Published: August 20, 2008 11:09 am      

Ada preps for PV trip

Cougars to tangle with host Panthers, Duncan

Ada — Ada High head football coach Matt Weber gives assignments to his assistants, including Joe Weber.

When a mix-up with Sulphur left Ada without a first scrimmage, Matt Weber, the son, knew who to assign it to, Joe Weber, the father.

Years of experience and contacts and a few minutes on the phone quickly translated into a three-way scrimmage at Pauls Valley this Friday at 7 p.m. Duncan is the third team.

The Cougars ran through offensive practice Tuesday in the Dunham, the new indoor practice facility. Defensively, they will work today against Duncan’s wide-spread offense.

The scenario is not set in stone, but will most likely feature Duncan firsts versus Ada firsts and Ada seconds versus PV firsts. The scrimmage will be held at PV’s field in Wacker Park.

First-year PV coach Kevin Foster succeeded another Lindsayan at the PV helm, assisting under Mike Terry for two years.

Ironically, Foster is the younger brother of Barry Foster, who left Rush Springs to succeed Matt Weber at Marlow. The Fosters are the sons of Lindsay line coach S.J. Foster.

The Panthers lost close games in every way possible en route to a two-win season in 2007.

But the usual PV speed is there and though recent success has not been forthcoming, the Panthers are not that far away from a heyday that featured another of the Peters clan, Brian, and T.J. Rushing, now a cornerback with the NFL Indianapolis Colts.

Duncan’s Jim Holloway is revisiting Garvin County, where he once ruled the 2A roost in the late ‘80s, early ‘90s, winning three state titles ‘87, ‘88 and ‘91 with semifinalists in ‘89 and ‘90. It was the time of future OU and NFL star James Allen and other backfield notables such as Tony Levy, Dacona Smith, Rodney Wright and Jake Turner. Holloway was 107-56 at Wynnewood.

When Holloway left for Altus he left behind Allen for his senior year and another state championship under the late Tom Downing as head coach. Downing was the uncle of Ardmore quarterback Reed Downing, who will face off with the Cougars in the season opener.

In more irony, Holloway’s return has a bit of sadness. Chris Cain, who caught the winning TD pass against Watonga in the ‘92 championship game, was found murdered in a Dallas motel last week.

Duncan, picked second in Class 5A-1 district race behind Lawton MacArthur, was 9-3 a year ago.

Holloway lost 13 of 22 starters, including high-flying quarterback Trent Wilkins, who was among the top producers of 5A stats in both passing and rushing.

His backup the past two years, Houston Johnson, is ready to step up in his senior season.

Duncan’s anchor may be a pair of 280-pound defensive tackles, however.