Week 8 - Top Performers

10/25/2020 |  Ben Johnson

Choctaw

Julius Pruitt - 3 sacks, 2 hurries, 5 tackles, 2 TFL

Verdigris

Reese Roller - had 5 tackles, 1tfl, 3 sacks, 1 hurry. Also had 2 catches for 80 yards and 1 TD. Gives him 21 sacks on the season and 4 straight games with at least 3 sacks.

Colcord

Stormy Odle 225 total offense 2 TDs

Bishop McGuinness

Luke Tarman - 27 carries for 244 yards / 12 of 18 passing for 168 yards / 5 Touchdowns - 4 passing 1 rushing

Berryhill

Chase Burke - 22 carries for 210 yards and 5 TD’s. 8 tackles and one sack on defense.

Broken Bow

CJ Whitfield - 12 carries for 100 yards / 13 tackles 1 int for a TD

Plainview

Morgan Pearson 3 receptions 109 yds 1 TD 

Caden Pickens defense- 15 tackles 5 TFL   

Del City

Sevaughn Sephus - senior defensive end - 5 sacks & 3 TFL & 13.5 total tackles

Weatherford

Ethan Downs -10 tackles / 9 carries 52 yards and a TD & 2 catches 19yards

Sam Hoffman - 8 tackles  / 17 carries for 131 yards & 2 catches for 31 yards

Adair

WR Garrett Long - 8 catches 140 yds 2 TD’s

QB Nate Ratcliff - 13/20 285 5 TD’s

El Reno

Dorian Plumley - 122 yards rushing & 175 yards passing & 4 rushing tds & 1 passing 

Came in on defense and got a pic and 2 pass break ups.

Mounds 

Taylor Wortman - 16 carries for 174 yards and 3 TDs on offense and 8 tackles with 2 tackles for loss on defense 

Mason Coddington - 58 yards passing with 1 TD, 54 yards rushing with 1 TD, 1 fumble recovery for a TD, and 2 Interceptions

Yale

Kail Williams- 4 for 6 passing for 222 yards 3 TDs / 3 carries 37 rushing 2 TD.

Dale Coffman - 1 reception, 95 yards & 1 TD / 4 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries(recovered both fumbles he caused) returned one 64 yards for a defensive TD 

Eufaula

Nick jones - 2 INTs & one returned 99 yards for TD to end 2nd half with no time on clock. And another returned 38 yards to the one yard line

Beggs

CJ Brown - 1 rec 48 td / 17 rushes 127 1 td / 4 ko ret 119 / 294 all purpose yds

Hilldale

Eric virgil - 23 carries 285 yards 3TD / 2 catches 48 yards 1 TD

Wewoka

Kobey Stephens - Passing- 6 for 10 -81yds -2 TD / Rushing- 10 for 97yds 3TD / 1 punt return for 41 TD.

Okemah

Mikey Cruz - rushing 28/234 yds 5 TD

Kurtis Wilson - passing 8/14 144 yds 3 TD

Claremore

Brooks Sherl - 3catches 140 yards and 3 TD's

Kellyville

Trevor Jones - 22 carries 161 yards 1 td and 1 int on defense 

Jeremy Hicks - 11 carries 132 yards and 3 tds plus had 8 tackles and a sack 

Wagoner 

Braden Drake - 10 carries for 210 yds and 4 TD / Also had an INT

(All in the first half)

Lawton

Donovan Dorsey - 7-9 192 yards passing 2 tds

Union

Matthias Roberson - 10 tackles 2 sacks, 3 tfl, fumble cause and recovered 

Pryor

Ben Ward - 105 passing & 1 TD / 44 rushes, 265 yards, 4 TDs

WEEK 7 RANKINGS

10/14/2019 |  Ben Johnson

(____) - previous rank

Class 6AI

1. Owasso (1) - 6-0
2. Broken Arrow (2) - 5-1
3. Jenks (3) - 3-3
4. Union (4) - 2-4
5. Norman (5) - 5-1
6. PC North (4) - 5-1
7. Moore (8) - 4-2
8. Westmoore (7) - 5-1
9. Mustang (9) - 4-2
10. Edmond Santa Fe (10) - 4-2

Class 6AII

1. Bixby (1) - 6-0
2. Stillwater (2) - 6-0
3. Del City (3) - 5-1
4. Muskogee (4) - 6-0
5. Booker T. Washington (7) - 3-3
6. Midwest City (9) - 3-3
7. Choctaw (6) - 3-3
8. Ponca City (8) - 3-3
9. Deer Creek (10) - 3-3
10. Bartlesville (NR) - 1-5

Class 5A

1. Bishop McGuinness (1) - 5-1
2. Carl Albert (2) - 5-1
3. Edison (3) - 5-1
4. Tahlequah (4) - 6-0
5. Piedmont (6) - 5-1
6. Noble (7) - 5-1
7. El Reno (8) - 5-1
8. Collinsville (5) - 4-2
9. Duncan (9) - 4-1
10. Pryor (10) - 5-1

Class 4A

1. Bethany (1) - 6-0
2. Wagoner (3) - 5-1
3. Tuttle (2) - 5-1
4. Poteau (4) - 5-1
5. Bristow (5) - 5-1
6. Clinton (6) - 4-2
7. Broken Bow (7) - 5-1
8. Weatherford (8) - 4-2
9. Cache (10) - 4-2
10. Central (9) - 5-1

Class 3A

1. Heritage Hall (1) - 5-0
2. Lincoln Christian (2) - 6-0
3. Plainview (3) - 4-1
4. Berryhill (4) - 6-0
5. Sulphur (5) - 6-0
6. John Marshall (6) - 5-1
7. Perkins-Tryon (7) - 5-1
8. Checotah (10) - 5-1
9. Idabel (NR) - 5-1
10. Lone Grove (8) - 5-1

Class 2A

1. Metro Christian (1) - 6-0
2. Sperry (2) - 6-0
3. Vian (3) - 5-1
4. Holland Hall (5) - 5-1
5. Washington (6) - 6-0
6. Jones (7) - 5-1
7. Beggs (8) - 5-1
8. Millwood (4) - 4-2
9. Kingston (9) - 5-1
10. Adair (10) - 5-1

Class A

1. Cashion (1) - 6-0
2. Stroud (2) - 6-0
3. Pawhuska (3) - 7-0
4. Rejoice Christian (4) - 6-0
5. Thomas (5) - 5-1
6. Pawnee (6) - 6-0
7. Minco (7) - 7-0
8. Ringling (NR) - 5-1
9. Gore (NR) - 6-1
10. Hobert (NR) - 4-1

Class B

1. Shattuck (1) - 6-0
2. Regent Prep (2) - 6-0
3. Dewar (3) - 6-0
4. Burns Flat-Dill City (4) - 5-1
5. Laverne (5) - 5-1
6. Weleetka (6) - 4-2
7. Cherokee (7) - 5-1
8. Davenport (8) - 5-1
9. Canadian (9) - 6-0
10. Seiling (10) - 5-1

Class C

1. Southwest Covenant (1) - 5-0
2. Pond Creek-Hunter (2) - 6-0
3. Covington-Douglas (3) - 5-2
4. Maysville (4) - 5-0
5. Midway (6) - 7-0
6. Coyle (5) - 4-2
7. Graham-Dustin (8) - 4-1
8. Tyrone (7) - 4-2
9. Waynoka (NR) - 4-2
10. Sasakwa (NR) - 5-1

WEEK 6 Rankings

10/7/2019 |  Ben Johnson

(__) - previous rank

Class 6AI
1. Owasso (1) - 5-0
2. Broken Arrow (2) - 4-1
3. Jenks (4) - 2-3
4. PC North (5) - 5-0
5. Union (3) - 1-4
6. Norman (6) - 4-1
7. Westmoore (7) - 5-0
8. Moore (8) - 3-2
9. Mustang (10) - 3-2
10. Edmond Santa Fe (9) - 3-2

Class 6AII
1. Bixby (1) - 5-0
2. Stillwater (2) - 5-0
3. Del City (4) - 4-1
4. Muskogee (6) - 5-0
5. Sapulpa (5) - 4-1
6. Choctaw (7) - 3-2
7. Booker T. Washington (3) - 2-3
8. Ponca City (10) - 3-2
9. Midwest City (8) - 2-3
10. Deer Creek (NR) - 3-2

Class 5A
1. Bishop McGuinness (2) - 4-1
2. Carl Albert (2) - 4-1
3. Edison (3) - 4-1
4. Tahlequah (5) - 5-0
5. Collinsville (6) - 4-1
6. Piedmont (10) - 4-1
7. Noble (NR) - 4-1
8. El Reno (7) - 4-1
9. Duncan (8) - 3-1
10. Pryor (9) - 4-1

Class 4A
1. Bethany (1) - 5-0
2. Tuttle (2) - 5-0
3. Wagoner (3) - 4-1
4. Poteau (5) - 4-1
5. Bristow (6) - 4-1
6. Clinton (3-2
7. Broken Bow (7) - 4-1
8. Weatherford (4) - 3-2
9. Central (9) - 5-0
10. Cache (10) - 3-2

Class 3A
1. Heritage Hall (1) - 4-0
2. Lincoln Christian (2) - 5-0
3. Plainview (3) - 3-1
4. Berryhill (5) - 5-0
5. Sulphur (6) - 5-0
6. John Marshall (4) - 4-1
7. Perkins-Tryon (7) - 5-0
8. Lone Grove (8) - 5-0
9. Stigler (10) - 4-1
10. Checotah (NR) - 4-1

Class 2A
1. Metro Christian (1) - 5-0
2. Sperry (2) - 5-0
3. Vian (3) - 4-1
4. Millwood (4) - 4-1
5. Holland Hall (5) - 4-1
6. Washington (6) - 5-0
7. Jones (7) - 4-1
8. Beggs (8) - 4-1
9. Kingston (9) - 4-1
10. Adair (10) - 4-1

Class A
1. Cashion (1) - 5-0
2. Stroud (2) - 5-0
3. Pawhuska (3) - 6-0
4. Rejoice Christian (4) - 5-0
5. Thomas (5) - 5-1
6. Pawnee (6) - 5-0
7. Minco (7) - 6-0
8. Christian Heritage (8) - 4-1
9. Mangum (NR) - 5-0
10. Dibble (NR) - 5-1

Class B
1. Shattuck (1) - 5-0
2. Regent Prep (2) - 5-0
3. Dewar (5) - 5-0
4. Burns Flat-Dill City (6) - 4-1
5. Laverne (7) - 4-1
6. Weleetka (8) - 3-2
7. Cherokee (3) - 4-1
8. Davenport (4) - 4-1
9. Canadian (9) - 5-0
10. Seiling (NR) - 5-1

Class C
1. Southwest Covenant (1) - 4-0
2. Pond Creek-Hunter (2) - 5-0
3. Covington-Douglas (4) - 4-2
4. Maysville (5) - 4-0
5. Coyle (6) - 4-1
6. Midway (7) - 6-0
7. Tyrone (3) - 4-1
8. Graham-Dustin (9) - 3-1
9. Boise City (8) - 4-1
10. Sharon-Mutual (NR) - 3-2

*Photo by Trey Hunter/Piedmont Gazette

Week 5 rankings

9/30/2019 |  Ben Johnson

(___) - previously ranked

Class 6AI

1. Owasso (1) - 4-0
2. Broken Arrow (2) - 3-1
3. Union (3) - 1-3
4. Jenks (4) - 1-3
5. PC North (5) - 4-0
6. Norman (6) - 4-0
7. Westmoore (7) - 4-0
8. Moore (9) - 2-2
9. Edmond Santa Fe (10) - 3-1
10. Mustang (8) - 2-2

Class 6AII

1. Bixby (1) - 4-0
2. Stillwater (2) - 4-0
3. Booker T. Washington (4) - 2-2
4. Del City (5) - 3-1
5. Sapulpa (3) - 3-1
6. Muskogee (7) - 4-0
7. Choctaw (6) - 2-2
8. Midwest City (9) - 2-2
9. Lawton (8) - 3-1
10. Ponca City (10) - 2-2

Class 5A

1. Carl Albert (1) - 4-0
2. Bishop McGuinness (2) - 3-1
3. Edison (4) - 3-1
4. Bishop Kelley (5) - 2-2
5. Tahlequah (6) - 4-0
6. Collinsville (7) - 3-1
7. El Reno (8) - 4-0
8. Duncan (3) - 2-1
9. Pryor (9) - 3-1
10. Piedmont (NR) - 3-1

Class 4A

1. Bethany (1) - 4-0
2. Tuttle (2) - 4-0
3. Wagoner (3) - 3-1
4. Weatherford (5) - 3-1
5. Poteau (6) - 3-1
6. Bristow (7) - 3-1
7. Broken Bow (8) - 3-1
8. Clinton (4) - 2-2
9. Central (NR) - 4-0
10. Cache (NR) - 2-2

Class 3A

1. Heritage Hall (1) - 3-0
2. Lincoln Christian (2) - 4-0
3. Plainview (3) - 2-1
4. John Marshall (4) - 4-0
5. Berryhill (5) - 4-0
6. Sulphur (6) - 4-0
7. Perkins-Tryon (7) - 4-0
8. Lone Grove (8) - 4-0
9. Seminole (NR) - 3-1
10. Stigler (9) - 3-1

Class 2A

1. Metro Christian (1) - 4-0
2. Sperry (2) - 4-0
3. Vian (3) - 3-1
4. Millwood (4) - 3-1
5. Holland Hall (5) - 3-1
6. Washington (6) - 4-0
7. Jones (7) - 3-1
8. Beggs (9) - 3-1
9. Kingston (10) - 3-1
10. Adair (8) - 4-0

Class A

1. Cashion (1) - 4-0
2. Stroud (2) - 4-0
3. Pawhuska (3) - 5-0
4. Rejoice Christian (4) - 4-0
5. Thomas (6) - 4-1
6. Pawnee (8) - 4-0
7. Minco (9) - 5-0
8. Christian Heritage (7) - 4-1
9. Colcord (10) - 4-0
10. Tonkawa (5) - 4-1

Class B

1. Shattuck (1) - 4-0
2. Regent Prep (2) - 4-0
3. Cherokee (3) - 4-0
4. Davenport (4) - 3-1
5. Dewar (5) - 4-0
6. Burns Flat-Dill City (7) - 3-1
7. Laverne (8) - 3-1
8. Weleetka (6) - 2-2
9. Canadian (9) - 4-0
10. Snyder (NR) - 4-0

Class C

1. Southwest Covenant (1) - 3-0
2. Pond Creek-Hunter (2) - 4-0
3. Tyrone (4) - 4-0
4. Covington-Douglas (5) - 3-2
5. Maysville (6) - 4-0
6. Coyle (7) - 3-1
7. Midway (8) - 5-0
8. Boise City (9) - 4-0
9. Graham-Dustin (10) - 3-1
10. Buffalo (3) - 3-1

WHAT WE'VE LEARNED SO FAR

9/26/2019 |  Ben Johnson

It’s time for most teams to embark on district games. Let’s take a look at what’s become apparent so far…

Mansfield, Texas teams stink

Everyone hypes up Texas football, but wow, the teams in Mansfield are ……. ungood. I mean, sure, Union lost in one of the only competitive games between five Oklahoma teams and the Mansfield clubs. But I watched Mansfield Legacy with my own eyes, and I watched Jenks to shove it down their throat all game long. That’s all I needed to know about the caliber of teams down there.

6AI runs through Owasso (so far)

We’ll find out who the best team is in 6AI-2 on Friday night, but it appears as though Owasso is on track for its second title in three years. And hot take: If Blankenship wins another title at Owasso, he becomes the best high school football coach this state has ever seen.

Bixby might be the best team in the state

Notice above I said “6AI-2” because the state’s best team could be in 6A Division II. Bixby is that good. If you’ve never watched Brennan Presley or any of his superstar teammates in Bixby, do yourself a favor and go see them before the Spartans’ season ends in another 6AII championship game.

Bishop Kelley has had the worst injury luck so far

The Comets had a chance to stand toe to toe with Carl Albert in Class 5A. Then Bishop Kelley lost defensive lineman Montrell Cozart, receiver Cori Lewis and Oklahoma State commit Zach Middleton to various injuries. Now Bishop Kelley will have to dig deep and grind its way through District 5A-3 until Lewis and Middleton maybe (possibly) come back.

We need to start using common sense when it comes to weather

One coach texted me and was pissed about a having a game cut short due to weather to close out non-district play. Someone happened to let the officials know that lightning was 32 -- THIRTY-TWO -- miles away. That’s outrageous. Look, I get it, safety is the name of the game. But let’s use some common sense. We all live in Oklahoma; we all know how to read radars. Just because you see lightning doesn’t always mean there’s imminent danger. Take the 6AI title game last year …. We endured a long delay and were just about to get back to the game when a stray lightning strike flashed east of Tulsa. There was no chance it was coming back toward Chapman Stadium, and yet, the clock was reset to 30 minutes before teams could warm up. All I’m asking for is some common sense to be applied. 

Sam Brandt & Asher Link need to be getting more attention

Mason Williams is putting up silly numbers at Bixby, but there’s plenty of QB talent around. Sam Brandt is a menace on both sides of the ball for Bethany, and Asher Link has Metro Christian in position to be the favorite in 2A. More college coaches should be taking notice in these guys.

Dorian Plumley could lead El Reno to special things


If El Reno’s junior quarterback were two inches taller, college coaches would be knocking down his door. Some things never change on the recruiting trail.

Dae Dae Leathers might be the best RB you don’t know about

Dominic Richardson, Sevion Morrison, Qwontrel Walker and Tristan Truelove are notable running backs in this state, but Leathers is putting up solid numbers every week in far eastern Oklahoma.

Bristow & Mannford have a fantastic rivalry trophy

The Battle for the Boat trophy played for between the two Keystone Lake rivals KICKS ASS!

Heritage Hall remains good

Take a moment, allow the shock to wear off. OK, let’s continue….

Mike Snyder is about to be the king of coaching in Oklahoma

Might not be another guy in the state who remains so quiet and just continues to get the job done. And he’s a win shy of tying the state’s record for all-time coaching wins.

Classes 2A & A are extremely deep

As many as a dozen teams (if not more) could win the gold balls in 2A or A.

A really good team from District A-5 will miss the playoffs

Pawhuska, Barnsdall, Pawnee and Tonkawa are all unbeaten. Hominy is 3-1 and Morrison is 2-2. Only four of these teams will escape A-5 and venture into the playoffs. Buckle up!

WEEK 4 RANKINGS

9/22/2019 |  Ben Johnson

(____) - previous rank

Week 3 scoreboard
6AI

6AII

5A

4A

3A

2A

A

B

C

Class 6AI

1. Owasso (1) - 3-0
2. Broken Arrow (2) - 2-1
3. Union (3) - 1-2
4. Jenks (4) - 1-2
5. PC North (5) - 3-0
6. Norman (6) - 3-0
7. Westmoore (7) - 3-0
8. Mustang (8) - 2-1
9. Moore (9) - 1-2
10. Edmond Santa Fe (10) - 2-1

Class 6AII

1. Bixby (1) - 3-0
2. Stillwater (2) - 3-0
3. Sapulpa (3) - 3-0
4. Booker T. Washington (4) - 1-2
5. Del City (6) - 2-1
6. Choctaw (5) - 2-1
7. Muskogee (7) - 3-0
8. Lawton (9) - 3-0
9. Midwest City (8) - 1-2
10. Ponca City (10) - 2-1

Class 5A

1. Carl Albert (1) - 3-0
2. Bishop McGuinness (2) - 2-1
3. Duncan (3) - 2-0
4. Edison (4) - 2-1
5. Bishop Kelley (5) - 1-2
6. Tahlequah (6) - 3-0
7. Collinsville (7) - 2-1
8. El Reno (NR) - 3-0
9. Pryor (NR) - 2-1
10. Claremore (8) - 1-2

Class 4A

1. Bethany (1) - 3-0
2. Tuttle (2) - 3-0
3. Wagoner (3) - 2-1
4. Clinton (4) - 2-1
5. Weatherford (5) - 2-1
6. Poteau (7) - 2-1
7. Bristow (8) - 2-1
8. Broken Bow (9) - 2-1
9. Elgin (10) - 1-1
10. Hilldale (NR) - 2-1

Class 3A

1. Heritage Hall (1) - 2-0
2. Lincoln Christian (2) - 3-0
3. Plainview (3) - 1-1
4. John Marshall (4) - 3-0
5. Berryhill (5) - 3-0
6. Sulphur (6) - 3-0
7. Perkins-Tryon (7) - 3-0
8. Lone Grove (9) - 3-0
9. Stigler (10) - 3-0
10. Kingfisher (8) - 1-2

Class 2A

1. Metro Christian (1) - 3-0
2. Sperry (2) - 3-0
3. Vian (4) - 2-1
4. Millwood (5) - 2-1
5. Holland Hall (3) - 2-1
6. Washington (7) - 3-0
7. Jones (9) - 2-1
8. Adair (10) - 3-0
9. Beggs (6) - 2-1
10. Kingston (8) - 2-1

Class A

1. Cashion (1) - 3-0
2. Stroud (2) - 3-0
3. Pawhuska (3) - 4-0
4. Rejoice Christian (4) - 3-0
5. Tonkawa (5) - 4-0
6. Thomas (6) - 3-1
7. Christian Heritage (7) - 4-0
8. Pawnee (8) - 3-0
9. Minco (9) - 4-0
10. Colcord (NR) - 3-0

Class B

1. Shattuck (1) - 3-0
2. Regent Prep (2) - 3-0
3. Cherokee (3) - 3-0
4. Davenport (4) - 2-1
5. Dewar (7) - 3-0
6. Weleetka (8) - 2-1
7. Burns Flat-Dill City (NR) - 3-1
8. Laverne (5) - 2-1
9. Canadian (NR) - 3-0
10. Seiling (NR) - 4-0

Class C

1. Southwest Covenant (1) - 2-0
2. Pond Creek-Hunter (2) - 3-0
3. Buffalo (3) - 3-0
4. Tyrone (4) - 3-0
5. Covington-Douglas (5) - 2-2
6. Maysville (7) - 3-0
7. Coyle (8) - 2-1
8. Midway (9) - 4-0
9. Boise City (10) - 3-0
10. Graham-Dustin (NR) - 3-0

**Photo credit: Von Castor / Von Castor Photography

WEEK 3 PICKS

9/20/2019 |  Ben Johnson

Here’s how things stand through Week 2 and 44 games picked by the Skordle fellas (and a few wives).

Last week

Michael Swisher: 11-2
Whitt Carter: 8-5
Ben Johnson: 11-2
Alicia Johnson: 11-2
Madison Carter: 9-4

Overall

Swisher: 37-7
Whitt: 27-17
Ben: 30-14
Alicia: 29-15
Madison: 25-19

Holland Hall at Metro Christian

Michael Swisher: Metro Christian
Whitt Carter: Metro Christian
Ben Johnson: Metro Christian

Kingfisher at Bethany

Michael Swisher: Bethany
Whitt Carter: Bethany
Ben Johnson: Bethany

Kingston at Sperry

Michael Swisher: Sperry
Whitt Carter: Sperry
Ben Johnson: Sperry

Putnam City North at Choctaw

Michael Swisher: PC North
Whitt Carter: PC North
Ben Johnson: PC North

Edison at Claremore

Michael Swisher: Claremore
Whitt Carter: Edison
Ben Johnson: Edison

Mustang at Westmoore

Michael Swisher: Mustang
Whitt Carter: Westmoore
Ben Johnson: Mustang

Elgin at Plainview

Michael Swisher: Plainview
Whitt Carter: Plainview
Ben Johnson: Plainview

Clinton at Lawton MacArthur

Michael Swisher: Lawton Mac
Whitt Carter: Lawton Mac
Ben Johnson: Clinton

Pawhuska at Morrison

Michael Swisher: Pawhuska
Whitt Carter: Pawhuska
Ben Johnson: Pawhuska

Ponca City at Collinsville

Michael Swisher: Collinsville
Whitt Carter: Collinsville
Ben Johnson: Collinsville

Chickasha at El Reno

Michael Swisher: El Reno
Whitt Carter: El Reno
Ben Johnson: El Reno

Oologah at Hilldale

Michael Swisher: Oologah
Whitt Carter: Oologah
Ben Johnson: Oologah

Checotah at Eufaula

Michael Swisher: Checotah
Whitt Carter: Eufaula
Ben Johnson: Checotah

Millwood at Cascia Hall

Michael Swisher: Millwood
Whitt Carter: Millwood
Ben Johnson: Millwood

Cashion at Crescent
Michael Swisher: Cashion
Whitt Carter: Cashion
Ben Johnson: Cashion

Hominy at Barnsdall
Michael Swisher: Hominy
Whitt Carter: Hominy
Ben Johnson: Barnsdall

ZERO WEEK PICKS

8/30/2019 |  Ben Johnson

Union at Mansfield (Lake Ridge)

Michael Swisher: Union
Whitt Carter: Union
Ben Johnson: Union

North Little Rock vs. Booker T. Washington (in Bentonville, Ark.)

Michael Swisher: North Little Rock
Whitt Carter: Booker T. Washington
Ben Johnson: Booker T. Washington

Broken Bow at Metro Christian

Michael Swisher: Metro Christian
Whitt Carter: Broken Bow
Ben Johnson: Metro Christian

Oklahoma Christian School at Jones

Michael Swisher: Jones
Whitt Carter: Jones
Ben Johnson: Jones

Owasso at Bentonville (West)

Michael Swisher: Owasso
Whitt Carter: Owasso
Ben Johnson: Owasso

Bixby at Mansfield (Timberview)

Michael Swisher: Timberview
Whitt Carter: Bixby
Ben Johnson: Bixby

Minco at Wynnewood

Michael Swisher: Minco
Whitt Carter: Wynnewood
Ben Johnson: Wynnewood

Altus at Cache

Michael Swisher: Altus
Whitt Carter: Cache
Ben Johnson: Altus

Poteau at El Reno

Michael Swisher: El Reno
Whitt Carter: Poteau
Ben Johnson: Poteau

Community Christian at Crossings Christian

Michael Swisher: Crossings Christian
Whitt Carter: Crossings Christian
Ben Johnson: Crossings Christian

Jenks at Mansfield (Legacy)

Michael Swisher: Jenks
Whitt Carter: Mansfield
Ben Johnson: Mansfield

Fairview at Perry

Michael Swisher: Perry
Whitt Carter: Fairview
Ben Johnson: Perry

Weatherford at Chisholm

Michael Swisher: Weatherford
Whitt Carter: Weatherford
Ben Johnson: Weatherford

Chr. Heritage at Coalgate

Michael Swisher: Christian Heritage
Whitt Carter: Christian Heritage
Ben Johnson: Christian Heritage

ZERO WEEK: Top 10 games

8/29/2019 |  Ben Johnson

1. Union at Mansfield (Lake Ridge)
Union won the matchup between the two clubs last year 36-30, thanks to Darius Boone’s 26-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Union went on to be a Class 6AI semifinalist, and Lake Ridge was a Region 1 semifinalist in Texas’ 6A Division II.

2. North Little Rock vs. Booker T. Washington (in Bentonville, Ark.)
A classic game last year ended with North Little Rock’s Oscar Adaway scoring on a 7-yard run with 1:28 left. Booker T. Washington led 28-15 with 9:14 left in the fourth quarter, but North Little Rock scored twice to seal the game.

3. Broken Bow at Metro Christian
Metro Christian quarterback Asher Link scored on a touchdown run and an 18-yard TD pass to Junior Simpson, and the Patriots defense took over from there in a 28-22 victory last season. Metro Christian is 8-3 all-time against Broken Bow -- with all 11 meetings happening since 2008.

4. Oklahoma Christian School at Jones
Jones ran its winning streak against OCS to four straight with last year’s 27-10 victory. Jones is 7-1 against OCS since 2006.

5. Owasso at Bentonville (West)
A high-scoring affair last year saw Owasso prevail 56-40. Owasso QB Will Kuehne threw for 343 yards and five touchdowns to beat Bentonville West.

6. Bixby at Mansfield (Timberlake)
It was a tight one last year, but the Spartans knocked off Mansfield Timberlake 36-33 to kick-start another championship season.

7. Minco at Wynnewood
Minco beat Wynnewood 27-14 last season, and is now 4-1 against Wynnewood in the past five seasons.

8. Altus at Cache
Both teams finished 8-3 last year and only makes sense that the Highway 62 foes would clash for the first time, despite only being separated by 41 miles.

9. Poteau at El Reno
Poteau’s defense was all over El Reno last year with four sacks and three fumble recoveries in last year’s 38-19 contest. Now the scene shifts to El Reno this year.

10. Community Christian at Crossings Christian
Community Christian scored first, but Crossings Christian followed with 29 straight points to dominate the rest of the way.

Honorable mention games
Jenks at Mansfield (Legacy)

Fairview at Perry

Weatherford at Chisholm

Chr. Heritage at Coalgate

Tim Holt Jr. steps down at Coweta

5/13/2019 |  Ben Johnson

As spring football begins, there’s now a head-coaching vacancy at Coweta. Early Monday morning, Tim Holt Jr. submitted his resignation to athletic director Tim Johnson.

Holt ends a three-year run at Coweta, where he went 19-15 with a district championship in 2017. He also guided the Tigers to the playoffs in three consecutive years.

“We appreciate the time Coach Holt put into the program,” Coweta athletic director Tim Johnson told the Wagoner County American-Tribune. “We wish Tim and his family nothing but the best.”

According to several sources, Holt is heading to Broken Arrow to become the Tigers’ passing game coordinator. For the Tigers, the reigning Class 6AI champions, Holt joins the offensive staff, which is led by offensive coordinator Jay Wilkinson.

Holt served as an assistant at Broken Arrow from 2010 to 2015.

Coweta is coming off a 5-7 season, one that ended with a loss to Ardmore in the Class 5A quarterfinals. 

The next head coach will be Coweta’s third since 2013.

STATE TOURNAMENT PREDICTIONS!

3/6/2019 |  Ben Johnson

No introduction needed. Here are the "expert" picks for state tournaments taking place this weekend. (Oh, and listen to the podcast while you're at it!)

Class 6A

Boys

Ben Johnson - Edmond Memorial: There are so many players to love in this field -- Putnam City West’s Rondel Walker, Sapulpa’s Camryn Dennis, Putnam City North’s Micah Thomas, Booker T. Washington’s Bryce Thompson and so many more. But Shane Cowherd is bringing a team with talent across the board. There’s a reason the coaches in the state have the Bulldogs as the top-ranked team, so I’ll side with Cowherd and Co. over Booker T. Washington in the finals.

Michael Swisher - Edmond Memorial: The Bulldogs snuck in after losing to Midwest City and squeaking by rival Santa Fe. They’ll play better this week and bring the trophy down south.

Whitt Carter - Booker T Washington: This will be a fantastic tournament filled with teams that can win it. But I’ll take the Hornets, as they have the experience in big games and are hungry for a title. They had to watch Memorial win two in a row in Class 5A and this year their get one of their own. Another side note, BTW’s Seth Hurd is my favorite and the most underappreciated player in the state.

Girls

Ben - PC West: Reckless abandon is what the Patrios will play with this weekend, just like they’ve done all year. Not a ton of big-time scorers for PC West, but last year’s runner-up will hoist the gold ball this year.

Michael - Putnam City West: No. 1 in Oklahoma. Nationally-ranked. Haven’t lost to a team from Oklahoma. Won’t this weekend, either.

Whitt - Putnam City West: They were right there last year and had their title taken in the waning seconds by Owasso. All they’ve done this year is go 23-1 with a loss to Skyline, TX and dominate the teams inside the state of Oklahoma. Their relentless style of play and approach will be the difference, as they finish on Saturday this time and cut down the nets.

Class 5A

Boys

Ben - Memorial: Boone twins. It’s that simple. The Chargers have been a dynamo in 5A with two straight titles and now going for a third. Northwest Classen is good, but can Davion Warden and Co. make it to the title game and then take down the Chargers? I don’t see it.

Michael - Memorial: Lenny Hatchett has Del City playing so well, but I can’t pick against Memorial. Neither should you.

Whitt - Memorial: Let’s all be honest, this is the easiest pick from any of the classes. Bobby Allison and gang are just on another level. The Boone twins will, once again, wow the crowds at the Mabee Center with their athleticism and impact on both ends of the floor. The Chargers get another one, sending Kalib and Keylan out with a bang.

Girls

Ben - Piedmont: Per usual, the 5A girls field is pretty much anyone’s for the taking. Rogers is dangerous, but then so is El Reno with Ashlyn Evans-Thompson leading the charge. Coweta is young but talented, and East Central is always a threat. But for this year, I’ll go with the Wildcats, led by Delanie Crawford (14.8 points a game) and Maci Attalla (13.6).

Michael - Piedmont: El Reno beating Ardmore at area put the bracket in a funk as it appears loaded at the bottom. Coach Carr’s team will emerge from that and then claim gold on Saturday.

Whitt - Ardmore: They suffered a surprising and tough loss to El Reno at the area tournament last week, but I think that may work to the Lady Tigers advantage by waking them up. This team rolled through the first part of the season, losing their first game in late January. Ardmore cuts down the nets and gets its’ third gold ball.

Class 4A

Boys

Ben - Kingfisher: Some unbelievable talent in this field -- Broken Bow’s Josh Jones (20.4 points per game), Central’s B.J. Jefferson (16), Elgin’s Conner Slater (16.3), Kingfisher’s Trey Green (17) and Heritage Hall’s Trey Alexander (24.8). And what’s scary is a lot of these teams will return a lot of talent next season. But for now, I’m zeroing in on a Kingfisher-Heritage Hall title game for a second straight year. This time the gold ball goes to Jett Sternberger, Matt Stone, Bijan Cortes and Co.

Michael - Kingfisher: I live in Kingfisher. I have to pay my bills. I have to pick the Yellowjacket. Oh, and they’re really, really good. And hungry. If they get by dangerous Elgin in the quarters, look out.

Whitt - Kingfisher: The class that everyone is excited for will take center stage at the Fairgrounds for all three days. Heritage Hall beat the Yellowjackets in the title game last year and are 26-0 this year. But the star-studded Kingfisher remembers that loss last March and will want revenge. They get it and send out their seniors with a second gold ball.

Girls

Ben - Anadarko: Top half of the bracket -- Holland Hall, Muldrow, Elgin and Classen SAS -- is STACKED. Again, STACKED. That’s part of the reason I went with Anadarko. The Warriors still have their work cut out for them, but I’m rolling the dice with Kaylee Borden (12 points a game), Averi Zinn and the rest of the Anadarko team to win its third gold ball.

Michael - Muldrow: Coaches tell me Classen SAS is as talented as they’ve seen in 4A in a while. And they’re young as they start three freshmen, a sophomore and a junior. That said, I’m going with Muldrow. Taylen Collins can match up with Littlepage-Buggs and Hannah Boyett can handle the pressure. And that’s just a semifinal. Don’t overlook Anadarko, either (it appears I am).

Whitt - Anadarko: A fairly wide open class, there are a handful of teams I could see winning it. I’ll go with the tradition-rich Anadarko, who beat one of the favorites, Classen, last Friday in the area finals. When the Lady Warriors get the press up and running, you better handle the pressure or things can unravel quickly.

Class 3A

Boys

Ben - Millwood: Kingston’s Jacob Germany is as good as it gets in this field, but I’ll side with the athleticism of the Falcons here. Give me Justin Wilson and Isaiah Williams and the rest of the Falcons.

Michael - Here’s hoping for a Kingston-Millwood final (all apologies to you other six). I’ve got personal ties to Millwood, so the fan in me is pulling for the Falcons all the way. The business side in me says Kingston won’t be denied.

Whitt - Millwood: I’ll take the Falcons to win the gold ball here. Several really good teams that you can pick here, including Kingston or Sequoyah on the other side. Ultimately, I think Millwood gets the winner of that eventual semifinal and beats them. Millwood has not lost inside the class this year and that won’t change this weekend.

Girls

Ben - Christian Heritage: Up from 2A, the Crusaders are still loaded. Tahlequah Sequoyah is probably the favorite, but I’ll side with Olivia Curtis and Rylee Langerman.

Michael - Sequoyah-Tahlequah: CHA has won the last two 2A crowns and is a sleeper, but this isn’t 2A and the Lady Crusaders aren’t as deep as they have been. Larry Callison rides into the sunset with another state championship.

Whitt - Christian Heritage: Another class with some big time teams, but I’ll take CHA to win another title as it took the jump up a class this season. They know how to win and ultimately get past Sequoyah in what would be an awesome semifinal. Side note, I am really picking my alma mater, the Sulphur Lady Bulldogs - in Toby Todd we trust.

Class 2A

Boys

Ben - Hennessey: Total guess here, so I’m siding with Hennessey, who -- along with Hooker -- has only lost twice this season.

Michael - Hooker: This is the most wide-open bracket in OKC, in my opinion. Any number of teams can win…and also get beat Thursday. Hooker is one of them.

Whitt - Dale: They are coming off a big win over Hooker last week to punch their ticket to the state tourney. They have played well inside the class this year, going 12-2, only losing to Cashion a month ago and Rock Creek back in January.

Girls

Ben - Dale: I’m programmed to believe that Dale wins everything when its in any state tournament field. Pirates win again.

Michael - Howe: No Cashion and no CHA this year, which have been Howe’s kryptonite the last three years. Dale is in the way, but Jalei Oglesby caps her stellar career with the gold ball.

Whitt - Latta: I’ll go with what many would consider a sleeper pick here, but give me the Lady Panthers. They are a long team and present a bunch of problems defensively. They will have to get past top-ranked Dale in the semis and it would be the rubbermatch between the two.

PODCAST: More basketball on tap this week

3/6/2019 |  Ben Johnson

Made a big podcast addition this week. Ben & Swisher are joined by the Oklahoman's Jacob Unruh.

Jacob & Swisher recap the highlights and the championship moments from the Class A & Class B state tournaments.

Then the guys break down the state tournaments from 2A through 6A. And of course, PREDICTIONS! (Most sure to go wrong, in Ben's case).

Have feedback for the show? Tweet at us - @michaelswisher or @benjohnsontul | Or email us at ben@skordle.com

And as always, thanks for listening!

STATE WRESTLING: Drake Barbee's story of survival

2/21/2019 |  Ben Johnson

EMAIL ME - ben@skordle.com   |   RELATED - State tournament wrestling predictions

Drake Barbee will take the mat at Jim Norick Arena on Friday. Impressive for someone who was near death 14 months ago.

“It was as severe as it could have gotten,” Barbee said, “other than death, of course.”

Barbee, attending Stilwell during his junior year at the time, was en route to his dad’s fiance’s house in Broken Arrow. 

Then things went horribly wrong.

“I have no recollection of anything other then trying to avoid something that night,” Barbee said. “The people at the hospital told me there was a guy that crossed over the center line that was high on meth, and I should have died.”

Needless to say, Dec. 19, 2017, was a horrifying day for Chris Barbee, Drake’s dad.

“Hardest phone call I ever had to take,” the elder Barbee said. “A lot of stuff goes through your mind, and I didn’t know the extent of his injuries until I got to the hospital.”

Chris Barbee was about to be horrified all over again. The list of Drake’s ailments was painfully extensive.

- Broken hip

- Broken jaw

- Traumatic brain injury

- Brain bleeds

The injuries caused Drake Barbee to spend nine days in a coma. Then came “multiple months in multiple hospitals,” Drake recalled. “Then a rehab center for an additional month.”

Drake’s near-death experience came immediately after competing at the Tournament of Champions in Reno, Nevada. And it would be the last time he’d take the wrestling mat for a while -- and understandably so.

“It was hard; I looking anywhere I could to get on the mat,” Drake said. “I was decently moving after the rehab center, and my mentality was ‘just keep going.’ I was just trying to grind it out.”

But he pushed himself too hard. He ended up blowing out a knee while recovering.

His junior season was a lost cause. That prompted several months of rest for Drake, and it wasn’t long before he relocated to Blackwell.

But Drake also faced a harsh reality.

“It hit me,” he said, “I realized I might not be able to wrestle for a while.”

A crushing realization for someone who lives for the wrestling room.

“It’s my lifestyle,” Drake said. “I literally love wrestling. Call me crazy, but it’s what I do.”

For Chris Barbee, it was agonizing watching his son endure hardships that no high school athlete should have to entertain.

“It was very tough to see him go through that kind of ordeal,” Chris Barbee said. “I just knew it was gonna be a long road back.”

But Drake navigated the path back to full strength -- or as close to full strength as he can get.

Now he sports a 34-4 record and a regional championship as he enters the 195-pound field in the Class 3A state tournament in Oklahoma City.

“It’s been awesome,” Drake Barbee said of being at Blackwell for his senior season. “The wrestling tradition is what I like. It doesn’t get much better.”

Regardless of how Drake, an Arkansas-Little Rock signee, does at State Fair Arena, it’ll be impressive for a wrestler who was told he may never display the correct walking tendencies.

“The doctor said he’d never had someone recover and walk correctly,” Drake Barbee said. “So to recover and do what I’m doing now, I’m truly blessed.”

And Chris Barbee couldn’t be happier to coach his son for his senior season.

“It’s been very satisfying to see him get back to his old self and what he’s capable of,” Chris Barbee said. “He’s very driven and is a tireless worker. He’s wrestling really good right now, and he is gonna be tough to beat.”

NEW PODCAST: Talkin' Wrestlin' ..... (and lots of hoops)

2/21/2019 |  Ben Johnson

CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEWS: Classes 5A, 4A & 3A

11/28/2018 |  Ben Johnson

It's time to break down championship games for Classes 5A, 4A and 3A -- or I like to call it, the “no east side teams allowed” preview. For real, just look at whose left in these three championship games.
As for the quality in these three games, it’s top notch. You have perennial powers, grind-it-out ball clubs and no shortage of extraordinary talent.
Looking for something to do on Friday night in the Oklahoma City area? You have plenty of options, stretching from Yukon to Edmond.

Now, here are your game previews….

*All games scheduled to start at 7 p.m. on Friday

Class 5A

No. 1 Carl Albert (13-0) vs. No. 2 Ardmore  (13-0)

Where: Wolves Stadium (Edmond Santa Fe High School)

Road to the title game

- Carl Albert: 28-7 vs. El Reno in the first round; 42-6 vs. Claremore in the quarterfinals; 37-20 vs. Collinsville in the semifinals
- Ardmore: 42-13 vs. Piedmont in the first round; 48-13 vs. Coweta in the quarterfinals; 21-13 vs. Bishop Kelley in the semifinals

What to watch for

- Ground game galore: Carl Albert’s Dadrion “Rabbit” Taylor is coming off a monster game against Collinsville - 313 yards and five touchdowns on 32 carries. Then there’s Ardmore arsenal of ball carriers, including Tero Roberts, Jadrien Monroe and Cameron Petties. The Tigers are averaging close to 400 yards on the ground per game, and they’re coming off a 21-13 win over Bishop Kelley where they ran for 318 yards on 43 carries.

- Ardmore’s massive offensive line: Lost amid the big names in this one is the Tigers’ massive offensive line. Anchored by 5-foot-10, 305-pound senior guard Trenzel Johnson, Ardmore may possess the largest offensive front, this side of Broken Arrow. Brayden Bryant, Ethan Phillips, Sitani Lemeki and Johnson all check in at more than 275 pounds, and Tafolla mans the center position at 210.

- Tradition or Tigers? Carl Albert has won 35 straight games, and the Titans are basically royalty when it comes to winning championships. Then there’s Ardmore, looking for its first title since 1992.

Random facts

- Carl Albert head coach Mike Corley took over in 2017. He’s gone 27-0 over the course of two seasons.
- Ardmore head coach Josh Newby took over in 2015. He’s gone 40-9 over the course of four seasons.
- Ardmore is 3-2 all-time in championship games -- the last one being a 34-14 win over Douglass for the 5A crown in 1992.
- Carl Albert sophomore quarterback Ben Harris has completed 140 of 240 pass attempts this season for 2,224 yards and 19 touchdowns. For his career, Harris has logged 4,990 yards through the air.
- Junior linkebacker Reise Collier leads Carl Albert on defense with 160 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions.
- Carl Albert has won back-to-back 5A titles -- both wins over Bishop McGuinness in 2017 and 2016 by a combined score of 69-52.
- Carl Albert is 16-7 against Ardmore all-time, and the Titans beat Ardmore in both 2017 (28-12) and 2016 (38-21).
- A title would be ….. Carl Albert’s 14th; Ardmore’s fourth.

Prediction panel

Michael Swisher: Ardmore over Carl Albert - Man, if we could just stop at the first three classes, I would seem pretty smart. I've nailed all six title game participants so far. I went out on a limb with my Ardmore pick. Only a fool would pick against Carl Albert. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce myself, the fool. I could be embarrassed by this pick still, but I feel the Tigers' ground game and stellar defense do just enough to knock off the champs.

Ben Johnson: Carl Albert over Ardmore - Welp, I had Bishop Kelley making the championship game against Carl Albert, so strike one for me there. But I had Carl Albert winning it all, so I’ve still got that going for me. When the season started, it looked like Carl Albert was the run-away favorite to win another gold ball, and while I’m still picking the Titans, I think Ardmore’s got a great shot. With guys like Tero Roberts, Cameron Petties and others, Ardmore will do its best to lean on it size and speed as much as possible. But when it comes down to it, Carl Albert has too much firepower. I know, I know -- what else is new?

Whitt Carter: Carl Albert over Ardmore - Again, this was my pick before the playoffs started and I've seen no reason to change it. Carl Albert is in the middle of an incredible run and they'll be hard to beat with a chance to go for the three-peat and their 36th win in a row. But it won't be easy, as Tero Roberts is the real deal. Again, major props to Tigers' head coach Josh Newby. He has this program at an elite level in 5A and they aren't going away anytime soon. But they will have to wait, as the Titans continue to add to their historic run.

Class 4A

No. 6 Bethany (12-1) vs. No. 2 Tuttle (13-0)

Where: Miller Stadium (Yukon High School)

Road to the title game

- Bethany: 38-13 vs. Weatherford in the first round; 42-35 vs. Wagoner in the quarterfinals; 31-30 in double overtime vs. Clinton in the semifinals.
- Tuttle: 31-0 vs. Anadarko in the first round; 42-14 vs. Hilldale in the quarterfinals; 21-11 vs. Poteau in the semifinals.

What to watch for

- Rematch time: Just about the only thing Bethany had going for it back in October was it was at home. Beyond that, Tuttle waltzed into Bethany and knocked around the Bronchos, winning a 30-7 clash in District 4A-2. “I just wanted to beat them so bad,” Tuttle quarterback Carson Berryhill told the Oklahoman. And he sure did, accounting for four touchdowns -- two on the ground and two through the air. He finished with 82 yards through the air and 60 yards on the ground, while the Tigers’ defense did the rest.

- Truelove’s traction: Lost amid Berryhill’s touchdowns against Bethany was Tuttle’s junior tailback Triston Truelove piling up yardage while helping Tuttle dominate in time of possession. Truelove had 182 yards on 29 carries, and he has more than 1,500 yards for the Tigers this season.

- Best of Brandt: Christian Heritage’s Zach Hale is one of the poster boys for having to do it all this season, but Bethany’s Sam Brandt is in the conversation. The junior quarterback/defensive back has rushed for 1,234 yards and 24 touchdowns on 177 carries this season, and he’s added 2,405 yards and 25 touchdowns while completing 156 of 241 passes. And he’s not done there. He’s logged 71 tackles and seven interceptions. His production was limited against Tuttle the first time around, so don’t expect that to happen again.

Random facts

- Bethany coach Jon Arthur took over in 2017, and he’s gone 22-4 over the course of two seasons.
- Tuttle coach Brad Ballard took over in 2014, and he’s gone 45-12 over the course of five seasons.
- Bethany is unbeaten in its only state championship appearance -- a 40-6 win over Davis in the 2A title game of 2003.
- Tuttle is 11-2 all-time against Bethany. The Tigers did lose 21-12 to Bethany last season during district play.
- Bethany’s senior tailback Jacob Kyle has rushed for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns on 185 carries this season.
- Five Bethany receivers -- Ben Lawson, Lawson Stout, Jordan Flinton, Jackson Howard and Skylar Holzhauser -- each have at least 299 yards receiving this season.
- Brodey Claborn leads Bethany in tackles with 107. Lawson Stout had added 103 tackles, one sack and two interceptions.
- A title would be ….. Bethany’s second; Tuttle’ third.

Prediction panel

Michael Swisher: Tuttle over Bethany - In my defense, I was forthright in saying I had no idea what was going to happen in the 4A playoffs when I picked Poteau to beat Wagoner in the finals. I still think you could start the playoffs over and get at least one different finalist. That said, sorry for doubting you, West side. Bethany's Sam Brandt will be the best player on the field, in my opinion. But, Tuttle has the best overall team. It's a return to glory for the Tigers. For the record, I have Tigers winning three of the top four classes now.

Ben Johnson: Tuttle over Bethany - I’d like to piggyback off of Swisher, if I could, and offer an apology to the west side teams. I had Poteau over Wagoner in the finals. I felt really good about Poteau, too, but the Pirates picked a bad time for injuries to start mounting up. Just how the luck shakes out sometimes. Nevertheless, Tuttle is more than deserving of being in the finals. It might not have looked like it by the final score, but Hilldale was a really good football team this season and Tuttle just smacked the Hornets around in the quarterfinals. The Tigers have the luxury of letting Carson Berryhill do his thing at quarterback, or they can hand the ball off to Triston Truelove. All the while, Tuttle has the more stout defense between itself and Bethany. Sam Brandt and Bethany aren’t going anywhere, so perhaps 2019 could be the year the Bronchos wrestle gold away from the rest of Class 4A. Until then, I’m sticking with Tuttle to claim football and wrestling championships this season (that’s right, I’m already calling my shots in wrestling).

Whitt Carter: Tuttle over Bethany - Tuttle was my preseason state championship pick for Class 4A and I must say, I'm pretty proud. Not many picked this team to make a deep run, probably due to not making it out of the first round in three of the last four years. But Tuttle has been the team to beat in 4A all season long. The Tigers are 13-0 and haven't played a game closer than 10 points all year. But they will have to beat a really good Bethany team to finish the perfect season. Broncos QB Sam Brandt will give the Tigers all they can handle, but Tuttle QB Carson Berryhill has made plays when it mattered all year long and I'm betting he does it again, as Tuttle reigns supreme as the Class 4A champ.

Class 3A

No. 1 Heritage Hall (12-1) vs. No. 3 Sulphur (12-1)

Where: Charles W. Scheid Stadium (Western Heights High School)

Road to the title game

- Heritage Hall: 42-0 vs. Marlow in the first round; 44-21 vs. Stigler in the quarterfinals; 69-34 vs. Lincoln Christian in the semifinals.
- Sulphur: 34-7 vs. Perkins-Tryon in the first round; 56-31 vs. Idabel in the quarterfinals; 35-26 vs. Kingfisher in the semifinals.

What to watch for

- Containing Conner: Prior to his senior season, Heritage Hall tailback Conner Carey had a whopping 158 rushing yards to his credit. This year, Carey has burst onto the scene with 1,667 yards and 28 touchdowns on 182 carries. A receiver last season who hauled in 44 catches for 642 yards, Carey switched to the backfield for the Chargers, who also have Billy Ross to hand the ball off to, as well. Carey still says busy catching the ball, hauling in 23 catches for 474 yards and seven touchdowns. Then on defense, he’s come up with 55 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions.

- Containing Kiser: This year has been full of tremendous running back performances across the state. Yet, the one piling up the most yards resides in Sulphur. Kiser, a 6-foot, 190-pound tailback, is sitting at 2,442 yards and 38 touchdowns on 367 carries with one game left to go. It’s no surprise that Sulphur will go as he goes -- even if his ankle is still a little wobbly. He torched Kingfisher for 130 yards and three scores last week, so he’s no stranger to picking up yards against good teams. And if his offensive endeavors aren’t enough, he’s also one of Sulphur’s main defense stoppers, and he added 10 tackles against the Yellowjackets last week.

- Dixon does it again?: Sulphur coach Jim Dixon has been coaching the Bulldogs since 1975, but he actually wasn’t Sulphur’s coach when the team won its last state championship. Wait, what? Dixon missed the 2004 season due to an illness, and Jeff Nye coached the Bulldogs to the 2A title that season, beating Purcell in the championship game. Dixon returned in 2005, but Sulphur has yet to reclaim a gold ball. Heading into this week’s game, Dixon is 309-179 in 43 years on the sidelines.

Random facts

- Heritage Hall head coach Brett Bogert took over in 2015. He has gone 52-2 over the course of four seasons.
- Sulphur won its first championship in 2002 against Seminole in the 2A title game. The Bulldogs’ last title was in 2004. That’s been it, despite Sulphur being a perennial power in Oklahoma.
- Heritage Hall has scored an average of 42.4 points in its last seven playoff games.
- Billy Ross has rushed for 637 yards and nine touchdowns, and he’s also caught 42 passes for 800 yards and nine touchdowns for Heritage Hall this season.
- Hardy Bowers leads Heritage Hall with 144 tackles, and he also has 10 sacks. Jaden McDaniel (12) and Will Dunn (11) also have more than 10 sacks apiece, too.
- These two teams have had pretty limited exposure to one another. Only other meeting was in 2004 -- a 48-21 win for Sulphur in the 2004 semifinals.
- A title would be ….. Sulphur’s third; Heritage Hall’s seventh.

Prediction panel

Michael Swisher: Heritage Hall over Sulphur - Kingfisher knocked off Berryhill, my pick to make it out of the bottom half of the bracket. Then Sulphur disposed of the Yellowjackets last week behind its always-solid ground game. While stopping Trey Kiser is key, he's not the only rushing weapon for the Bulldogs. However, Heritage Hall's offense also has a multi-pronged rushing attack. That, plus a quirky, blitzing defense will be too much for Sulphur to overcome. Heritage Hall won't do things to get itself beat and, if need be, I think the Chargers can go to the air to win. I'm not convinced Sulphur can.

Ben Johnson: Heritage Hall over Sulphur - Deferring to Swisher and Whitt would be the smart play here. Both were at the semifinal clash between Sulphur and Kingfisher last week, so both know what Sulphur has to offer. That being said, they’re split on the outcome so I’ll break the tie. Sulphur is about as hard-nosed as it gets, but I’m never one to doubt a member of the Bogert family. Brett opted to switch things up and go with Conner Carey as the team’s primary tailback this season, because of a Billy Ross ailment, and it’s paid dividends. It always seems like Bogert and his staff are always one step ahead, so that’s enough to sway me. I should mention here that I had Berryhill making the title game against Heritage Hall, so you’re welcome to publicly shame me. I deserve it.

Whitt Carter: Sulphur over Heritage Hall - So I picked the Chargers pretty confidently back in August, and they've done nothing to earn my distrust. But I did pick Sulphur to beat the Chargers in the finals at the start of the playoffs and I'll stay with that mindset. Heritage Hall is looking for its fourth state title in five years, and we all know they can certainly get it done. But this Sulphur team has been overlooked all year, and the way they play is tough to deal with. This will surely be the toughest test the Bulldogs have faced all year long, but they have the best player on the field in Trey Kiser and I think they find a way to pull the upset. The Bulldogs win a nail-biter for their third state title in school history.

*Photo courtesy of Russell Stitt

Week 7 picks

10/10/2018 |  Ben Johnson

Well, what we have here is two hotly-contested showdowns for first and third place. Swisher and Coach Turney are locked in a battle for first place, while Whitt and myself charge hard after the bronze.

Week 6 picks - Coach Turney 14-4 | Whitt 13-5 | Ben 13-5 | Swisher 13-5

Overall - Swisher 91-35 | Turney 91-35 | Ben 84-42 | Whitt 84-42

And per usual, my apologies in advance to the teams I pick below:

Carl Albert at Guthrie

Michael Swisher: Carl Albert 33, Guthrie 17

Ben Johnson: Carl Albert 30, Guthrie 16

Whitt Carter: Carl Albert 28, Guthrie 21

Randy Turney: Carl Albert 31, Guthrie 14

Broken Arrow at Edmond Santa Fe

Michael Swisher: Broken Arrow 38, Edmond Santa Fe 14

Ben Johnson: Broken Arrow 41, Edmond Santa Fe 19

Whitt Carter: Broken Arrow 34, Edmond Santa Fe 14

Randy Turney: Broken Arrow 28, Edmond Santa Fe 7

Stillwater at Lawton

Michael Swisher: Stillwater 35, Lawton 21

Ben Johnson: Stillwater 23, Lawton 22

Whitt Carter: Stillwater 42, Lawton 34

Randy Turney: Stillwater 35, Lawton 20

Cascia Hall at Berryhill

Michael Swisher: Berryhill 24, Cascia Hall 12

Ben Johnson: Berryhill 20, Cascia Hall 19

Whitt Carter: Cascia Hall 32, Berryhill 28

Randy Turney: Berryhill 28, Cascia Hall 20

Victory Christian at Beggs

Michael Swisher: Beggs 28, Victory Christian 10

Ben Johnson: Beggs 33, Victory Christian 24

Whitt Carter: Beggs 35, Victory Christian 27

Randy Turney: Beggs 21, Victory Christian 20

Plainview at Sulphur

Michael Swisher: Plainview 24, Sulphur 22

Ben Johnson: Plainview 29, Sulphur 23

Whitt Carter: Sulphur 28, Plainview 24

Randy Turney: Sulphur 34, Plainview 31

Buffalo at Pond Creek-Hunter

Michael Swisher: PC-Hunter 30, Buffalo 14

Ben Johnson: PC-Hunter 43, Buffalo 22

Whitt Carter: PC-Hunter 31, Buffalo 12

Randy Turney: PC-Hunter 34, Buffalo 22

Booker T. Washington at Sapulpa

Michael Swisher: Booker T. Washington 31, Sapulpa 30

Ben Johnson: Booker T. Washington 27, Sapulpa 24

Whitt Carter: Booker T. Washington 42, Sapulpa 28

Randy Turney: Booker T. Washington 31, Sapulpa 22

Stigler at Seminole

Michael Swisher: Seminole 34, Stigler 17

Ben Johnson: Seminole 23, Stigler 20

Whitt Carter: Seminole 34, Stigler 21

Randy Turney: Seminole 34, Stigler 20

Tonkawa at Morrison

Michael Swisher: Morrison 18, Tonkawa 14

Ben Johnson: Morrison 26, Tonkawa 16

Whitt Carter: Morrison 27, Tonkawa 21

Randy Turney: Morrison 38, Tonkawa 14

Yukon at Westmoore

Michael Swisher: Yukon 17, Westmoore 16

Ben Johnson: Yukon 21, Westmoore 17

Whitt Carter: Westmoore 21, Yukon 20

Randy Turney: Westmoore 24, Yukon 17

El Reno at Duncan

Michael Swisher: Duncan 24, El Reno 21

Ben Johnson: Duncan 32, El Reno 17

Whitt Carter: Duncan 28, El Reno 14

Randy Turney: El Reno 28, Duncan 21

Bethany at Cushing 

Michael Swisher: Bethany 31, Cushing 17

Ben Johnson: Bethany 33, Cushing 27

Whitt Carter: Bethany 35, Cushing 13

Randy Turney: Bethany 30, Cushing 24

Catoosa at Cleveland

Michael Swisher: Catoosa 36, Cleveland 25

Ben Johnson: Catoosa 28, Cleveland 18

Whitt Carter: Catoosa 37, Cleveland 21

Randy Turney: Catoosa 20, Cleveland 14

Kingfisher at Perkins-Tryon

Michael Swisher: Kingfisher 31, Perkins-Tryon 28

Ben Johnson: Kingfisher 27, Perkins-Tryon 21

Whitt Carter: Kingfisher 35, Perkins-Tryon 21

Randy Turney: Kingfisher 34, Perkins-Tryon 20

Okemah at Meeker

Michael Swisher: Meeker 33, Okemah 21

Ben Johnson: Meeker 34, Okemah 24

Whitt Carter: Okemah 33, Meeker 24

Randy Turney: Meeker 28, Okemah 12

Stratford at Washington

Michael Swisher: Washington 27, Stratford 23

Ben Johnson: Washington 32, Stratford 19

Whitt Carter: Washington 28, Stratford 20

Randy Turney: Washington 38, Stratford 20

Hooker at Okeene

Michael Swisher: Hooker 31, Okeene 13

Ben Johnson: Hooker 29, Okeene16

Whitt Carter: Hooke 35, Okeene 13

Randy Turney: Hooker 34, Okeene 7

Covington-Douglas at Southwest Covenant

Michael Swisher: SW Covenant 48, Covington-Douglas 30

Ben Johnson: SW Covenant 44, Covington-Douglas 25

Whitt Carter: SW Covenant 45, Covington-Douglas 31

Randy Turney: SW Covenant 42, Covington-Douglas 20

Let us know what you think. Tweet your predictions to us at @Skordle.

Week 7: Top 10 games

10/9/2018 |  Ben Johnson

Some rock-solid games this week as district races tighten up.

Here's what's on tap this week:

1. 5A No. 1 Carl Albert (6-0) at 5A No. 7 Guthrie (6-0): Bluejays beat Carl Albert every year from 2010 to 2015, but the Titans have posted back-to-back blowouts over Guthrie, including last year's 55-10 contest. Carl Albert running back Dadrion Taylor is also expected back after suffering a knee injury earlier in the season.

2. 6AI No. 1 Broken Arrow (6-0) at 6AI No. 4 Edmond Santa Fe (6-0): Tigers have been machine-like all season long. The Wolves pulling the upset would be one to send shockwaves throughout 6AI.

3. 6AII No. 1 Stillwater (6-0) at 6AII No. 5 Lawton (4-2): Pioneers are 0-4 against Lawton since the two clubs started playing district contests in 2014. And this one was going to feature a stellar running back showcase, but Stillwater tailback Qwontrel Walker was ejected in the fourth quarter against Choctaw last week, leaving his status for this week up in the air. Meanwhile, the Wolverines will ride the hot hand of Miles Davis at tailback.

4. 3A No. 8 Cascia Hall (5-1) at 3A No. 2 Berryhill (6-0): These two teams have met 10 times since 1999 and Cascia Hall is one nine of those games. The Chiefs' lone victory in the series was in 2004. Winner all but locks up the District 3A-4 crown.

5. 2A No. 9 Victory Christian (6-0) at 2A No. 5 Beggs (5-1): Former district mates are reunited in 2A-3 play this year. From 2010 to 2015, the two teams split the series 3-3. Winner here still has to tangle with Sperry to claim the district title.

6. 3A No. 4 Plainview (5-1) at 3A No. 5 Sulphur (5-1): Sulphur beat Plainview 35-12 last season, but prior to that Plainview had won the last eight clashes between the two teams.

7. C No. 4 Buffalo (6-0) at C No. 1 Pond Creek-Hunter (6-0): Winner all but wraps up the District C-1 championship. And to this point, Pond Creek-Hunter opponents are averaging four points per game.

8. 6AII No. 6 Booker T. Washington (3-3) at 6AII No. 7 Sapulpa (5-1): Chieftains came up with an overtime win over Muskogee last week, and a win over the Hornets would be a massive statement. One advantage Sapulpa does have is at the quarterback position with Eli Williams.

9. Stigler (5-1) at 3A No. 6 Seminole (5-1): All of a sudden everyone in District 3A-3 is chasing after Idabel. And it's looking more and more like a quality team will be left out of the playoff picture in the suddenly-deep 3A-3. The winner here at least feels somewhat more at ease with a postseason spot more obtainable.

10. Tonkawa (6-1) at A No. 3 Morrison (6-0): Tonkawa has a two-game winning streak going against Morrison, but it's the Wildcats who are ranked heading into this one. District A-5 is deep, so a win here moves one of these two closer to the district title.

Honorable mention

Yukon at Westmoore: Top three spots in 6AI-1 appear to be spoken for among Broken Arrow, Jenks and Edmond Santa Fe. So for a regular season matchup, it all but serves as a "win and you're in; lose and you're out" tilt. And Westmoore is 6-0 against Yukon since 2006.

El Reno at Duncan: The Demons are unbeaten but now the schedule tightens up. A win for Duncan sets up an epic showdown against Ardmore next week for 5A-1 supremacy. A win for El Reno has the Indians feeling better about securing a postseason spot. El Reno beat Duncan 41-40 last season.

Bethany at Cushing: Despite a minus-nine scoring margin in six games this season, the Tigers are 3-0 in District 4A-2. A win for Cushing could work toward some must-see games against Blanchard and Tuttle to close out the regular season in a few weeks.

Catoosa at Cleveland: District 4A-3 looks like it'll come down to Bristow or Wagoner at the top. So that leaves three -- maybe four (Catoosa, Cleveland, Grove and Oologah) -- competing for the final two playoff spots.

Kingfisher at Perkins-Tryon: We're finding out that a lot of districts have some solid depth, and 3A-1 falls in that category. Heritage Hall and John Marshall are locks for playoffs spots, so it's up to Kingfisher, Perkins, Mannford and Mount Saint Mary to challenge for the final two spots.

Okemah at Meeker: Since 2008, Okemah has won seven of the last eight matchups. Both of these clubs need a win to have a shot at possibly winning or finishing in the top two spots of 2A-2.

Stratford at Washington: Washington pushed Millwood to the limit last week. And despite a 1-2 mark in 2A-7, Stratford has to be taken seriously in the playoff mix.

Hooker at Okeene: Winner here gets a chance to challenge Oklahoma Bible Academy for District A-1 bragging

Covington-Douglas at Southwest Covenant: Winner all but wraps up the C-3 title.

So who wins all the matchups? Check back for our weekly picks on Thursday.

*Photo courtesy of Guthrie Booster Club

Week 6 picks

10/4/2018 |  Ben Johnson

Phew, what a relief for myself and Whitt in week 5. Swisher and Coach Turney were leaving us in the dust. But we were able to gain a little bit of ground in the overall standings. Just have to ride the wave of momentum now.

Week 5 picks - Whitt 14-3 | Ben 14-3 | Coach Turney 13-4 | Swisher 12-5

Overall - Swisher 78-30 | Turney 77-31 | Ben 71-37 | Whitt 71-37

And per usual, my apologies in advance to the teams I pick below:

Collinsville at Tahlequah

Michael Swisher: Collinsville 21, Tahlequah 18

Ben Johnson: Collinsville 17, Tahlequah 10

Whitt Carter: Tahlequah 35, Collinsville 31

Randy Turney: Collinsville 21, Tahlequah 14

Washington at Millwood

Michael Swisher: Millwood 45, Washington 14

Ben Johnson: Millwood 32, Washington 19

Whitt Carter: Millwood 36, Washington 21

Randy Turney: Millwood 41, Washington 14

Tuttle at Bethany

Michael Swisher: Tuttle 24, Bethany 22

Ben Johnson: Tuttle 21, Bethany 17

Whitt Carter: Tuttle 24, Bethany 20

Randy Turney: Tuttle 24, Bethany 13

Coyle at Southwest Covenant

Michael Swisher: SW Covenant 48, Coyle 14

Ben Johnson: SW Covenant 43, Coyle 38

Whitt Carter: SW Covenant 42, Coyle 40

Randy Turney: SW Covenant 38, Coyle 28

Stillwater at Choctaw

Michael Swisher: Stillwater 30, Choctaw 23

Ben Johnson: Stillwater 33, Choctaw 21

Whitt Carter: Stillwater 41, Choctaw 13

Randy Turney: Stillwater 34, Choctaw 14

Putnam City North at Union

Michael Swisher: Union 35, PC North 14

Ben Johnson: Union 42, PC North 9

Whitt Carter: Union 37, PC North 14

Randy Turney: Union 38, PC North 14

Muskogee at Sapulpa

Michael Swisher: Muskogee 24, Sapulpa 20

Ben Johnson: Muskogee 39, Sapulpa 29

Whitt Carter: Muskogee 42, Sapulpa 28

Randy Turney: Muskogee 28, Sapulpa 20

Ardmore at El Reno

Michael Swisher: Ardmore 28, El Reno 7

Ben Johnson: Ardmore 24, El Reno 9

Whitt Carter: Ardmore 32, El Reno 24

Randy Turney: Ardmore 31, El Reno 20

Seminole at Idabel

Michael Swisher: Seminole 27, Idabel 21

Ben Johnson: Seminole 45, Idabel 27

Whitt Carter: Seminole 42, Idabel 28

Randy Turney: Seminole 42, Idabel 20

Tyrone at Buffalo

Michael Swisher: Tyrone 34, Buffalo 24

Ben Johnson: Buffalo 35, Tyrone 26

Whitt Carter: Buffalo 41, Tyrone 34

Randy Turney: Buffalo 34, Tyrone 26

Westmoore at Broken Arrow

Michael Swisher: Broken Arrow 38, Westmoore 18

Ben Johnson: Broken Arrow 49, Westmoore 13

Whitt Carter: Broken Arrow 52, Westmoore 14

Randy Turney: Broken Arrow 42, Westmoore 14

Stigler at Checotah

Michael Swisher: Checotah 31, Stigler 29

Ben Johnson: Checotah 34, Stigler 28

Whitt Carter: Checotah 28, Stigler 24

Randy Turney: Stigler 24, Checotah 14

Haskell at Victory Christian

Michael Swisher: Victory Christian 30, Haskell 15

Ben Johnson: Victory Christian 37, Haskell 22

Whitt Carter: Victory Christian 42, Haskell 16

Randy Turney: Victory Christian 31, Haskell 20

Okemah at Prague

Michael Swisher: Okemah 33, Prague 21

Ben Johnson: Okemah 30, Prague 20

Whitt Carter: Prague 32, Okemah 21

Randy Turney: Okemah 21, Prague 20

Wynnewood at Stroud

Michael Swisher: Stroud 29, Wynnewood 24

Ben Johnson: Wynnewood 29, Stroud 23

Whitt Carter: Wynnewood 28, Stroud 14

Randy Turney: Wynnewood 20, Stroud 14

Prue at Yale

Michael Swisher: Yale 35, Prue 17

Ben Johnson: Yale 43, Prue 22

Whitt Carter: Yale 47, Prue 38

Randy Turney: Prue 38, Yale 30

Regent Prep at Watts

Michael Swisher: Regent Prep 34, Watts 28

Ben Johnson: Regent Prep 55, Watts 41

Whitt Carter: Regent Prep 49, Watts 34

Randy Turney: Regent Prep 48, Watts 12

Tipton at Mountain View-Gotebo

Michael Swisher: Tipton 24, Mt. View-Gotebo 19

Ben Johnson: Tipton 56, Mt. View-Gotebo 22

Whitt Carter: Tipton 47, Mt. View-Gotebo 28

Randy Turney: Tipton 48, Mt. View-Gotebo 6

Let us know what you think. Tweet your predictions to us at @Skordle.