By Corbin Hosler
The Norman Transcript
NORMAN — Norman High’s bid at upsetting No. 4 Broken Arrow came up just short, as did the last-minute field goal attempt that would have done it for them.
The Broken Arrow defense blocked two field goals on the night, including a 27-yard attempt by Matt Hockett with 1:41 left that allowed them to hold on to defeat NHS 16-14 Friday night at Harve Collins Field.
“We played a good team tonight and we played a good football game, we just came up on the wrong end of it,” coach Greg Nation said after the game. “I don’t believe in moral victories, but I’m as proud of my team tonight as I have been all season.”
One of the Broken Arrow linemen was able to just get a hand on the final kick, causing it to sputter and fall a few feet short of the goal post. It was an anxiety-filled finish to a wild game that saw big plays, big penalties and one of the strangest endings to a half you’ll find.
Each team rattled off touchdown plays of more than 70 yards early, setting the stage for what could have been a shootout but instead, evolved into a defensive showdown in the second half.
Broken Arrow got on the board early, driving down the field to score on its first possession after holding NHS to a three-and-out. It looked as if Broken Arrow might be ready to run away with the game, but then Zach Long delivered a strike to receiver Rico Hogan about 30 yards downfield. Hogan leapt over his defender to make the grab, then outraced the rest of the Broken Arrow defense down the sideline to cap the 70-yard touchdown play and tie the game at seven.
Devon Thomas responded immediately for Broken Arrow, breaking an 88-yard run to put his team up 13-7 after Nathan Catey missed the ensuing extra point. Donovan Roberts then scored from two yards out in the second quarter to put NHS ahead 14-13, a lead that would hold until late in the fourth quarter when Catey nailed a 27-yard field goal to atone for his missed extra point and put his team ahead 16-14.
“We knew it was going to be a hard-fought game coming in here,” said Steve Spavital, Broken Arrow coach. “We feel fortunate to get out of here with a win.”
The first half ended in bizarre fashion, with Broken Arrow appearing to get five snaps as time wound down and eventually giving NHS a free kick.
After two short gains by Broken Arrow with about two minutes left in the half, they received consecutive personal foul penalties after each play, two of the 10 penalties for 106 yards they committed in the game. After the next play was stuffed by the NHS defense, the down marker was still set to third down.
After a brief discussion with Nation, officials signaled that it was indeed fourth down. After another lengthy discussion with Spavital, they changed it back to third down and claimed the first penalty had actually occurred during the play rather than after the whistle.
The extra down allowed Broken Arrow to run an additional 20 seconds off the clock, forcing NHS to take advantage of a little-known rule to try and put points on the board. In Oklahoma high school football, a receiving team has the option of kicking a free kick as long as it fair-caught the football. Spotting the ball on the Broken Arrow 43, Hockett attempted the 53-yard field goal off the free kick. He easily had the distance, but pushed it just far right, ending the half with NHS up 14-13.
Roberts carried the load for NHS, creating yardage out of nowhere after breaking tackles in the backfield numerous times. He finished with 153 yards on 33 carries and scored a touchdown.
The setback moves NHS to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in District 6A-3. Broken Arrow improved to 7-1 and 5-0 in the district. The loss places even more pressure on NHS to perform well next week against Muskogee.
“The kids are hurting right now,” Nation said. “But if you aren’t hurting then it means you’re not putting everything into it.”
Corbin Hosler 366-3528 chosler@normantranscript.com
