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.�