By Christian Potts
Ranking groups means rather a lot of weeks are sort of ho-hum.
Top groups are likely to win rather a lot, and after they all win, there is not usually room for a lot change in a high 25 rating.
This, nonetheless, isn’t one of these weeks.Â
With two of the highest 4 and three of the highest seven from last week’s SBLive Oklahoma rankings struggling defeats, this week’s rankings see a major quantity of movement.
Choctaw’s 28-16 victory in a Class 6AII showdown in opposition to Edmond Deer Creek, in addition to Coweta’s dominating 49-0 triumph in a key 5A matchup with McAlester, present these winners stable boosts this week.
Norman North, a preseason high 15 workforce, had slid utterly out of the rankings after losses to Yukon and Bixby. But the Timberwolves have fought again the last two weeks with back-to-back wins in opposition to eastside powers in Class 6AI, following up an additional time triumph in opposition to Broken Arrow with a 31-21 victory at then-No. 7 Jenks Friday.
Throw in statement-making victories from squads like Cushing, Stillwater and Poteau, and it results in rather a lot of change throughout the rankings.
Here’s the way it all shakes out.
1. Bixby (6-0, 3-0 District 6AI-1)
Of course, not all the things is altering and positively not the Spartans’ spot on the high. If something, Bixby is an much more stable No. 1 after a 77-14 win in opposition to Enid that noticed extra hard-to-believe details from a Bixby squad that continues to show heads.
On that evening, the Spartans scored 3 times earlier than they even took an offensive snap, on a kickoff return for a landing by Jakeb Snyder, a return of a blocked punt by Cord Nolan and a punt return by Tyson Williams. Then on that first offensive play, Connor Kirby and Cale Fugate attached on a 47-yard landing, making it 28-0.
The Plainsmen did not have a lot probability from there as Bixby received its fifty fifth consecutive recreation, including to its state file.
2. Tulsa Union (6-0, 3-0 District 6AI-2)
The Redhawks took down Norman, 42-28, in a Thursday evening recreation to maintain their file good.
But the attention-grabbing storyline last week was a change at quarterback, with Grayson Tempest, who had began video games a 12 months in the past earlier than an damage, changing Jenks switch Shaker Reisig, who coach Kirk Fridrich mentioned was coping with “nagging injuries” after beginning the primary 5 video games of the season.
Ultimately, operating again DJ McKinney was the star of the evening, carrying 19 occasions for 191 yards and 4 of the Redhawks’ touchdowns. But it will likely be attention-grabbing to see who’s taking snaps on this week’s showdown in opposition to Mustang.
3. Coweta (6-0, 3-0 District 5A-3)
The Tigers might have had last 12 months on their minds a little bit.
In 2021, Coweta and McAlester performed a recreation with comparable stakes in District 5A-3 and the Buffaloes rolled, 33-2. But on Thursday evening, it was virtually a reverse of that recreation, with issues being all Coweta from the outset in a 49-0 blowout.
Quarterback Na’Kylan Starks threw 4 landing passes and ran for a fifth, whereas the Tigers’ protection held McAlester to 240 yards and a uncommon shutout defeat, 38 factors under their season common.
4. OKC Bishop McGuinness (6-0, 3-0 District 5A-2)
One of a number of implausible finishes on Friday got here for the Irish, as Will Kilgallon kicked a 30-yard subject objective with no time on the clock in a 30-27 win at Guthrie. Kilgallon initially had missed from 45 yards, however the Blue Jays had been known as for roughing the kicker, giving him a second probability to finish the sport in regulation.
The highway nonetheless is hard for McGuinness, which takes on conventional energy Midwest City Carl Albert this week in a recreation that can go a protracted method to deciding the District 5A-2 title.
5. Mustang (5-1, 3-0 District 6AI-2)
The Broncos flexed their defensive muscle by shutting out Edmond Santa Fe, 19-0, to remain good. Now comes their greatest take a look at of the season in a date with Tulsa Union.
Union has dominated the collection, successful 9 of 10 video games since their first assembly, which truly got here within the 2005 Class 6A state championship recreation. Last 12 months, Union rolled to a 48-10 victory.
6. Choctaw (5-1, 3-0 District 6AII-2)
The Yellowjackets performed their finest recreation of the season after they wanted it, leaping out early on beforehand unbeaten Edmond Deer Creek and taking management of their district race.
An efficient operating recreation noticed Steele Wasel and La’Trell Ray every discover the tip zone twice, and the Choctaw protection did the remaining in a 28-16 triumph.
7. Cushing (6-0, 3-0 District 4A-3)
The Tigers made District 4A-3’s greatest recreation of the 12 months a wipeout, taking down visiting Wagoner, 42-0, behind a 401-yard passing evening from Blaze Berlowitz and a smothering defensive efficiency.
They’ll be stable favorites of their closing 4 video games as they attempt to wrap up a 10-0 season simply three years faraway from a season during which they received solely 4 occasions.
8. Stillwater (6-0, 3-0 District 6AII-1)
The Pioneers hold trending in the suitable course and scored one of the state’s most dominant wins on Friday, dismantling a stable Sand Springs squad, 58-7. Gage Gundy threw for 309 yards and 5 touchdowns because the Pioneers piled up a 44-0 lead by halftime.
The Pioneers are a probable favourite the following three weeks, however a giant date to circle on the calendar is Nov. 4, when a highway journey to Muskogee might very nicely determine the district championship.
9. Edmond Deer Creek (5-1, 2-1 District 6AII-2)
The Antlers should lick their wounds for the primary time after Choctaw avenged last 12 months’s 36-29 Deer Creek victory within the 6AII quarterfinals with last week’s victory.
They’re nonetheless very a lot an element of the chase to win the category, and can shut out the ultimate month of the common season starting with this week’s contest in opposition to Lawton High.
10. McAlester (5-1, 2-1 District 5A-3)
Similar to Deer Creek, the Buffaloes now should regroup after their first setback of the season. Not a lot went proper of their loss to Coweta, maybe most significantly being the well being of star Erik McCarty, who was out and in of the sport with a sore knee.
McAlester is previous the hardest half of its district schedule and the Buffs nonetheless have an incredible probability to host a playoff recreation if they will shut with wins in 4 video games the place they will be favored.
11. Del City (5-1, 2-1 District 5A-3)
The Eagles bounced again from a tricky additional time loss to the Buffaloes in Week Five by crushing visiting Sapulpa, 56-7. Senior Dkalen Godwin threw three landing passes within the first quarter as Del City raced out to a 28-0 lead and by no means appeared again.
The Eagles and their followers definitely have an eye fixed to their Oct. 28 recreation, after they’ll get their shot at district-leading Coweta.
12. Collinsville (6-0, 3-0 District 5A-4)
The defending 5A state champions carry on rolling, taking down Tulsa Hale, 63-6, last Friday.
Keep an eye fixed on the Cardinals’ recreation two weeks away, when a still-undefeated Grove workforce involves city for a recreation that possible will determine the 5A-4 championship and what’s assuredly a better highway within the playoffs.
13. Rejoice Christian (6-0, 3-0 District 2A-8)
Per week after getting a push from Sequoyah-Claremore, the Eagles got here again sturdy with a decisive 58-14 triumph in opposition to Adair.
The Eagles will face one of their greatest assessments up to now this Thursday, internet hosting a Vinita squad that’s undefeated and has received each recreation by at the very least 24 factors.
14. Lincoln Christian (5-1, 3-0 District 3A-3)
The Bulldogs had been in a bit of a lull, taking every week off following an in depth win in opposition to Berryhill and their solely loss the week earlier than at Shiloh Christian (Ark.) But they appeared like their typical selves last week, pounding Checotah, 63-0.
Lincoln hosts a 3-4 Seminole squad this week however might have an eye fixed to Oct. 21, when undefeated Stigler involves Tulsa for a showdown.
15. Muskogee (6-0, 3-0 District 6AII-1)
The Roughers scored their second straight 60-point shutout efficiency, taking down OKC U.S. Grant, 66-0, to remain unbeaten.
They’ll face Tahlequah this week, however their district title hopes will hinge on Weeks 8 and 10, after they face a Tulsa Booker T. Washington squad that is beginning to put collectively wins, after which an unbeaten Stillwater workforce.
16. Jenks (4-2, 2-1 District 6AI-2)
Don’t ever depend out the Trojans, whose file the last few a long time speaks for itself. But this 12 months’s model clearly is off stride proper now, falling to visiting Norman North, 31-21, last week.
The Trojans attempt to get again on monitor with contests the following two weeks in opposition to Moore and Southmoore, video games they should win with Broken Arrow and No. 1 Bixby looming forward within the common season’s closing two contests.
17. Washington (6-0, 3-0 District 2A-3)
The Warriors’ protection is discovering its type, shutting down OKC Crooked Oak in a 39-0 shutout in Week 6. Washington has outscored its last three opponents 121-14, together with a 40-7 win in opposition to a stable Frederick squad that’s 4-2.
They face possibly their hardest district take a look at this Thursday in a highway journey to face a 5-1 Lindsay squad that additionally has been stout defensively.
18. Owasso (2-4, 1-2 District 6AI-2)
The Rams wanted a win as they courageous what’s been a brutally robust schedule to this point. And they discovered one, taking down an enhancing Edmond North squad, 30-16.
They’ll search to proceed their momentum and climb the district standings this week in a highway journey down the Turner Turnpike to tackle a 1-5 Yukon squad.
19. Tulsa Metro Christian (6-0, 3-0 District 3A-1)
The high-flying Patriots did it extra with protection of their sixth win, taking down McLoud, 35-0, to remain good on the season. Quarterback Kirk Francis threw passes for all 5 of the Patriots’ touchdowns.
(*25*)They’ll take a protracted highway journey west this week to tackle a Kingfisher squad that is available in on a two-game successful streak.
20. Poteau (5-1, 3-0 District 4A-4)
The Pirates pounded out 321 yards on the bottom and rolled previous a powerful Hilldale squad, 30-7, to solidify their district positioning.
With Class 4A disrupted in Week 6 as conventional powers Wagoner, Tuttle and defending state champion Clinton all misplaced, Poteau abruptly jumps proper to the entrance of the road together with unbeaten Cushing because the groups to beat within the class.
21. Guthrie (5-1, 1-1 District 5A-2)
The Blue Jays got here oh-so-close to taking down district rival Bishop McGuinness, however a last-play subject objective did them in, 30-27, with the Irish avenging a nail-biting 35-34 Guthrie win in 2021.
Guthrie faces an improved OKC Southeast squad Thursday evening, adopted by a recreation in opposition to MWC Carl Albert which will decide their possibilities to host a first-round playoff contest.
22. Gore (6-0, 2-0 District A-8)
The Pirates hold piling up big numbers, doing so once more in a 61-12 victory in opposition to Pocola. Gunner Dozier once more had an enormous evening, scoring 5 touchdowns and speeding for 177 yards.
Gore seeks to proceed its unbeaten romp by the season this week in opposition to Central Sallisaw, which is 4-2 and pushing for a playoff spot of its personal.
23. Norman North (4-2, 2-1 District 6AI-1)
The Timberwolves return to the rankings after their back-to-back triumphs in opposition to Broken Arrow and Jenks.
Suddenly, they go from seeming to be in hassle after losses to Yukon and Bixby, to controlling their very own future for at the very least second place in district play, with remaining video games in opposition to the three Moore faculties and Enid.
24. Elgin (6-0, 3-0 District 5A-1)
The Owls raced to a 34-0 victory in opposition to a struggling Altus squad to maintain their place in what’s developed right into a three-team race in District 5A-1.
Elgin, Lawton MacArthur and Midwest City are every 3-0 in district play, whereas every of the opposite 5 squads is under a .500 district file. The Owls face the Highlanders after which Midwest City of their closing two video games.
25. Ringling (6-0, 3-0 District A-4)
Like their Class A counterparts from Gore, the Blue Devils simply carry on rolling as nicely. Week 6 noticed the Blue Devils bulldoze their method to a 3rd shutout in six video games, 50-0, in opposition to Healdton. Ringling has allowed simply 36 factors all season.
Class A seems to be like an incredible battle, with Ringling and Gore joined by unbeaten groups in Burns Flat-Dill City, Fairview, Walters, Crescent, Hominy, Tonkawa and Colcord all lurking exterior the highest 25 however definitely viable contenders for a giant run come playoff time.
story by The Texas Tribune Source link