Noble 2015 Schedule

Check out where each area team stands in terms of the prep football playoff picture

Typically, five storylines are reserved for the other area games. Instead, with the playoffs underway, here are some storylines to watch in other parts of the bracket that may impact area teams down the road.

NOBLE

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The playoff ramifications of Friday's senior night game at No. 10 Noble border on absurdity. Shawnee (5-4, 4-2 District 5A-3) struts into town, brimming with confidence after last week's 20-point victory over Durant. It turning its season around since starting 2-4. Also, following heartbreaking district losses to Coweta and McAlester, it is still in the race for second-place.

Shawnee at Noble is our game of the week. There's plenty of storylines, but these five stick out.

Three straight!: With a win at home over Putnam City North or a No. 9 Moore loss at No. 1 Norman North, No. 6 Southmoore will clinch a playoff spot for the third straight season. Only Mustang, Union, Jenks and Broken Arrow have longer active streaks. It could have been longer too. The SaberC…

Not who we thought they were: Moore has to be the favorite against Owasso Friday at home. Just two years ago, that would have sounded crazy. The Lions have have risen above their recent history that includes three winless seasons the last five years and Owasso has slipped after reaching the …

Norman North coach Brent Barnes is well aware of what a win Friday against Edmond North would mean. Winning a district title was a dream goal before the season began. Since it was seemingly tied to a win over Union

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the first by a west side team since 2001

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it seemed a little far-fetched. North hadn't finished higher than third in the new 6A-I.

NOBLE — Noble seniors Madden Milette and Baehler Buol don’t remember much about the program’s last playoff game. Why should they? They were 8 and 9 years old.

Facing a third down and 4 to put the 30-27 win against No. 3 Union on ice, Norman North coach Brent Barnes had a decision to make. Would he throw the ball, taking the risk of an incompletion and allowing the Redskins to save their last timeout for a chance to end the game? Or would he stay on the ground, forcing them to take it while likely giving the ball back?

Norman High senior receiver Caleb Dean is a big target.

Historic matchup: Moore and Mustang have been trending in different directions over the past decade. The Lions' last win in the series came a year prior to the opening of Southmoore in 2007. Mustang has become a football power in part due to staying a single high school district. The Broncos…

Defensive struggle: The last two games, Prague has allowed just 14 points. Little Axe allowed 23 against McLoud but shut out Bridge Creek two weeks prior. If the Indians have their way, this will be a low-scoring game.

Last season, everything started to go right for Norman High against Yukon.

1 Parker vs. Buol: McAlester, known more for its running game in the past, has found a unique talent in Braden Parker. As a junior, he threw for 1,605 yards with 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions, but still took a backseat to Deon Smith, Rylan Stephens and Mike Redway, who rushed for a c…

This is the one No. 7 Noble may have been dreaming about.

Playing up: Community Christian plays its first game against a Class 3A foe when it travels to Purcell Friday. The Royals are in their first year in Class 2A after moving up from Class A. Moving up, CCS wanted tougher teams on its schedule. That’s part of the reason the Royals scheduled the …

Noble baseball coach Kyle Davidson admits he is spoiled by his current class of seniors.

With the 2015 football season finished, here is a ranking of the area teams, based on how each compares with its respective class.

Editor’s note: Below is the Norman Transcirpt’s All-Area Team, as well as players who did not make the team but deserved recognition.

There are five area teams still alive for playoff spots, and while Norman North and Southmooore’s picture is pretty clear, others are a little more complex.

NOBLE — Christian Robinson did a good job of bursting on the scene in Noble’s first game at Tecumseh, but he’s done little since to show that was a fluke.

For the first time this season, there's some clarity at the quarterback position for Norman North.

Noble hasn’t had a winning season since 2007 and that year it went 1-2 through non-district play.

Watching the first week of high school football is a bit like biting into a new entree at a favorite restaurant.

Kicking onside every time in a 56-13 blowout might be considered overkill, but Norman North coach Brent Barnes takes a Michael Corleone-like look at the practice.