Carl Albert ends Newcastle season with 42-7 win
A stiff wind and a tough Carl Albert football team, along with some Newcastle errors, combined to a 42-7 Racer loss in the State Semi-Finals Friday night.
Newcastle Head Coach Jeff Brickman said it was a cold and windy night and Carl Albert took advantage of having the wind with them in the first quarter, going up by 14 points while holding the Racers scoreless.
Newcastle had the wind in the second quarter, nabbing a touchdown of their own, according to Brickman, but with halftime nearing and the Racers with the wind at their backs, they outpunted their coverage. Carl Albert added another touchdown to make the score 21-7 going into halftime.
The Racers again had the wind in the third quarter, and had several opportunities to score, but to no avail, coming out of the third without additional points.
Carl Albert added two more fourth quarter touchdowns to end the game, 42-7. Newcastle ended the Racers’ 2025 season with a 9-4 overall record.
Carl Albert took advantage of a couple of Newcastle miscues for some of their scores. Brickman said the teams’ yardages were very similar with Newcastle at 230 and Carl Albert at 290.
“The major differences were turnovers and special teams,” Brickman said. “Carl Albert scored of a fumble and returned a punt for a touchdown. We also fumbled a kickoff return.”
Newcastle went 16/30 in passing for 105 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. The Racers ran the ball 29 times for 125 yards, one touchdown, and one fumble. Carl Albert went 7/11 passing for 129 yards and one touchdown. They ran the ball 32 times for 161 yards and three touchdowns.
The Racers finished District 5A-1 competition in a three-way tie for first with Lawton MacArthur and Bishop McGuinness. The Racers lost only to State Semi-Final contending teams this year. They lost to Class 4A schools Tuttle and Broken Bow and Elgin, and 5A schools Bishop McGuinness and Carl Albert. Tuttle and Elgin and Cushing are playing in the Class 4A State Semi-Finals tomorrow (Friday) night.
Bishop McGuiness and Lawton MacArthur played in the other Class 5A State Semi-final match, with McGuiness winning, 61-28. They’ll face Carl Albert at noon Saturday on the field at the University of Central Oklahoma for the State Championship.
Brickman said the Racer seniors have taken Newcastle to three straight quarterfinals and back-to-back semifinals.
“They have raised the bar for the future Racers teams,” he said. “The football program is in great shape and we look forward to 2026.”
