Published: November 06, 2009 10:32 am      

Game time

DHS Senior

DUNCAN — One is looking for respect and another wants the crowd to get as excited as he does during Duncan football games. The last is kind of quiet but has caught himself smiling at least once this week in anticipation of the district championship game at El Reno.

Put them all together and you have the senior members of the offensive line.

It has been a hard road this season for two of those members, James Patton and Jordan Broom. Patton serves a back-up on the line, focusing on his duties at defensive end while playing through injuries. For Broom, his injury was not something he could play through as he was forced to undergo season-ending surgery on his knee.

That has left Tyler Wickard as the main senior leader on a line that has improved weekly and is peaking leading into tonight’s game at El Reno. For Wickard and the Demons, this game will serve as an opportunity to gain respect that has been lacking at times this season.

“I’m nervous, it’s a serious game but it’s just another leading to the state championship,” Wickard said. “It would mean a lot to win a district championship and are going to have to play hard. It’s going to be time to hammer down the whole game.”

Accolades from across the state have been slow in reaching Duncan. The Demons are ranked No. 10 to No. 7, depending on what poll you look at. Picking up a win at No. 2-ranked El Reno would be the perfect way to enter the playoffs and gain some respect.

“We got teams ahead of us that have lost more games in district than we have this season,” Wickard said of his 8-1 Demons.

Not that it is the sort of thing that would bother Patton. This season, the senior has come on strong for the Demons and found a place for himself at defensive end while seeing time as a reserve on the line.

“This is big, it’s really exciting and it’s going to be a big game,” Patton said. “I just can’t wait until it gets here.

“I didn’t think that I would be as big a part of this because I missed a lot of workouts this summer.”

The opportunity to help bring a district championship back to Duncan for the first time since 1993 has Patton’s motor churning. The only thing missing is Broom, who’s promising season was cut short early.

“It means a lot, I just feel bad for Jordan,” Patton said. “I wish he could be out there.”

So does Broom.

This season has been an adjustment, standing on the sideline powerless to get in the game and make a contribution. Little can compare to the disappointment of missing your senior year because of an injury.

“The team’s doing good but it hurts not being out there,” Broom said. “It’s easier that it was in the first couple of games. I just keep lifting and hoping that I can play college ball somewhere.”

Until that time comes to find a home to extend his playing career, Broom is content to take on the role of emotional leader on the sideline.

“I think I get more pumped up on the sideline,” Broom said. “It gets so quiet, the crowd doesn’t make a lot of noise. When the team runs onto the field, it is quiet. Our sideline is also quiet at times.”

Given the fact that he won’t be suiting up tonight, Broom is more than willing to channel his energy, and his requests for a loud Duncan side tonight.

“I hope they are not quiet,” he said. “I think that people would be surprised how much a crowd can get you excited.”

Who knows? It may even bring a smile to Patton’s face.