NORMAN — For three years, Norman North took advantage of Norman High’s mistakes to dominate the Crosstown Clash.
“Orange and black is all I have to say,” NHS running back Donovan Roberts said. “Orange and black.”
Roberts was both the workhorse and big playmaker for the Tigers. He finished with 209 yards on 32 carries and had touchdown runs of two and 32 yards.
NHS used the running game wisely all night, and controlled the line of scrimmage. The Tigers ran for 259 yards to the T-Wolves’ 63.
“I’m not going to say we were the better team, but it came down to heart,” Roberts said. “All those two-a-days, all that pain … They worked as hard as we did. But when we dug down and grabbed that extra inch, that extra yard, that’s what it came down to.”
The Tigers fed off their larger home crowd. Since it was officially an NHS home game, a rabid pack of the Tiger faithful crammed into the home grandstand and was very vocal all night, as was the smaller, but just as vocal, group of T-Wolves fans on the other side of the field.
It all made for an exciting environment, but even North players admitted the Tigers came out with more energy.
“They just came out more emotional,” North linebacker Zac Pierce said. “That’s the bottom line.”
North got the ball first, but running back Raymond Demby and quarterback Brad Valentino couldn’t get the timing right on a handoff. NHS recovered the fumble and moved down to field goal range. Logan Hammons gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead with the 32-yard boot.
North didn’t stay down for long, though.
Valentino found Dan Davis down the left side for a 71-yard touchdown soon after, and the T-Wolves were on top 7-3.
NHS scored right before the half when North penalties helped the Tigers get out of trouble. Roberts then fought through a barrage of tacklers to fall into the end zone, putting NHS up 10-7.
The teams went back and forth in the third quarter, and in the fourth, it all went the Tigers’ way. Another missed hand off between Demby and Valentino was fumbled at midfield and recovered by Kerry Story.
That’s when Zach Long found Jaime Myers down the left sideline for a big gain. Long lofted it up, and Myers turned around to make a great catch over defensive back Emilio Gatewood. Myers broke through Gatewood’s tackle and took it 49 yards for the score.
“When it landed in my hands, the first thing I thought to do was run,” Myers said. “I love my team and we played great, had some good blocks. It wouldn’t have happened without our quarterback and that line blocking for him.”
The ensuing kickoff was fumbled by North and recovered again by NHS. The Tigers gave it back to Roberts, who then took it 32 yards for the score that put away the game.
“I thought some of our inexperience showed, but they deserved to win the game,” North coach Lance Manning said. “They played hard and took advantage of our mistakes.”
The Tigers and T-Wolves are both back on the same field next week.
North hosts Del City Thursday night and NHS hosts Moore Friday.
Jeff Johncox 366-3535 jjohncox@normantranscript.com
