MOORE — Southmoore liked its chances heading into its playoff game with Norman North Friday. Despite an inconsistent final month of the regular season, the players believed they had a good chance advance to the second round.
However, it was Timberwolves who will be playing this week while the SaberCats are turning in their equipment after North won 21-6.
“Defensively, we played hard, sound football,” senior Jackson Stalling said. “Our offense stayed stagnant and that is a tribute to Norman North’s ability to stop the run and our inability to complete balls early on drives. We lost the game in the redzone. We had opportunities to put points on the board and the mistakes a championship team does not make.”
Southmoore was held to 100 yards rushing on 26 carries. Both numbers were season lows as was the 3.85 yards per carry.
Their inability to run the ball was compounded by swirling winds that affected the passing game. Quarterback Tre Edwards threw for 224 yards on 19-of-41 passing.
“The wind wasn’t that big of a factor, and the wind can’t clog holes to run in,” Edwards said. “But we had good opportunities to score. I threw a pick I shouldn’t of threw and we had some dropped passes on 4th down and in the redzone. I feel like we gave it our all, it just wasn’t our night that night on the offensive side we were in the redzone five or six times and just stalled out, but the defense played great.”
Despite that, the SaberCats only trailed 14-6 at halftime and had their opportunities to pull out the win. But they just couldn’t make the plays to exploit North’s defense.
“I was in it 100 percent the whole night,” Edwards said. “I gave it my all, but when the ref and Jalen Adams collided on a 4th down pass that more than likely was going to be a touchdown late in the 3rd quarter, it kind of hit me this just isn’t our night.”
After starting the season 3-0, Southmoore went 4-4 the rest of the season. Losses to Putnam City and Norman kept it from hosting a first round playoff game.
“Our season did not reach my expectations for reaching our full potential,” said Stalling, who will play football at Harvard or Yale. “That is disappointing. You never want to lose the last game. I cannot be disappointed in myself, nor my teammates for I know effort was never the issue. Grateful am I to have been able to help lay the foundation for this program and the bright future it has in front of it.”
This was the final football game of Edwards career. He is signing a National Letter of Intent this week to play baseball at Arkansas.
“It’s real tough,” Edwards said. “I wanted the gold ball so badly for us and the community and for the west side, that was my last time to ever step on the gridiron and sometimes I wish I was taller so I could keep playing the sport I probably love the most. But I’m blessed that I had 11 years of competitive football and was a four year letter on varsity its something I can tell my kids when I’m older.”
Michael Kinney Follow me @eyeamtruth mkinney@mooreamerican.com
