MacArthur running back Nick Mahan (7) breaks through multiple Del City tackles. Mac will have big shoes to fill in 2018 losing Mahan.
MacArthur's season wasn't supposed to end this early.
Heading into the 2017 campaign, much hype surrounded the Highlanders program, and for good reason. Mac had become a powerhouse in Class 5A over the years, even winning a championship in 2014.
When you're talking about a team with a 36-3 record over a span of three seasons, there are some high expectations, not only for the team itself, but also from the media.
The Highlanders' No. 3 preseason ranking in the Oklahoma High School Football Associated Press poll reflected that.
Needless to say, a third-straight District 5A-1 title and another deep playoff run were anticipated by many.
Instead, Mac suffered through its worst season since going 5-4 in 2001, finishing 6-5 and exiting the postseason scene in the first round for only the third time under coach Brett Manning.
However, this season was considered disappointing to only those who were unaware of the ongoing changes within the Mac program.
The Highlanders lost their top three offensive producers from 2016 — quarterback Anthony Love-Kemper, running back Teddy Thomas and receiver Ronnie Kimble — to graduation.
To make matters worse, the defense lost an unprecedented eight starters. The only returning starters were Chandler Green (linebacker), Rylan Webb (safety) and Brandon Lawton (defensive tackle).
Even with the missing pieces, I couldn't pick against a team that made the semifinals three of the previous four seasons. I gave Mac the benefit of the doubt, picking it to win the district again, despite Ardmore and Altus lurking in the shadows.
Of course, Mac ended up not winning the district — that privilege belonged to Ardmore. But that is not the thing everyone should focus on when evaluating this season's performance.
No, the most important part is the resiliency the Highlanders showed despite facing an uncommon season.
Mac rebounded from two blowout losses to Lawton High and Amarillo Tascosa in nondistrict play by winning five of its next seven, earning itself a 16th-straight playoff berth.
Even in their other two losses to Del City and Altus, the Highlanders were in position to win at the end. If not for some untimely turnovers, Mac could've easily come out on top in those contests.
Mac has long been a consistent program, and I don't see this anomaly of a season to be a sign of things to come. The Highlanders had many young and inexperienced starters this year.
Yes, no team desires a 6-5 finish, and it shouldn't necessarily be celebrated, either. However, there are many positives Mac can take moving forward, especially when you consider how the team finished.
The Highlanders played their best football in the final five weeks of the season, most notably on defense.
The Mac defense gave up 17 touchdowns of 44 yards or more through the first six games, 14 of which came from midfield or beyond. The Highlanders gave up more than 37 points per game during that stretch.
It was a harsh reality of the growing pains the Highlanders were experiencing for the first time since perhaps Manning's inaugural season at the helm in 2009.
However, in the last four games of the regular season, no teams — including top-five squads Altus and Ardmore — were able to manage plays of that variety.
In fact, Mac allowed only 232 yards per the game to close the regular season, holding opponents to a total of 62 points, or 15.5 points per game.
The magic ran out in the playoffs, though, as No. 1 Carl Albert managed two long scores of 45 and 78 yards on the way to a 41-15 victory. The Highlanders committed three turnovers in the loss.
Although it was a bitter-sweet ending for Mac, it shouldn't take away from what the team was able to accomplish against the odds throughout the season.
The Highlanders everyone has come to fear will be back next season, I guarantee it. With to-be junior Racer Felter at quarterback, anything is possible.
I won't be covering Mac next season, for The Lawton Constitution sports staff rotates city-school beat writers every year, but I will keep a close eye on the Highlanders. A deep run in the playoffs and a possible state championship game appearance aren't out of the realm of possibility.
But with another high school football season in the books for Mac, let's take a look at some of the other highlights from 2017.
Biggest story
The Highlanders' struggles captivated the state for much of the season's duration, but from the midpoint of year onward, Felter created the most of the program's buzz.
Felter was an unheralded backup quarterback at the start of the season, but he made himself known early. The 6-1 sophomore rushed for 138 yards and five touchdowns on only 13 carries in a 56-29 victory over rival Eisenhower in the season opener.
After starter JR Winningham threw two interceptions against both Lawton High and Tascosa in the ensuing weeks, Felter took over.
Although Felter still made some "sophomore mistakes", he more than showed he was the right man for the job.
He finished the season leading the team in total yardage, accumulating 2,252 yards (1,518 passing and 734 rushing) and 22 touchdowns (12 rushing, 10 passing).
One of Felter's best performances came against El Reno on Sept. 29. He finished 17-of-25 for 395 yards and three touchdowns through the air, while also adding 156 yards rushing and two scores on 16 carries to total 551 yards of offense and five touchdowns. (More on that game below)
It is safe to say Mac won't have to worry about finding a new signal caller any time soon.
Game of the Year
With six wins to choose from, there are quite a few candidates for best game, but one stands out among the rest.
If you like high-scoring bouts and big plays, Mac's contest with El Reno was the game for you.
Although the teams were deadlocked at 21 with just less than three minutes remaining in the first half, the 5A-1 foes entered their locker rooms with the Highlanders clinging to a 43-35 lead.
How were 36 points scored with so little time on the clock? The game went completely bonkers in what turned into a touchdown bargain sale, featuring an electric back-and-forth between Felter and Indians running back Hunter Cometsevah.
Mac began the scoring spree a play after an El Reno fumble, with Felter finding Jarious McKnight for a 40-yard touchdown strike with 2:42 left in the half.
Cometsevah responded only 16 seconds later with a 66-yard scoring burst to cut the Indians' deficit to 29-27, but barely a minute later, Felter was at it again, this time using his legs to find the end zone from 52 yards out.
Not to be outdone, Cometsevah broke a 59-yard run, splitting Mac defenders on the way to a touchdown to bring El Reno within one at 36-35 with 1:08 to go.
However, Felter couldn't be contained.
With 35 seconds remaining in the half, the sophomore hit McKnight for the pair's third touchdown connection of the night on a 65-yard sling, giving the Highlanders an eight-point advantage at the break.
It wasn't only those final two minutes that brought on the offensive fireworks, either.
To put it in perspective, the teams combined for 979 yards in the first half — 555 belonging to the Highlanders. By the end of the game, 1,388 total yards were tallied.
Mac held El Reno scoreless in the second half to win the shootout, 64-35.
Biggest surprise
It is hard to pinpoint many surprises, but when it comes down to it, the way the Highlanders dispatched of then-No. 2 Ardmore in Week 10 was shocking.
The Tigers came to Cameron Stadium sporting an 8-1 record — their only loss coming to Carl Albert the third week of the season.
Ardmore scored first, but that was about it, for Mac rattled off five-straight touchdowns, rolling to a 36-7 win. It was the largest margin of victory for either team in the rivalry since the Highlanders' 56-2 stomping of the Tigers in the 2011 semifinals.
When looking at the circumstances surrounding the game — Ardmore had the district title wrapped up and its playoff seed wouldn't be affected win or lose — it isn't hard to see why Mac had such an easy time.
Regardless, it sent shock waves around the state going into the playoffs.
What's next? Mac's senior class ended its football career with an impressive 42-8 record.
Of the 20-plus seniors, 13 were starters, and three played both ways. Much like last season, the Highlanders must replace their top running back and receiver.
Although Manning has a decent pool of talent to choose from, it will be hard to replace running back Nick Mahan's production this season, which eclipsed even Thomas' from 2016.
Mahan finished the season with 1,762 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns, averaging 160.2 yards per game and more than 5 yards per carry. He was held under 100 yards only once all season, and he also had 18 catches for 209 yards.
Only Felter produced more total yardage.
Dashaun Davis, who will be a junior, will likely fill the void left in the backfield by Mahan's absence. Davis carried the ball 28 times this season for 120 yards and a touchdown.
Elsewhere, Mac is losing most of its receiving corps.
Along with Mahan, the Highlanders are losing deep threats in McKnight, Trey Longacre, Ja'Sean Carter and Tre Currin.
That quintet accounted for all but 79 yards this season, combining for 122 receptions for 1,906 yards and all 11 receiving touchdowns for the Highlanders. Only one non-senior, Weston Golson, caught a pass this season.
McKnight led the way with 47 catches for 881 yards and six touchdowns.
Felter and right guard Isaiah Passi will be the only offensive returners. The others leaving are receiver Brad Hoskins and linemen Landon Martin, Eric Willoughby, McKain Hammond and Lawton.
Defensively, the Highlanders lose most of its secondary, returning only safety Michelle Artzberger. D'Shaun Merriweather, Ronnie Johnson and Matt Woods will return to anchor the defensive line.
Those leaving — in addition to McKnight, Longacre and Currin — are linebackers Webb, Green and Kevin Murray and corner EJ Konah.