As if the Ada-Ardmore rivalry needed more fuel after 86 meetings, the stakes were raised even more on Thursday.
Ardmore mayor John Moore walked into the Ardmore High School fieldhouse with a tall, wooden trophy. On the top, a golden football. On the side, an engraved plate with the title “Battle of the Cats.”
Now there’s symbolism to go with an already fuming football game.
“Something needed to be done to put more into the rivalry,” Moore said Thursday. “It seems like we’ve created some excitement with the boys.”
Trophy or not, the Tigers yearly dustup with the Cougars is always circled on the calendar. This year, however, the Tigers have it circled twice and highlighted after a 21-18 loss last year.
In that game, Ardmore conceded the majority of the possession and allowed All-Stater Qumain Black to score the deciding points on a 6-yard carry with 1:06 left. That’s stayed with the Tigers in the offseason. Offensive lineman Randy Stinson said the Tigers are going to be a lot more physical this year.
“We have to get off the field on third down situations ... and keep the ball more than 8 minutes,” current Ardmore and longtime Ada coach Larry McBroom said. “We have to avoid penalties at critical times.
“There will be mistakes. Hopefully we can limit them to as few as possible.”
A costly fourth-and-2 penalty by Ardmore in last season’s game kept Ada on a drive that extended over 10 minutes en route to the winning score. But gone is Ada’s Black, and back for Ardmore is a majority of its offensive line and a set of speedy playmakers that blew past Noble, Sulphur and Durant in preseason scrimmages.
Quarterback Trey Cohee, wide receiver Reggie Thompson and running back Andra Brown, all seniors, make up arguably the best skill-position trio in southern Oklahoma this year. Brown was accountable for two of Ardmore’s three touchdowns in last season’s game.
“We have to come out with enthusiasm,” Brown said Thursday. “And not break down when adversity hits. Because there will be a time and point when adversity hits.”
Of all the people who know of the adverse conditions of the rivalry, it’s McBroom, who spent parts of three decades on the Ada sideline. Entering his third season as Ardmore’s coach, McBroom is 1-1 against his former school.
“It’s still strange to think of Ada as the opponent,” McBrooms said. “But it’s all about the kids. It’s not make-or-break as far as the season’s concerned, but as far as Ada-Ardmore being a rivalry, it makes the game that much more important.”
Add a trophy to the mix, and the “Red-A Rivalry” takes on another dimension. Whoever wins tonight’s game will keep the prize until next season’s game.
“Both teams are gonna want the trophy bad,” Cohee said. “People will play harder; it makes the rivalry better.
“We’ve been ready for them ever since we lost.”
Erik K. Horne
221-6522
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Ada at Ardmore
■ 7:30 tonight at Noble Stadium
■ AP Rankings: Ardmore No. 11, Ada No. 13 in Class 5A
■ Radio KICM-97.7 FM
