OKC Energy FC to further extend hiatus due to USL field dimension rules
Energy FC to further extend hiatus due to USL field dimension rules
Energy FC's hiatus will extend into the 2023 season due to USL Championship requirements on field dimension, the team announced Friday.
The Greens paused play for the 2022 season due to renovations at Taft Stadium, but the team was set to return in 2023. However, the league had informed clubs that it would require playing fields to be at least 110 yards by 70 yards.
Energy FC chief operating officer Jeff Kretchmar said in a letter Friday that the team "will continue to operate as a franchised USL Championship organization and explore solutions while looking forward to construction of the MAPS 4 multipurpose stadium – our future home."
A stadium is slated for 2026 as part of the MAPS 4 project.
"Unfortunately, no venue in the Oklahoma City metro area meets the USL Championship’s requirements for field dimensions, stadium capacity and necessary team amenities," Kretchmar wrote. "Without a viable option, Energy FC cannot compete on the field."
In September, Oklahoma City Public Schools and Energy FC announced a multi-year extension to the soccer club's lease at Taft Stadium. Energy FC had spent eight seasons at the nearly century-old venue before suspending play in the 2022 season.
Prince, Braxton guide Tulsa to 48-42 win over South Florida
TULSA — Deneric Prince rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns, Braylon Braxton threw for 302 yards and a score and Tulsa held off South Florida 48-42. Byrum Brown’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Chris Mottillo helped South Florida grab a 10-0 lead. Tulsa closed to within 10-7 by quarter’s end when Prince’s 67-yard run set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Braxton. Tulsa (4-7, 2-5 American Athletic Conference) scored on three straight drives — short scoring runs by Steven Anderson and Prince around Braxton’s 31-yard scoring strike to Keylon Stokes — and the Golden Hurricane led 28-13. Brown, who completed all 11 of his pass attempts in the first half, hit Sean Atkins for an 18-yard touchdown, but Zack Long kicked a 23-yard field goal with 3 seconds left to put Tulsa up 31-20 at halftime.
Jacob Groves' late 3 lifts Oklahoma past South Alabama 64-60
NORMAN — Jacob Groves drilled a 3-pointer with just under three minutes left to give Oklahoma the lead while the Sooners held South Alabama scoreless for the final five minutes in their 64-60 victory. The Jaguars took a four-point lead with 5:18 left, 60-56, on back-to-back layups by Tyrell Jones and Isaiah Moore, but South Alabama misfired on its final seven shots, including two layups.
Central Florida rallies, defeats Oklahoma State in OT
NASSAU, Bahamas — C.J. Kelly scored 18 points, Ithiel Horton hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime, and UCF defeated Oklahoma State 60-56 in the Bahamas Championship. A 3-pointer by Horton gave the Knights a 55-54 lead with 3:51 remaining in overtime. Later, he made 1 of 2 free throws for a 58-56 lead with 18 seconds to go. The two-point lead stood up when Oklahoma State missed twice at the rim — one of them a block by C.J. Walker — and John-Michael Wright missed a jumper. Kelly made two free throws with less than a second remaining for the final margin.
Rodgers shares lead at Sea Island with another chance to win
Patrick Rodgers ran off four straight birdies late in his round Saturday and finished with a par save for a 6-under 64, giving him a share of the lead with Ben Martin in the RSM Classic and another chance at his first PGA Tour title.
Martin was poised to match that score until he came up short on the 18th green, chipped to just inside 5 feet and missed the par putt. He had a 65.
They were at 14-under 198 in the final PGA Tour event of the year, and it was far from a two-man race.
Ten players were within two shots of the lead, a group that included Sahith Theegala (68), Brian Harman (64) and even Harry Higgs, who was atop the leaderboard at the start of the day and had a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 70.
Cole Hammer, who graduated from Texas in May and is playing on a sponsor exemption, was tied for the lead going into the weekend. He was 4 over through five holes and managed a 72. Even so, he was only four shots behind.
Adam Svensson of Canada made the biggest move with a 62, including an eagle on the par-5 15th hole, putting him one shot behind along with Theegala and Andrew Putnam, who also shared the 36-hole lead. He saved par from a bunker on the last hole for a 69.
LPGA: Leona Maguire of Ireland had four straight birdies around the turn and added a pair of birdies late for a 9-under 63, allowing her to catch Lydia Ko in the CME Group Tour Championship and set up a duel for the richest prize in women's golf. At stake on Sunday at Tiburon Golf Club is $2 million to the winner.
—Staff and wire reports
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Energy FC's future up in the air due to USL field dimension rules
