Two weeks ago, the dream of a winning season died for the Haskell Indian Nations University football team.
A 45-0 loss at home to Panhandle State dropped Haskell to 4-5, but Fightin' Indians coach Eric Brock thinks a week off has focused his team on win number five in today's season finale against 5-5 Langston (Okla.) University at Haskell Stadium.
"I think the guys are pretty confident," he said. "I think we had a couple bumps and bruises a couple of weeks ago. Over the week, we started to feel refreshed."
Panhandle State's offense dominated the Indians two weeks ago, and today Haskell's defense will be forced to stay on its toes. After struggling against a Panhandle QB who could throw and run, Langston's two-headed quarterback attack of Freddy Fair and Tony Williams could trouble Haskell.
Both teams have an ignominious trait -- being defeated by a super-sized Panhandle squad. Langston fell last weekend at the opening of its brand-new stadium, 31-14.
Aside from trying to win the game for the team's two seniors -- offensive linemen Adam Anderson and Steven Moore -- Brock believes many of his players have bragging rights at stake.
A large chunk of Haskell's roster hails from Oklahoma, and many of the Indians know members of the Langston roster.
"It's kind of a bragging-right-type game, seeing a lot of guys they played against in high school," Brock said. "You always want to end the season on a high note, going off in the offseason with the fact that improvements have been made. It would be a greater step for us to be 5-6."
| Broken Arrow, Okla. -- Haskell's women's basketball team fell to Rhema Bible, 57-50, Friday. Samantha Pete scored 15 points, Melinda Adams had 10 points and seven rebounds, and Maria Stevens had 10 points and six rebounds for Haskell. Haskell (1-3) will meet Dallas Christian today at Rhema College. |
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.