OKEMOS - “I’m going to celebrate for a full 24 hours,” Okemos football head coach Jack Wallace said.

After last year’s one-win season, the Chiefs clinched their first victory of the 2016 season, and the anticipation of the students to rush the field was palpable in the air.

They had been waiting for this moment and were uncertain of when it would come.

As a surprise, it was tonight.

Okemos topped Ann Arbor Skyline, 30-6, with an incredible defense that forced the Eagles into many fourth-down dilemmas.

The Okemos defense had four interceptions and came up with the stops that won them the game.

Skyline opened up the scoreboard with a touchdown late in the first quarter, but fail to add the extra point.

Last year, it was the other way around, the Eagles put up 45 to the Chiefs’ six, but MSU commit Hunter Rison didn’t do as much damage as expected.

The Chiefs answer that touchdown immediately with one of their own.

Quarterback Domonique Clerkley receives the kick off and runs all the way down to the end zone for the Chiefs first touchdown of the game, but Okemos also fails to make the extra point.

Clerkley had a total of 100 yards against the Eagles, two touchdowns, and he showed the expertise to know when to pass and when to carry the ball, although he fumbled the snap twice.

With a little over five minutes left until halftime, the Chiefs put
up another six and this time, they get a two point conversion that puts them in the lead, 14-6, at halftime.

In the third, Chiefs’ Dallis Williams gets the crowd on its feet with a 79-yard carry to the end zone, that puts Okemos at 21 points.

The second game of the season doesn’t come without mistakes, though.

Many mishaps and fouls could have been prevented with better communication.

A slip by Williams puts the Chiefs at fourth down, but close enough to the end zone that they capitalize from a field goal.

Heading into the fourth quarter, Okemos led Ann Arbor Skyline, 24-6.

The last 12 minutes were a time of fouls and penalties for the Chiefs.

With four consecutive flags, one unsportsmanlike conduct, two false starts and one delayed game, the Okemos offense was shifted back five to 15 yards, but they quickly regained their position every time.

Reaching first and goal, Clerkley carries for 10 yards and score the Chiefs’ final touchdown of the day with less than four minutes left of play.

Okemos fans rushed the field to celebrate the victory with the team, bumping, hugging and cheering at each other.

Ecstatic with the win, Wallace said that he is very proud that his players played as a team and that he will celebrate, but after the celebration, they will break down the video and improve on the game.

Okemos improve their overall record to 1-1, while Ann Arbor Skyline tallies two losses.

The Chiefs head on to face Everett High School on Friday, September 9 at Everett, while the Eagles travel to Saline also next Friday.