Published: August 29, 2008 02:05 am            

Noble will be better

With 19 starters back, Noble figures to be better than it was last year, when it went 6-5 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. But here’s the downside: the Bears could be better and still end up watching the postseason from the bleachers.

Expectations are higher than they’ve been in a while at Noble, but the Bears are in possibly the toughest district in Class 5A. No matter how good they are this year, it’s going to be a fight every week in district play.

“You can’t take a night off in this district,” Noble coach Ray Crawley said.

The Bears are in 5A-2, which consists of Carl Albert, Shawnee, Guthrie, Durant, Ardmore, Harrah and Capitol Hill. Guthrie is the defending state champion after going 14-0 last season.

The three top teams in the district — Carl Albert, Guthrie, Shawnee — combined for a record of 32-8. Throw in Durant and it’s 40-12.

There have been 16 state titles in Class 5A and 12 have come from teams in the Bears’ district.

“We’ll be competitive,” Crawley said. “But we could be much improved and still miss the playoffs. Only four spots are available (for the playoffs) and there will be two pretty good teams sitting at home.”

But Noble isn’t flinching, as the Bears are planning on being in the mix. They survived last year to grab that fourth playoff spot, then lost in the first round. But the Bears think they are better this season.

On paper, Noble has the experience to compete. Ten players with starting experience return on offense, which includes Chad Davidson, who is entering his third year as starting quarterback.

“We’re in a tough district, but we have everyone back,” Davidson said. “A lot of other teams have lost more guys than us, so we think we can hang with them.”

The Bears also return running back Brandon McElhaney. In a district that includes five-star recruit David Oku from Carl Albert and Clayton Smith of Guthrie, the 5-foot-10, 185-pound McElhaney flew under the radar and rushed for a school record 1,351 yards last season.

“He doesn’t have near the status of Oku from Carl Albert or that kid from Guthrie, but I wouldn’t trade him for anyone,” Crawley said.

He’ll have the benefit of running behind an offensive line that returns four starters in Thomas Rollins, D. J. Holman, Nathan Kirby and Andrew Meachum.

On defense, Rollins had 67 tackles and seven sacks from his tackle position.

The district schedule shapes for the Bears to do well early. In the final two weeks of the season, Noble is at Shawnee and home against Guthrie. But the Bears beat Shawnee last year for the first time.

“The district is tough, but it excites us more than anything,” Crawley said. “If you come out of this district and make the playoffs, you have been battle tested.

“I can promise you, you get through this district, you are one good football team. We think we have a chance to get through it.”

Scott Moore

366-3535

sports@normantranscript.com

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.