Published: August 28, 2007 01:16 am            

Is it the T-Wolves' year

Before every season, Norman North has the standard high expectations common with most teams. Players and coaches talk of beating Norman High, having a winning record and making the playoffs.

But all that preseason talk always seemed to end up as a whole lot of wishful thinking. The Timberwolves rarely won games, much less earned a trip to the postseason. And as for beating NHS, there was always next year.

Then finally came a breakthrough. Last year, the T-Wolves finished 6-6, made the playoffs and won a playoff game before being eliminated. And that first round win was over long time nemesis NHS. It was North’s best season.

Even better, many of those players were just sophomores. Now, for the first time, North can talk of high expectations and mean it.

“I think we have the opportunity to be a very special football team,” North coach Lance Manning said.

He’s not the only one who thinks that. At least two magazines have the Timberwolves ranked fourth in the state behind east side powers Jenks, Union and Muskogee. That makes North the preseason No. 1 in the west. That means North is the favorite to get the chance to break the eastern stranglehold on the Class 6A state title.

Really, North?

“That’s everyone’s goal, but we’ll just have to wait and see,” Manning said. “It all depends how we progress throughout the year. Like they say, you just have to take it one game at a time.”

If the Timberwolves are downright giddy over their place in the polls, they aren’t showing it. Throughout the preseason, coaches and players have recited the same mantra.

“I’m awfully flattered that people think we’re that good, but we’re not that good yet,” Manning said. “We talk every day about how hard we need to work and that we can’t be complacent. We have high expectations, but right now they’re just expectations.”

“We know what people think of us,” running back Beau Blankenship said earlier in the preseason. “We’re not concentrating on any of that. We’re not trying to live up to anyone’s expectations or what the magazines are writing.”

The pieces are in place. Three starters return on the offensive line in Lance Uhles, Herve Suvuilu and Daniel Schmidt. Drew Carrell didn’t start, but saw extensive playing time.

Blankenship ran for 1,578 yards last year, while Josh Norton caught 38 passes for 460 yards. Parker Smith is back at wide receiver after catching eight passes.

On defense, tackle Nathan Badger recorded 72 tackles, while end K. J. Williams had 66. Jon Ballard returns after a 40-tackle, four-interception season at free safety. Sunny Law is back at strong safety and Beau Traber returns at linebacker.

The Timberwolves are confident in quarterback Jake Damrill after returning starter Tyler Tettleton went down with a season-ending knee injury two weeks ago.

In two scrimmages (Ponca City, Lawton Eisenhower), the running game has been strong but the passing game has been inconsistent. The defense has given up just three points.

“We’ve shown flashes of having a really good team,” Manning said. “Our returning guys are a lot better than they were last year. We’re excited about the season and can’t wait to see what happens.”

Scott Moore

366-3535

sports@normantranscript.com

        

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