The seniors of the Seminole Chieftain football team will take Mike Snyder Field for the last time in their high school careers when the Mean Green host the Mannford Pirates on Friday, October 31st. After last week’s loss at Sulphur, Seminole is 5-3 overall and 2-3 in district play and will need to win its final two ball games to have a shot at the 2025 playoffs.

The Mannford Pirates are first up in the Chieftains’ battle for the postseason. With an overall record of 6-2 and 3-2 in the district, the Pirates are looking for their first playoff berth since 2017. Highlights from their 2025 campaign so far include dominant wins over Mcloud (41-13) and Victory Christian (48-14). However, blowout losses to Perkins-Tryon (63-6) and Lone Grove (41-0) have the Pirates on the outside looking into the playoffs just like the Chieftains.

Last season, Seminole traveled to Mannford, led 32-0 at halftime, and made the Pirates walk the plank on their way to a 44-21 win. The Chieftains had a big day on the ground in that one, compiling 369 yards on just 25 attempts or almost 15 yards a rush. Returning senior Donavin Garfield led the way last year with 179 rushing yards and a touchdown. Garfield has already rushed for 846 yards in 2025, so be on the lookout for the QB to take down the Pirates with his legs once more.

After the loss to the Chieftains, Mannford was blown out in the 2024 season finale by the Sulphur Bulldogs. The loss capped off a 1-9 overall record and 0-7 finish in district play. It was the seventh consecutive year the Pirates did not qualify for the postseason. So, at 6-2 in 2025, a much-improved Mannford team will travel to Chieftain Stadium.

However, history suggests Seminole has an advantage in this massive 3A showdown. The Chieftains have never lost to the Pirates, holding a 5-0 record all-time with an average final score of 30.4 to 10.8 in favor of the Mean Green.

Here is what Head Coach Mike Snyder had to say after last year’s win over the Pirates. “That was a good win, but really sloppy. You know, just too many mistakes and you can’t beat good people like that.” The sloppy mistakes Coach Snyder is referring to are the 13 penalties for 130 yards his team compiled in that 2024 contest.

Snyder and his Chieftains will look to fix those sloppy mistakes, take down the Pirates, and stay alive in the 2025 Class 3A playoff race when they host Mannford on Friday, October 31st. A night filled with festivities as Chieftain Stadium will be celebrating Senior Night and Halloween. Game time is set for 7:30 with the honoring of the Seminole Seniors taking place beforehand.