By Jeff Johncox
For Norman High, it's a brand new year.
The Tigers got their first victory of the season last week in a shutout at Moore.
Now, though, it all really counts. District play begins when Putnam City West hits Harve Collins Field tonight. The Patriots have struggled to an 0-3 start. Last year, the Tigers went up to Putnam City Stadium and won the meeting 47-20. A repeat performance wouldn't be a bad way to celebrate homecoming.
"They're coming in, obviously looking for a win," NHS coach Greg Nation said. "We're looking for that 'W' in the win column because everyone's record right now is 0-0. This is the week where everything counts. It's a big game because it's a district game. And it's a big game because it will put us at .500 on the season."
The Tigers (1-2) have been trying hard to get their offense jump-started. But it's the NHS defense that has proved to be the bread and butter of Nation's squad.
NHS has an 11-6 turnover ratio and is led by hard-hitting linebackers Greg Offenburger and Michael Barrett. The defensive backfield hasn't been too shabby, either, intercepting seven passes.
P.C. West is only averaging 170 yards of offense a game, 55 through the air. So this could be another night for the Tiger D to shine.
"That's one of the things I've always wanted," Nation said. "When I was at Bishop Kelly, we played good, hard-nosed defense. Everyone who played us knew they were in for a fight. I want us to be known as a good, strong defensive football team."
The Patriots are led by quarterback Ray Young, who's completed 11-of-26 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns. Young's biggest target is Ryan Cooper, who has six receptions for 96 yards.
Defensively, P.C. West has had its problems.
The Patriots are second worst in Class 6A, giving up an average 32 points a game, though they only give up an average 218 yards a contest.
They're led defensively by a pair of tough linebackers, Ryan Tester and Kerry Daniels, who have combined for 83 tackles in the first three games.
"They're good high-school football players," Nation said. "Our offensive line's going to have their hands full. They have a lot of speed and a lot of poise in the secondary. They're deadly on special teams because they have a lot of speed. We have to play well in every area of the game."
But the Patriots will be missing Daniel Farrow, who gave NHS some trouble last year with his speed and shiftiness at both running back and quarterback. Farrow transferred to Mustang.
The biggest thing for the Tigers tonight will be to limit mistakes and penalties and just play their game. This could be the perfect night to work out a few of the kinks.
After all, 2-2 and 1-0 in District 6A-2 looks a heck of a lot better than 1-3 and 0-1.
"We just want a win," Nation said. "We want to go out and not make any mistakes to shoot ourselves in the foot. We have to go out and play a complete ballgame."
Jeff Johncox 366-3535 jjohncox@normantranscript.com
