Glenn Hibdon
Sports Writer
SKIATOOK —
It took quarterback Kalen Reimer over a year to reach the Catoosa Indians’ starting lineup, but coach Aaron Meier said the wait was worth it.
Reimer ran for three touchdowns and passed for another as the Indians opened the season with a 35-10 pounding of Skiatook Friday night at Hap Dunlap Field.
Reimer, set to start as a junior, was sidelined a year ago with a broken arm in Catoosa’s second preseason scrimmage. He returned in a major way on Friday, completing 9-of-13 passes for 198 yards and guiding Meier’s split back veer offense to perfection. Junior running back Levi Browning added 114 yards on 18 carries.
“We’ve been working hard on a split back veer since last spring,’’ said Meier. “Kalen had the poise as our triggerman in his first start at quarterback. He threw the ball well and Levi did a good job running the ball.
“We controlled the game on the line of scrimmage and my hat’s off to our big boys. We might have been a little nervous, but we settled in. We gave up a couple of big runs, but we didn’t break.’’
The Indians displayed a balanced offense with 197 running yards and 198 passing. The defense was stingy in the second half, allowing Skiatook just 34 yards and two first downs. The Bulldogs never got closer than the Catoosa 45 in the final half.
Meanwhile, Meier’s offense scored on four of five first-half possessions. The only misfire came on the game’s first series when Reimer was intercepted at the Skiatook five. The Indians proceeded to collect 28 first-half points on drives of 42, 45, 46 and 80 yards.
Reimer passed 20 yards to Ty Rainey for the opening TD with 3:47 left in the first period. After the Bulldogs tied the score, Reimer directed an 80-yard march in seven plays, finishing with his 24-yard dash around left end.
On Catoosa’s next possession, Reimer dropped to pass at the Skiatook eight, then bolted over the right side to make it 21-10. With 1:32 remaining in the half, Browning scored standing up from two-yards out.
In a sluggish second half, Reimer closed the scoring after a Bulldogs punt snap sailed high over the head of Aaron Gillman. Gillman recovered at his own 27 and Catoosa needed five plays to score. Once again, Reimer grabbed the honor on a one-yard dive with 10:19 left.
