Fort Gibson’s strides haven’t as evident record-wise as coach D.J. Howell had hoped for but it’s been far from a lost cause as well.

Over the course of a season that’s produced a 3-6 record (1-5 in District 4A-4), the Tigers have led or been tied at halftime of every game except the season opener and have still won more games than in the previous two years.

Howell has a pretty good idea going into Friday’s game at Broken Bow and beyond what the reasons are that the second halves have cost FGHS a chance at more wins.

’We’ve come out with a good game plan in every game and as the course of the game progresses, teams make adjustments to what you’re doing and you have to take a while to counter those adjustments,’ he said. ’While adjusting we’ve had to rely on a lot of one-on-one battles that we’ve lost, whereas early in the game we were overcoming that with great intensity.

’I think it basically comes down to getting a full off-season with these guys and getting bigger and stronger, especially up front. We have to win more of those battles.’

He also agreed a team that’s not used to winning has to mentally learn to finish.

’In 14 seasons, four as a player and 10 as a coach, I’ve gone through just one season with a losing record and no playoffs so this is different for me,’ he said. ’But you’re right. I think there’s a process of doing something they haven’t done before. But we’re into that process and that will continue.’

Senior two-way lineman Tyler Allberty won’t be back for that continuation.

’I’ve been on losing teams my whole life and he’s right in that we’ve come in at halftime with a sense of satisfaction and haven’t played the second half at the same level,’ he said. ’But the program’s on the right track.’

The Tigers go to Broken Bow with nothing but pride at stake. The Savages (6-3, 5-1) have clinched a playoff berth but still need a win to clinch at least a home playoff game next week. They’re tied for first place with Sallisaw going into the final week of play and would need Sallisaw to lose to last-place Tulsa Webster to gain the top spot in the district since Sallisaw holds the tiebreaker by virtue of its win against Broken Bow earlier in the season.

But a loss by both coupled with a Wagoner victory over Hilldale would give Wagoner the title via a three-way tiebreaker.

So the Tigers could still finish as a spoiler, but its best days appear to be ahead.

And they’ll have a long road trip to and from tonight to reflect on it.

’Coach has brought an intensity here and passed it to us,’ junior running back/linebacker Gannon Whiteley said. ’We’re going to give it our best shot Friday but I’m looking forward to hitting the weights in the off-season and what’s ahead for us next year.’