return for a seventh TD. All total, the Warriors (3-0) scored nine touchdowns in the contest.

Leading 26-14 at the half, Shelby scored his fourth touchdown with 10:34 left in the third quarter to up the Webbers Falls advantage to 32-14.

After each team exchanged turnovers, Webbers Falls defender Dylan Young picked off an Arkoma pass with 7:48 left in the period.

Just 16 seconds later, Shelby scored his fifth TD, followed by the two-point conversion by Aiden Turley, to increase the Webbers Falls lead to 40-14 with 7:32 remaining in the quarter.

Shelby’s defensive score ended an Arkoma offensive possession as the Webbers Falls senior’s pick-6 to up the advantage to 46-14 with 5:12 left in the quarter.

Shelby’s final TD came at 2:35 of the third quarter. Younger brother Gunner Shelby scored the two-point conversion to increase the Webbers Falls lead to 54-14.

Webbers Falls’ defense set up its final score of the game as Brutus Robinson recovered an Arkoma fumble with 2:09 remaining in the period.

The drive was culminated with a TD run by Dawson Littlefield with 3.1 seconds left in the period. Since the mercy rule was reached, no conversion was attempted.

However, things didn’t start out too well for the Warriors as the Mustangs scored the game’s first touchdown and made the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead with 8:02 left in the opening quarter.

Maddux Shelby scored his first TD on the ensuing possession to cut the Arkoma lead to 8-6 with 6:15 remaining in the period.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Arkoma return man fumbled, with Webbers Falls player Spencer Thao making the recovery.

The Warriors cashed in the takeaway as Mad-dux Shelby scored his second touchdown and ran in the two-point conversion to give Webbers Falls the lead for good at 14-8 at the end of the first quarter.

After the Webbers Falls defense stopped Arkoma on downs, Turley capped the Warriors’ ensuing possession with a touchdown to increase his team’s advantage to 20-8 with 8:34 left before halftime.

Maddux Shelby scored his third touchdown of the first half on the next Webbers Falls possession to up the team’s lead to 26-8.

The Warriors led 2614 at the break.