NORMAN — The last time Norman High walked away victorious from a Crosstown Clash, a different president was in office, Saddam Hussein was still alive, no one knew what an iPhone was, The Dark Knight and Avatar hadn’t been made and the Detroit Tigers were on their way to the World Series.
It’s been a while.
Mossis Madu and Chika Madu helped the Tigers down the Timberwolves 34-6 on Aug. 31, 2006, the last time NHS celebrated a victory over North. North then downed NHS in the playoffs, won 42-23 at Owen Field in 2007, 58-0 in 2008 and 30-9 last year.
This time, the Tigers swear things will be different.
“We’ve been practicing hard and we’re ready,” said NHS senior do-it-all man Jaime Myers. “I’m not saying they’re a bad team. We’ve both been working hard. They’re going to come out hard. It’s just a feeling. I think we can pull it off.”
The Tigers dominated the series for the first decade, going 10-0 in the season-opening Clash before the T-Wolves turned the tables.
North is confident, too. And the T-Wolves aren’t ready for things to go back to the way they used to be. After all, they’re the ones with the four-game winning streak over NHS.
“We’re prepared and I think we have the right scheme,” North senior defensive end Dan Davis said. “We’ve been watching a lot of film and practicing a lot, going hard. We’re well-conditioned.”
Both squads have a swagger going into tonight’s meeting. North’s comes from recent success. NHS’ comes from recent confidence.
Players on both sides say a new team chemistry is the reason they’re so confident about tonight’s game and the upcoming season.
“We’re a closer-knit group,” NHS junior running back Donovan Roberts said. “We pick each other up and we’re together as a team.”
The T-Wolves say the same thing about their squad.
“There are no cliques, no small groups,” Davis said.
“We all like each other and hang out together,” North senior running back Raymond Demby added. “Sometimes we go over to Dan’s house just to hang out and play pool or basketball.”
Both sides have major offensive and defensive weapons, too.
Davis is a great pass rusher. Millwood transfer Emilio Gatewood gives the T-Wolves a playmaker each time he touches the ball and Demby is a nice change of pace in the backfield.
NHS has Roberts, a beast of a running back, Myers, who plays both sides of the ball and returns kicks, and linebacker Greg Offenburger, one of the top tacklers in Class 6A.
And don’t think this is just a season opener, or just a rivalry game.
“This game can set the tone,” Offenburger said. “You want to come out and play tough and get a win because that can lead to bigger things.”
There’s really not much room, on paper at least, and without looking at recent history, separating these two teams.
So, the question was asked to Myers and Davis: Why is your team going to win tonight?
“Last year, we started off weak,” Myers said. “We fumbled on the first play. This year, we’re not going to start off like that. We’re going to keep playing hard all the way through the game.”
“We’re just going to play Norman North football, smash-mouth football,” Davis said. “We’re going to be physical.”
Jeff Johncox 366-3535 jjohncox@normantranscript.com
