OKLAHOMA CITY -- For more than 12 weeks, Southmoore players told anyone who would listen that they were ready to take on the big boys in Class 6A. And for three months they backed up their words with actions as they blitzed the west side with a devastating offensive show and timely defensive stops.

However, when it was time to face the big bully on the block, the SaberCats were unable to stand up to the brutal efficiency of Jenks. The Trojans wrapped up another trip to the championship game by holding off Southmoore 44-26 Saturday at Putnam City Stadium.

"It was a close game and we came in here and fought hard," Southmoore running back Julian Wilson said. "We didn't come out with the W. But we played hard until the final buzzer."

The SaberCats knew coming into the game the key to stopping Jenks was to slow down their running game. They believed their win over Mustang three weeks earlier was good experience for what they would get against the Trojans. However, the state's top-ranked team brought a different level of ferocity to controlling the line of scrimmage.

"They did what they have done all year long, and they are very good at it," Southmoore coach Chris Jensen said. "They are very effective at what they do. They have a great running football team."

Jenks grabbed ahold of the contest early with its massive offensive line leading the charge. They bullied the SaberCats up and down the field. It was something they had not faced all year as they trailed 21-0 early in the second quarter.

"You are down 21-0 against Jenks, it's kind of hard to get pumped up" Nyko Symonds said. "But our coaches told us not to give up and we didn't want to give up. There is no reason to let down after all the stuff we have went through."

In the second half, the SaberCats' defense matched the Trojans' intensity and physicalness. They held Jenks to a 16 points and had their chances to make a comeback.

The 'Cats scored twice in the seconds half. But each time Jenks responded with scoring drive spearheaded by its running game. Tailback Zach Langer ran, who for 287 yards and three touchdowns, broke through the arm tackles of Southmoore to finish off the game.

"We fought hard the whole time and we didn't give up," Mason Myers said. "We were ready for it. We didn't execute when we were supposed to."

If the Southmoore could have used the first half as a warm-up, they might have had a different outcome. But the hole Southmoore dug themselves into was too deep. After Jenks went up 37-18 with 6 minutes left in the contest, the fans started to file out of the stadium.

"It's tough against anybody," Jensen said. "You can't dig yourself a hole. That's what they thrive on. That's what they're so good at. Capitalizing on mistakes."

Southmoore finished the year with an 11-2 record. While the SaberCats came up short of their stated goal of winning a state title, a run to the semifinals in only their second year is still impressive.

"It's hard to swallow," Symonds said. "It's my senior year. All of us seniors worked so hard. It's a great accomplishment being in the semifinals. Only team from the Westside. But it hurts."

Michael Kinney 366-3537 mkinney@normantranscript.com