By Ben Schatzel Sportswriter The Seminole Chieftains have started the 2025 season 2-0, with wins at home over the Checotah Wildcats and their rival, the Tecumseh Savages. This Friday, Sept.19, will see the Chieftains leave the friendly con-fines of Seminole for the first time and travel 40 minutes west to Harrah for a battle against the Panthers.

Speaking of the Panthers, they have started the 2025 season 2-0 as well. Defeating McLoud by a score of 33-10 in week one, then dominating West-ern Heights in week 2, 49-0.

Last season, in this matchup, the Chieftains gutted out a 16-6 win over the Panthers. The Seminole defense forced four Harrah turnovers, only allowed 198 total yards, and held the Panthers scoreless for three quarters. Offensively, Seminole highly utilized the run game in that matchup, with three Chieftains combining for 204 yards rushing on 45 carries. Returning Senior QB Donavin Garfield rushed for the Chieftains’ only two touchdowns in last year’s matchup and looks to score again on the Panthers in 2025.

After losing to the Chieftains in 2024, Harrah would end the season with a 5-5 record, going 3-4 in their district, and would miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Here is what Head Coach Mike Snyder is expecting from the Panthers in 2025: “You’ll see a pounding run game, similar to what Tecumseh did when they weren’t throwing the ball. So that’s what we will have to get ready for.”

Seminole has won eight out of the last ten against the Panthers and leads the all-time series 16-3. Snyder’s Chieftains will look to extend their all-time series lead to 17-3 over the Panthers when #18 in 3A, Seminole, travels to #21 in 4A Harrah (rankings by Max-Preps) this Friday, September 19th, at 7:00 PM.

Other Friday night action includes Bowlegs @ Arkoma, Konawa VS. SW Covenant, Maud VS. Quinton, Sasakwa @ Life Christian, and Strother @ Cordell. All kickoff times are set for 7:00 PM.