Jon Potts
Sports Writer
INOLA —
In a battle of Rogers County teams, Chelsea came from behind to defeat Inola 14-12 to open the season on a weather plagued Thursday night.
Chelsea got the game winning score 48 seconds into the final quarter on a 63 yard touchdown pass from Caleb Captain to Kyle James.
Inola had a couple of late chances after recovering a pair of Green Dragon fumbles.
The final hope for the Longhorns, however, saw the Chelsea defense register a quarteback sack on a fourth down play with two minutes left.
The start of the game was delayed 15 minutes by lightning. Jacob Smith then provided his own fireworks as returned the opening kickoff 90 yards to put Inola up 6-0.
The Longhorns had a chance to add to their lead after Chelsea fumbled deep in its own territory on its first two offensive possessions.
The Green Dragons, however, held on both ocassions. Captain's interception thwarted one Inola chance midway through the first period.
Shortly after that the game was delayed once again, this time for a little more than half an hour.
The Longhorns later made it 12-0 after a six yard TD run from Chase Holbrook at the 8:40 mark of the second quarter.
Chelsea got on the board when David Hubler scored from a yard out with 42 seconds remaining in the first half.
Lonnie Tharp set up that touchdown after he intercepted a pass at the Inola 25 yard line three minutes earlier.
The Greens Dragons saw a pair of chances go by the wayside after lost fumbles in Longhorn territory in the third period.
Inola moved deep into Chelsea territory but was stopped a yard short on a fourth down play at the Green Dragons 19 yard line in the final seconds of the third quarter.
That stand proved crucial for Chelsea as it eventually led to the game winning score just a short time later.
