Written by Brandon Green
Photo courtesy Mark Emmons Photography
It’s first down and ten for the Buffalo offense with the end zone near during the second quarter of the first state semifinal appearance for McAlester football since 2014. Sophomore running back Erik McCarty gets the handoff, delivers a stiff-arm, cuts right, and crosses the goal line. McCarty is into the end zone and into the McAlester gridiron record books.
With the 26-yard run, the talented underclassman broke the school’s single season touchdown record with 32 trips across the goal line as McCarty would finish the 2020 season with 1966 yards on 213 attempts to average 151.3 yards per game. Coincidentally, the previous best total was held for 26 years by Kevin Brown, arguably the greatest Buffalo ground gainer to roam inside the gates of Hook Eales Stadium. “I went into that game knowing that I only needed two to be able to break it,” McCarty recalled. “It was overwhelming.”
McCarty is more than just an outstanding running back as the 6’2 and 175-pound standout excels on defense and special teams as well. Halfway through his high school career, he has totaled thirty-three rushing touchdowns, six interceptions (half of them returned for a touchdown) plus a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown during his freshman year.
Although his presence is felt wherever he plays, McCarty enjoys playing running back the most. “It is by far my favorite position on the field,” the sophomore said. “The feeling of scoring a touchdown or making a big run is just unexplainable.”
“Making big plays on both sides of the ball is no easy task and Erik has made a huge impact on the program,” said McAlester head coach Forrest Mazey. “What makes him a premier player for us is what makes us a good team. Without question, Erik displays our ‘EAT’ (Effort, Attitude and Toughness) mentality.”
There aren’t many rushes much bigger than those that break records, but in that same matchup in which he wrote his name in McAlester football lore, the Buffs fell just 25 seconds short of reaching the Class 5A state championship game. Since the end of the Buffs 11-3 season, McCarty hasn’t wasted a minute. He’s already bettering himself for the upcoming season. “I am working on my feet the most, trying to get them faster so I can make better cuts,” said Erik. “I always want to be the best at my position. If I’m not the best, I drive myself to be the best.”
The Buffaloes won’t forget that tough semifinal loss, but they aren’t dwelling on it either. McCarty believes it will fuel his team to bring home hardware in 2021. “I think with most of our guys coming back, we won’t fall short next year,” said McCarty. “I think we will go all the way.”
And with a quick flash of the Buffalo horns, McCarty laid out a game plan for gold in 2021. “We know we can do it. Now we just have to do it.”
