OKLAHOMA CITY — Putnam City North mistakes and an explosive Norman offense dug a hole first half hole that the Panthers couldn’t dig out of in a 56-29 loss Friday (Oct. 30).

The loss hurt the Panthers’ chances of hosting a playoff game in the first round as North (2-7, 2-3) slid back to fifth in the middle of the 6A-II-1 standings behind Norman and Piedmont.

The Tigers (5-4, 3-2) rode the legs and arm of senior quarterback Joshua Kelley, who threw for four touchdown passes and accounted for 438 yards on the ground and in the air.

North had seven first downs, gained 71 yards in the first half and lost a turnover. The offense struggled to move the ball and key penalties kept the defense on the field.

Putnam City North coach Brian Lockart said that formula makes it hard to win at this point in district play.

“If you’re not playing complementary football, the game can get away from you quickly,” Lockart said.

Norman’s first drive turned into points not long after a roughing-the-passer penalty gave the Tigers new life. Later, Kelley’s second touchdown pass earned a 14-0 advantage after one quarter.

In the second quarter, a 21-0 lead ballooned to 28-0 after a Panther fumble in Norman territory. Tiger junior JaMarcus Davis returned the fumble to the North 20-yard line. Four plays later, it was 28-0.

North was still stuck and two plays after a Panther punt, Kelley connected with senior Anthony Norris for a 57-yard score to make it 35-0.

Norman threatened to score again just before halftime, but the Panther defense turned the Tigers away at the 3-yard line as time expired.

Lockart’s message to his team at halftime was to forget the score.

“I just told them at halftime, ‘Okay, you can control your attitude and effort. So are we going to fight, or are we just going to go ahead and try to be average?’ ” Lockart recalled “I told them, basically, win the second half. You can’t control the scoreboard. You’ve already given that away. But how do you want to finish it?”

The Panthers started the quarter by moving the ball with passes against Norman’s soft zone defense. North finally got a big play when junior Owen McMahan found senior Jaelen Taylor for a 47-yard touchdown pass.

The Tigers answered on the next drive as Kelley connected senior London Herbin from 52 yard out.

McMahan and Norman’s backup quarterback Chase Watson exchanged interceptions. Senior Gavin Davis snagged the pick.

North moved into the red zone but an interception at the 1-yard line by senior Logan Bean ended the threat.

Norman drove 99 yards on five plays for a score to make it 49-7. Watson found junior Rivers White wide open for a 48-yard touchdown.

The Panthers responded with an 11-play, 72-yard drive, helped out by a Tiger pass interference penalty. North also gave Norman a steady diet of Vaisulu Toles, who gained 37 yards on the ground in the series.

McMahan capped it off with a seven-yard score to Gavin Davis. The quarterback had a high snap go off his hands. The ball bounced off the turf back to MacMahan, who sprinted to left side and threw on the run to Davis in the back of the end zone.

A botched extra point turned into a two-point conversion when sophomore Rhylen Harris, the holder, took a bad snap and ran it in the end zone.

The North defense forced a three-and-out. The Panther struck on the first play of their drive as McMahan connected with Rhylan Harris in the middle of the defense. Harris outran everyone for an 81-yard score to make it 49-22.

The North defense had the Panthers’ final score when Gavin Davis had an 45-yard interception return for a touchdown.

North had more opportunities, including a fumble recovery by Gavan Krone but the offense stalled.

Kelley and sophomore Cyncere Pekah helped fuel one more touchdown drive. Pekah scored on a 13-yard run to make it 56-29.

McMahan was 21-of-57 passing with 344 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Rhylen Harris was the biggest target with nine catches for 196 yards.

Toles led the team on the ground with 42 yards, all in the second half.

“The kid’s just an athlete.” Lockart said of Toles, “For him to be able to come in and give us kind of a power run game, because he’s a big, big kid, he can run hard in between the tackles. He’s physical. That gave us a boost.”

Despite giving up 682 yards on offense, Lockart praised his defense.

“I know the defense looks like they’re giving up a lot of points each week, but they’re being put in tough spots,” Lockart said.

Lockart pulled his seniors into the office before the senior night contest to thank them for helping the program.

“They’ve made a big difference and there’s only four or five of them that play heavily on Friday night, and they’ve had to weather this storm,” Lockart said. “And so I know the young guys are gonna be able to be able to see the foundation then. They didn’t quit on their senior year.”

UP NEXT

The Panthers finish the regular season next Friday (Nov, 6) at Piedmont.

On Friday, the Wildcats thumped Putnam City West, 56-7.

NORMAN – Etsell 13 pass from J. Kelley (Munding kick), 9:28, 1Q
NORMAN – Pekah 6 pass from J. Kelley (Munding kick), 5:03, 1Q
NORMAN – Pekah 26 run (Seay kick), 8:30, 2Q
NORMAN – Pekah 3 run (Seay kick), 5:08, 2Q
NORMAN – Norris 57 pass from J. Kelley (Seay kick), 3:03, 2Q
PUTNAM CITY NORTH – Taylor 47 pass from McMahan (Munnerlyn kick), 11:06, 3Q
NORMAN – Herbin 52 pass from J. Kelley (Seay kick), 9:04, 3Q
NORMAN – White 48 pass from C. Watson (Seay kick), 5:56, 3Q
PUTNAM CITY NORTH – G. Davis 7 pass from McMahan (R. Harris run), 2:52, 3Q
PUTNAM CITY NORTH – R. Harris 81 pass from McMahan (Munnerlyn kick), :45, 3Q
PUTNAM CITY NORTH – G. Davis 45 interception return (Munnerlyn kick), 11:13, 4Q
NORMAN – Pekah 13 run (Seay kick), 3:05, 4Q

Updated October 30, 2026 at 10:46 PM

2026 Putnam City North Football

Overall Record: 2-7  ·  District Record: 2-3 (6A-II-1)

HOME GAMES in bold

* District game

2026 Norman Football

Overall Record: 5-4  ·  District Record: 3-2 (6A-II-1)

HOME GAMES in bold

* District game