How ‘Swiss army knife’ Kade Norman catalyzed Washington’s comeback

EDMOND — Kade Norman tracked the football as it flew toward his face.

The senior linebacker was lurking in a prime location for an interception, so he raised his arms and confidently made it happen.

“I said, ‘That’s mine,’” Norman said. “Then I started running down the sideline. (I had) one kid to beat, and I ended up juking him and getting in the end zone. It was so surreal.”

Trailing Millwood at halftime of the Class 2A state finals, Washington desperately needed a spark, and Norman had the answers. He catalyzed the Warriors’ second-half comeback as they defeated the Falcons, 41-24, for their second straight championship and undefeated season.

First, Norman pounced on the football for a fumble recovery that resulted in Major Cantrell’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Mason Singletary. Then Norman continued to swing the pendulum with the 59-yard pick six, his favorite highlight, which gave Washington a 21-18 lead with 4:43 left in the third quarter.

If an offense slips up, Norman knows how to exploit those blunders. That’s because he has seen the field from so many perspectives.

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Washington players run onto the field before playing Millwood in the Class 2A title game Saturday night at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Chad Richison Stadium in Edmond.

Norman, who also takes reps at running back, spent his early high school career on a defensive carousel.

Washington coach Brad Beller said the so-called “Swiss army knife” has played outside linebacker, inside linebacker and safety.

“He knew what everyone was doing,” Beller said. “So it makes him play way more confident with the fact that he was able to know all the other positions, and he’s always in the right spot at the right time.”

Norman finished his high school…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/class-2a-finals-swiss-army-231327285.html

Author : The Oklahoman

Publish date : 2023-12-10 23:13:27

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