DUNCAN — One is looking for respect and another wants the crowd to get as excited as he does during Duncan football games. The last is kind of quiet but has caught himself smiling at least once this week in anticipation of the district championship game at El Reno.
Put them all together and you have the senior members of the offensive line.
It has been a hard road this season for two of those members, James Patton and Jordan Broom. Patton serves a back-up on the line, focusing on his duties at defensive end while playing through injuries. For Broom, his injury was not something he could play through as he was forced to undergo season-ending surgery on his knee.
That has left Tyler Wickard as the main senior leader on a line that has improved weekly and is peaking leading into tonight’s game at El Reno. For Wickard and the Demons, this game will serve as an opportunity to gain respect that has been lacking at times this season.
“I’m nervous, it’s a serious game but it’s just another leading to the state championship,” Wickard said. “It would mean a lot to win a district championship and are going to have to play hard. It’s going to be time to hammer down the whole game.”
Accolades from across the state have been slow in reaching Duncan. The Demons are ranked No. 10 to No. 7, depending on what poll you look at. Picking up a win at No. 2-ranked El Reno would be the perfect way to enter the playoffs and gain some respect.
“We got teams ahead of us that have lost more games in district than we have this season,” Wickard said of his 8-1 Demons.
Not that it is the sort of thing that would bother Patton. This season, the senior has come on strong for the Demons and found a place for himself at defensive end while seeing time as a reserve on the line.
“This is big, it’s really exciting and it’s going to be a big game,” Patton said. “I just can’t wait until it gets here.
“I didn’t think that I would be as big a part of this because I missed a lot of workouts this summer.”
The opportunity to help bring a district championship back to Duncan for the first time since 1993 has Patton’s motor churning. The only thing missing is Broom, who’s promising season was cut short early.
“It means a lot, I just feel bad for Jordan,” Patton said. “I wish he could be out there.”
So does Broom.
This season has been an adjustment, standing on the sideline powerless to get in the game and make a contribution. Little can compare to the disappointment of missing your senior year because of an injury.
“The team’s doing good but it hurts not being out there,” Broom said. “It’s easier that it was in the first couple of games. I just keep lifting and hoping that I can play college ball somewhere.”
Until that time comes to find a home to extend his playing career, Broom is content to take on the role of emotional leader on the sideline.
“I think I get more pumped up on the sideline,” Broom said. “It gets so quiet, the crowd doesn’t make a lot of noise. When the team runs onto the field, it is quiet. Our sideline is also quiet at times.”
Given the fact that he won’t be suiting up tonight, Broom is more than willing to channel his energy, and his requests for a loud Duncan side tonight.
“I hope they are not quiet,” he said. “I think that people would be surprised how much a crowd can get you excited.”
Who knows? It may even bring a smile to Patton’s face.
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DHS Senior
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Demons rout Altus
After a tough loss on the road last Friday night against Lawton MacArthur, it seemed the Duncan Demons needed a boost to get themselves going for the last week of the season. DHS had its sights set on using the Altus Bulldogs as the tool for their motivation Tuesday night at Duncan Gymnasium.
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Lady Outlaws smother Rush Springs, 38-28
It wasn’t one of Marlow’s best offensive performances of the season. Luckily it was one of the Lady Outlaws best defensive showings.
For only the third time this season, Marlow held an opponent to fewer than 30 points and the Lady Outlaws topped the visiting Rush Springs Lady Redskins, 38-28. -
Culberson, DHS hold off Lady Bulldogs
There is a saying, “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” For the Duncan Lady Demons, a rematch against Altus at Duncan Gymnasium on a chilly evening seemed like the perfect motivation to help DHS avoid a two-game losing streak Tuesday night.
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Duncan hosts Altus tonight
ometimes it’s not how hard you fall, it’s how fast you get back up.
After a tough overtime loss Friday night at Lawton MacArthur, the No. 14 Duncan Lady Demons (14-7) will look to rebound this evening against the No. 11 Altus Lady Bulldogs (12-6) with tip-off set for 6:30 p.m. from Duncan Gymnasium. -
Bray hands Turner its first loss
The Bray-Doyle Lady Donkeys picked up one last shot of momentum Monday night before heading into the Class A district tournament.
The Lady Donkeys took control early and never let up, topping previously unbeaten Turner, 68-51 at home on senior night to finish the regular season on a five-game winning streak. -
Velma-Alma rolls Healdton, 52-36
Make it six in a row for the Velma-Alma Lady Comets.
Senior Night proved to be quite beneficial for V-A thanks to a strong second half, which broke open a close game, giving the Lady Comets a 52-36 victory over the Healdton Lady Bulldogs. -
UNTARNISHED
Monday night saw the No. 4 Velma-Alma Comets send a clear message to the rest of the field in the playoffs: The road to Oklahoma City will run through Velma, one way or another.
V-A wasted no time in dismantling the Healdton Bulldogs on Senior night, as the Comets finished the regular season 23-0, thanks to a 72-12 victory. -
Encore Performance
Just like four years ago, Eli Manning and the Giants orchestrated an impressive late fourth-quarter drive to overtake the lead and the Patriots couldn’t answer in the final minute, handing the Super Bowl championship to the New York, 21-17 on Sunday night.
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Carletti-Silva commits to Army
Duncan High School senior quarterback Brandon Carletti-Silva has given a verbal commitment to the United States Military Academy — better known in the sports world as Army — and plans to make his decision official on Wednesday.
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Comets try to complete regular season perfection
Throughout the season, V-A has defied the odds, beating every team set in their way, resulting in a perfect 22-0 record.
Tonight, the Comets will look to finish their regular season unblemished as they host Healdton (1-14) at 8:30 p.m. for Senior Night. - More Sports Headlines
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