Phoenix Murphy

Junior quarterback Phoenix Murphy during the game against Edmond Santa Fe on Oct. 13.

 Sutton Spinner/OU Daily

Norman High (2-5, 2-2 District) lost to Edmond Santa Fe (5-1, 4-0) 52-48 at home on Friday evening. 

Senior running back Devin Alexander rushed for three touchdowns, while junior quarterback Phoenix Murphy totaled three touchdowns of his own. One was a rushing touchdown, while two were passing scores to senior wide receiver Port Hartsock and sophomore wide receiver Ryder Murphy.

On defense, the Tigers allowed the Wolves' Demarius Robinson to rush for four touchdowns, including the eventual game-winner. Edmond Santa Fe's 52 points are the second most Norman High has given up this season after allowing 65 in a defeat to Union last Friday.

The loss puts Norman High at fourth place in the 6A-I District 2 standings behind Union, Edmond Santa Fe and Owasso.

Here are highlights and takeaways from the Tigers' defeat:

Takeaways

Tigers falter after earning two-score lead

With 1:25 left in the third quarter, Norman High held a 41-31 lead after a 58-yard rushing touchdown from Alexander.

But after that, the Tigers couldn't hold on. Robinson scored just 66 seconds after Alexander's touchdown before Edmond Sante Fe's quarterback Daniel Newton gave the Wolves a 45-41 lead with 9:16 left to play.

Norman High would regain the lead on a 71-yard passing touchdown from Phoenix Murphy to Hartsock, but lose it again on Robinson's fourth score. After the game, Tigers coach Rocky Martin attributed his team's defeat to their numerous defensive breakdowns. 

"We've got to eliminate big plays," Martin said. "Those have been killing us on the defensive end. We got to tackle better and get off blocks better. That was the problem in the game."

Martin's players agreed.

"It came down to the couple big plays we gave up," senior safety/wide receiver Dax Noles said. "If we made those stops there, it would've been our game all the way. We have to fix it."

Heading into Friday's game, Norman High had given up 228 points, the fourth-worst in its district behind Yukon, Edmond Memorial and Edmond North. The Tigers have now given up 160 points in their last three games.

Offensive breakdown leads to game-losing interception

With 2:07 left to play, Norman High forced Edmond Santa Fe's only punt and got the ball back at their own 19-yard-line. Needing to drive 81 yards for a touchdown, the Tigers turned it over in three plays.

Murphy was sacked for a loss of six yards on a 2nd and 10, then threw an interception on the ensuing 3rd and 16 play. The junior quarterback applied pressure immediately after the snap, forcing a throw into coverage as Murphy tried pushing the ball downfield. 

Noles blamed the interception on the pressure, while Murphy faulted himself.

"We had a sprint out called, but there were guys on the right side so we couldn't really run it," Murphy said. "I tried to reverse back on the field, they pressured me, I saw a guy downfield and I just tried to throw it up and give my guy a chance, and it came up short. That's on me."

However, Martin refused to let the blame fall on his quarterback.

"Phoenix did the only thing he could do in that situation," Martin said. "Phoenix played really good, they just got their hands on him and that happened."

Martin preaching early playoff mentality

With a 2-2 district record, the Tigers currently hold a playoff position. But with three games left, Norman High could fall out of the picture with more losses.

It's why Martin believes those three games against Mustang, Yukon and Owasso should be treated like playoff games. He believes the Tigers' effort is there, and now wants to take things "one game at a time."

"The fight and the effort is there, but we have to clean up some stuff," Martin said. "We're gonna learn from this and move on. Every game is a playoff game now."

Noles echoed his coach's sentiment.

"Skill wise, we're a good team in this state. But, we have to eliminate mental mistakes," Noles said. "We're getting better every day, we just have to eliminate those mental errors so we can make the playoffs."

Next, Norman High faces Mustang (4-3, 1-3) on the road next Friday at 7 p.m. The Broncos sit just one place behind the Tigers at fifth in the 6A-I District 2 standings.

Dax Noles

Senior defensive back/running back Dax Noles during the game against Edmond Santa Fe on Oct. 13.

Scoring plays

Edmond Santa Fe 52, Norman High 48 (5:09 4th)

Junior running back Demarius Robinson scores his fourth touchdown with a 36-yard run to give the Wolves the lead.

Norman High 48, Edmond Santa Fe 45 (7:36 4th)

Junior quarterback Phoenix Murphy finds senior wide receiver Port Hartsock for a 71-yard catch-and-run passing touchdown.

Edmond Santa Fe 45, Norman High 41 (9:16 4th)

Junior quarterback Daniel Newton scores a 12-yard rushing touchdown to give the Wolves their lead back.

Norman High 41, Edmond Santa Fe 38 (0:19 3rd)

Junior running back Demarius Robinson scores for a third time with a 30-yard rushing touchdown.

Norman High 41, Edmond Santa Fe 31 (1:25 3rd)

Senior running back Devin Alexander scores his third rushing touchdown from 58 yards out to give the Tigers a two-score lead.

Norman High 34, Edmond Santa Fe 31 (3:35 3rd)

Senior kicker Kale Purvis hits a 27-yard field goal to cut the Wolves' deficit in half.

Norman High 34, Edmond Santa Fe 28 (7:14 3rd)

Junior quarterback Phoenix Murphy scores a three-yard rushing touchdown by diving to the pylon.

Edmond Santa Fe 28, Norman High 26 (1:22 2nd)

Junior quarterback Phoenix Murphy finds his younger brother, sophomore wide receiver Ryder Murphy for a 59-yard receiving touchdown.

Edmond Santa Fe 28, Norman High 19 (2:50 2nd)

Sophomore wide receiver Maliki Davis catches a 70-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Daniel Newton.

Edmond Santa Fe 21, Norman High 19 (6:04 2nd)

Senior running back Devin Alexander scores a 65-yard rushing touchdown. A successful two-point conversion is negated by an ineligible man downfield penalty, leading to an extra point try.

Edmond Santa Fe 21, Norman High 12 (6:15 2nd)

Junior running back Demarius Robinson scores a 35-rushing touchdown for his second end zone trip.

Edmond Santa Fe 14, Norman High 12 (8:55 2nd)

Senior safety/wide receiver Dax Noles throws a six-yard touchdown to senior wide receiver Cooper Schone. The two-point conversion was no good.

Edmond Santa Fe 14, Norman High 6 (0:47 1st)

Junior quarterback Daniel Newton scores a five-yard rushing touchdown to put the Wolves up 8.

Edmond Santa Fe 7, Norman High 6 (4:46 1st)

Senior running back Devin Alexander scores the Tigers' first touchdown with a one-yard rush. The extra point was missed.

Edmond Santa Fe 7, Norman High 0 (7:16 1st)

Junior running back Demarius Robinson caps off a 96-yard drive for the Wolves with a five-yard rushing touchdown.

Further Reading

This story was edited by Colton Sulley.

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