By Christian Potts

Picture of Coweta’s Mason Ford by Karen Schwartz 

With the playoffs now only a week away, high groups are making their remaining push for each postseason seeding and momentum.

As such, virtually everybody in final week’s SBLive Oklahoma High 25 fared nicely in Week 9, that means not an entire lot of motion within the rankings. 

To not say there weren’t some enormous and clutch victories, together with two prompt classics that wanted additional time.

Jenks’ annual showdown recreation in opposition to Damaged Arrow went right down to the wire after which some. The Trojans picked up maybe their most crucial win of the season and did it in dramatic style, rallying from a late two-score deficit to Damaged Arrow to drive additional time; then received it, 35-34, when Ashton Cunningham blocked a Tiger further level within the further interval.

Coweta and Del Metropolis performed a recreation with enormous district title and even playoff bracket implications in Class 5A, and it additionally wanted further time.

With the sport, an unbeaten file and probably the district championship all on the road, coach Tim Harper determined to go for the win. Down 17-16 in additional time to Del Metropolis after Mason Ford’s landing catch, the Tigers went for the two-point conversion and the win.

They obtained it, as quarterback Na’Kylan Starks discovered LoLo Bell open for the rating and the win, protecting the Tigers’ memorable 2022 run going.

Whereas a number of squads have already clinched district championships, greater than a dozen different districts will go right down to the ultimate week of the common season. A number of, like District 6AII-1, might be determined in head-to-head battles just like the one undefeated foes Stillwater and Muskogee will play.

So whereas there aren’t playoff video games for one more week, many video games across the state have already got that necessary really feel of the playoff season.

Plus, the wait to play many of those video games is lower than regular attributable to the truth that a number of video games within the state will now be performed Thursday evening, in anticipation of inclement climate on Friday.

Listed here are Oklahoma’s high groups heading into the primary week of November.

1. Bixby (9-0, 6-0 District 6AI-1)

The Spartans’ state 11-man file 58-game profitable streak continued with a 64-7 romp at Moore. Senior Cale Fugate added his chapter to the workforce’s virtually unbelievable numbers this season, recording 4 interceptions, returning two of these for touchdowns – within the first half. He additionally added two receiving touchdowns.

Subsequent up is a recreation being televised nationally by means of ESPN, with two-time defending 6AI champion Jenks visiting Bixby. It will be as huge a deal as any recreation ever has been on the Spartans’ house stadium in all their college historical past.

2. Tulsa Union (9-0, 6-0 District 6AI-1)

Union was examined by an improved Edmond Memorial squad in Week 9. However finally, a giant evening from quarterback Shaker Reisig helped the Redhawks to their ninth straight win, 52-21, a consequence that formally wrapped up the district championship.

Reisig accomplished 24 of his 27 passes for 418 yards and a landing in an extremely environment friendly evening.

3. Coweta (9-0, 6-0 District 5A-4)

Coweta’s dramatic victory in Del Metropolis provides to a outstanding 2022 run that began considerably underneath the radar, however now has them squarely in the course of the image with huge hopes for a deep run within the 5A postseason.

The Tigers will end the common season this week in opposition to a 1-8 Tulsa Memorial squad.

4. Choctaw (8-1, 6-0 District 6AII-2)

The Yellowjackets can declare the district championship with a win this week in a battle of two groups actually on a roll.

Ponca Metropolis has received 5 straight video games to clinch a playoff berth, whereas the Yellowjackets have not misplaced since late August, ripping off eight wins in a row by a median margin of 35.1 factors per recreation.

5. Stillwater (9-0, 6-0 District 6AII-1)

The Pioneers put their excellent season on the road Thursday in a showdown recreation in opposition to fellow unbeaten Muskogee.

Each squads have been dominant in slicing up all comers on this district, with Stillwater sporting quarterback Gage Gundy and his 1,920 passing yards with 22 touchdowns and only one interception, in addition to 1,272 speeding yards and 23 touchdowns for tailback Noah Roberts.

6. Cushing (9-0, 6-0 District 4A-3)

One of many state’s high passing offenses resides in Cushing, the place the Tigers are district champions after a 70-21 victory in opposition to Oologah in Week 9.

Quarterback Blake Berlowitz crossed 2,500 yards for the season with 35 landing throws, 15 of these to Camden Crooks, who additionally moved over 1,000 receiving yards on the season within the Oologah win. They will look to complete an ideal common season in opposition to Skiatook in Week 10.

7. Edmond Deer Creek (8-1, 5-1 District 6AII-2)

The Antlers have dominated of their late-season schedule in opposition to overmatched opponents, outscoring OKC Northwest Classen and OKC Capitol Hill, 118-0, the earlier two weeks. They will once more be a giant favourite this week in opposition to a 2-7 Putnam Metropolis North squad.

The Antlers are seemingly in line for a second-place end in district play, which will get them per week off to start the postseason underneath the brand new bracket format for the 2 divisions of Class 6A.

8. OKC Bishop McGuinness (8-1, 5-1 DIstrict 5A-2)

The Irish wrapped up second place in district play with a formidable 34-17 victory in opposition to Piedmont in Week 9.

McGuinness figures to be a giant participant in what’s a deep discipline in Class 5A, making an attempt to enhance upon final 12 months’s run to the second spherical earlier than a loss to eventual state champion Collinsville.

9. Mustang (7-2. 4-1 District 6AI-2)

The Broncos had little hassle in a 56-17 victory in opposition to Edmond North in Week 9.

Win or lose this week in opposition to Edmond Memorial to shut the common season, the Broncos already are locked in because the No. 2 finisher within the district, which supplies them per week off to start the 6AI playoffs.

10. Lincoln Christian (8-1, 5-0 District 3A-3)

The Bulldogs wrapped up the district championship in an emphatic method, pounding a robust Muldrow squad, 49-7.

The Lincoln protection continues to suffocate opponents, with Muldrow’s landing being simply the second rating the Bulldogs have allowed in district play. After back-to-back runner-up finishes in Class 3A, they might be the favourite heading into this 12 months’s postseason.

11. Muskogee (9-0, 6-0 District 6AII-1)

It is time. The Roughers have taken down all comers all season, together with playoff-bound squads like MWC Carl Albert, Enid and Tulsa Booker T. Washington.

Now, the unbeaten Roughers head to a Week 10 showdown recreation for the district championship, welcoming Stillwater to city for one of many largest video games in years in Muskogee.

12. Jenks (7-2, 5-1 District 6AI-2)

After their dramatic additional time triumph in opposition to Damaged Arrow, the Trojans must get proper again up on a brief week as they head to Bixby for a nationally televised ESPN broadcast and an opportunity to battle the unbeaten and largely unchallenged Spartans in an enormous contest to cap the common season on Thursday evening.

13. Del Metropolis (7-2, 4-2 District 5A-3)

It was deja vu another time for the Eagles, who once more got here up on the improper finish of a one-point additional time loss to a high district opponent of their 18-17 defeat to Coweta. The identical consequence occurred earlier within the season in opposition to McAlester to make up the Eagles’ solely two defeats of the season.

However Del Metropolis nonetheless is a significant participant in Class 5A, and certain will end second within the district if they will end the common season off with a win this week in opposition to Durant.

14. Rejoice Christian (9-0, 6-0 District 2A-8)

The Eagles stored flying excessive in Week 9, hammering Caney Valley, 70-6, to wrap up the district championship. They will end the common season in opposition to one other playoff-bound squad in Pawhuska that averages 50.7 factors in its six wins however simply 21.3 in its three losses.

15. Grove (9-0, 6-0 District 5A-4)

The freight prepare retains rolling in northeast Oklahoma, because the Ridgerunners are one win from an ideal common season and a district championship following a 72-7 blowout of Pryor.

The district title is on the road this week, with visiting Tulsa Bishop Kelley sitting in second place coming into the groups’ Week 10 showdown.

16. MWC Carl Albert (7-2, 5-0 District 5A-2)

The Titans might be district champions it doesn’t matter what, however they’re making an attempt to maintain their momentum and profitable streak moving into a Week 10 check in opposition to playoff-bound Piedmont.

Carl Albert has been Class 5A’s most prolific workforce, profitable 5 straight state championships from 2016-20 earlier than falling to the eventual champion, Collinsville, in final 12 months’s semifinals.

17. McAlester (7-2, 4-2 District 5A-3)

The Buffaloes fell right into a pitfall in Week 9 as Sapulpa pulled off a 28-27 victory that threw off the Buffaloes’ potential hopes for a district championship.

Now, they’re seemingly headed for no higher than third within the district in a probable tiebreaker state of affairs, that means a potential 5A championship recreation rematch with Collinsville may very well be looming, though this time it will be within the first spherical.

18. Washington (9-0. 6-0 District 2A-3)

The crowded trophy case in Washington provides one other district championship after final week’s 55-6 victory in opposition to Comanche.

The Warriors will wrap up the season this week in opposition to a winless Little Axe squad earlier than taking their place as one of many favorites within the Class 2A postseason bracket.

19. Owasso (5-4, 4-2 District 6AI-2)

The Rams have been in a position to grind out a tricky 13-7 win in a defensive battle in opposition to Edmond Santa Fe for his or her fourth consecutive victory.

They will end the common season in opposition to Norman, and a win locks up a third-place district end and a house playoff recreation in spherical one of many 6AI playoffs.

20. Norman North (7-2, 5-1 District 6AI-1)

The Timberwolves stored on their district roll, taking down Westmoore, 52-28, for a fifth straight victory since a defeat to No. 1 Bixby.

An improved Enid squad involves Norman for the Week 10 finale, and a win probably offers the Timberwolves second place within the district and a first-round bye on the postseason.

21. Collinsville (8-1, 5-1 District 5A-4)

Collinsville bounced again from its first loss with a stable 42-21 victory at Tulsa Edison. Now, they’re going to wait on the Grove-Bishop Kelley recreation to assist resolve their remaining destiny within the district standings.

In the meantime, the Cardinals cap the common season in opposition to a Claremore squad that can end within the fourth and remaining district playoff spot no matter this week’s consequence.

22. Tulsa Metro Christian (9-0, 6-0 District 3A-1)

The Patriots wrapped up a district championship with one other dominant efficiency, rolling previous Anadarko, 45-6, in Week 9.

Metro Christian winds up the common season in opposition to North Rock Creek, and a win offers the Patriots their first undefeated common season since 2019, after they went on to win the Class 2A state championship.

23. Gore (9-0, 6-0 District A-8)

The Pirates maintain making an announcement week after week, with the newest sufferer being Haskell in a 51-0 romp. The numbers are startling, with Gore outscoring their first 9 foes by a mixed whole of 516-33.

They will look to complete off an unbeaten common season run in a Week 10 contest in opposition to Porter.

24. OKC Heritage Corridor (8-1, 6-0 District 3A-2)

The Chargers have a district championship on the road this week in opposition to Marlow, which is rolling within the final month in its transfer as much as 3A after profitable the 2A title final 12 months.

Heritage Corridor dropped its second recreation this season to Clinton however since has received seven straight, with no foe coming nearer than 33 factors of the Chargers.

25. Ringling (9-0, 6-0 District A-4)

It is also a district championship contest this week for the Blue Devils, who face an 8-1 Stratford squad that enables lower than 10 factors a recreation.

This may very well be a ball-control, defensive slugfest, with Ringling’s personal protection permitting lower than seven factors per contest, together with 4 shutout victories.