Published: September 18, 2008 11:25 am         

A Bear of an opponent for Ada

Weber says Noble could provide stiffest test to date

Ada — When talking about 2008 Class 5A football contenders, not a soul would be surprised if Ardmore or Durant came up in the conversation.

But when the Noble Bears visit Norris Field Friday night for Ada’s first home game of the year, head coach Matt Weber said his team may be facing its toughest test to date.

“I would say, up to this point, I think it will be the best team we’ve played. I really do,” he said.

The Bears enter the fray 2-0 and have yet to be testing, outscoring Tecumseh (34-13) and Chickasha (48-12) by a combined count of 82-25. Still, Noble has yet to make a blip on anyone’s radar. In the latest SoonerPoll rankings — the only statewide rankings that list more than 10 spots — the Bears sit at No. 14. Ardmore is No. 7, Ada is No. 10 and Durant is No. 11.

But Weber said Noble is the real deal.

“They have 19 returning starters and their coach (Ray Crawley) said this is the best team he’s had since he’s been there,” Weber said. “They are a real quality team. They are so much different than the first two teams we played in what they do.”

What the Bears do is play smash-mouth football and try to run the ball right down the heart of the opposing defense. They had plenty of success doing just that last year when returning tailback Brandon McElhaney rushed for a school-record 1,351 yards. He rushed for 92 yard on just 10 carries against Chickasha in Week 2.

“They line up and really fire off the ball. They’re a true running team — not just a zone read and a passing team so it’s going to be a totally different beast,” Weber said.

McElhaney's success can be partially credited to a standout offensive line that includes the likes of Thomas Rollins (6-4, 300), D. J. Holman (6-0, 265), Nathan Kirby (6-2, 245) and Andrew Meachum (6-2, 260).

“They’re similar to what we want to be — very physical up front. They’re going to try and make us eat the football,” Weber said. “Their offensive line is excellent, and them being so physical is what makes them so good.”

Three-year starting quarterback Chad Davidson is no slouch either. He had scoring tosses of 40 and 33 yards in Week 2 and is plenty talented enough in the passing game to keep defenses honest.

On a defense let by lineman Rollins (67 tackles and seven sacks in 2007), the Bears will make it a point to stop the opposition from running the football.

“Defensively, they’re going to commit about nine people to stopping the run. And you have to account for their safeties in everything you do because they’re hard run-supporters also,” Weber said.

The Cougars improved their running attack in Week 2, rushing for 170 yards in a tense 21-20 win over Durant — led by quarterback Qumain Black’s 101-yard effort.

“I thought our offensive line was better,” Weber said. “I did think we improved overall from Week 1 to Week 2 and that’s always what you want to do.”

But the turnover bug continued to bite the Cougars. Ada lost three fumbles against the Lions and have seven turnovers in two games.

“Obviously the turnover department didn’t get any better and that’s a concern. We just have to go back to work,” Weber said. “I still think fatigue was a factor. You just get tired and careless with the football and don’t think about holding on to it. We just keep working at it and preaching take care of the ball and hopefully we’ll get it corrected.”

Ada had won its two previous meetings with Noble, taking down the Bears 21-6 in 2006 before edging them on their own home field by a 21-13 count last season. Those two encounters were the first between the two schools.

COUGAR NOTES: Starting right guard Clay Hooten has been slowed by a hip injury in practice this week and is questionable for Friday night. Cameron Gillispie, Dean Doolen and Andrew Scribner are all possible replacements, if needed ... According to coach Crawley, Noble starters have played just four quarters in two games thanks to opening with the pair of lopsided victories while both of the Cougars first two games have gone down to the wire. ... The Ada Football Booster Club will again host a weekly luncheon Friday at noon at Polo’s Mexican Restaurant.

     

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