SAME OLD SONG
Union continues eastside dominance
For all the reasons it felt like it would be different, in the end, it wasn’t.
With the Class 6A-I championship on the line, No. 2 Tulsa Union avenged its regular-season loss to No. 1 Norman North with a 57-43 win Friday night at the University of Tulsa’s Chapman Stadium.
Norman North, its players on the biggest football stage of their lives to this point, took too long to get settled into the intense surroundings in front of a crowd of 12,308. Meanwhile, a Union team with more experience in such situations piled up points and defensive stops to build a 29-7 first-half lead, plenty of cushion to hang on for their ninth state championship, and eighth since 2002.
The win stretches the dominance of Union and Jenks to 21 straight seasons in the state’s largest class, with 13 going to Jenks and eight to Union.
Norman North defeated Union 30-27 in the regular season, but couldn’t recreate the mojo it had that special October night, when the Timberwolves recovered two onside kicks, came up with big defensive plays and crucial offensive conversions.
On Friday night, the onside kick attempts — a staple for Norman North all season, rather than a desperation play — were just out of reach on multiple occasions. Big-play opportunities were just missed. Tackle attempts slipped through their fingers.
And in general, Union was just too powerful in the first half.
Union running back Shamari Brooks bowled his way to 223 yards on 32 carries, scoring three touchdowns. Quarterback Grady Davenport threw for 212 yards and four scores, completing 14 of 23 passes. Three of those TDs went to standout junior C.J. Moore, who had 83 yards on six catches.
Defensively, Union outside linebacker Kyrei Fisher was unblockable in the first half, and came up with three sacks at crushing times.
Norman North looked more like itself in the second half, but the hole was too big, and Union seemed to always have an answer.
In his final game, Norman North quarterback Brandon Marquardt threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns, with another senior, Charlie Kolar, leading the receiving group. He had six catches for 120 yards, while Drake Stoops added 58 yards and two TDs.