After Last Season’s Heroics Brought Tigers’ First Ever Championship, B.A. Senior Looks to Repeat for Encore

By Mike Moguin
Sports Correspondent

Myles Slusher is best known for making the game-clinching end zone interception in waning seconds to enable the Tigers to win the Class 6AI state championship last season.
Broken Arrow had an eight-point lead and had taken possession with over four minutes left in the game, then experienced a two-hour rain delay. When play resumed, B.A. was forced to punt, giving Jenks an opportunity to score a game-tying touchdown.
The Trojans came close. But with 20 seconds remaining, Slusher a 6-foot, 185-pound senior defensive back, was at the goal line to make the pick, assuring the Tigers of their first ever state title.
“As they were driving down the field, we just needed to make a stop,” said Slusher, who also plays wide receiver on offense. “The line got a good pass rush that forced him (Jenks QB) to throw earlier than he wanted. Everybody did their part on defense and it made it a lot easier for me to handle my part.
“I know it meant a lot for Broken Arrow winning the title, especially beating Jenks on top of that,” he added.
When the clock read zeros across, “It felt amazing,” Slusher said. “Especially accomplishing the goal. I always said when I was little, I would accomplish (a state title) with my team. We all had the same mindset and we got it done. It was a great feeling.”
The weather-delay was of no distraction to the players.
“We just had to stay focused and stay loose,” Slusher said. “Because we knew it was going to be a long time. They predicted it (the storm) would come, it just came later than expected. We stayed on task, did what the coaches told us to do when we got in the locker room and handled business when we got back on the field.”
Slusher recently declared Oregon to be his destination for college football. He announced his decision via a Twitter post on April 29.
“I feel pretty confident. I have a good relationship with the coaches,” Slusher said. “And I have a good relationship with some of the other coaches coming in. They brought me in like a family.”
He chose the Ducks over Alabama, Missouri and Texas.
Slusher looks forward to the culture change, going from the plains of Oklahoma to beautiful scenic views of the luscious forests, mountains and lakes in Oregon.
“It’s always good to try something new,” Slusher said. “It will really help me build my social skills to try and build relationships with new people.”
The benefit of being a two-way starter, Slusher said, is just being able to help the team.
“Honestly, I just do whatever my coaches help me do. If they want me to do special teams, I’ll do it,” he said.
Defense, Slusher said, sets the tone for the game and although key starters from last year are gone to college, he is confident this year’s unit can be just as good.
“How your defense comes out and plays determines how the game is going to go for us,” he said. “If you get a couple of stops on defense that can make a big impact towards the game because even if the offense is doing what they’re doing, you get a couple of stops, it’s going to help the offense. Our defense is pretty solid and I’m definitely confident about us this year. We’re going to be pretty solid.
“We got some new players taking on new roles,” Slusher added. “We might have some slip-ups then and there, but everything will end up falling into place. It’s a long season. We’re going to be solid. I have confidence in them. They’ve all bought in and they’re pretty confident in how they’re feeling, so I think we’re going to be pretty good.”
As for toughest opponents? Slusher and his troops doesn’t rank them.
“I’m not going to say anybody is tougher than the other,” he said. “We look at everybody the same going into the game. We’re pretty confident how we play. As long as we are on our stuff, I don’t feel like anyone can beat us.”