Norman North Timberwolves OK 2023 Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's the month of July and that means it's preview time! Throughout the month of July and into August, we are publishing well over 100 in-depth team previews to get you completely ready for the 2023 football season. This is something that began in 2021 and has continued to get bigger every single year. We're looking forward to diving deep into the top teams across the state. From defending champions, to top contenders and plenty of dark horses, we'll have complete coverage every single day with new teams from Class 6A, all the way down to the addition of 8-man coverage this year with Class B and C. In this post, we take a look at the Norman North Timberwolves.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Norman North Timberwolves </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #7<br>Preseason Coaches Ranking: T6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2022 season was an absolute roller coaster ride for the Norman North Timberwolves and unfortunately, it ended too soon with them falling to Owasso in the quarterfinal round. The year opened with close wins over Norman and Edmond Santa Fe before a surprising loss to Yukon in week three and then a blowout loss to eventual champion Bixby. Sitting at 2-2, Norman North's season could have gone in a few different directions. But they would rattle off six straight wins, including back to back wins over Broken Arrow and Jenks on the road. They got everyone's attention after that two-week stretch. With an 8-2 regular season record, the Timberwolves earned a first round bye after finishing second in the district. But the 2022 season also saw Norman North suffer through injuries to important pieces. And without their star quarterback, the Timberwolves were upset by Owasso in the quarterfinals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As they head into the 2023 football season, the Timberwolves are determined to finish what they started last season. They'll need to stay healthy, they'll need new faces to come along and grow up quickly because their district looks like it's going to be much more competitive this season. Seven starters are back on the offensive side of the ball. And while they have to replace that star quarterback who got hurt late in the season last fall, they do have some experience at the position and he'll benefit from having a very strong offensive line in front of him. The biggest question mark will be on the defensive side of the ball as the Timberwolves only have four starters returning from last year's team. They are very young in some areas but they also have some very talented underclassmen that are ready to have breakout seasons. Norman North definitely has a sour taste in their mouth with how last season ended. We anticipate them to bounce back in a big way this fall and avoid another roller coaster ride of a season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 RESULTS (8-3 Record - Lost In 6A-1 Quarterfinals)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 1 - Beat Norman 40-36<br>Sept. 9 - Beat Edmond Santa Fe 28-20<br>Sept. 16 - Lost To Yukon 28-23<br>Sept. 23 - Lost To Bixby 63-7<br>Sept. 29 - Beat Broken Arrow 57-50 (OT)<br>Oct. 7 - Beat Jenks 31-21<br>Oct. 13 - Beat Southmoore 64-10<br>Oct. 21 - Beat Moore 72-29<br>Oct. 28 - Beat Westmoore 52-28<br>Nov. 3 - Beat Enid 52-32<br>Quarterfinals - Lost To Owasso 41-34</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Key Losses To Graduation</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brayden Dorney - Athlete<br>Chapman McKown - Running Back<br>Kamden Sixkiller - Quarterback<br>Mason Pace - Defensive Back<br>Parker Andrews - Defensive Lineman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players To Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["216585"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"We mentioned that offensive line being the strength of this Norman North team as we head into the 2023 football season. 2024 offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='216585' first='Harrison' last='Utley'] is a big reason behind that. He's one of the best prospects at his position in the 2024 class and has firmly established himself as one of the best offensive linemen in the state. As Norman North gets more and more comfortable with some new names at quarterback and some of the other skill positions, we think that Utley is in a perfect position to be a vocal leader and steady presence in the huddle. With Utley anchoring the offensive line, and he's not alone on that line as they have more dudes along the line of scrimmage, the Timberwolves will have one of the better units in the state.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["284117"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Whenever a freshman makes a significant impact at the 6A-1 level, it gets your attention immediately. That's the case with 2026 standout [player_tooltip player_id='284117' first='Mason' last='James'] as he became a major contributor for the Timberwolves last season on the defensive side of the ball. This fall, the Norman North coaches anticipate him being arguably their most versatile player as he'll see time at wide receiver and defensive back. James had an outstanding offseason and we saw him quite a bit while playing with Sooner 7 on the 7v7 tournament circuit. He was one of the best 2026 athletes that we watched this offseason and we're looking forward to seeing how he continues that momentum into this fall when the pads come on. We anticipate James to have a big sophomore season on both sides of the ball.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["595685"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Last year when Sixkiller went down with an injury, it was 2025 standout [player_tooltip player_id='595685' first='Owen' last='Eshelman'] who filled in for him at the quarterback position. Now fast forward to today and Eshelman is the next QB1 for the Timberwolves after having a really strong sophomore campaign, primarily at the safety position. The Timberwolves were able to stun Jenks on the road and Eshelman had one of his best games of the season in that match-up. Now, he'll look to beat teams like Jenks from the other side of the ball at quarterback. Eshelman is going to be one of the more athletic quarterbacks in Class 6A-1 this season. He's also a standout on the basketball floor and he performed incredibly well at our prospect camp back in January. We think he becomes a breakout star sooner rather than later.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64aa1a758d86a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>More Names To Know</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='876672' first='Camden' last='Pratcher'] - 2024 Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='660312' first='Elias' last='Battle'] - 2024 Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1137346' first='Finn' last='Smith'] - 2024 Defensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='589021' first='Kasen' last='Lea'] - 2024 Offensive Lineman<br>Logan Richard - 2025 Linebacker<br>[player_tooltip player_id='129400' first='Zain' last='Prater'] - 2024 Wide Receiver</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2023 Schedule/Games To Circle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aug. 31 - Norman<br></strong>- It's a renewal of the traditional rivalry in Norman with the Crosstown Clash as the Timberwolves will square off with the Tigers. This has become a week one tradition on a Thursday night where they get a lot of attention by being one of the few games played on a Thursday. After losing back to back meetings with the Tigers in 2018 and 2019, they have won the last three in the series, including a meeting in the 2020 playoffs after the regular season meeting was canceled due to covid. Last year's season opener was exciting from start to finish with the Timberwolves prevailing with a 40-36 victory over the rival Tigers. <br>Sept. 8 - AT Edmond Santa Fe<br><strong>Sept. 15 - Yukon<br></strong>- The final non-district tune up before a tough district slate happens in week three when Norman North hosts Yukon. The storylines of this match-up aren't so much about the game on the field. The Timberwolves will be going head to head with their former head coach Brent Barnes, who resigned following the 2017 season to take a job in Arizona. He returned to Oklahoma this offseason to take over a Yukon football program that is hungry to join some of the other teams in the OKC area as serious contenders in the state's largest class. Another subplot of this match-up is Norman North getting a little revenge after losing to Yukon last fall. That was Yukon's only win in 2022. <br>Sept. 22 - AT Bixby<br>Sept. 29 - AT Broken Arrow<br><strong>Oct. 5 - Jenks<br></strong>- After back to back losses to Yukon and Bixby, Norman North completely turned things around immediately with an exciting overtime win over Broken Arrow in week five and then grabbing headlines across the state in week six. The Timberwolves went to Jenks and stunned the Trojans with a 31-21 victory. Because of that win, the Timberwolves set themselves up for a bye in the first round of the playoffs. A win here is going to put Norman North in a similar position where they are going to have a good shot at not only a home playoff game, but a first round bye. The Timberwolves won't be backing down to the Trojans after last season's success. <br>Oct. 12 - Southmoore<br>Oct. 19 - AT Moore<br>Oct. 27 - Westmoore<br>Nov. 3 - AT Enid</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top storylines every single season in Class 6A-1 is the gap between the east side and west side schools. The west side schools are closing the gap but it's been a slow build and Norman North has experienced every bit of the pain of going against the Tulsa-area powers, especially when it counts. While they've had regular season success against Broken Arrow, Jenks and Union in recent years, they've also seen their last six trips to the playoffs end with losses to those Tulsa-area programs. They would make it all the way to the state championship game in 2016 but lost to Union, despite beating them in the regular season. The Timberwolves have made three straight trips to the postseason and each trip ended in the quarterfinal round. In 2020 and 2021, they fell to Jenks before being upset by Owasso last year in the quarters. This fall, the Timberwolves are determined to turn their luck around against the Tulsa-area programs when it matters most.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Championship History</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>0 State Championships</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->