By Michael Kinney
The Norman Transcript
EDMOND — Despite a slow start and two days late, Southmoore opened its 2010 season with a 40-19 victory over Edmond North onSaturday at UCO’s Wantland Stadium.
It took a career high 327 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Andrew Long, but the SaberCats showed they can be just as potent as last year’s team that made it to the state semifinals.
However, early on it was North who looked like they would be on the other side of the route. The Huskies did what they wanted on the game’s opening drive. Using the run and the pass, they drove 80 yards in 2:48 minutes. Bradley Brooks scored from 9 yards out to put ENH up 6-0.
Three minutes later North added another touchdown to go up 13-0.
The SaberCats fastbreak spread offense took a series to get warmed up, but even after Kendal Thompson drove the team down to the Huskies’ 10-yard line, they came up empty after turning the ball over on downs.
However, the Cats finally got on the board on the first play of the second quarter on Long’s 11-yard run. Mitch Johnson missed the extra-point and the Cats trailed 13-6.
Thompson then hit Caleb Willis on a 61-yard touchdown strike. After another failed extra point, they trailed 13-12.
Southmoore (1-0) wasn’t done there. Long added a 75-yard touchdwn run as the Cats took a 20-19 lead into halftime.
Southmoore put the game away on the first play of the quarter. Long reeled off an 80-yard run up the gut of the Huskies defense. He went into the endzone untouched.
Thompson threw for 163 yards and ran for another 55 yards.
The SaberCat’s defense, which was victimized in the first quarter, finally got pressure on the Huskies passing game and shut down the ground attack the rest of the game.
The SaberCats were scheduled to kick off its year Thursday before bad weather forced their season opener to take place Saturday morning. They will face Westmoore (1-0) on Friday at Moore Stadium.
Michael Kinney 366-3537 mkinney@normantranscript.com
