Blankenship leads Norman North
The No. 1-ranked Norman (Okla.) North Timberwolves had their work cut out for them at the half of Friday night's game against Putnam City North at Harve Collins Field in Norman. Especially with two-star running back and Iowa State commit Beau Blankenship hampered by injuries to his hand and a sore shoulder.
Trailing 13-10 at halftime in front of a sellout Homecoming crowd, Blankenship and Co. outscored Putnam City North with 24 second-half points.
Advertisement
"We weren't used to playing like we did in the first half. We knew things needed to change," said quarterback Tyler Tettleton.
Exploding for 108 yards in the second half, Blankenship led the rallying charge on an evening in which he was named Homecoming King at halftime. Two jaunts of 21 and 39 yards helped seal the deal for the Timberwolves.
Blankenship, who ended the night with 143 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, proved he is one of the premier running backs in the state.
Defensively, sophomore Daniel Davis was the star for the Timberwolves. Davis is a 6-foot-2, 215-pound defensive end who, with continued improvement, could be the next big thing to come out of Norman North.
"We knew it was going to be physical," Davis said. "Our line really stepped it up this week and buckled down."
Davis and the Timberwolves defense shut down the Putnam City North running game and held in-check the Putnam City North star running back duo of Greg Lewis and Josh Booker, who have combined to rush for 809 yards and 11 touchdowns this season for the Panthers.
Quarterback Hunter Frantz showed well for the Panthers, throwing for 226 yards and a pair of touchdowns while also running two touchdowns in the 34-26 loss.
The No. 9-ranked Panthers take on upstart Southmoore this week. While top-ranked Norman North prepares for a District 6A-1 showdown with Mustang.