By Glen Brockenbush 

Stillwater photograph by Christian Potts

We’ve reached the end line (or some groups have) of the multi-month marathon that has been the 2022 Oklahoma highschool soccer season.

Between Thursday and Saturday, six groups will enter the historical past books as state champions. For each highschool soccer participant, a state championship is the final word aim. Nevertheless, the which means behind a state championship differs from college to highschool.

For instance, some colleges, like Bixby, Wagoner, Tipton and Midwest Metropolis Carl Albert, are used to the brilliant lights of championship evening. In the meantime, Cushing, for all its success, hasn’t gained a state title since 1961, and Choctaw has by no means gained a state title in soccer.

No matter who takes the gold ball trophies dwelling, it is going to be a weekend to recollect. After all, there are three courses which can be nonetheless within the semifinal stage.

With solely 12 video games this week and three subsequent week, this would be the last Prime 10 video games listing of the season.

All 11-man state championship video games (all of this week’s title video games apart from Class C) will likely be performed on the College of Central Oklahoma’s Chad Richison Stadium in Edmond.

1. Stillwater vs. Choctaw, 1 p.m. Friday (Class 6AII championship)

Over the previous few years, these two colleges have been constant winners. Nevertheless, like the remainder of Class 6AII previous to this season, they have been all mainly competing for second place.

However with no Bixby within the image anymore, the door has opened for certainly one of these two talent-laden packages to assert a much-longed-after title.

The quarterbacks will garner many of the headlines, with Choctaw signal-caller and Akron commit Steele Wasel having been a statewide title for about three years, and Pioneers’ set off man Gage Gundy clearly the son of a well-known father (and he can sling it like his dad and brother, too). However this sport will seemingly come right down to what most video games come right down to – errors and the struggle within the trenches.

Stillwater jumped out to a giant early lead towards Edmond Deer Creek within the semis, however almost squandered it due to penalties and poor execution on onside kick recoveries.

Choctaw hasn’t misplaced because the season opener towards Del Metropolis and has largely taken care of the ball. Stillwater scored on huge performs within the first half final week largely as a result of Gundy had time to throw and Noah Roberts had open lanes.

Although Choctaw didn’t all the time hold a clear pocket for Wasel within the Yellowjackets’ semifinal win towards Muskogee, his mobility allowed him to nonetheless make performs. Will the Stillwater entrance seven be capable to get stress on him?

2. Cushing vs. Wagoner, 7 p.m. Saturday (Class 4A championship)

Wagoner’s 13-10 win within the bitter chilly towards Tuttle within the quarterfinals felt like a really “Wagoner-y” win. The protection clamped down, the road play was bodily and offensively, they did sufficient to win.

However Wagoner confirmed a unique facet within the semis, destroying Poteau 30-0. Now, the Bulldogs face the final staff to beat them in No. 1 Cushing, and they’ll attempt to erase the recollections of that Oct. 7 sport, a 42-0 thumping by the hands of the Tigers that basically made the state take discover.

Cushing’s Camden Crooks is a deadly match-up for almost anybody, however there are many different weapons for quarterback Blaze Berlowitz to get the ball to.

Cushing has regarded almost unstoppable all season. Will this be the yr the Tigers lastly take dwelling a title? Or will Wagoner declare its second championship in three years?

3. MWC Carl Albert vs. McAlester, 1 p.m. Saturday (Class 5A championship)

Each packages really feel like they’ve unfinished enterprise from a yr in the past.

Carl Albert’s string of 5 consecutive state titles was snapped in a semifinal loss to Collinsville final yr. That very same Collinsville staff beat McAlester in an all-timer within the state championship sport.

The Titans look as sturdy as ever on offense with Xavier Robinson working roughshod over everybody.

McAlester, regardless of not having Erik McCarty, was in a position to trip the legs of Blaze Baugh and Stephen Gragg to deal with Bishop McGuinness and make it to a second consecutive state championship sport.

Which protection will step up and cease the opposite’s offense?

4. Bixby vs. Owasso, 7 p.m. Friday (Class 6AI championship)

Within the lead-up to final Friday, there was one Class 6AI semifinal garnering all the eye. And by evening’s finish, it was the opposite that had the discover of the whole state (and different components of the nation).

Whereas Bixby completed a business-like revenge victory towards Jenks, Owasso took down Union in a six-overtime thriller.

The Rams are definitely taking part in the function of Cinderella, a staff that began the season 1-4, however has rattled off eight straight wins. These 4 losses included a season-opening loss to Bixby.

The Spartans, in the meantime, are in search of a fifth consecutive state championship and eighth in 9 years, although it could be this system’s first within the state’s greatest classification after having gained the earlier 4 state titles in 6AII.

5. Tipton vs. Waynoka, 7 p.m. Friday at Southern Nazarene College in Bethany (Class C championship)

I’m all the time trying to give the 8-man colleges some love, and whereas this one may not garner the group or consideration the larger colleges’ title video games would possibly, it’s onerous to disregard a gathering of No. 1 vs. No. 2, each of whom are unbeaten.

Each these groups have powerhouse offenses.

For Tipton, all conversations start with the working again tandem of Dakota Sheffield (5-foot-10, 220 kilos) and Prince Dweh (6-0, 225), two huge guys to be carrying the ball (they’re additionally the staff’s stalwart linebackers). However the Tigers even have a seasoned quarterback in Dallas Chandler and a giant tight finish in Maxx Babcock.

Waynoka, nonetheless, has a deadly assault of its personal, with the senior pair of quarterback Teegun Allison and working again Jace Dunn, in addition to sophomore stud Landon Seiger. The X-factor for the Railroaders may be two-way huge man Wyatt Atwood (6-2, 240).

6. OKC Heritage Corridor vs. Tulsa Metro Christian, 7 p.m. Thursday (Class 3A championship)

The truth that this one is quantity 6 tells you ways intriguing a few of these different title sport matchups are.

Heritage Corridor actually seemed to be the higher staff towards Verdigris within the semifinals, however made some errors that allowed the Cardinals to stay round. The Chargers can’t afford to do this towards a lethal Patriots’ passing assault, led by star quarterback Kirk Francis.

However the Chargers have an excellent signal-caller of their very own in Andy Bass, whose run-pass mixture makes him one of many extra underrated QBs within the state. Having River Faulkner again is a giant deal for the Corridor, each on protection and offense.

7. Gore vs. Hominy, 7 p.m. Friday at Jenks HS (Class A semifinals)

The Pirates have regarded nearly as good as anybody in Class A all season, led by working again Gunner Dozier and quarterback Noah Cooper, in addition to a stout protection.

But when there’s a staff left that would give Gore bother, it might be Hominy. Quarterback Jaxon Woods is without doubt one of the extra thrilling gamers you’ll discover (at any degree), and he’ll look to steer the Bucks to a repeat of 2016, the final time Hominy took dwelling a state title.

8. OKC Millwood vs. Tulsa Victory Christian, 7 p.m. Friday at East Central College in Ada (Class 2A semifinals)

Millwood has had one of many extra gifted packages in Class 2A for a number of years, however it hasn’t translated to championships.

This might be the yr for coach Darwin Franklin and the Falcons, as they’ve a punishing line, a dynamic working again in Rickey Hunt Jr., a quarterback who can throw the lengthy ball in CJ Turnbull and burners like Xzavier Thompson and Kato Sirisombath on the surface.

However earlier than they’ll win their first title in 5 years, they’ll must get previous Victory Christian first. The Conquerors are a staff who likes to play bodily, as their energy is probably going within the trenches.

How will the Victory protection cope with a Millwood offense loaded with playmakers?

9. Jones vs. Washington, 7 p.m. Friday at Putnam Metropolis HS (Class 2A semifinals)

Particularly since Rejoice Christian went down, Washington has been seen because the no-brainer favourite of many to make it to Edmond from that facet of the bracket.

The Warriors are nonetheless unbeaten and have regarded mighty spectacular towards all comers. Cole Scott is working like an All-Stater, Main Cantrell has regarded environment friendly at quarterback and the protection is fearsome.

However Jones is aware of all about taking part in soccer in December. The Longhorns are younger, particularly on offense, however they’ve grown up this season, and have a quarterback in Clayton Creasey who makes fast selections and may beat you together with his arm or legs.

10. Enid Oklahoma Bible Academy vs. Seiling, 7 p.m. Friday at NWOSU in Alva (Class B semifinals)

Oklahoma Bible handed Seiling its solely lack of the season again in September, 58-34.

The Trojans completed the season unbeaten and ranked No. 1. They’ve lots of measurement that you just don’t see at this degree, together with 6-4 quarterback Brodie Boydston. However their engine on offense is probably going going to be 5-5 Jud Cheatham.

However Seiling has some huge guys of their very own in a pair of 6-2 receivers, Cody Pester and Hudson Hamar, together with a quarterback able to getting them the ball in Kaden Manuel. The Wildcats are definitely aiming to maintain this one nearer.

Honorable point out: Fairview vs. Colcord (Class A semis), Laverne vs. Velma-Alma (Class B semis).