MOORE — Homecoming meant more than most for the Westmoore Jaguars, who christened their new Jaguar Stadium with a 27-24 win over visiting Norman North on Friday night.
“It means everything,” said WHS Athletic Director Chad Mashburn. “It’s something that we’ve neer been able to experience here on our campus. Every game that we’ve ever gone to that’s been a home game, for us, has been a true road game. . . So having this here, having it on our campus, being able to come out, it’s just amazing. Stands were packed tonight and kids playing great, came out with a win, it’s great.”
Trailing 7-3 and struggling to gain footing, Westmoore quarterback Tre Lewis heaved a pass down field to an open Jaden Hunter, who hauled it in for a 60-yard completion. The next play, senior back Jaylan Woody scored from 20 yards out to give the Jaguars a 10-7 lead.
“I just had to get our get-back from last year,” Hunter said. “It still is. My focus is, like, I’ve always lost to them [Norman North]. We just had to turn that around today.”
After a 38-yard Kalem Gonzales field goal, his second of the night, the Timberwolves defense gave Westmoore head coach David White another blessing: A fumble on its first play of the ensuing drive. Westmoore took over at the Norman North 39.
A punt-off ensued over the next four possessions. Brodie Inhofe came in at quarterback as Lewis moved to halfback late in the half. Inhofe took the snap and pitched it to Lewis, who hit a wide open Bryce Collier for a 49-yard touchdown to give Westmoore a 20-7 lead.
But the Timberwolves would storm back. After scoring two unanswered touchdowns and a field goal, Norman North regained a 24-20 lead.
The Jaguars responded by driving down the field, catch-by-catch and run-by-run until they finally broke into the red zone. They fed Woody on four consecutive plays until he broke the plane of the goal line and gave Westmoore the lead — for good — with six minutes to go.
“We went up at halftime, thought it was over, came out a little flat,” Woody said. “But we picked it up, offense and defense, and got the win.”
The Jaguars, who started off to a rocky 0-3 start, have won their last two games and are unbeaten in district play.
“Just practice, the intensity, everything about this team [has changed],” Woody said. “We’re just a better team in general. The defense is amazing. It’s always been one of the best parts of this team.”
Lewis pieced together a sensational performance. He connected with Woody five times through the air.
“Tre has really, really stepped up his game lately,” Lewis said. “It’s just him working after school, after practice. He’s just on that grind.”
Friday, Mashburn hopes, ushered in a new era at WHS. The total price tag for Westmoore’s new and under-construction facilities will total north of $10 million.
“That’s what you’re supposed to do. You’re supposed to win and defend your home court, home field. And so that’s what we did tonight. Kids went out and played great, proud of them,” Mashburn said. “I expect it [WHS athletics] to grow. Be one of the best programs. That’s what we strive for every day, to be one of the best programs in every one of our sports across the state.”
The Jaguars travel to Owasso next Friday then look to become 2-0 at Jaguar Stadium the following week against Edmond Santa Fe.
