Jenks rolls over Norman North, wins 13th state football title
BY BARRY LEWIS World Sports Writer
Friday, November 30, 2012
12/01/12 at 2:30 PM
STILLWATER — Trey’Vonne Barr’e helped Jenks make an emphatic return to Class 6A state football’s summit on Friday night.
Barr’e had 22 carries for 290 yards and three touchdowns to lead the top-ranked Trojans to a 55-20 victory over No. 6 Norman North before an estimated crowd of 15,000 at Boone Pickens Stadium.
The Trojans won their 13th state title overall, but first since 2007.
“Winning the state championship (feels like) everything I thought it would be and even more,” Barr’e said. “It’s awesome. I love it.”
Jenks continued the East side monopoly on the 6A gold ball as it has combined with Union to win the past 17 state titles. Trojans coach Allan Trimble won his 10th state title in 17 seasons.
Jenks (12-2) returned to glory as it completed its comeback from an 0-2 start this season. Norman North (12-2), which opened in 1997, was in its first state final. This was the first East-West matchup in the state final since Jenks’ 28-7 win over Enid in 2006.
Barr’e, a senior who eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards for the second straight year, had scoring runs of 35, 53 and 52 yards. All three came during a 35-point Trojans explosion in the last 9:05 of the first half as the Trojans took a 41-7 lead into intermission.
“He’s a special kid and I love him to death,” Jenks coach Allan Trimble said. “He’s a true champion.”
Jenks quarterback Kyle Alexander passed for 198 yards and four TDs. His leading receiver was Trey Michalczewski, who had five receptions for 132 yards and a TD plus a two-point conversion. Most of Jenks’ passing yardage came in the second half as the Timberwolves focused totally on stopping Barr’e.
Norman North tried to come back from its big halftime deficit as Peyton Gavras tossed two TD passes to open the second half to cut Jenks’ lead to 41-20. Gavras passed for 267 yards and three TDs, but was picked off intercepted five times.
“I was extremely proud of the way our guys came out in the second half,” Norman North coach Wade Standley said. “They’re fighters.”
But just when it seemed as if the Timberwolves were on the verge of putting the outcome in doubt, the Trojans countered with Alexander’s 66-yard TD pass to Michalczewski with 2:47 left in the third quarter. That was Jenks’ initial first down of the second half.
In the final quarter, Alexander added an 11-yard TD pass to Jordan Smallwood — his second scoring reception of the game. Jenks scored the most points in a title game since a 56-8 victory over Yukon in 1997.
“I am so excited,” Smallwood said.
A lot happened in the game’s first 89 seconds that was capped by Braden Calip’s 5-yard TD run that opened the scoring for Jenks. After Barr’e returned the opening kickoff to the Jenks 30, he fumbled on the next play and Norman North’s Justin Martin recovered at the Trojans 43.
However, the Timberwolves went 3-and-out and Redford Jones punted 35 to the Jenks 8. On the next play, Barr’e raced 87 yards to the 5, where he was tackled by Beau Proctor. But that only delayed the TD by one play as Calip gave Jenks a 6-0 lead.
Jenks did not score again until a 35-yard run by Barr’e around left end with 9:05 left in the second period. That came two plays after Dylan Harding’s interception. Jenks settled for a 12-0 lead as Garrett Patterson was tackled inches short of the goal line by Proctor on the two-point pass.
It took only 83 seconds for Jenks to strike again. Barr’e raced 53 yards untouched on the play following Norman North’s failed fake punt that came up 2 yards short on fourth-and-7. Daniel Donley kicked the extra point for a 19-0 lead.
The Trojans drove 66 yards in 10 plays on their next possession that included Alexander completing key third-down passes to Michalczewski and Patterson. On fourth-and-3 at the Timberwolves 28, Alexander fired a pass to Smallwood, who lowered his shoulder to run over defensive back Carter Klein along the right sideline and then rolled into the end zone uncontested. Alexander passed to Michalzewski for the two-point conversion that made it 27-0 with 2:49 left in the half.
Sixty-four seconds later, Barr’e scored on a 52-yard run on the first play after Steven Parker’s interception.
Norman North answered with Gavras’ 34-yard TD pass to Corbin Cleveland, who got behind the Trojans’ secondary with 42 seconds left. However, Jenks’ Brett Tye returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a TD that boosted Jenks’ lead to 41-7.
Associated Images:
Jenks' Trey'Vonne Barr'e (center) leaves Norman North's Jordan Evans (left) and DJ Gasso (right) behind during a run in the 6A state title game in Stillwater, on Friday. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
The Jenks football team gathers on the field before the Class 6A state title game against Norman North in Stillwater, on Friday. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
The Jenks Trojans, led by Steven Parker (No. 10) enter the field before their game last week against Union. The Trojans go for the Class 6A state title Friday against Norman North. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World
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