By ERIC VICCARO
and BLAKE WOOD
bnewssports@sbcglobal.net

An unrelenting, blistering heat was prevalent across Montague County during the summer of 2011, and that ultimately led to a change.
Brandon Owen, who is now Nocona’s offensive coordinator, advised head football coach Brad Keck move the first practice in pads to midnight.
The move has paid off for the Indians, who have made the playoffs every single year since.
“All week long, we put in plays,” Keck said. “I wanted to see how we would look in pads.”
Keck said the only way to tell if a player is performing aggressively or not is with pads on.
Friday at midnight marked the first time this season local teams could practice in pads, and Bowie and Nocona both participated in what’s termed “Midnight Madness” practice. Nocona’s session was inside Jack Crain Stadium and Bowie at Jackrabbit Stadium.
“It’s just a different an exciting for the kids,” Bowie head football coach Dylan Stark said. “If the kids like, then we like it, too.”
Both Stark and Keck said it was also a chance to see how the athletes would perform “under the lights” and with a crowd present.
Reportedly, the crowd was much larger in Nocona than Bowie.
“We’ve had a great response,” Keck said regarding the midnight training session.

During the first allowable practice of the season with pads on, Nocona High School worked on a drill called “Blood Alley” early Friday morning at Jack Crain Stadium in Nocona. Bowie also had a “Midnight Madness” practice. Click on the photo for the complete image. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)