By Glen Brockenbush | Photo by Karen Schwartz
Oklahoma’s high school state football playoffs get beneath method on Friday, and whereas the primary spherical may not present the identical big-name, marquee matchups we’ll certainly get in later rounds, there are nonetheless lots of hotly contested, high-stakes video games annually at this stage.
You may see an upset or near-upset right here or there, and there’s at all times the chance of a standard energy giving method to a extra up-and-coming school. And then there are the postseason rivalries, the place specific groups at all times appear to match up with each other within the playoffs, breeding a specific sort of unhealthy blood.
Still, on the subject of assembly acquainted foes, I’m undecided anybody may have foreseen two rematches of state championship video games from a 12 months in the past this early within the playoffs.
However, these are removed from the one intriguing matchups happening within the first spherical of the playoffs, as evidenced in SBLive Oklahoma’s Top 10 Games of the Week.
1. McAlester (8-2, No. 3 from District 5A-3) at Collinsville (9-1, No. 2 from District 5A-4)
Last 12 months’s Class 5A state championship was an instant classic, one of one of the best title video games in latest reminiscence. And followers didn’t have to attend lengthy to get an encore.
However, Collinsville misplaced a ton from the 2021 group that captured this system’s first state championship in football.
McAlester misplaced high quality expertise as properly, however the Buffs nonetheless have one of the state’s greatest gamers in future Oklahoma Sooner Erik McCarty. Their two losses have been beautiful for various causes – the loss to Sapulpa as a result of it was a respectable upset in many individuals’s eyes, and the one to Coweta as a result of it was seen as a gathering of the highest two groups in 5A and ended 49-0.
With McCarty toting the ball, the Buffaloes are on a mission to get again to Edmond and end what they couldn’t a 12 months in the past. Brayden Gilkey and the Cardinals would like to inflict much more ache on the black and gold.
Collinsville has only one loss (a blowout to Grove), however are the defending champs nonetheless contenders or did a weak schedule give them a shine that can show to be fools’ gold?
2. Bethany (9-1, No. 3 from District 4A-2) at Clinton (6-3, No. 2 from District 4A-1)
Clinton is the defending Class 4A state champion, and seems to have bounced back nicely from its back-to-back losses to Elk City and Weatherford. The Red Tornadoes make use of their conventional, run-based scheme that can depend on Garrison Rhoades and Trey Bennett, whereas the protection is fast and bodily with Javion Hill main the way in which.
They now host a Bethany squad led by multi-talented quarterback Taylor Heim and the Gilliland brothers, Jaden and Jack. Don’t be shocked if this one comes all the way down to the wire.
3. Guthrie (8-2, No. 3 from District 5A-2) at Elgin (8-2, No. 2 from District 5A-1)
Talk about variations in custom. One group is a acknowledged model identify in Class 5A, whereas the opposite is in its first 12 months taking part in at this stage.
Guthrie has almost as many football state championships (4) as Elgin has all-time playoff wins (5). But the historical past classes gained’t imply a lot on Friday when these two hit the sector.
Even although they’ve an identical data, the diploma of problem for Guthrie ought to be famous, with wins in opposition to Tuttle and Piedmont, whereas the Jays’ solely losses have been to a extremely good Midwest City Carl Albert squad and a 27-20 nail-biter to OKC Bishop McGuinness. Running again Isaiah Hammons will get most of the headlines, however Guthrie QB Hayden Calvert actually understands what to do with the ball, and he has a slew of receivers succesful of getting open for him.
Elgin has one of the extra tenacious interiors (offense and protection) you’ll see. They get after you on protection, led by linebacker Colyn Donnelly and the spindly however fast Jack Anglley, and on offense, large boys like Jace Williams, Keith Ferguson and Shay Spencer open holes for working backs Matt Lund and Ritson Meyer.
The Owls in all probability haven’t confronted a group as proficient as Guthrie but this season, so how will they reply?
4. Cashion (4-6, No. 4 from District A-3) at Ringling (10-0, No. 1 from District A-4)
Another rematch of a state title game thriller, this one in all probability sounds higher than it’ll look. The defending state champs from Cashion look quite a bit completely different from a 12 months in the past, although they did almost take down district champ Crescent within the season finale.
Ringling, led by Karson Daniel at quarterback, plans a revenge tour all the way in which to the state championship sport, and that might begin with a little bit vengeance in opposition to the Wildcats.
5. Newcastle (7-3, No. 4 from District 4A-2) at Elk City (9-1, No. 1 from District 4A-1)
Don’t let the seedings idiot you, this one might be actually shut.
Sure, the Elks are a genuine state title contender and their solely loss is to 5A energy Midwest City Carl Albert, however their final three video games of the season, although all wins, have been considerably underwhelming. Still, the Elks have a swarming protection that may trigger groups tons of issues.
Meanwhile, Newcastle has an skilled quarterback in Jackson Bergt and a plethora of weapons round him. If Elk City is unable to include guys like receiver Alex Logan or working again Carson Bolser, a monitor meet may escape.
6. Vinita (8-2, No. 3 from District 2A-8) at Kiefer (9-1, No. 2 from District 2A-7)
Both groups put up tons of factors early within the season in opposition to lesser opponents, however have been extra closely examined down the road.
It may be the defenses that inform the story on this one, as each have proficient athletes succesful of forcing turnovers and making performs.
7. Bartlesville (4-6, No. 5 from District 6AII-2) at Lawton (7-3, No. 4 from District 6AII-1)
The addition of 4 extra playoff groups to every 6A bracket provides a singular taste, and gives one other week of football for communities that may not in any other case have seen their groups play once more this 12 months.
Bartlesville is one of these faculties, entering into the playoffs because the 5 seed after a detailed loss to Sand Springs.
The Bruins have an thrilling group of younger gamers, led by sophomore working again PJ Wallace and sophomore quarterback Nate Neal. Neal has lots of weapons to throw to, like Kaden Brown and Damien Niko, but when the Bruins are to drag the upset, they’ll want a giant sport from Wallace.
Lawton additionally has a strong group of sophomores who contribute, led by workhorse working again Nate Jones and lineman Junior Brock. But the Wolverines’ motor lies in a pair of seniors, quarterback Devarius Hardy and broad receiver/defensive again Tyron Amacker. When they’re in a position to join, magic tends to happen for the Wolverines.
8. Piedmont (6-4, No. 4 from District 5A-2) at Midwest City (8-2, No. 1 from District 5A-1)
Much like faculty football conferences, not all high school football districts are created equal. And as we talked about earlier than, 5A-2 was notably top-heavy.
But whereas the highest three garnered most of the eye, don’t sleep on Piedmont. The possibility is rarely straightforward to arrange for, but when there’s a group succesful of dealing with it, it may be Midwest City.
Not solely do the Bombers run a kind of the choice themselves, albeit from the shotgun, however coach Darrell Hall stresses execution and he can have his gamers prepared for each state of affairs.
If the Wildcats need to have any likelihood of pulling the upset, they have to discover a method to decelerate DeAngelo Irvin, the do-it-all quarterback for Midwest City. Good luck with that.
9. Kingfisher (7-3, No. 3 from District 3A-1) at Lone Grove (8-2, No. 2 from District 3A-2)
It took a slender victory over Anadarko on the ultimate week of the common season for Kingfisher to say the three seed, and their reward is a visit to Lone Grove, the place the Longhorns have been considerably Jekyll and Hyde.
Yes, there have been convincing wins in opposition to Anadarko and Marlow, however there was additionally a 21-point defeat to Plainview and slender wins in opposition to Madill and Dickson (none of these three groups made the playoffs).
Kingfisher quarterback Jax Sternberger has an skilled line blocking for him, whereas Lone Grove additionally depends on veterans, with quarterback Caden Gilmore, working again Braxton Sparks and receivers Jordan Ferrer and Cale McLean all seniors.
10. Muldrow (8-2, No. 3 from District 3A-3) at Cascia Hall (8-2, No. 2 from District 3A-4)
Muldrow has been one of the feel-good tales of the 12 months, going from 1-8 in 2020 to 8-2 two years later, with wins in opposition to Sequoyah-Tahlequah and Stigler. However, the Bulldogs fell to the three seed based mostly on tie-breaker, and must journey to Tulsa to play a Cascia Hall group that simply might be getting hot on the proper time.
Early within the season, it appears the Commandos solely knew learn how to play shut video games, after which they have been shut out by Verdigris. Since then, they’ve been smoking opponents.
The large matchup right here will doubtless be Muldrow running back Trenden Collins in opposition to the “Blue Swarm” protection of Cascia Hall.
Honorable point out: Sperry at Sequoyah-Claremore; Minco at Wynnewood; Enid at Edmond Memorial; Holland Hall at Stigler.
publish credit score to (*1*)