NORMAN — Norman High coach Greg Nation could have focused practice this week on last Thursday’s crushing loss and why it hurt the team’s season. Instead, the Tiger coach spent the week reminding his players that they were a good football team capable of putting together a special season.
One trip to Putnam City Stadium later, and the message seems to have stuck, as the Tigers dominated the Putnam City Patriots in every way en route to a 49-0 victory.
“I don’t care who you play against, it’s good to get a win,” Nation said. “It gives the kids more pep in their step when they come to practice next week.”
The Tigers put the game out of reach quickly, romping to a 42-0 halftime lead while holding PC West to just one first down in the game. It was a complete game, as NHS quickly reminded spectators why they were ranked among the top teams in the state before last week’s loss.
It took just three snaps for NHS to get on the board. After a failed onside kick to start the game, NHS took over on their own 40 yard line. After two runs from Donovan Roberts, Zach Long took a quarterback keeper 46 yards to put the Tigers on the board.
After holding PC West to three-and-out, Roberts took over the next drive for the Tigers. First he broke loose for a 60-yard run, breaking several tackles in the backfield in the process. The play got NHS to the 6-yard line, and three plays later Roberts punched it in from two yards out to push the Tiger lead to 14.
NHS stepped up the pressure even further in the second quarter, holding PC West to negative yardage while pouring in 28 more points, highlighted by a 30-yard pass from Long to George Kittle that ended in a leaping catch for Kittle. With a running clock in the second half, they scored again when Brad Davis took a punt 30 yards for a touchdown. PC West was held to just 33 yards of total offense in the game.
All cylinders were firing for NHS, as the special teams also got in on the action. They blocked a Patriot punt, and kicker Matt Hockett turned six out of his eight kickoffs into touchbacks.
“We wanted to come in here with a vengeance after last week,” Foster Hare said after the game. “It felt good, especially getting the shutout. We’ve got the drive, and our mindset is to win out from here on.”
The Tigers didn’t punt in the game. Roberts finished with 100 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns in the first half and sat along with the rest of the starters for the entire second half. Long chipped in 68 yards passing and one touchdown pass in addition to his touchdown run.
Looking ahead to next week’s contest with Broken Arrow, Nation said the Tigers would work to remove any errors and be ready for the game.
“We’ve got to be perfect,” he said. “We made some mistakes tonight, had two fumbles that reflect on us as a team. We can’t make those mistakes down the road, particularly next week.”
Corbin Hosler 366-3528 chosler@normantranscript.com
