WEEK 4 PICKS

9/27/2019 |  Ben Johnson

Swisher is still in the lead, and blah blah blah. Whitt and I need to step it up

Week 3 picks

Michael Swisher - 9-6
Whitt Carter - 12-3
Ben Johnson - 13-2

Overall standings

Michael Swisher - 46-13
Whitt Carter - 41-18
Ben Johnson - 43-16

Broken Arrow at Jenks

Swisher: Broken Arrow
Whitt: Broken Arrow
Ben: Broken Arrow

Union at Owasso

Swisher: Owasso
Whitt: Owasso
Ben: Owasso

Del City at Choctaw

Swisher: Del City
Whitt: Del City
Ben: Del City

Sapulpa at Bixby

Swisher: Bixby
Whitt: Bixby
Ben: Bixby

Claremore at Collinsville

Swisher: Claremore
Whitt: Collinsville
Ben: Claremore

Elgin at Weatherford

Swisher: Elgin
Whitt: Elgin
Ben: Weatherford

Bethel at Sulphur

Swisher: Sulphur
Whitt: Sulphur
Ben: Sulphur

Cascia Hall at Verdigris

Swisher: Verdigris
Whitt: Cascia Hall
Ben: Verdigris

Lincoln Christian at Stigler

Swisher: Lincoln Christian
Whitt: Lincoln Christian
Ben: Lincoln Christian

Metro Christian at Adair

Swisher: Metro Christian
Whitt: Metro Christian
Ben: Metro Christian

Morris at Beggs

Swisher: Beggs
Whitt: Beggs
Ben: Beggs

Vian at Spiro

Swisher: Vian
Whitt: Vian
Ben: Vian

Barnsdall at Pawhuska

Swisher: Pawhuska
Whitt: Pawhuska
Ben: Pawhuska

Christian Heritage at Cashion

Swisher: Cashion
Whitt: Cashion
Ben: Cashion

Hooker at Thomas

Swisher: Thomas
Whitt: Thomas
Ben: Hooker

Tonkawa at Pawnee

Swisher: Tonkawa
Whitt: Tonkawa
Ben: Pawnee

Weleetka at Dewar

Swisher: Dewar
Whitt: Weleetka
Ben: Dewar

Buffalo at Boise City

Swisher: Boise City
Whitt: Buffalo
Ben: Boise City

Graham Dustin at Midway

Swisher: Midway
Whitt: Graham-Dustin
Ben: Midway

Seiling at Cherokee

Swisher: Cherokee
Whitt: Cherokee
Ben: Cherokee

**Photo by David Stacy

Skordle Showdown arrives in Bixby again

6/21/2019 |  Ben Johnson

The Skordle Showdown is back again in 2019. Some of the state’s premier teams will be in Bixby on Friday. Take a look at all the teams that will be there.

Large school teams

Broken Arrow Tigers
Head coach: David Alexander
Players to watch
- CB Myles Slusher: Highly sought-after defensive back has committed to Oregon. Capped his junior season with an interception on Jenks’ final drive in the Class 6A-I title game to secure Broken Arrow’s first championship.
- S Campbell Yeager: Finished with 74 tackles last season for the Tigers.
- RB Maurion Horn: Sophomore-to-be call carrier already holds offers from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Arkansas and Baylor.
Need to know: Most notable Broken Arrow player in 2019 will be offensive lineman Andrew Raym, who holds offers from just about every major program in the country. … Tigers will be deploying a new quarterback after Quintevin Cherry and Tate Robards graduated. … Horn likely will be the Tigers’ new running back after Noah Cortes graduated. …. Broken Arrow’s defense did not allow more than 20 points in a game last season, and the Tigers issued only 27 points in three playoff games.


Union Redskins
Head coach: Kirk Fridrich
Players to watch
- QB JD Geneva: Threw for 2,752 yards and 32 touchdowns for Coweta in 10 games last season. Moved to Union just after the first of the year.
- WR Kyler Pearson: Kansas commit caught 57 passes for 551 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
Need to know: Union lost to Jenks, 27-24, in last year’s 6A-I semifinal matchup. … Fridrich is 138-21 since taking over at Union in 2007.


Jenks Trojans
Head coach: Keith Riggs
Players to watch
- WR/TE Bo Estes: Trojans top receiver measures in at 6 feet, 3 inches and 190 pounds. Primed for a big senior season and plenty of college offers along the way.
- RB Will Cox: Slated to be the Trojans’ top ball carrier and has offers already from Davidson and Southwestern Oklahoma State.
Need to know: Jenks’ 2018 season ended with a 28-20 loss to Broken Arrow in the 6A-I title game. The Trojans’ only two losses last season were to Broken Arrow. … Jenks will have a new quarterback in 2019 after Ian Corwin graduated.

Owasso Rams
Head coach: Bill Blankenship
Players to watch
- WR/CB Duece Mayberry Jr.: Kansas commit had 27 tackles and three interceptions on defense last season.
- RB Isaiah Jacobs: Rams ball carrier has offers from Arkansas, Michigan, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State and plenty more. Also the little brother of former McLain standout Josh Jacobs.
Need to know: A year after winning the 2017 title, Owasso pushed Broken Arrow to the limit in a 10-7 game in the 6A-I semifinals. … Quarterback Will Kuehne passed for 2,378 yards and 23 touchdowns during his senior season in 2018. … Mario Kirby and Trey Goins combined for 1,156 receiving yards for the Rams last season, and both return in 2019.

Bixby Spartans
Head coach: Loren Montgomery
Players to watch
- QB Mason Williams: Junior-to-be was one of Oklahoma’s top quarterbacks in 2018. Guided the Spartans to a 6A Division II championship with 3,225 yards and 36 touchdowns.
- WR/DB Brennan Presley: Superb athlete on both sides of the ball and starting to gain a lot of recruiting traction. Caught 67 passes for 1,081 yards and 10 touchdowns on offense last season.
Need to know: Bixby beat Stillwater 34-13 in the 6AII title game in 2018. For the Spartans, it was their fourth championship in five years. … WR/DB Jordan Reagan is gaining attention after drawing an offer from Oklahoma State earlier in June.

Coweta Tigers
Head coach: Tim Harper
Player to watch
- WR Blake Lair: Caught 56 passes for 952 yards and 15 touchdowns during his junior season in 2018.
Need to know: Harper was named Coweta’s new head coach in early June after Tim Holt Jr. accepted a position on Broken Arrow’s coaching staff. … The Tigers reached the 5A quarterfinals in 2018 before being eliminated by Ardmore.

Cleveland Tigers
Head coach: Ricky Ward
Player to watch
- QB Ben Ward: Emerged on the scene as a sophomore in 2018 with 2,355 yards and 33 touchdowns through the air.
Need to know: Tigers finished 5-5 and missed the playoffs in 2018. … Cleveland is looking for its first playoff appearance since 2013.

Hilldale Hornets
Head coach: David Blevins
Player to watch
- WR/SS/LB Dylan Walker: Recorded 76 tackles and 10 tackles for loss on defense during his sophomore season in 2018.
Need to know: Blevins left his post as Locust Grove’s head coach to take over at Hilldale in the offseason. … Hilldale went 9-3 in 2018 and made it to the 4A quarterfinals before losing to eventual state champion Tuttle.

Bishop Kelley Comets
Head coach: JJ Tappana
Players to watch
- WR Cori Lewis: Caught 57 passes for 867 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.
- RB Zach Middleton: Oklahoma State commit spearheads the Comets’ rushing attack and racked up 1,129 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Also a disruptive force on defense with 83 tackles as a junior.
- TE Cooper McMurry: Can play nearly any position on offense and doubles as a baseball standout with a commitment to Kansas.
Need to know: Reached the Class 5A semifinals last year before being beat by Ardmore, 21-13, one game shy of the title game.

Booker T. Washington Hornets
Head coach: Brad Calip
Players to watch
- WR JJ Hester: Perhaps the state’s top receiving target in recruiting circles for the 2020 graduating class. Stands 6 feet, 3 inches and weighs 181 pounds with offers from Georgia, Arkansas, Kansas State, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas and plenty more.
- LB Krishawn Brown: Recently committed to Kansas after logging 119 tackles and 14 sacks in 2018.
Need to know: Followed a 6AII championship in 2017 with a semifinal appearance in 2018. Hornets lost to Stillwater a game shy of playing for back-to-back titles.


Small school teams
Cushing Tigers
Head coach: Rusty Morgan
Player to watch
- WR Keaton Crooks: One of the state’s top wideouts in 2018 with 1,117 yards on 68 receptions.
Need to know: Tigers went 4-7 in 2018 but still earned a playoff spot in Class 4A.

Henryetta Knights
Head coach: Lance Beck
Player to watch
- QB Jakob White: Passed for 1,142 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore last season.
Need to know: Knights went 1-9 in 2018. … Beck took over at Henryetta after serving as linebacker coach at Sand Springs.

Verdigris Cardinals
Head coach: Travis East
Players to watch
- QB Brant Hager: Passed for 1,607 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior in 2018.
- WR Toby Willis: Caught 39 passes for 894 yards last season.
Need to know: Cardinals went 5-6 with a playoff berth in 2018. … Sloan Roller returns as Verdigris’ top tackler last season with 142.

Pawhuska Huskies
Head coach: Matt Hennesy
Players to watch
- QB/LB Bryce Drummond: Threw for 1,697 yards and 17 touchdowns during his sophomore season in 2018. Also had 104 tackles at linebacker.
- WR/DB Cade McNeil: Led the Huskies with five interceptions on defense, and was Pawhuska’s top receiver with 536 yards as a junior in 2018.
Need to know: Huskies went 6-5 with a playoff berth in their first year under Hennesey in 2018.

Beggs Golden Demons
Head coach: David Tenison
Player to watch
- S Kendal Daniels: Uber-athletic defensive back has offered from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Arkansas and many more.
Need to know: Golden Demons have had back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2017 and 2018. Last season, Beggs lost to Sperry in the 2A title game, after losing to John Marshall in the 3A championship game in 2017.

Locust Grove Pirates
Head coach: Cameron Conder
Player to watch
- QB Trystin Gutierrez: Senior signal caller takes over an offense that averaged 28.2 points per game in 2018.
Need to know: Pirates went 8-3 with a playoff berth in 2018. … Conder took over after Blevins became the head coach at Hilldale.

Okmulgee Bulldogs
Head coach: Brent Scott
Need to know: Scott takes over at Okmulgee after a two-year stint at Kellyville, where he guided the Ponies to an 8-4 record with a second-round playoff appearance in 2018.

Morris Eagles
Head coach: Robert Daniels
Player to watch
- QB Kolby Burgess: As a sophomore, guided the Eagles to five wins and a playoff berth last season.
Need to know: Eagles went 5-6 before being eliminated from the playoffs by Adair in 2018.

Lincoln Christian Bulldogs
Head coach: Jerry Ricke
Player to watch
- Chase Ricke: One of the state’s top passers in 2018 with 3,116 yards and 34 touchdowns.
Need to know: The Bulldogs finished 11-2 in 2018 with a semifinal appearance in Class 3A.

Blackwell Maroons
Need to know: The Maroons were 2-8 in 2018.

PODCAST: It's Skordle Showdown time!

6/20/2019 |  Ben Johnson

FOOTBALL'S BACK!! Well, not really. But kind of.

Skordle is hosting two different 7-on-7 football tournaments, all thanks to wonderful sponsors, Tulsa Tech and Charleston's.

The guys break down both Showdowns, and chat about players to watch and what to keep an eye out for. And shoutout to the 7-on-7 event in Norman live streaming several of the matchups.

Later in the episode, the OSSAA's Chris Wilfong joins the podcast to talk about his tremendous website - IWasAtTheGame.com ... if you've never checked it out, do it now. It has everything you'd ever want to know about high school sports in Oklahoma. 

As always, thanks for listening. 

And send us your feedback at @benjohnsontul or @michaelswisher

STATE TOURNAMENT WRESTLING: Complete class-by-class roundup

2/25/2019 |  Ben Johnson

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Zane Coleman stepped off the podium and started fielding multiple requests. Everyone inside Jim Norick Arena wanted to snap a photo with the newest member of the four-time state champion club.
The Choctaw senior joined the exclusive membership with a 1-0 victory over Broken Arrow’s Bryce Mattioda, making it 37 wrestlers to be share the lofty accomplishment.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Coleman, the 170-pound senior who did it with his dad, Benny Coleman, coaching him to all four championships. “I dreamed about this forever, and now that it’s come true I couldn’t be happier.”
Finishing as Class 6A’s Most Outstanding Wrestler of the state tournament capped Coleman’s career and wrapped up a 41-1 season. He’ll soon depart for Tempe, Arizona, where he’ll join the Arizona Sun Devils program.
“They have a great coaching staff,” Zane Coleman said, “and I think we’re the No. 2 recruiting class right now, so we have good things coming.”

Class 3A wrap-up

Perry wins another title; Bridge Creek claims first individual crowns

The state’s preeminent wrestling program did what it normally does to end each wrestling season: pose with a trophy to memorialize another team championship. For Perry, that’s now 43 team championships. The closest to the Maroons? Tuttle and Midwest City with 16.
“It’s pretty awesome to win as a team,” Perry’s Ryan Smith told the Stillwater NewsPress. “Since I’ve been a freshman, we’ve won every year. All of my teammates did what they’re supposed to do.”
Smith picked up one of three individual championships for the Maroons. Smith beat Walters’ Remington White, 4-2, to capture the 113 title. Dylan Avery (132) and Hadyn Redus (152) claimed the Maroons other two championships.
- Smith, DePron lead Bridge Creek: The Bridge Creek Bobcats had waited long enough, so Kolton Smith made sure to make quick of his opponent. Smith, at 126 pounds, pinned Marlow’s Anthony Orum in 58 seconds to claim Bridge Creek’s first individual championship.
Then Kolby DePron followed at 145 with another title, picking up a 10-8 victory over Geary’s Landon Holt to double up the Bobcats’ hardward in one evening.
“It feels insane,” DePron said. “I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. … I hardly remember the match. Just an adrenaline rush; I went out and barfed everywhere.”
- Marlow finishes second: Perry was too far out of reach, but Marlow still made plenty of noise in the championship matches on Saturday night. Tyler Lawson (106) picked up a title with a 6-2 over Vian’s Braylen Rodgers, and Kobey KIzarr pinned Pawhuska’s Price Perrier at 6:57 to pick up the Outlaws second title.
Perry topped the 3A leaderboard with Marlow in second place with 91 points.
- Other 3A titles: Vinita’s Alex Prince won the 120 crown with an 8-3 win over Newkirk’s Dayton Cary. Sperry’s Bryce Carter beat Comanche’s Cade Cook 6-4 at 170 pounds. Blackwell’s Drake Barbee (182) pinned Inola’s Brody Jenkins at 2:33.
All three became first-time champions.
Checotah’s Cade Shrosphire beat Marlow’s Tyler Lavey, 3-2, in an ultimate tiebreaker. Vian’s River Simon (182) pinned Perry’s Kohl Owen at 3:41. Comanche’s Konner Doucet picked up a 15-0 technical fall over Berryhill’s Nico Lopez for the 220 crown, and Davis’ Cooper Webb won the heavyweight crown by pinning Perry’s Teaguan Wilson at 1:20. All four became repeat champions. It was the second for Shrosphire, Simon and Webb, and Doucet picked up his third in three years. He’ll attempt to become a four-time state champion as a senior next season.

Class 4A wrap-up

Long breaks McLain’s title drought; Tuttle picks up title No. 16

McLain’s TJ Long put the Titans back on the wrestling map at State Fair Arena. In perhaps the match of the night, Long went back and forth with Tuttle’s Logan Farrell in the 126-pound title bout before ultimately picking up a 12-10 win in sudden victory.
It was McLain’s first individual championship since 1977 (Greg Hawkins at 178 pounds).
“It sounds like I just wrote my name in the record books,” Long said.
Long, last year’s runner-up at 126 pounds, capped his senior season at 36-0.
“I lost in the finals last year,” Long said. “And I said, ‘that’s not happening this year. I’m known for clutch situations, so I was like, ‘I got this.’”
- Tuttle wins again: There was never a doubt -- even before the weekend started -- as to who would claim the 4A championship. Tuttle made it look easy again, claiming 229 points to cruise to its 16th championship in its program’s history.
“I transferred to Tuttle my eighth grade year to experience this, and it’s great,” said Plott, ranked third nationally at 170 pounds. “The group of guys we have right now is like a family. We hang out a lot, and we’re all really close.”
Garrett Steidley (113), Ryder Ramsey (132), Brady DeArmond (145), Luke Surber (152), Plott and Carson Berryhill (195) each picked up individual crowns for the Tigers. Reese Davis (120), Farrell (126), Bryce Dauphin (138), Harley Andrews (160) and Kavan Guffey (182) were all runners-up at their respective weights.
-- Cascia Hall sophomore Eli Griffin picked up a 9-1 major decision win over Cushing Luke Ahrberg for his second title in two years. The Commandos have claimed at least one individual title every year since Mike Bizzle won the school’s first in 2002.
-- Heritage Hall’s Val Park beat Dauphin 3-0 for his third consecutive championship. He became the school’s fourth wrestler to win at least three individual championships, with Rodrick Mosley being the most recent with his title at 152 last season.
-- Cushing picked it first individual championships since 2014. Jacob Ahrberg finished the season 26-0 with a 9-8 win over Tuttle’s Harley Andrews. Gage Hockett followed at 182 and beat Tuttle’s Kavan Guffey 3-2 in an tiebreaker. Hockett finished the season 32-0.
-- Bristow’s Luke Fortney pinned Poteau’s Seth Ford at 3:06 to claim the 220 championship, Bristow’s first since 2007.
-- Other 4A champions included Wagoner’s Braden Drake (120) and Blanchard’s Ryder Wiese at heavyweight.

Class 5A wrap-up

Collinsville, Skiatook split 5A title; Borror wins for a 3rd time

The pressure was sitting squarely on Korbin McLaughlin’s shoulders. The Skiatook senior needed a victory at 220 pounds for the Bulldogs to have a chance at the Class 5A championship.
Collinsville was leading Skiatook 137 to 133, and a win by decision by McLaughlin would be enough to pull the Bulldogs even. Anything better than that would give Skiatook the championship outright, two weeks after celecrating a dual state title in Shawnee.
McLaughlin wound up beating Claremore’s Seth Seago, 4-1, meaning Skiatook and Collinsville both left Jim Norick Arena with first-place honors.
Collinsville finished with four individual champions, including junior Caleb Tanner (132) beating Skiatook’s Cody Francis, 9-0, for his third title in three years. Two Cardinal freshmen claimed their first titles: Cameron Steed (106) and Jordan Williams (113). Rocky Stephens (120) followed with a title by posting an 8-0 win over Carl Albet’s Jayston Cato.
Skiatook sophomore Josh Taylor (126) picked up his second championship in as many seasons with a 9-3 win over Collinsville’s Jordan Cullors. Then the Bulldogs’ Cougar Anderson capped an unbeaten season (38-0) by pinning Piedmont’s Landis Scoon at 4:36 for the 152 crown.
For Collinsville, it’s the Cardinals’ second straight championship, and Skiatook claimed its first title since 1987.
- Borror bests 182 field: Piedmont’s Austin Cooley jumped out to an early lead against Coweta’s Talon Borror. But Borror didn’t let that last long, rallying to pin Cooley at 2:43 to pick up his third consecutive championship.
“There’s a lot of hard work that goes into it,” Borror said. “Now it’s time call it a career.”
Well, high school career, that is. Borror wrapped up his senior varsity stint at 38-2 and now will head to Norman and join the Sooners.
“We’re building a good team and have a lot of good recruits coming in,” Borror said. “Looking to make a run at the top.”
- Hicks prevails for Durant’s 1st title: Durant’s Cody Hicks trailed early on, but he rallied for a 6-4 win over Glenpool’s Gage Hight. Now Hicks will forever be known as the first Durant wrestler to win an individual championship for the Lions.
And he celebrated accordingly by jumping into his brother’s arms.
“He’s eight years older than me, and he’s always worked with us,” Hicks said of his brother, Colby. “(To jump into his arms) was an amazing moment.”
-- Other 5A champions included Altus’ Kobi Gomez (138), Lawton Mac’s Christiain Maldonado (170) and Matthew Santos (195) and Duncan’s Hunter Jump (160), a former champion at Lawton Mac before moving to Duncan.
Piedmont’s Josh Heindselman, named 5A's most outstanding wrestler, also picked up his second state championship at heavyweight by pinning Lawton Mac’s Montana Phillips at 3:13.

Class 6A wrap-up

Tigers back on top with 6A crown; Mustang nabs 4 titles

If there’s ever a constant about Class 6A, it’s that the teams like to pass around the team championship. Sure enough, it was Broken Arrow’s turn again with the Tigers claiming their first crown since 2015.
Broken Arrow was the lone 6A team to crack the 100-point barrier and compiled 158 points by weekend’s end. Mustang was second with 96, and Choctaw was third at 75.
The Tigers’ Jackson Cockrell (113) and Jared Hill (120) both lost in the finals before Reece Witcraft registered Broken Arrow’s first individual title at 132. Witcraft toppled Owasso’s Zeke Washington -- for the second week in a row -- with a 6-3 decision for his second straight state championship.
Broken Arrow sophomore Emmanuel Skillings (182) nabbed his first championship with a 5-1 victory over Owasso’s Taylor Fleming, and then Zach Marcheselli (220) etched his name into the Oklahoma record book with his fourth state championship. He made history by beating Edmond North’s Jake McCoy 10-4 in his final varsity match.
For Broken Arrow, that’s now two four-time state champions after Brandon Tucker accomplished the feat from 2000 to 2003.
- Mustang crowns 4: Mustang threw the biggest party on the outskirts of the 6A mat inside State Fair Arena on Saturday night. It had been since 2005 that the Broncos snared an individual state championship, so Mustang made sure to celebrate accordingly for each of the four titles.
Tucker Owens (113) claimed Mustang’s first title with a 9-0 victory over Cockrell of Broken Arrow. Then John Wiley, the No. 4 seed out of the West Regional, picked up a 5-1 win over Stillwater’s Carter Young for title No. 2 for Mustang.
Tate Picklo followed at 160 and pinned Putnam City’s Rene Martinez to cap off an unbeaten 43-0 season. The Broncos’ final state title was courtesy of Judson Rowland and his last-second, 11-10 win over Deer Creek’s Carson Savage.
-- Choctaw claimed three individual championships. Coleman won at 170, Gabe Johnson (145) knocked off Deer Creek’s Micah Lugafet, 9-4, and heavyweight Marquonn Journey beat Jenks’ Caleb Orr, 3-1.
- Other 6A champions included:
-- Bixby’s Zach Blankenship: Won the 120 title as a freshman with a pin of Broken Arrow’s Jared Hill at 5:12.
-- Ponca City’s Spencer Schickram picked up the 138 title with a 10-0 major decision over Broken Arrow’s Blake Gonzalez.
-- Jenks junior Drake Vannoy picked up his second championship by beating Sand Springs’ Scott Patton, 5-1.

Trent Worley named head coach at Kiefer

2/5/2019 |  Ben Johnson

KIEFER -- Trent Worley is a small-town kid at heart. Plus, he and his wife Ashley have most of their family living in northeast Oklahoma.
That made the head coaching vacancy at Kiefer so intriguing.
And sure enough, Worley was named the Trojans’ head man Monday night, becoming only the program’s second head coach in 12 years.
“It’s a really good spot to be in, both for me and my family,” Worley told Skordle. “But to a lot of people, it’ll look like a crazy move.”

Worley, a Foyil alum, recently wrapped up a two-year tenure at Piedmont, where he went 8-13. The Wildcats went 5-6 in 2018 and earned a playoff berth before being eliminated in the first round by eventual Class 5A runner-up, Ardmore.
In Kiefer, Worley will fill the void left by Josh Calvert, who is stepping away from coaching to take a job in Oregon. From 2008 to last season, Calvert led the Trojans to a 94-37 record.
“This is something I’m looking forward to,” Worley said. “What was impressive to me about Kiefer was how the town places a priority on athletics, and those being bright spots in the community. Plus, there they place a great deal of importance on building relationships in settlings like Kiefer.”
Kiefer is coming off a 3-7 campaign in 2018. The Trojans shared a spot in District 2A-3 with Class 2A’s state champion, Sperry, and runner-up, Beggs. Kiefer entered the final week of the regular season vying for postseason spot, alongside Haskell and Morris.
“I’m a small-town guy,” Worley said. “I’m going into year No. 20 in my career. The older you get the more you realize what’s important, so I’m excited for the move for my family. And I’m excited about the Kiefer program, which as unlimited potential.”

Class 2A playoff preview

11/8/2018 |  Ben Johnson

Players to watch

- Laike Wilhelm (Newkirk): Perhaps the most widely unknown player to put up the best numbers this season. The senior tailback has rushed for 2,051 yards and 21 touchdowns on 261 carries this season.

- Jaxon Canard (OCS): Junior tailback has only rushed 133 times this year, but he's piled up 1,207 yards and 18 touchdowns in the process.

- Korbin Cox (Jones): Another year, another offensive standout for Jones. This time it's a sophomore running back who has collected 1,007 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground this season.

- Lance Spaulding and Trevor Stuever (Washington): The running duo has teamed up for 2,108 yards and 22 touchdowns this season.

- Taryn Kesler (Lindsay): Sophomore QB has thrown for 1,635 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. Also completed 91 of 150 attempts.

- Asher Link (Metro Christian): Junior quarterback has thrown for 2,037 yards and 21 touchdowns, and he's done a lot of that by not even playing in the second half during most district games.

- Austin Hines (Adair): The Bradbury family passed the torch to Hines last season at quarterback, and Hines has filled the void with big numbers. This season, Hines has passed for 1,746 yards and 17 touchdowns.

- Dalton Spring (Beggs): Senior quarterback is an exceptional athlete who can beat opponents through the air or on the ground. He's passed for 1,377 yards and 21 touchdowns this season while completing 74 of 128 pass attempts.

- Beau Teel (Sperry): Much like Spring at Beggs, Teel has a dual-threat QB for defenses to have to try and wrangle. He's passed for 1,365 yards and 14 touchdowns, and he also has a stout offensive line to allow him to run around on the ground, if necessary.

- Blade Horton and Austin Lambert (Coalgate): One of 2A's top rushing and passing duo this season. Horton has rushed for 1,500 yards and 30 touchdowns, and Lambert has completed 128 of 203 passes for 2,065 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Don't overlook... Sperry

The Pirates had things rolling up until the final week of the regular season when they lost an emotional roller coaster of a game against Beggs. Sperry still has a loaded roster with the likes of Beau Teel, Jacob Sutherland, Hayden Borth, Clay Johnson, Cooper Park, Walker Niver and plenty more. Sperry's road to the 2A semifinals is perhaps easier than some others since the Pirates could potentially be back at home for the quarterfinals with Coalgate arriving. Of course, that's subject to change. What's not changing is Sperry's roster that is talented enough to make a long run in the playoffs.

Favorite (potential) matchup - Holland Hall vs. Jones

Stage is set for a potentially intriguing matchup in the quarterfinals. The Dutch had its postseason halted in a road loss at Davis last season, so Holland Hall is out to rectify last year's outcome. Meanwhile, Jones is loaded yet again and the Longhorns took John Marshall to the wire before losing in last year's semifinals.

Coaching candor

How do other high school coaches see the 2A postseason playing out? We asked and they made their predictions (after being granted anonymity, of course). 

Coach One: "I'll take Millwood because they have all the pieces. They have a very good O-line and a very good D-line. They have great skill kids on both sides of the ball. They have speed and power. They have it all. Plus, they don't seem to care how you try and stop them. They adjust and play. Don't think anyone will really play them close unless they have injuries."

Coach Two: "I'm picking a Millwood-Beggs championship with Millwood winning the gold ball. Millwood is experienced and has athletes all over the field. They are big up front with great skill kids. Not much to say on them except they are good. I would pick Millwood 34, Beggs 13."

Coach Three : "Millwood and Beggs in the finals. I am curious if emotions can get Beggs over Millwood."

Prediction time

Michael Swisher: Millwood over Beggs - First of all, Beggs is a good football team. Now the Demons are riding a wave of emotion that can carry them a long way in the 2A bracket. They’ll no doubt be the darlings of the state as everyone outside of Millwood (and their weekly opponent) will be sentimentally pulling for them. But Millwood is also a really good football team. The Falcons aren’t quite the dominant force defensively they were a year ago and Washington proved they are susceptible earlier this year. However, Millwood will get it done yet again.

Ben Johnson: Millwood over Metro Christian - Yeah, I should probably take Beggs here, but it doesn't really matter who ends up in the title game opposite of Millwood. The Falcons are too good. Did you see what other 2A coaches had to say above? The bottom half of the bracket is pretty spread out when it comes to equal talent, but the same can't be said for the top half of the bracket. Millwood is just too good. Falcons win another gold ball. Book it!

Whitt Carter: Millwood over Beggs - Arguably the school with the most talent from Class 4A on down, Millwood has been everything you had hoped for in 2018. They have won 38 straight games and are looking for their third straight gold ball. The Falcons are loaded, featuring Oklahoma commit Marcus Major and Texas signee De'Maryion Houston, along with several others. They beat Class 3A favorite Heritage Hall to open the season and have only been tested once since. Meanwhile, Beggs has played a tough schedule and been through unbelievable circumstances, losing starting running back Kayson Tolliver tragically last week. The Demons rallied for a huge win over Sperry last week to win the district title. Beggs has more to play for than any team you will ever see. They have quarterback Dalton Spring and talented players around him. And it would be incredible to see them make another run to the state title game. But Millwood is too good, and the Falcons make it 43 in a row, hoisting their third straight gold ball.

Class 2A preview

7/6/2018 |  Ben Johnson

Look back at 2017

2017 district champs

2A-1: Chisholm - The Longhorns were golden when they weren't facing Washington in 2017. Luckily for them, Washington was in a different district, so Chisholm made an unbeaten 6-0 run through A-1 last season, including a 33-21 victory over Alva in October. But unfortuntaely for Chisholm, its only two losses were to Washington in non-district play in September and then in the second round of the playoffs in November.

2A-2: Millwood - A machine -- that's what Millwood was in 2017. The Falcons scored no fewer than 37 points in all 14 of their games, and they never gave up more than 18. That's pure dominance. And to cap it all off, Millwood outscored its opponents 228 to 7 in the postseason.

2A-3: Lindsay - The Leopards were hard to get a read on in 2017, but they finished atop 2A-3 by the end of the regular season. A 27-21 loss to Hobart landed Lindsay in a tie atop the district with Washington, but the Leopards followed that loss with a 38-21 victory over Washington to claim the tiebreaker. But while Washington was making a run to the state championship game, Lindsay ended up with a second-round loss to Alva to cap a 7-5 season.

2A-4: Davis - Head coach Jody Weber capped his 17-year run as the Wolves' head coach with the program's 34th district title. Davis knocked off every 2A opponent it faced in 2017 until it clashed with Washington in the semifinals. 

2A-5: Vian - The Wolverines coasted in 2A-5 play, winning all five contests comfortable. The closest was a 26-12 win over Okemah in late October. The district title segued into playoff wins over Panama and Victory Christian and the first two rounds, but then Millwood was waiting in the quarterfinals to pull the plug on Vian's postseason run.

2A-6: Valliant - Really only one word sums up 2A-6 in 2017: craziness. Five -- yes, five! -- teams finished atop the district standings at 4-2. It was Valliant that ended up with its fifth district crown, and then there was Hartshorne that missed the playoffs altogether. Valliant, Spiro and Antlers all won their first round playoff matchups, but none of the three advanced past the second round.

2A-7: Holland Hall - It was the first district championship for the Dutch, a team that had joined the OSSAA ranks in 2016 after transitioning over from the Southwest Preparatory Conference with mostly Texas teams. Holland Hall looked like a potential opponent for Millwood in the finals, but a furious comeback by Davis in the quarterfinals ended the Dutch's postseason run.

2A-8: Adair - The Warriors picked up their seventh straight district title, thanks in large part to a 36-14 win over Commerce in the final week of the regular season. Adair marched into the quarterfinals, where Alva dispatched the Warriors with a 40-8 rout.

Talking title game: Millwood 42, Washington 7

An underdog heading into the game, Washington struck first and looked like it might elevate Millwood's stress level for the first time during the 2017 season. But all the Falcons did was respond with 42 straight points to coast to their seventh state championship. Running back Marcus Major ran for 152 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries for the Falcons, and Dezmond Howard scored on both sides of the ball (a 40-yard TD reception and an 82-yard fumble return). Millwood ended up forcing four Washington turnovers in the game.

 

On to 2018...

Players to watch

- Marcus Major (Millwood): Not great news for the rest of Class 2A that Major returns in the Falcons' backfield in 2018. The Oklahoma commit had 1,155 yards and 23 touchdowns on 102 carries last season. Also mixed in 23 catches for 490 yards and five touchdowns.

- Laike Wilhelm (Newkirk): Another 1,000-yard rusher returning to the 2A landscape in 2018. Wilhelm totaled 1,097 yards and 16 touchdowns on 174 carries as a junior in 2017.

- Owen Ostroski (Holland Hall): Had a monster season as a freshman for the Dutch in 2017. Ostrokski was a key cog along the defensive front with 13 1/2 sacks.

- Gus Smith (Stratford): As a sophomore, Smith fell just short of the 1,000-yard rushing mark. He amassed 934 yards and nine touchdowns on 155 carries.

- Barrett Bradbury (Adair): The next in the long line of Bradbury's to shine in high school football. B.J. Bradbury led the Warriors to the 2015 championship, and now it's Barrett's varsity turn. As a sophomore in 2017, Barrett caught 55 passes for 1,011 yards and 17 touchdowns, and on defense he had 116 tackles and four interceptions.
- Austin Hines (Adair): The engineer of Adair's high-flying offense. During his junior season last year, Hines passed for 2,866 yards and 43 touchdowns while completing 166 of 275 pass attempts.
- Peyton Wilson (Luther): Burst onto the scene during his sophomore year in 2017. Tossed for 2,576 yards and 38 touchdowns while connecting on 64.3 percent (160 of 249) of his passes. 

- Beau Teel (Sperry): A standout two-way player for the Pirates in 2017. At quarterback, Teel passed for 2,120 yards and 21 touchdowns, and he added 671 yards and 15 touchdowns on 111 carries. 

- Tayden Lucero (Haskell): Haymakers' quarterback tossed for 751 yards and five touchdowns, but he did most of his damage with his lags, racking up 681 yards and 17 touchdowns on 155 carries.

- Dalton Spring (Beggs): The Demons lost talent from the 2017 roster that finished as the 3A runner-up. The Beggs returns Spring, who starred at quarterback during his junior season. He completed 107 of 179 passes for 1,967 yards and 21 touchdowns.

- Bodhi Vann (Vian): The leading rusher for the two-headed monster in Vian last season. Vann racked up 1,875 yards and 23 touchdowns on 256 carries. 
- River Simon (Vian): Vian's quarterback didn't need to pass the ball much last year with himself and Vann running the ball so often. Simon rushed for 1,147 yards and 16 touchdowns, and he also led the Wolverines on defense with a team-high 91 tackles.
- Kaden Speer (Antlers): Completed 144 of 207 passes for 1,348 yards and 12 touchdowns during his junior campaign in 2017.
- Trevor Stuever (Washington): Tyler Stuever was Washington's key cog in the rushing game last year with 2,483 yards, and now Trevor takes over after a junior year that included 839 yards and nine touchdowns on 104 carries.

 

District debriefs

2A-1: Chisholm, Alva and Hennessey -- the top three finishers in the district last season -- all return to the 2A-1 mix. Perry and Newkirk are the only other familiar faces with Tonkawa and Pawhuska vacating. The biggest addition will be Oklahoma Christian School, which claimed the 3A-1 title last season. Luther, who finished second to Millwood in 2A-2, joins the district and so does Centennial.

2A-2: This district has undergone a full facelift. Millwood dominated in this space for two years, but they're relocated to a new 2A district. Now it's Jones as the central figure at the top, after moving down from 3A. Prague, who finished second to Jones in 3A-2, makes the move with the Longhorns. Okemah, a member of 2A-5 recently, makes the move as another playoff team last year. The rest of the district includes Henryetta, Holdenville, Kellyville, Meeker and Chandler.

2A-3: This becomes an eastside district for the next two years, after recently featuring Hobart, Lindsay and district champ Washington. Now it's occupied by Victory Christian, Beggs, Haskell and Sperry -- all playoff teams in 2A or 3A last season. Dewey, Morris and Caney Valley are three other additions, and Kiefer joins the group after not long ago being an eight-man team.

2A-4: Welcome to basically what was 2A-8 last season. Adair, 2A-8 champion last year, heads the district and they have familiar faces in Wyandotte, Chelsea and Nowata. Metro Christian falls two classes and joins 2A-4, it'll be joined by Chouteau, Kansas and Salina.

2A-5: It's Vian leading the pack again, but with almost a new crew around it. Westville, Tahlequah Sequoyah and Keys move in from 3A, and Holland Hall shifts over after cruising to the 2A-7 crown last year. The rest of the field includes Panama, Pocola and Spiro.

2A-6: Let's just hope this district doesn't turn into such a mess at the end of this season. It will feature Antlers, Valliant, Hartshorne, Wilburton and Hugo again. They will welcome Atoka, Eufaula and Heavener to the festivities for the next two years.

2A-7: Millwood's new landing spot -- and it comes with a perennial contender in Washington. The 2A title game rematch will come at some point during district play with Washington shifting over from 2A-3 and Millwood moving from 2A-2. The other six teams include Crooked Oak, Lexington, Little Axe, Star Spencer, Community Christian and Stratford. 

2A-8: This is practically 2A-4 from recent memory. Davis, Kingston, Coalgate, Marietta and Tishomingo will all recognize one another, and they'll have new district mates in Comanche, Dickson and Lindsay.

 

What’s new? (coaches on the move)

- Ron Smith, after leading Victory Christian to the 2A title game in 2016, stepped down after leading the Conquerors back to the playoffs in 2017. Now Dub Maddox takes over after serving as Jenks' offensive coordinator.

- Mike Shklar takes over at Alva after Taylor Schwerdtfeger's three-year run.

- Not long ago (2015) Haskell was in the Class 2A title game under Greg Wilson. Rusty Harris took over for one year in 2017, and now he's elevated to superintendent of Haskell Public Schools. One of his first hires was Frank Marsaln to run the football program.

- Lee Blankenship took over at Bartlesville not long after leading the Demons to the 3A championship game. Now the reins at Beggs have been handed over to David Tenison.

- Matt Hagebusch returned home to Chelsea, and at first he didn't intended to take over the football program. But now he'll lead the Dragons into the 2018 season after recently serving as head coach at Claremore Sequoyah.

- Chris McMullen led Keys back to the postseason, but he stepped down after the 2017 campaign. In steps Mitchell Crittenden, who was recently the head coach at another Cherokee County team, Hulbert, in the early 2010s.

- A Weber family member had been leading the Davis Wolves since 1988, but then Jody Weber stepped down this offseason after going 193-34 in 17 seasons. Now long-time assistant Greg Parker is the head coach for the Wolves.

Fun facts:

- No team in Oklahoma has a longer streak of consecutive playoff appearances than Davis. The Wolves have punched their playoff ticket for the past 34 seasons, dating back to 1984.

- Millwood owns a 28-game winning streak headed into the 2018 season.

Prediction time

Ben: Watch out for Metro Christian dropping down from Class 4A | Jones will be just fine despite J.D. Head moving out of the state | Get to know Sperry's Beau Teel -- he's really good | Vian continues to win big with a Simon family member leading the way (someone in that family ought to run for mayor) | Holland Hall will be good, but losing Vance Mullendore hurts | Beggs still has enough to talent to make a big splash in 2A | Davis makes another playoff appearance (shocker!) | Made it this far without mentioning Millwood, but here it is: Falcons lose a game in 2018 but still win the title.

Swisher: Ben touched on most the points I was going to...and then some | This will be the first time in three full decades a Weber isn't the head coach at Davis. | Like Ben said, the Wolves' tradition will easily carry on in 2018. It will be interesting to watch its trajectory beyond that | Last year's Millwood team was one of the best small-school teams this state has ever seen. How will this one match up? That's what I'm looking for. | Speaking of matching up: No 2A team can do that with the Falcons. Send that gold ball to northeast OKC.

Whitt Carter: No surprise here, going with Millwood.

Guest picker - Hall of Fame coach Randy Turney: Yep, make it 4 for 4. I'm going with Millwood to win the title.

*Photos courtesy of Joey Johnson & Abby Blankenship

Ada jumps on Morris early

Baseball | 3/17/2018 | Brian Johnson | The Ada News

BEGGS – The Ada Cougars flourished early with 11 first-inning runs while being helped by seven Morris errors in securing a 16-6 win Thursday in the first round of the Beggs Tournament. Ada managed just seven hits but received a two-run homer from Trel Moore and a 2-for-3 effort from the plate and two runs scored by Hunter Conklin. Jackson McFarlane, who was 1-for-1 with three walks, and Bo Charboneau, who went 1-for-3, each drove home a pair of runs, and Jerrett Ellis knocked in one off a

High School Football rankings

11/14/2024 |  Michael Swisher

6A Division-I

1. Owasso (10-0)
2. Jenks (7-3)
3. Norman (9-1)
4. Bixby (8-2)
5. Edmond Memorial (8-2)
6. Union (7-3)
7. Deer Creek (7-3)
8. Moore (6-4)
9. Norman North (3-7)
10. Broken Arrow (4-6)

6A Division-II

1. Muskogee (10-0)
2. Choctaw (8-2)
3. Stillwater (8-2)
4. Sand Springs (7-3)
5. Piedmont (6-4)
6. Putnam City (6-4)
7. Putnam City North (7-3)
8. Bartlesville (3-7)
9. Lawton Ike (4-6)
10. Sapulpa (4-6)

Class 5A

1. Carl Albert (10-0)
2. Del City (9-1)
3. Booker T. Washington (8-2)
4. Newcastle (7-3)
5. Guthrie (7-3)
6. McAlester (8-2)
7. Bishop McGuinness (7-3)
8. Bishop Kelley (5-5)
9. Lawton Mac (7-3)
10. Pryor (7-3)

Class 4A

1. Wagoner (10-0)
2. Elgin (10-0)
3. Tuttle (10-0)
4. Blanchard (9-1)
5. Bethany (8-2)
6. Ada (7-3)
7. Weatherford (8-2)
8. Sallisaw (8-2)
9. Clinton (8-2)
10. Miami (8-2)

Class 3A

1. Lincoln Christian (10-0)
2. Heritage Hall (9-1)
3. Sulphur (9-1)
4. Cascia Hall (9-1)
5. Plainview (9-1)
6. Perkins-Tryon (8-2)
7. Pauls Valley (7-3)
8. Bristow (6-4)
9. North Rock Creekl (6-4)
10. Idabel (7-3)

Class 2A Division-I

1. Washington (10-0)
2. Millwood (9-1)
3. Metro Christian (10-0)
4. Kingston (9-1)
5. Marlow (8-2)
6. Jones (8-2)
7. Kiefer (7-3)
8. Chandler (7-3)
9. Chisholm (6-4)
10. OCS (7-3)

Class 2A Division-II

1. Vian (10-0)
2. Adair (10-0)
3. Stroud (10-0)
4. Holdenville (10-0)
5. Alva (8-2)
6. Davis (6-4)
7. Beggs (8-2)
8. Colcord (9-1)
9. Henryetta (8-2)
10. Salina (6-4)

Class A Division-I

1. Hooker (9-1)
2. Fairview (9-1)
3. Rejoice Christian (9-1)
4. Walters (9-1)
5. Pawnee (7-3)
6. Pawhuska (8-2)
7. Christian Heritage (7-3)
8. Pocola (8-2)
9. Wynnewood (8-2)
10. Minco (7-3)

Class A Division-II

1. Woodland (10-0)
2. Regent Prep (9-1)
3. Hominy (8-2)
4. Thomas (9-1)
5. Mangum (9-1)
6. Talihina (9-1)
7. Central Sallisaw (7-3)
8. Velma-Alma (8-2)
9. Texhoma (7-3)
10. Mooreland (7-3)

Class B Division-I

1. Laverne (9-1)
2. Dewar (8-1)
3. Yale (9-0)
4. Turpin (9-1)
5. Hollis (7-2)
6. Drumright (7-3)
7. Empire (9-1)
8. Garber (7-3)
9. Caddo (8-2)
10. Keota (7-3)

Class B Division-II

1. Seiling (9-1)
2. Weleetka (10-0)
3. Covington-Douglas (10-0)
4. Okeene (9-1)
5. Wilson-Henryetta (8-1)
6. Waukomis (8-2)
7. Copan (8-2)
8. Shattuck (6-3)
9. Webbers Falls (6-4)
10. Alex (6-4)

Class C

1. Tipton (10-0)
2. Timberlake (10-0)
3. Ryan (9-1)
4. Medford (7-2)
5. Welch (9-1)
6. Tyrone (7-2)
7. Maysville (8-2)
8. Paoli (7-3)
9. Geary (7-3)
10. Waynoka (5-5)

SKORDLE SAMPLER - Week 10 (2024): Sunrise Cafe in Kingfisher

11/7/2024 |  Michael Swisher

In Kingfisher, Oklahoma, there is a great little food place called Sunrise Cafe.

I have had breakfast here a few times over the years, but my most recent trip had me giving the incredible looking "Gravy Train" a try after scanning over the menu.

When it comes to breakfast dining out, I normally tend to migrate towards some combination that includes biscuits and this morning would be no different with the Gravy Train selection I was making. 

Week 10 High School Football Rankings

11/5/2024 |  Michael Swisher

6A Division-I

1. Owasso (9-0)
2. Bixby (8-1)
3. Union (7-2)
4. Jenks (6-3)
5. Norman (8-1)
6. Edmond Memorial (7-2)
7. Deer Creek (6-3)
8. Moore (5-4)
9. Mustang (5-4)
10. Norman North (2-7)

6A Division-II

1. Muskogee (9-0)
2. Choctaw (7-2)
3. Stillwater (7-2)
4. Sand Springs (6-3)
5. Putnam City (6-3)
6. Putnam City North (7-2)
7. Piedmont (5-4)
8. Southmoore (4-5)
9. Bartlesville (2-7)
10. Lawton Ike (3-6)

Class 5A

1. Carl Albert (9-0)
2. Del City (8-1)
3. Booker T. Washington (7-2)
4. Newcastle (6-3)
5. Guthrie (6-3)
6. Lawton Mac (7-2)
7. McAlester (7-2)
8. Bishop McGuinness (6-3)
9. Pryor (7-2)
10. Bishop Kelley (4-5)

Class 4A

1. Wagoner (9-0)
2. Elgin (9-0)
3. Tuttle (9-0)
4. Blanchard (8-1)
5. Sallisaw (8-1)
6. Bethany (7-2)
7. Weatherford (7-2)
8. Ada (6-3)
9. Clinton (7-2)
10. Miami (7-2)

Class 3A

1. Lincoln Christian (9-0)
2. Heritage Hall (8-1)
3. Sulphur (8-1)
4. Cascia Hall (8-1)
5. Plainview (8-1)
6. Perkins-Tryon (7-2)
7. Idabel (7-2)
8. Pauls Valley (6-3)
9. Berryhill (6-3)
10. Holland Hall (6-3)

Class 2A Division-I

1. Washington (9-0)
2. Millwood (8-1)
3. Metro Christian (8-0)
4. Kingston (8-1)
5. Marlow (7-2)
6. Jones (7-2)
7. Kiefer (6-3)
8. Chandler (6-3)
9. Chisholm (5-4)
10. Lindsay (6-3)

Class 2A Division-II

1. Vian (9-0)
2. Adair (9-0)
3. Stroud (9-0)
4. Holdenville (9-0)
5. Alva (7-2)
6. Davis (5-4)
7. Beggs (7-2)
8. Colcord (8-1)
9. Henryetta (7-2)
10. Kansas (6-3)

Class A Division-I

1. Hooker (8-1)
2. Fairview (8-1)
3. Rejoice Christian (8-1)
4. Walters (8-1)
5. Pawnee (6-3)
6. Pawhuska (7-2)
7. Wynnewood (8-1)
8. Christian Heritage (6-3)
9. Pocola (7-2)
10. Cashion (7-2)

Class A Division-II

1. Woodland (9-0)
2. Regent Prep (8-1)
3. Hominy (7-2)
4. Thomas (8-1)
5. Mangum (8-1)
6. Mooreland (7-2)
7. Talihina (8-1)
8. Central Sallisaw (6-3)
9. Velma-Alma (7-2)
10. Texhoma (6-3)

Class B Division-I

1. Laverne (8-1)
2. Dewar (7-1)
3. Yale (8-0)
4. Turpin (8-1)
5. Caddo (8-1)
6. Hollis (6-2)
7. Drumright (6-3)
8. Empire (8-1)
9. Garber (6-3)
10. Pond Creek-Hunter (7-2)

Class B Division-II

1. Seiling (8-1)
2. Weleetka (9-0)
3. Covington-Douglas (9-0)
4. Okeene (8-1)
5. Wilson-Henryetta (7-1)
6. Waukomis (7-2)
7. Cherokee (5-4)
8. Alex (6-3)
9. Copan (7-2)
10. Shattuck (5-3)

Class C

1. Tipton (9-0)
2. Timberlake (9-0)
3. Ryan (8-1)
4. Tyrone (7-1)
5. Medford (6-2)
6. Welch (8-1)
7. Maysville (7-2)
8. Paoli (6-3)
9. Geary (6-3)
10. Waynoka (4-5)

SKORDLE SAMPLER - Week 9 (2024): Revisiting Our Top Candy Picks, Good Soup & Happy Birthday Adam

10/31/2024 |  Michael Swisher

Since it is Halloween today, I thought it would be fun and timely to run back some previous SKORDLE Halloween Candy Blogs from 2021 and 2022.

I discuss many important topics related to candy preference, secretly stealing lots of candy from my children and my love for the old days of homemade Halloween treats.

If you are fortunate enough to come across a Popcorn Ball, Brownie, Candy Apple, or Rice Krispies Treats, rather than a full-sized candy bar (what's really special about that?), you are truly one of the lucky ones tonight! 

I have also included - in the 2021 blog - an incredible Minestrone Soup recipe courtesy of Mr. SKORDLE himself Adam Diesselhorst.

Speaking of Adam, today is his birthday, so tell him Happy Birthday! 

Week 9 Pay Dirt Picks & Results

10/31/2024 |  Korry Rogers

	MARK 11-1	JACOB 9-3	TOM 9-2	TONY 10-2
Anadarko @ Kingfisher
Chandler @ Sperry
Crossings @ Washington
Hinton @ Cashion
Minco @ Christian Heritage
Keota @ Dewar
Piedmont @ Stillwater
Perry @ Chisholm
Norman @ Mustang
Sand Springs @ Putnam City North
Carl Albert @ Guthrie
Bishop McGuinness @ Newcastle

Week 9 High School Football Rankings

10/30/2024 |  Michael Swisher

6A Division-I

1. Owasso (8-0)
2. Bixby (7-1)
3. Union (6-2)
4. Jenks (5-3)
5. Norman (7-1)
6. Edmond Memorial (6-2)
7. Mustang (5-3)
8. Deer Creek (6-2)
9. Norman North (2-6)
10. Moore (4-4)

6A Division-II

1. Muskogee (8-0)
2. Choctaw (6-2)
3. Stillwater (6-2)
4. Sand Springs (5-3)
5. Putnam City North (7-1)
6. Southmoore (4-4)
7. Piedmont (5-3)
8. Putnam City (5-3)
9. Lawton Ike (3-5)
10. Sapulpa (4-4)

Class 5A

1. Carl Albert (8-0)
2. Del City (7-1)
3. Guthrie (6-2)
4. Booker T. Washington (6-2)
5. Newcastle (5-3)
6. Bishop McGuinness (6-2)
7. Lawton Mac (6-2)
8. McAlester (6-2)
9. Shawnee (6-2)
10. Pryor (6-2)

Class 4A

1. Wagoner (8-0)
2. Elgin (8-0)
3. Tuttle (8-0)
4. Blanchard (7-1)
5. Clinton (7-1)
6. Sallisaw (7-1)
7. Bethany (6-2)
8. Weatherford (6-2)
9. Ada (5-3)
10. Miami (6-2)

Class 3A

1. Lincoln Christian (8-0)
2. Heritage Hall (7-1)
3. Sulphur (7-1)
4. Cascia Hall (7-1)
5. Plainview (7-1)
6. Perkins-Tryon (6-2)
7. Idabel (6-2)
8. North Rock Creek (5-3)
9. Pauls Valley (5-3)
10. Berryhill (5-3)

Class 2A Division-I

1. Washington (8-0)
2. Millwood (7-1)
3. Metro Christian (8-0)
4. Kingston (7-1)
5. Marlow (6-1)
6. Jones (6-2)
7. Kiefer (5-3)
8. Perry (6-2)
9. Hugo (6-2)
10. Chandler (5-3)

Class 2A Division-II

1. Vian (8-0)
2. Adair (8-0)
3. Stroud (8-0)
4. Davis (5-3)
5. Holdenville (8-0)
6. Alva (6-2)
7. Beggs (6-2)
8. Colcord (7-1)
9. Wyandotte (6-2)
10. Salina (5-3)

Class A Division-I

1. Hooker (7-1)
2. Fairview (7-1)
3. Rejoice Christian (7-1)
4. Christian Heritage (6-2)
5. Walters (7-1)
6. Pawnee (5-3)
7. Pawhuska (6-2)
8. Pocola (6-2)
9. Wynnewood (7-1)
10. Cashion (6-2)

Class A Division-II

1. Woodland (8-0)
2. Mangum (8-0)
3. Regent Prep (7-1)
4. Hominy (6-2)
5. Talihina (8-0)
6. Thomas (7-1)
7. Ketchum (6-2)
8. Mooreland (6-2)
9. Central Sallisaw (5-3)
10. Velma-Alma (6-2)

Class B Division-I

1. Laverne (7-1)
2. Dewar (6-1)
3. Yale (7-0)
4. Turpin (7-1)
5. Caddo (7-1)
6. Hollis (5-2)
7. Garber (6-2)
8. Keota (6-2)
9. Drumright (4-2)
10. Waurika (4-4)

Class B Division-II

1. Seiling (7-1)
2. Weleetka (8-0)
3. Covington-Douglas (8-0)
4. Okeene (7-1)
5. Wilson-Henryetta (6-1)
6. Waukomis (6-2)
7. Copan (7-1)
8. Shattuck (5-2)
9. Cherokee (4-4)
10. Wetumka (5-3)

Class C

1. Tipton (8-0)
2. Timberlake (8-0)
3. Ryan (7-1)
4. Tyrone (6-1)
5. Medford (5-2)
6. Geary (6-2)
7. Welch (7-1)
8. Maysville (6-2)
9. Paoli (5-3)
10. Sasakwa (6-1)

Week 8 Pay Dirt Picks & Results

10/24/2024 |  Korry Rogers

	MARK 9-3	JACOB 9-3	TOM 9-3	DOUG 10-2
Okeene @ Boise City
Kingfisher @ North Rock Creek
Tulsa Central @ Chandler
Lincoln Christian @ Checotah
Texhoma-Goodwell @ Mangum
Southwest Covenant @ Thomas-Fay-Custer
Blanchard @ Tuttle
Turpin @ Garber
Sequoyah Claremore @ Cascia Hall
Muskogee @ Sand Springs
Jenks @ Moore
McAlester @ Booker T Washington

SKORDLE SAMPLER - Week 8 (2024): Flamingo Lounge

10/23/2024 |  Michael Swisher

If you haven’t had a burger at the Flamingo Lounge in Enid, you really need to because they are absolutely delicious! 

The Flamingo is located right at the main intersection of town (U.S. 81 and U.S. 412 or Van Buren and Garriott for the locals).

It’s a classic dive joint that has been a favorite for many for a really long time. 

Simple is why they are great. 

The burgers are incredible and what I love the most is the melty cheese and warm greasy bun.

I would highly recommend the Double Meat, Double Cheeseburger.

You can even add chili if you’re brave enough or have arteries made of steel.

Regulars normally get some Chili Cheese Nachos as an appetizer or side. 

If you’re wanting to try something truly unique, follow the lead of Mr. SKORDLE Adam Diesselhorst and order the Pickled Eggs. 

I have never brought myself to try them (I stick to the nachos and burgers), but Adam loves them and you might too. 

The place has a shuffleboard, pool and video games for the kids. 

The next time you are in Enid, I would strongly suggest a stop at the Flamingo for an awesome burger!!!

Week 8 High School Football Rankings

10/20/2024 |  Michael Swisher

6A Division-I

1. Owasso
2. Bixby
3. Union
4. Jenks
5. Deer Creek
6. Norman
7. Edmond Memorial
8. Mustang
9. Moore
10. Broken Arrow

6A Division-II

1. Muskogee
2. Stillwater
3. Choctaw
4. Sand Springs
5. Piedmont
6. Putnam City North
7. Putnam City
8. Sapulpa
9. Southmoore
10. Lawton Ike

Class 5A

1. Carl Albert
2. Del City
3. Lawton Mac
4. McAlester
5. Guthrie
6. Bishop McGuinness
7. Collinsville
8. Booker T. Washington
9. Newcastle
10. Shawnee

Class 4A

1. Wagoner
2. Elgin
3. Tuttle
4. Blanchard
5. Broken Bow
6. Clinton
7. Poteau
8. Sallisaw
9. Bethany
10. Weatherford

Class 3A

1. Lincoln Christian
2. Heritage Hall
3. Sulphur
4. Cascia Hall
5. North Rock Creek
6. Plainview
7. Perkins-Tryon
8. Sequoyah-Claremore
9. Pauls Valley
10. Idabel

Class 2A Division-I

1. Washington
2. Millwood
3. Metro Christian
4. Kingston
5. Marlow
6. Jones
7. Kiefer
8. Perry
9. Crossings Christian
10. Hugo

Class 2A Division-II

1. Vian
2. Adair
3. Stroud
4. Davis
5. Holdenville
6. Alva
7. Beggs
8. Colcord
9. Kansas
10. Community Christian

Class A Division-I

1. Hooker
2. Fairview
3. Rejoice Christian
4. Christian Heritage
5. Walters
6. Pawnee
7. Pawhuska
8. Pocola
9. Hartshorne
10. Wynnewood

Class A Division-II

1. Woodland
2. Mangum
3. Regent Prep
4. Hominy
5. Talihina
6. Thomas
7. Texhoma
8. Ketchum
9. Central Sallisaw
10. Velma-Alma

Class B Division-I

1. Laverne
2. Dewar
3. Yale
4. Turpin
5. Garber
6. Caddo
7. Empire
8. Hollis
9. Keota
10. Drumright

Class B Division-II

1. Seiling
2. Weleetka
3. Covington-Douglas
4. Okeene
5. Wilson-Henryetta
6. Copan
7. Boise City
8. Waukomis
9. Shattuck
10. Cyril

Class C

1. Tipton
2. Timberlake
3. Ryan
4. Welch
5. Tyrone
6. Maysville
7. Geary
8. Medford
9. Paoli
10. Sasakwa

Week 7 Pay Dirt Picks

10/16/2024 |  Korry Rogers

	MARK 5-7	TOM 10-1	CHRIS 8-4	HUNTER 8-4
Ardmore @ Blanchard
Oklahoma Christian School @ Perry
Minco @ Walters
Thomas-Fay-Custer @ Texhoma-Goodwell
Waynoka @ Timberlake
Garber @ Pond Creek-Hunter
Marlow @ Washington
Fairview @ Hooker
Deer Creek @ Jenks
Stillwater @ Choctaw
Colcord @ Adair
Norman @ Moore

SKORDLE SAMPLER - Week 7 (2024): Fun Facts on Win Streaks and Mr. Burger

10/16/2024 |  Michael Swisher

Week 7 High School Football Rankings

10/15/2024 |  Michael Swisher

6A Division-I

1. Owasso
2. Bixby
3. Deer Creek
4. Union
5. Jenks
6. Edmond Memorial
7. Broken Arrow
8. Moore
9. Mustang
10. Norman

6A Division-II

1. Muskogee
2. Stillwater
3. Choctaw
4. Sand Springs
5. Piedmont
6. Putnam City North
7. Putnam City
8. Sapulpa
9. Lawton Ike
10. Southmoore

Class 5A

1. Carl Albert
2. Del City
3. Lawton Mac
4. Collinsville
5. McAlester
6. Guthrie
7. Bishop McGuinness
8. Booker T. Washington
9. Newcastle
10. Shawnee

Class 4A

1. Wagoner
2. Elgin
3. Tuttle
4. Blanchard
5. Broken Bow
6. Grove
7. Weatherford
8. Clinton
9. Poteau
10. Cushing

Class 3A

1. Lincoln Christian
2. Heritage Hall
3. Sulphur
4. Plainview
5. Cascia Hall
6. North Rock Creek
7. Bristow
8. Perkins-Tryon
9. Checotah
10. Sequoyah-Claremore

Class 2A Division-I

1. Washington
2. Millwood
3. Metro Christian
4. Marlow
5. Kingston
6. Jones
7. Hugo
8. OCS
9. Kiefer
10. Chisholm

Class 2A Division-II

1. Vian
2. Adair
3. Stroud
4. Davis
5. Holdenville
6. Colcord
7. Luther
8. Salina
9. Alva
10. Beggs

Class A Division-I

1. Fairview
2. Hooker
3. Rejoice Christian
4. Hartshorne
5. Christian Heritage
6. Walters
7. Pawnee
8. Pawhuska
9. Pocola
10. Wynnewood

Class A Division-II

1. Woodland
2. Mangum
3. Texhoma
4. Regent Prep
5. Hominy
6. Talihina
7. Thomas
8. Ketchum
9. Central Sallisaw
10. Velma-Alma

Class B Division-I

1. Laverne
2. Turpin
3. Dewar
4. Yale
5. Garber
6. Caddo
7. Empire
8. Hollis
9. Keota
10. Pond Creek-Hunter

Class B Division-II

1. Seiling
2. Weleetka
3. Covington-Douglas
4. Okeene
5. Wilson-Henryetta
6. Shattuck
7. Copan
8. Cherokee
9. Thackerville
10. Boise City

Class C

1. Tipton
2. Ryan
3. Timberlake
4. Welch
5. Tyrone
6. Maysville
7. Geary
8. Sasakwa
9. Medford
10. Balko-Forgan

Week 6 Pay Dirt Picks

10/9/2024 |  Korry Rogers

	MARK 10-2	JACOB 9-3	TOM 8-4	SHANE 9-3
Tonkawa @ Pawhuska
Beggs @ Holdenville
Crossings @ Marlow
Millwood @ Oklahoma Christian School
Wynnewood @ Minco
Waukomis @ Covington-Douglas
Perry @ Mount St. Mary
Hooker @ Cashion
Moore @ Deer Creek
North Rock Creek @ Pauls Valley
Tuttle @ Bethany
Alva @ Stroud

SKORDLE SAMPLER - Week 6 (2024) Part I: Flour and Fennel

10/9/2024 |  Michael Swisher

SKORDLE SAMPLER - Week 6 (2024) Part II - REVISITING AUBURN 25 YEARS LATER

10/9/2024 |  Michael Swisher

Great food experiences are often tied to core memories.

We enjoyed a great meal as part of a bigger experience and often linked them together.

Sometimes, sadly, that great memory inflates the actual quality of the meal.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been disappointed to revisit a restaurant on my own - after having previously experienced a fantastic meal there before - only to discover the meal was….just….OK.

It was the overall time I had that was fantastic.

So that was my concern as I was driving into Auburn, Ala., early in the afternoon of Sept. 27.

I was headed there for a showdown between MY two teams.

I grew up in Oklahoma, was lured in by Barry Switzer’s OU teams of the 1980s and have never been able to shake a love and a pride of the crimson and cream ever since.

However, I also moved to Alabama in 1989. Lived there for eight years. I went to high school in Muscle Shoals and, after a stellar academic career in JUCO, went to Auburn to pursue a journalism degree.

Eventually, I landed back in Oklahoma, but I grew to truly love Auburn, the Tigers, War Eagle, Toomer’s Corner and everything that came with it.

But it’s not easy to return to a place that’s 865 miles away.

I went once for a few days in 1999.

Then I flew in and flew out in 2018 when Auburn hosted Jace Sternberger and Texas A&M.

That’s it.

It had been 25 years since I’d spent an measurable time in a place that holds a big spot in my heart.

When OU was announced to be joining the SEC, I was ecstatic. When it was announced OU would be visiting Auburn this season, I. HAD. TO. GO.

So I did.

Lots of people stepped up for me to make it happen, but it did.

Anyone who has followed me through the years knows I love food. I’m not some big connoisseur of fine dining. I just love to find cool spots with great food.

And there were two places in Auburn that I insisted on revisiting: Momma Goldberg’s and Guthrie’s.

Both were Auburn staples when I was there in the mid- to late-1990s and both remain today.

I pulled into Auburn at about 1 p.m. on that Wednesday prior to the OU game. 

By 2 p.m., me and my buddy Elk were sitting inside Momma Goldberg’s with three Momma’s Love sandwiches and a pitcher sitting in front of us.

Yes, three. Elk loves to eat, too.

You can read about Momma Goldberg’s and its history here.

They have multiple “signature” sandwiches but their signature of signatures is the “Momma’s Love.” 

It’s roast beef, ham, hickory smoked turkey with muenster cheese served on a seeded hoagie bun. All signature sandwiches there have spicy brown mustard, mayo, lettuce, tomato and “Momma’s sauce.”

And they’re also steamed before they are served which, to me, is the kicker.

Yes, it’s simple. Yes, it’s just a sandwich.

Which had me wondering….did I really love the Momma’s Love or did I just love being at Auburn and the Momma’s Love is part of that.

My first bite into one in over a quarter-century told me I did, in fact, love the Momma’s Love.

It was all that I had remembered.

A couple days later, it was time to revisit Guthrie’s.

Now I know what you’re thinking. It’s a chicken finger restaurant. How original. There’s 20 different franchises and 100 locations in Oklahoma City.

True.

But Guthrie’s is truly the original chicken finger restaurant. It opened its first location in Auburn in 1982.

When I actually had some money in my pocket while in college, Guthrie’s was a must-stop for me.

The order: Box, no slaw, extra fries, extra sauce.

Sounds like Raising Cane’s, right?

Just think Cane’s before there was Cane’s. 

That was - and is - Guthrie’s.

But did it live up to my hype?

Now imagine this….

Just think Cane’s chicken…..but SEASONED. Guthrie’s actually has flavor WITHOUT using the dipping sauce.

But you also can’t not (double negative alert) use their signature sauce which was Cane’s sauce before there was Cane’s sauce!!!!!

Needless to say, Guthrie’s - like Momma Goldberg’s - wasn’t just about great memories at Auburn.

It was great food and remains so today….almost 30 years after I first fell in love.

Week 6 High School Football Rankings

10/7/2024 |  Michael Swisher

6A Division-I

1. Owasso
2. Bixby
3. Deer Creek
4. Union
5. Jenks
6. Edmond Memorial
7. Moore
8. Mustang
9. Norman
10. Broken Arrow

6A Division-II

1. Muskogee
2. Stillwater
3. Choctaw
4. Sand Springs
5. Piedmont
6. Putnam City North
7. Putnam City
8. Sapulpa
9. Lawton Ike
10. Southmoore

Class 5A

1. Carl Albert
2. Del City
3. Bishop McGuinness
4. Lawton Mac
5. Collinsville
6. McAlester
7. Guthrie
8. Claremore
9. Booker T. Washington
10. Newcastle

Class 4A

1. Wagoner
2. Elgin
3. Tuttle
4. Blanchard
5. Broken Bow
6. Grove
7. Weatherford
8. Bethany
9. Clinton
10. Poteau

Class 3A

1. Lincoln Christian
2. Heritage Hall
3. Sulphur
4. Plainview
5. Cascia Hall
6. Pauls Valley
7. Bristow
8. Seminole
9. North Rock Creek
10. Checotah

Class 2A Division-I

1. Washington
2. Millwood
3. Metro Christian
4. Marlow
5. Kingston
6. OCS
7. Jones
8. Crossings Christian
9. Hugo
10. Kiefer

Class 2A Division-II

1. Vian
2. Adair
3. Stroud
4. Davis
5. Holdenville
6. Colcord
7. Kansas
8. Alva
9. Beggs
10. Luther

Class A Division-I

1. Fairview
2. Hooker
3. Rejoice Christian
4. Hartshorne
5. Tonkawa
6. Christian Heritage
7. Walters
8. Pawnee
9. Pawhuska
10. Minco

Class A Division-II

1. Woodland
2. Hominy
3. Mangum
4. Regent Prep
5. Texhoma
6. Thomas
7. Talihina
8. Central Sallisaw
9. Mooreland
10. Ringling

Class B Division-I

1. Laverne
2. Turpin
3. Dewar
4. Yale
5. Garber
6. Pond Creek-Hunter
7. Caddo
8. Hollis
9. Empire
10. Keota

Class B Division-II

1. Seiling
2. Weleetka
3. Okeene
4. Covington-Douglas
5. Wilson-Henryetta
6. Shattuck
7. Webbers Falls
8. Thackerville
9. Waukomis
10. Copan

Class C

1. Tipton
2. Ryan
3. Timberlake
4. Welch
5. Tyrone
6. Maysville
7. Waynoka
8. Geary
9. Paoli
10. Sasakwa

Week 5 Pay Dirt Picks

10/4/2024 |  Korry Rogers

	MARK 9-3	JACOB 9-3	TOM 8-3	NICK 7-5
Blackwell @ Perry
Bethany @ Blanchard
El Reno @ Carl Albert
Jones @ Millwood
Mooreland @ Texhoma-Goodwell
Cashion @ Watonga
Mount St. Mary @ Chisholm
Davis @ Beggs
Owasso @ Union
Putnam City @ Choctaw
Pocola @ Rejoice Christian
Pauls Valley @ Plainview

SKORDLE SAMPLER - Week 5 (2024): Taco Stop in Ponca City

10/2/2024 |  Michael Swisher

This week the Blackwell vs. Perry football game is on the SKORDLE PayDirt Pick’em Show as well as SKORDLE PayDirt.

When these two schools meet, it must be one of, if not the only, Maroons vs. Maroons game in America and by all accounts a heck of rivalry. 

In between the two towns and just slightly east is Ponca City and for many years I have heard numerous folks rave about Taco Stop. 

When I was rolling through Ponca City this year, the time had come for me to try this popular place myself. 

I decided my best bet was to get the favorites of two people who are big fans of Taco Stop, my wife Amanda and food expert Mark Rodgers. 

Amanda’s favorite item on the menu is the Taco Salad while Mark’s go-to the is Casadia. 

Both Amanda and Mark stated that the famous taco sauce - and a lot of it - is what really made the meals at Taco Stop. 

I went to the counter and placed my order of a Taco Salad and Casadia along with a refreshing fountain drink to wash it all down. I also made sure that some taco sauce would be readily available at the table. 

When I got my food and sat down, I could immediately tell this was going to be a solid lunch! 

The Taco Salad had all the markings of being great, most notably the paper-thin crunch taco shell and pile of shredded cheese. 

The Casadia had a generous layer of taco meat topping and melted shredded cheese on top of a corn tortilla.  

I also added a ton of taco sauce as I devoured my food and found myself generously adding some more to every single bite. 

Quite frankly, Taco Stop was fantastic! 

It is easy to see why Taco Stop, with its great food and extremely reasonable prices, is such a popular place to eat in Ponca City. 

I would highly recommend stopping in any time you are in town and remember to put a lot of the famous taco sauce on everything you order because it makes everything even better.

Week 5 High School Football Rankings

10/1/2024 |  Michael Swisher

6A Division-I

1. Owasso
2. Bixby
3. Union
4. Deer Creek
5. Jenks
6. Moore
7. Norman
8. Edmond Memorial
9. Mustang
10. Broken Arrow

6A Division-II

1. Muskogee
2. Stillwater
3. Choctaw
4. Sand Springs
5. Putnam City
6. Putnam City North
7. Piedmont
8. Southmoore
9. Sapulpa
10. Bartlesville

Class 5A

1. Carl Albert
2. Del City
3. Bishop McGuinness
4. Lawton Mac
5. Collinsville
6. McAlester
7. Guthrie
8. Claremore
9. Shawnee
10. Booker T. Washington

Class 4A

1. Wagoner
2. Elgin
3. Tuttle
4. Blanchard
5. Sallisaw
6. Poteau
7. Bethany
8. Cushing
9. Grove
10. Weatherford

Class 3A

1. Lincoln Christian
2. Heritage Hall
3. Sulphur
4. Pauls Valley
5. Plainview
6. Seminole
7. Cascia Hall
8. Idabel
9. Anadarko
10. Muldrow

Class 2A Division-I

1. Washington
2. Millwood
3. Metro Christian
4. Jones
5. Marlow
6. Kingston
7. OCS
8. Mount St. Mary
9. Chandler
10. Crossings Christian

Class 2A Division-II

1. Vian
2. Adair
3. Stroud
4. Davis
5. Holdenville
6. Beggs
7. Colcord
8. Kansas
9. Alva
10. Luther

Class A Division-I

1. Fairview
2. Hooker
3. Rejoice Christian
4. Pocola
5. Pawhuska
6. Wynnewood
7. Hartshorne
8. Tonkawa
9. Christian Heritage
10. Walters

Class A Division-II

1. Woodland
2. Regent Prep
3. Hominy
4. Mooreland
5. Mangum
6. Thomas
7. Velma-Alma
8. Texhoma
9. Talihina
10. Central Sallisaw

Class B Division-I

1. Laverne
2. Turpin
3. Dewar
4. Yale
5. Garber
6. Pond Creek-Hunter
7. Keota
8. Caddo
9. Hollis
10. Empire

Class B Division-II

1. Seiling
2. Weleetka
3. Okeene
4. Covington-Douglas
5. Wilson-Henryetta
6. Shattuck
7. Webbers Falls
8. Thackerville
9. Waukomis
10. Copan

Class C

1. Tipton
2. Ryan
3. Timberlake
4. Welch
5. Tyrone
6. Maysville
7. Mt. View-Gotebo
8. Waynoka
9. Paoli
10. Sasakwa

Oklahoma State Fair Trip 2024 - Where is the Beef?

9/26/2024 |  Michael Swisher

This past weekend my family made our annual trip to the Oklahoma State Fair. We go mainly to eat our favorite fair foods which are the corn dog and roasted corn. Funnel cake normally makes the rotation, especially for the kids, but for some reason it took a year off this time. Here are some pictures of our trip and man these were great!

Also, the Brown’s Lemonade stands never disappoint because they only serve actual real hand squeezed lemonade. Multiple lemonade refills were needed on our trip because it was hot!

The Indian Taco used to ALWAYS be in the rotation until this year. The last couple of years I noticed that my Indian Tacos were severely lacking in beef. From my estimation the “chili mix” as described on the menu was about 99.9% beans and 0.1% beef. Last year I even went into the State Fair with a gameplan to only order meat and cheese so the lack of beef couldn’t be hidden under a pile of toppings. My suspicion of no beef was only confirmed even further, and I was disappointed.

I made the decision this year that I would do some reconnaissance of the Indian Taco hoping for improvements. Unfortunately, I saw none, so I just passed on the Indian Taco this year. As I looked at several Indian Tacos passing by, I saw the delicious fry bread, piles of beans, heaps of lettuce, and a handful of shredded cheese, but no noticeable beef.

It is a sad day at the State Fair when the Indian Taco is no longer in the line-up! Has anyone else felt the same way or had a similar experience? This will be my final comments on the matter until actual beef topping makes its triumphant return to the Indian Taco at the State Fair. Until then I will remember the days of old when this great State Fair food staple was at its peak.