SKIATOOK — Getting a big boost from a player who had missed most of the season, second-ranked Skiatook edged No. 6 Edmond Deer Creek 28-25 in the Class 5A quarterfinals on Friday night at Hap Dunlap Field.

Senior Stephen Upton provided a lift as he threw one touchdown pass and caught another. Upton’s season was in doubt after suffering a knee injury in the summer.

Upton returned late in the regular season but really was not used as more than a decoy until Friday’s game.

“It’s been a long process to get to where I am today,” Upton said. “I’ve had a lot of support from everybody. I am blessed to be here where I am to help my team make plays.”

The Bulldogs (12-0) will face eighth-ranked Collinsville in the semifinals next weekend at a site and time to be determined.

The Cardinals dethroned defending 5A champion and top-ranked Lawton MacArthur 44-27 in the quarterfinals.

“Collinsville is a big rival,” Skiatook head coach Vance Miller said. “Our kids know a lot of their kids and their kids know our kids. It will be a great game.”

Edmond Deer Creek (8-4) made things interesting on Friday night thanks to a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes from Clayton Sims.

The first score came with 4:46 remaining on a 14-yard strike to Cameron Long. Sims then had a 3-yard TD pass to Noah McGraw with 12 seconds left.

Deer Creek’s two-point attempt was successful but Jaren Knight recovered the ensuing onside kick. Skiatook then took a knee on the final play.

“Our theme this year has been the power of one,” Miller said. “Everybody was involved and had a great impact on the game tonight.”

Skiatook got the first score of the game on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Brendon Babb to DonTray Wilkerson at the 4:57 mark of the first quarter.

The Bulldogs went ahead 14-0 when Upton threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Billy Beyen with 10:13 remaining in the second period.

Deer Creek cut its deficit in half a few minutes later when Sims found Long on an 18-yard scoring connection.

Skiatook answered just over three minutes later, though, as Babb hooked up with Upton on a 30-yard touchdown strike.

A 38-yard field goal by Parker Noble pulled the Antlers within 21-10 with 7:09 left in the third quarter.

Beau Wooden countered on a 4-yard touchdown run to push the Bulldog advantage to 28-10 with just 16 seconds left in the third quarter.

Wooden had a couple of long gains earlier on that drive. He also created havoc on the other side of the ball from his defensive end spot, despite being double-teamed most of the night.

“Beau plays both sides and does a great job,” Miller said. “He gives everything he’s got on every snap.”

That set up the drama of the final quarter. Deer Creek battled, but in the end Skiatook held on to set up its semifinal matchup with its highway 20 rival.

“We know each other really well,” Upton said about Collinsville. “I think it’s going to be nice to have two teams that have a good rivalry but respect each other. I am looking forward to it.”