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With latest title win, Bixby continues its remarkable reign as Oklahoma’s current football superpower

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With latest title win, Bixby continues its remarkable reign as Oklahoma’s current football superpower


By Ty Loftis | Photographs by Michael Kinney 

EDMOND – Bixby has formally launched an empire in highschool soccer with Friday’s 69-6 win in opposition to Owasso for the Class 6AI title.

Sure, this was the Spartans’ fifth consecutive state championship, nevertheless it was their first one in Class 6AI. Much more, it was the primary time since 1995 that both a Jenks or Tulsa Union workforce – two groups that had constantly been on the prime over time like Bixby is lately – didn’t seem in a 6A state championship recreation.

Quarterback Connor Kirby, who handed for 205 yards and ran for 86 extra on Friday evening whereas scoring six touchdowns, mentioned he felt as if his workforce was in a groove from the opening kickoff.

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“There was positively plenty of emotion in that recreation,” Kirby mentioned. “We got here out and executed, and it felt nice.”

Bixby coach Loren Montgomery mentioned the spectacular evening Kirby had.

“I’m tremendous pleased with Connor and the best way he has grown as a competitor and a frontrunner,” Montgomery mentioned. “He is an effective child.”

Kirby remarked he had been working for that second ever since summer time practices started.

“I took throwing classes over the summer time, coaches helped me work on my mechanics, and I actually tried to change into extra of a dual-threat type of man to do what I might for the workforce,” Kirby mentioned.

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Other than a Thursday evening loss to Jenks in Week 10, a recreation during which the Spartans virtually rallied late to win, Bixby outscored its opponents 880-94 on the yr. Kirby mentioned that recreation was a wake-up name for his workforce.

“That loss in opposition to Jenks on nationwide tv actually stung, however I’m actually pleased with the means our guys rallied and got here collectively after that,” Kirby mentioned.

The Spartans opened the season in opposition to Owasso. Montgomery says watching his workforce develop from Week Zero to now has been an important feeling.

“We had plenty of new starters, particularly up entrance,” Montgomery mentioned. “4 of our 5 offensive lineman have been new starters and actually the whole entrance seven have been first-year starters. Our teaching workers did an important job and so they grew a ton because the yr went alongside.”

Montgomery did say that after this class grew up, they have been particular and the seniors will depart an enduring mark on this system.

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“A whole lot of these guys received to play in 2020 as sophomores,” Montgomery mentioned. “They’ve performed plenty of soccer and for them to exit on this notice, I’m simply tremendous pleased with them.”

This was the primary state championship the Spartans have been capable of declare as a 6AI contender, as this was the primary yr they moved up into that classification.

When requested if this championship felt any completely different, Montgomery mentioned it might be up for the general public to resolve.

Subsequent yr, Bixby will look to win a sixth consecutive championship.



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Oklahoma

Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz: December 22

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Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz: December 22


Join News 9 Sports Director Dean Blevins, News On 6 Sports Director John Holcomb, and Toby Rowland for this week’s edition of the Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz.

Sunday, December 22nd 2024, 11:25 pm

By:

News On 6,

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News 9

This week on the Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz, Dean Blevins, John Holcomb, and Toby Rowland begin the show with their opening takes.

Toby’s Top 3

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OU, OSU, TU Recap

Viewer Question

Thunder Update: Caruso 4-Year Contract Extension, No Christmas Game

OU, OSU, TU, ORU Basketball Recap

OSU Wrestling Beats Virginia Tech

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Oklahoma transfer LB Dasan McCullough commits to Nebraska

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Oklahoma transfer LB Dasan McCullough commits to Nebraska


Oklahoma transfer LB Dasan McCullough commits to Nebraska

Oklahoma transfer linebacker Dasan McCullough has committed to Nebraska, he confirmed on Instagram Sunday afternoon.

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The 6-foot-5, 235-pound McCullough spent the past two seasons in Norman with the Sooners. He began his college football career in 2022 at Indiana, where he earned Freshman All-American status.

McCullough will come to Nebraska with one season of eligibility remaining.

McCullough, who played Oklahoma’s versatile hybrid linebacker/safety position called the Cheetah, suffered an injury before the start of Oklahoma’s fall camp this season and missed the first five games. He returned to the field in October and played in the final seven games, the last five of which he started. He recorded 17 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss in 2024.

In 2023 at Oklahoma, McCullough played in 10 games and started seven while making 30 tackles with 3.5 TFLs and three pass deflections.

McCullough, who was a star recruit and ranked No. 61 nationally in the 2022 class, comes from a football family. His dad, Deland McCullough, played running back in the NFL and is currently Notre Dame’s associate head coach and running backs coach.

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While Deland spent three seasons as the Kansas City Chiefs’ running backs coach from 2018-20, Dasan played his high school ball at Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kansas. Deland became Indiana’s associate head coach and running backs coach in 2021, and Dasan, then an Ohio State verbal commit, flipped to Indiana not long after.

Dasan followed his father to Bloomington and made an impact right away. He played in all 12 games with four starts and racked up 51 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, four sacks and four pass deflections. He gained Freshman All-American honors and a Big Ten honorable mention selection.

— Steve Marik, Inside Nebraska staff writer,

Analysis

McCullough is a versatile backend defender that can play a variety of roles in Nebraska’s defense.

A rare blend of size and athleticism at 6-5, McCullough shows good speed and change-of-direction ability for his size. Has high-end instincts and IQ, which shows up in zone coverage and reacting against the run. Has had some intriguing flashes as a pass-rusher, but largely relies on athleticism to get into the backfield, still developing consistent pass rush moves.

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Technically sound tackler, though lean he’s got wiry body strength. Consistent aggression could improve as could hip fluidity. Athletic enough to hold his own in man coverage, technique can continue to improve, better in zone at this point in his career.

In Nebraska’s scheme, McCullough can play all three linebacker positions, rover or even safety if needed. He’s likely best at inside linebacker with a few pass-rush opportunities.

This addition provides Nebraska defensive coordinator John Butler something of a chess piece to move around his defense.

— Tim Verghese, Inside Nebraska recruiting analyst

Additional analysis

McCullough is a versatile and sizable defender who played both a traditional linebacker position and Oklahoma’s “cheetah” spot, which is roughly equivalent to the nickel. He also saw some periodic snaps as an edge rusher for the Sooners during his two years in Norman.

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McCullough at his best against the run, as he takes good pursuit angles, fills gaps responsibly and is a reliable tackler. That said, he’s intelligent and instinctive in zone coverage and can generally be trusted to hold his own in man-to-man matchups against tight ends and running backs.

McCullough ought to be quite the chess piece in John Butler’s defense, and could truly thrive in Lincoln depending on the Huskers’ specific vision for his diverse skill set.

— OUInsider writer Parker Thune

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Fears leads No. 14 Oklahoma against Central Arkansas

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Fears leads No. 14 Oklahoma against Central Arkansas


Associated Press

Central Arkansas Bears (3-8) at Oklahoma Sooners (11-0)

Norman, Oklahoma; Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Sooners -28.5; over/under is 145.5

BOTTOM LINE: No. 14 Oklahoma hosts Central Arkansas after Jeremiah Fears scored 30 points in Oklahoma’s 87-86 victory over the Michigan Wolverines.

The Sooners have gone 6-0 at home. Oklahoma has a 2-0 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Bears are 0-6 on the road. Central Arkansas ranks fourth in the ASUN with 23.8 defensive rebounds per game led by Brayden Fagbemi averaging 4.6.

Oklahoma averages 82.0 points, 5.2 more per game than the 76.8 Central Arkansas allows. Central Arkansas averages 9.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.5 more made shots on average than the 6.5 per game Oklahoma allows.

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TOP PERFORMERS: Fears is scoring 17.9 points per game with 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Sooners.

Layne Taylor is scoring 17.0 points per game and averaging 4.4 rebounds for the Bears.

LAST 10 GAMES: Sooners: 10-0, averaging 80.9 points, 29.3 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 10.1 steals and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.5 points per game.

Bears: 3-7, averaging 73.0 points, 34.3 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 38.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.7 points.

___

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.




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