By Jeff Johncox
There’s a quarterback battle in Norman this preseason and it’s taking place at Norman High.
The Tigers have two main candidates in senior Trenton Wright and junior Chad Anderson.
“It’s a big rivalry going on there,” NHS coach Greg Nation said Saturday. “They’re still neck and neck. One day, one has a good day, the next the other has a good day. There’s no separation right now.”
Wright has more experience, and he’s quicker with his feet and has a strong arm, according to Nation. Anderson, meanwhile, is picking the offense up quickly.
“I’m looking for one of them to step up and be a leader, and it’s not happening right now,” Nation said. “As soon as one of them does that, we’ll make a decision.”
No Blankenship
Norman North running back Beau Blankenship was working the first-down marker at the Timberwolves’ intrasquad scrimmage. Asked what he was doing on the sideline, he said with a laugh, “I’m first-team chain gang.”
The senior had tweaked his left ankle, according to coach Lance Manning, who also said it was nothing serious.
“We know what Beau Blankenship can do and we didn’t need to see him in the Green and White Game,” Manning said. “We’ll get him some snaps Friday against Edmond North.”
Play of the day
North quarterback Tyler Tettleton and receiver Nyko Symonds hooked up for a 45-yard pitch and catch. Symonds sprinted down the left sideline, diving for a grab on a long throw from Tettleton, who was competing in his first, full-speed 11-on-11 action in almost exactly one year.
“I’m very glad he’s back,” Symonds said. “I had to catch up to that throw. It was a nice strike.I think it would have been incomplete in a game, though.”
Can’t wait
Both the Tigers and T-Wolves are itching to play on Harve Collins Field’s new artificial surface.
“I’m really looking forward to running on it,” Blankenship said.
NHS players were also talking about the new field, sitting just a few yards away from the practice field where the Tigers held their intrasquad scrimmage Saturday.
“It’s looking good,” one said as he walked by with a teammate.
The T-Wolves get first crack at it Friday when they play host to Edmond North for a preseason scrimmage. The Tigers will play the first game on it, Thursday, Sept. 18, against Moore.
North hosts Westmoore a day later.
Jeff Johncox
366-3535
jjohncox@normantranscript.com
