FOOTBALL: Reed, Mitnick connect twice as Chelsea pulls away from Nowata

Tanner Reed left the home crowd stunned and silenced.

When the Chelsea quarterback rolled right and spotted Riley Mitnick streaking uncovered downfield, he lofted a perfect strike that traveled nearly 40 yards in the air before settling into his receiver’s hands. Mitnick turned upfield, completing a 60-yard touchdown sequence with 2:32 remaining that slammed the door on Nowata’s comeback hopes and sealed the Green Dragons’ first victory of the season Friday night.

The late score punctuated a wild and penalty-riddled contest as Chelsea left town with a 28-16 win over the Ironmen in a game that saw the teams combine for 201 penalty yards on 24 flags.

The Green Dragons [1-2] were penalized 13 times for 101 yards — with 4 infractions gifting Nowata first downs — while the Ironmen committed 11 fouls for 100 yards, handing Chelsea 2 free first downs.

Reed was the difference-maker, accounting for all 4 Green Dragons touchdowns.

He finished 7-of-15 passing for 149 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception, while also rushing for 33 yards on 9 carries and converting a 2-point run.

Mitnick proved to be his top target, hauling in 2 touchdowns on only 2 receptions for 76 receiving yards. Theron Bingham added a 22-yard touchdown grab on a fourth-and-8 in the third quarter, while Caleb Bates powered the run game with 88 yards on 10 carries with a 69-yard touchdown burst.

Nowata [0-3] leaned heavily on quarterback Adrian O’Dell, who threw for 141 yards and a touchdown on 14-of-27 passing while also rushing for 39 yards and another score on 15 carries.

His top weapon, Asiah Saxton, caught 7 passes for 81 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown.

Chelsea struck first at the 7:31 mark of the opening quarter when Bates took a delayed pitch and dashed 69 yards untouched for the game’s first score.

The Ironmen countered early in the second after Saxton intercepted Reed and returned it inside the 15, setting up O’Dell’s 2-yard touchdown run. O’Dell then caught a trick-play pass from Caleb Woolman for the 2-point conversion and an 8-6 lead with 6:07 remaining until halftime.

The Green Dragons regained control before halftime as Reed hit Mitnick on a 16-yard touchdown strike and then ran in the conversion himself for a 14-8 advantage at the 1:29 mark of the second.

Momentum swung again in the third, though.

O’Dell completed 5-straight passes on a drive capped by a 30-yard scoring toss to Saxton, giving Nowata a 16-14 edge with 2:23 remaining in the quarter.

But Reed answered, finding Bingham on fourth down for a 22-yard touchdown and then connecting with Malachi Williams on the 2-point conversion to make it 22-16 at the 8-second mark.

Chelsea’s defense delivered the dagger in the fourth, forcing a pair of turnovers on downs, both after Bingham stripped an Ironmen runner.

That set up Reed’s game-clinching 60-yard bomb to Mitnick on a third-and-18 play.

The Green Dragons have a bye this week before opening District 2A-II-3 play Sept. 26 at Commerce.