No trophy is necessary for the Ardmore/Durant rivalry.
No axe, jug or cup is up for grabs, either. Instead, there’s a prize more valuable than those on the line — a state Class 5A playoff berth.
“Week 10 vs. Durant is 10 times more than what it is (week 1) against Ada,” Ardmore wide receiver Reuben Tiller said. “It’s a playoff spot (on the line), it’s at home, we want to go to the playoffs, they want to go to the playoffs …”
What other prize is needed?
“If I have to get them fired up for this game, I’m not a very good coach, and we’re going to get beat,” Durant coach Byron Cordell said. “If you can’t get fired up for that, we don’t have any hope.”
Ardmore coach Larry McBroom does not want to miss the postseason a fourth straight year — counting his 2006-07 stint at Carrollton (Texas) R.L. Turner.
More importantly, he wants the Tigers to take back their usual place in November.
“Our seniors lead the focus,” McBroom said Thursday. “They don’t want their high school careers to be over. We’re pretty capable of playing in the third season, as in non-district, district and playoffs. You want them to experience that.
“If we win, everybody starts zero-and-zero.”
A record both Ardmore (3-6, 3-3 District 5A-2) and Durant (4-5, 3-3) would love to have.
An Ardmore victory and No. 10 Duncan win at No. 2 El Reno will create a rematch of week 2’s 26-7 Duncan victory at Noble Stadium. The Duncan/El Reno game is for the District 5A-1 championship with both teams unbeaten in the league.
McBroom makes it no secret that the Tigers will key on Durant quarterback Daryn Alves. Not only is he a good game away from 1,000 yards passing (837 yards on 56-of-124 passing, to be exact), but the senior has a 5A-leading 1,375 yards and 16 touchdowns rushing, averaging 8.33 per carry.
“He’s a big a difference maker I’ve seen for their team,” McBroom said. “He’s a good runner, he throws it well and you have to defend the pass.”
He also is a safety who has 26 tackles to his credit, but no interceptions.
“He is their offense,” Tiller said. “Just as simple as that. Here at the (Super) Scrimmage, he made a couple of runs. I’m pretty sure he’s gotten better since the scrimmage. We can stop him.
“If you stop him, you win the game.”
Ardmore won that Super Scrimmage in August.
Alves could engage in a quarterback shootout with Ardmore junior Trey Cohee, who’s thrown for 550 yards in four games, including two 200-plus-yard passing games. McBroom is looking to have another strong night with the running game. The Tigers gained 204 yards on the ground, led by junior Andra Brown’s 125 yards, last week in a 34-14 win at Harrah.
“We’re looking to come out doing both equally well,” McBroom said. “The offensive line has gotten a little more comfortable. We’ve been more balanced; we threw it well and caught it well enough to keep the defense honest.”
The Tigers seek to beat the Lions for the first time since 2006. Durant won last year’s do-or-die contest 41-16 at Southeastern Oklahoma State and can beat Ardmore a third straight year for the first time since 1939-41, according to what Cordell learned from a statistician. The series record was not available.
“What more can you ask for? It’s one of the biggest games in the state right here,” Tiller said.
I.C. Murrell
221-6527
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Durant at Ardmore
■ District 5A-2 game, 7:30 tonight at Noble Stadium
■ Winner earns fourth place in district and state playoff berth against District 5A-1 champion
■ Records: Durant 4-5, 3-3 district; Ardmore 3-6, 3-3
■ Radio: KICM-FM 97.7
