LITTLE AXE — There just might be something special brewing in Little Axe.
It was only Santa Fe South visiting Friday night, a program that was winless last season, but the Indians did all they could to look like the real deal, particularly before the half.
In the end, it was Little Axe trouncing the Saints 38-0.
And it could have been, and perhaps should have been, more lopsided.
“It was a good win, a shutout,” Little Axe coach Tony Smith said. “I haven’t seen one here in years. I can’t remember the last time we shut someone out.”
The statistic of the night?
At halftime, the Indians had outgained the Saints 257 yards to 24. Santa Fe South had to punt five times, while Little Axe punted only once … in the game.
There were still some breakdowns. Three bad snaps and a bad kick led to four missed extra-point attempts, so the Indians took a 24-0 lead into the locker room.
It easily could have been 30-0, but first-year quarterback Daniel Leonard decided to try and run for the score as time ran out instead of looking for wide open receivers in the end zone.
“We’ve still got some phases we need to work on, obviously,” Smith said. “I think we’re real close to clicking on all cylinders, but there are a few areas to work on, which is something I like. We can be better.”
Defensively, Little Axe was consistently in the Santa Fe South backfield, getting in quarterback Emilio Torres’ face throughout the game; forcing bad throws and bringing down the Saints’ running backs before they could get going.
Santa Fe South finished with just 93 yards of total offense, 71 of them coming on quarterback keepers from Torres in the fourth quarter against what amounted to the Indians’ junior varsity.
“We have the talent and the athletes to play like this every game,” Smith said.
Leonard had a big night throwing the ball, completing 10-of-15 passes for 146 yards, and a couple of sophomores ran the Saints’ defense ragged.
Dustin Hawkins carried the ball 13 times for 138 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Robby Dryden ran 15 times for 117 yards and four touchdowns. Three of Dryden’s scores were from 1 yard out and the last was a 51-yard bulldozer of a run up the middle that saw him break into the open field and leave defenders chasing.
“It feels great,” Dryden said. “It’s nice to get that first one out of the way and go out there and win.”
With Leonard, a junior, Dryden, Hawkins and fellow running back, junior Brandon Walker, who ran for another 43 yards, anchoring the offense, the Indians’ future may be bright even beyond this season.
But first, they want to compete for something that’s been too long in coming, a trip to the postseason.
“We expect to go out and play better,” Dryden said. “Our defense played really well tonight, but our offense can be better. We should be a playoff team.”
Anyway, the Indians are off to a good start.
Jeff Johncox
366-3535
jjohncox@normantranscript.com
Local Sports
September 6, 2008
Indians off to quick start
- Local Sports
-
-
Shambaugh proves he is one to watch
It was hot, humid and the bugs were flocking to the lighted field at Tiger Stadium on Wednesday night. No one seemed to notice any of it by the sixth inning, though. Everyone was watching Jay pitcher Cale Shambaugh pitch a gem....
-
This one's for Papa
Wednesday was big for Nathan Thornhill for a couple of reasons. He led Team Texas to a convincing 9-1 victory over Team Arizona in the Heartland Baseball Classic. His 11 strikeouts in seven innings have been one of the highlights of the ...
-
Heart on the Diamond
The first Heartland Classic began Monday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park....
-
Soccer teams brave weather
Under gale-force wind conditions, the Norman High girls continued their soccer resurgence Thursday night at the NHS Soccer Complex, taking care of Yukon 1-0.
-
T-Wolves take third at invitational
Norman North coach Dennis Etter likes his team this season. Tuesday, he got his first real look at just how good it can be.
- SaberCats come out in force Julian Wilson was the first Southmoore player to commit last summer. And he was pleased at everything that has happened since then.
- Clash seating arrangements
-
Cats tame Tigers
MOORE — Coach Wes Clark didn’t want the game to turn into a track meet. He believed Norman High had a shot to knock off Southmoore if he could slow the game down to a crawl.
The strategy worked … for a quarter. But after Southmoore’s athletes were unleashed, they cruised past the Tigers 59-36 Tuesday. -
Bombers too much for North girls
MIDWEST CITY — Do the Norman North girls belong near the top of the Class 6A rankings?
Tuesday night, at least until the last six minutes, the Timberwolves certainly made their case.
Then it all fell apart. -
NHS battles, but North rules mat
Norman North, as expected, claimed Tuesday night’s mat edition of the Crosstown Clash.
Yet, getting past the Tigers by the slim margin of 42-31, it might have been Norman High coach Bo Maynes who exited the NHS Gym with the bigger bounce in his step. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
