Game preview: Lawton Ike at PC North

Lawton Eisenhower (5-2, 3-1) at Putnam City North (2-5, 1-3)
When: 7 tonight
Where: Putnam City Stadium

Last week: Ike had maybe its most impressive performance of the season in a 35-0 win over Edmond Memorial. PC North mounted a furious rally but fell short in a 42-39 loss to Yukon.

Why the Eagles could win: Running back Louis Durant and quarterback Adrian McDonald form one of the better RB/QB rushing combos around. And the defense is feeling confident after logging its first shutout, even though Edmond Memorial is battling some bad injuries. Still, the Eagles are athletic and talented, and they know there’s a good playoff berth potentially waiting in their future.

Why the Panthers could win: Their backs are truly against the wall now. With a couple of winnable games the final two weeks of the season against Moore and Choctaw, the Panthers need a win now so they can make a run at the playoffs. Yardage-wise, the offense has been sharp the last few weeks. The defense has had some ups and downs during that span, but has still been pretty solid.

Key matchup: PC North offense vs. its turnovers struggles. As I said, the Panthers are moving the ball well lately, but turnovers have been a major killer for them all season. They gave it up four times last week, and if Ike can manage a few takeaways, the Eagles’ chance of victory multiplies quickly.