By all accounts, this has been a disappointing season for Norman North.
First, the Timberwolves didn't even get to finish their game against Muskogee in what's now one of the better pre-district east-west rivalries in the state. They led 10-0 after a quarter, and looked poised for a big victory.
Then, after a 4-0 start, North traveled to Mustang. Tied at halftime, a rough third quarter turned the T-Wolves' entire season around.
They've lost four straight and are out of the playoffs with a 2-4 District 6A-1 record.
So, what's left for them to play for tonight in Lawton?
"We're fighting for pride and to end the season right," senior running back Richard Peoples said. "We want to remember our last game as a win."
It's been a rough few weeks for North.
Coach Lance Manning was the first to admit how disappointing things have gotten for the T-Wolves, and he was also the first to say he didn't know exactly where things went wrong.
"I think there's probably a lot of reasons," Manning said. "Maybe we weren't as good as everybody thought we were early on. Look who we started playing. Playing tougher opponents has everything to do with it. it's how deep our district is."
North ran through Norman High, Moore, Putnam City North and Westmoore.
But even Manning admits the team lost confidence at Mustang. The T-Wolves haven't been able to get that confidence back.
"I think some of us lost our swagger a little bit after Mustang," Peoples said. "Hopefully we can get some of it back (tonight), put together a complete game like we did at P.C. North. That's a two-hour ride down to Lawton and a two-hour ride back. We want to make it a happy ride back, at least."
The North seniors, like Peoples, are on a mission. They want to finish their careers with a victory.
A win tonight over the Wolverines would do a lot to erase the four-game losing streak that kept the T-Wolves out of the playoffs for the first time in three years.
"They want to go down there, play hard and play well," Manning said. "It's the last game of the season. We want to go out with some class.
"Our guys understand, don't get on the bus unless you're ready to play a football game."
Manning would also like to see some of his underclassmen step up here in the final week, providing a springboard into offseason workouts.
"They need to show some improvement, and that's something we haven't shown the past few weeks," Manning said.
Oh, and there's one more thing the T-Wolves are pumped about: Ending Lawton's season and keeping the Wolverines out of the playoffs, too.
It's always fun to play spoiler.
"It'd be nice to keep somebody else out of the playoffs," Peoples said. "It's a shame we weren't able to go, but keeping somebody else out would be nice. If we could spoil someone else's season since ours has been spoiled, that's great, take away something they've worked hard for."
Jeff Johncox 366-3535 jjohncox@normantranscript.com
Sports
Big finish for Norman North?
- Sports
-
-
Sooners narrowly avoid handing Tigers their first win in Big 12 play
Morgan Hook hit the free throws and Kaylon Williams blocked the shot, grabbed the rebound, got fouled and made one of two from the stripe to put the game away....
-
Tigers drop 3-pointers, Bears in Top-10 showdown
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Phil Pressey’s first 3-point attempt went in off the glass. The sophomore guard, known more for flashy, no-look passes than his outside touch, took that sketchy success and ran with it....
-
Sooners fall flat against Raiders
LUBBOCK, Texas — All that progress Oklahoma believes it has been making didn’t make the trip to Texas Tech on Saturday. The Sooners moonwalked their way to a 65-47 loss at United Spirit Arena that easily qualified as the season’s worst ...
-
Not happening this time, Aggies
WACO, Texas — Texas A&M may be glad Baylor coach Kim Mulkey has no plans to play the SEC-bound Aggies in Waco again....
-
KU routs Pokes
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Nothing was going to stop No. 7 Kansas in the first half, not even 5-foot-9 Keiton Page....
-
Sluggers in new digs for spring training
Tim Lincecum thought about the seismic shifts of baseball’s offseason, the ones that saw Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder migrate to the American League....
-
Lincredible rise: From bench to new sensation
NEW YORK — Jeremy Lin came with an intriguing story even before he escaped the New York Knicks’ bench. First American-born NBA player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. Harvard graduate. Nomad who crashed on a teammate’s couch when his ...
-
Wi maintains the lead as Tiger charges
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Charlie Wi played bogey-free at Spyglass Hill for a 3-under 69 to build a three-shot lead Saturday in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Now it’s time for him to face his demons of self-doubt — along with a familiar ...
-
Sooners improve to 4-0 in season-opening stretch
LAS VEGAS — What does it say that the only game the Sooners allowed runs this season was a game they won by run-rule? For one, it means they’re off to a 4-0 start at the Sportco Kick-Off Classic. Oklahoma topped Weber State 12-2 before ...
-
Little Axe got the dual it expected from No. 1 Perry
Little Axe qualified for the Class 3A Dual State meet for the fourth straight year, and the Indians had what coach Jim Love described as a “learning experience” at the meet Saturday....
- More Sports Headlines
-
