Norman Beats Piedmont 20-14 at Harve Collins Stadium

Norman secured a crucial district win by holding Piedmont on a final fourth-down attempt.

Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Football

Expressive sports illustration showing a mid-air football pass breakup between players in contrasting green and maroon jerseys under stadium lights.
The Norman Tigers defeated the Piedmont Wildcats 20-14 on Friday, securing a key district victory following a late defensive stop. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Norman defeated Piedmont 20-14 at Harve Collins Stadium on October 23, 2026. The Tigers preserved the victory by stopping a late Piedmont pass attempt on fourth down with just 56 seconds remaining.

Why it matters

The win brings Norman to a .500 record in both overall and district play, keeping them competitive as the regular season reaches its conclusion. The defensive stand against Piedmont's triple-option flexbone offense proved decisive in a tight contest.

Norman earned the 20-14 victory while both teams sit at an identical 4-4 overall record and 2-2 in district play. The win was sealed when the defense prevented a completion on a fourth-and-11 play at the 20-yard line.

The players

Joe Kelley

He is a quarterback for the Norman high school football team who utilizes a pocket passing style.

Anthony Norris

He is a wide receiver for the Norman high school football team who caught a touchdown pass.

Kole Baden

He is a wide receiver for the Norman high school football team who caught a touchdown pass.

Cyncere Pekah

He is a running back for the Norman high school football team who rushed for a touchdown.

Choctaw

It is the high school football program that has officially clinched the district championship.

The details

Norman employed a dual-quarterback system featuring Joe Kelley, who threw two touchdowns to Anthony Norris and Kole Baden, while Cyncere Pekah contributed a rushing touchdown. The team successfully neutralized Piedmont's triple-option flexbone attack throughout the game.

Timeline

  1. October 23, 2026: Norman defeated Piedmont in a football game.

Season Trajectory

This win positions Norman to potentially finish the regular season on a three-game winning streak. The result keeps the team in a competitive spot within the district standings as they prepare for upcoming games against Putnam North and Putnam West.

The victory ensures Norman maintains a 2-2 district record, providing the team with necessary momentum as they approach the final stretch of the season. Successfully defending the 20-yard line in the final minute of play was the deciding factor in maintaining this .500 district standing.

The takeaway

Maintaining defensive discipline against specialized offensive schemes like the triple-option is critical for closing out tight games. The ability to rotate quarterbacks effectively allowed Norman to manage different game situations and secure this result.

What happens next

Norman is scheduled to play Putnam North next, followed by a matchup against Putnam West.

Further reading

For more local sports updates, visit the Norman Football page.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Oklahoman.

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