Q&A with state senator J.J. Dossett

12/15/2019 |  Ben Johnson

Owasso recently knocked off Jenks, 14-6, for the Class 6AI championship in Edmond on Dec. 6. It had been determined several weeks before the playoffs started that all 11-man football title games would be played at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Wantland Stadium.
But now that the season is over, one state senator is sounding off on the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association’s decision to force Jenks and Owasso play in a championship game at the other end of the Turner Turnpike.
Sen. J.J. Dossett (D-Sperry) has proposed a bill that he hopes will generate conversation in next year’s legislative session that would allow school districts to determine their playing destination.

Skordle contacted Dossett this weekend and wanted to ask Dossett a few questions.

What made you want to put together the legislation to present it when the legislative session starts in 2020?
Basically, it was the outcry from my community. There are some people that don’t like the idea, or the ideas that I have brought up. I purposely wanted until after the game had happened. I filed it on Monday after the game, because I didn’t want it be become a distraction. There’s enough of an outcry and a complaint that have a good point on why we played the game where we did and why we didn’t play it where we had the last five, six or seven years. It worked out great for everyone involved when it was played at the University of Tulsa. I had to bring it up; I had to bring up the discontent that my community, Jenks and a lot of the Tulsa area have with the decision that was made by a state-wide group -- that forced this decision on us and did not seek our input.
It was basically left to the football coaches association to make this decision, and most of the people involved weren’t going to face the ramifications of their school’s decision. It was made against the two schools that were playing and were against the decision that was made.
There should be a way for more flexibility with your local school districts that are competing in this situation to be able to not have to go play at a place that was deemed ‘this is the state championship site,’ especially when there were all the problems of playing late on a Saturday night. There were going to be how many teenage drivers on the turnpike late on a Saturday night in December? And, the stadium was nowhere near able to hold our crowd.
All of this put together, in my mind, says we need to do this better and there needs to be a way to do this better. There needs to be a way that we can go play this game somewhere else. I mean, we could have played at Broken Arrow and it would have been able to hold our fans. We could have played in a bunch of different stadiums here in the Tulsa area.
I heard there were 8,000 fans at the game at UCO, and at TU there would have been 20,000, so we stopped people from coming to the game by putting that distance barrier there. Nobody wants that; we want the community to come to the game, if possible.

What would you say to the people that say Senate bill 1111 is a waste of everyone’s time and could be spent discussing something else?
There are thousands of bills filled every year -- some of them get picked up and some don’t. It doesn’t waste any more time in committee or on the floor. It’s the legislator’s job to conduct the people’s business, so if a community has an idea or wants to change something, it’s the job of the legislator to consider it and go forward from that. And I agree, this is not the most pressing issue in the state of Oklahoma -- I 100 percent agree -- but if there’s a problem, it’s the job of the legislator to address an issue that their community is considered about. Senate district 34 up here in north Tulsa County, where we live, we definitely had a concern on this issue. Therefore, it’s my job to bring forth such ideas, if the people of my district are concerned about it.
As a former coach, I would like to mention this: I absolutely do not care where we’re playing. We don’t care where we play because we were going to win, and that’s the mindset they have. I speak only, and exclusively, from a community standpoint. The community has an opinion on this, and I happen to 100 percent agree with them. If I were still coaching for the Rams, I wouldn’t care one bit.


So you’re advocating to play the games at the University of Tulsa, if that’s a viable option?
You have to ask, ‘is this the best we can get?’ and I don’t think the current option is the best we can get. We’ve seen what good looks like, and it was last year, the year before and the year before, when two Tulsa teams make the championship game and we fill up Chapman Stadium. In my opinion, the OSSAA wins unless something crooked is going on over there. Because if we’re doubling the amount of people going to the game, they make more money -- or that’s how I understand it. I don’t understand at all why you wouldn’t let local school districts make the best decision for them. If Idabel and McAlester were playing for a championship, then they need to go play that at Eastern (Southeastern Oklahoma State) in Durant. No sense in making those schools drive to Edmond. There needs to be a way out for those schools to be play, and play where it makes sense for the fanbase and a public safety standpoint.


What are your thoughts on playing the Class 6A championship games in Tulsa during the week that they currently use as a bye week?
Sure, that would be an option. They’ve done the bye week because of the amount of teams in the playoff. Honestly, the whole 6AII thing has been a disaster. It’s handed Bixby a bunch of trophies, and it’s been really messed up for my community and I was still coaching when all of it went down. I was still coaching at Owasso at the time. It’s ridiculous for us to travel to Moore -- to play Southmoore or Moore -- and a team that can’t even fill up the home stands and play on a Thursday night. Like, why are we doing this? Why aren’t we playing Sand Springs or Bixby or Muskogee during the regular season, and then do something different for the playoffs, if necessary?

The initiative to have all the championship games played at one site was pushed by the Oklahoma Football Coaches Association, but it’s sounding like not all coaches were onboard with that proposal. How do you think that could have been handled differently?
On how the coaches association makes decisions, I do not know. I hear a lot about Texas, and they like it and that’s fine. From my point of view, if two Houston teams make the championship in any given class, for them to go all the way to Dallas is wrong. I don’t buy into the notion of ‘well, Texas does it this way, so we should do it this way.’ It’s the same way with basketball and the big schools playing in Tulsa. If Edmond and Putnam City are playing in the finals, then that’s the wrong decision. I’m not trying to whine; I’m trying to do what’s best for our kids.

What kind of reception do you think this will get when you present it to committee?
Who knows. On these things, you never know. We have these kinds of battles: Tulsa vs. Oklahoma City or urban vs. rural. I will approach other legislators from a straight forward standpoint and say our local school districts are better off when local school districts are making decisions. We don’t need state-wide entities or state agencies making blanket decisions for everyone. I have 100 percent faith that the Owasso administration, athletic director, superintendent and all of the above -- and same at Jenks -- would make the right decision for their kids. But when we had that responsibility over to a group of people that aren’t in our community, then you don’t get as good of an outcome. That’s the way I see this situation playing out here.

There are some that say the Oklahoma legislature should stay out of high school sports. How do you feel about that?
I absolutely agree, if everything is running properly. The legislature cannot determine how the OSSAA operates within, because it’s an agency with it’s own control. There are three things in the statute that says schools will not be part of an association that does this, this or this. What I’ve done is adding a fourth. All my bill does is add language that school districts would have flexibility to pick their own locations for championship games.

Week 1 picks

9/5/2019 |  Ben Johnson

Zero week was all about Swisher flexing on both myself and Whitt. Let’s see if we can’t bring him back down to earth this week….

Zero Week
Michael Swisher: 11-3
Whitt Carter: 7-7
Ben Johnson: 8-6

(Should mention that my wife and Whitt’s wife are picking on the side, and once I can get these picks posted on time I’ll make sure to include Madison Carter’s picks so she doesn’t get mad at me anymore!)

Millwood at Heritage Hall

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

Broken Arrow at Union

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

Carl Albert at Midwest City

Michael Swisher: Carl Albert
Whitt Carter: Carl Albert
Ben Johnson: Carl Albert

Bixby at Jenks

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

Booker T. Washington at Bishop Kelley

Michael Swisher: Booker T. Washington
Whitt Carter: Booker T. Washington
Ben Johnson: Booker T. Washington

Bishop McGuinness at Del City

Michael Swisher: Del City
Whitt Carter: Del City
Ben Johnson: Bishop McGuinness

Lincoln Christian at Jones

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

Tuttle at Kingfisher

Michael Swisher: Tuttle
Whitt Carter: Tuttle
Ben Johnson: Tuttle

Sapulpa at Edison

Michael Swisher: Sapulpa
Whitt Carter: Sapulpa
Ben Johnson: Sapulpa

Crossings Christian at Rejoice Christian

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

Norman at Norman North

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

Claremore at Bartlesville

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

Broken Bow at Idabel

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

Cascia Hall at Holland Hall

Michael Swisher: Holland Hall
Whitt Carter: Cascia Hall
Ben Johnson: Cascia Hall

Vian at Eufaula

Michael Swisher: Vian
Whitt Carter: Vian
Ben Johnson: Vian

Davenport at Weleetka

Michael Swisher: Davenport
Whitt Carter: Davenport
Ben Johnson: Davenport

Medford at Buffalo

Michael Swisher: Buffalo
Whitt Carter: Buffalo
Ben Johnson: Buffalo

Week 1 - Top 10 games

9/4/2019 |  Ben Johnson

An absolutely tremendous slate of games this week. Let’s get to it…

1. Millwood at Heritage Hall
One team was thought to be the preeminent favorite in its class last year until it was upset in the playoffs by Vian. That was Millwood in 2018. One team was head and shoulders above every other team in its class and coasted to a state championship. That was Heritage Hall in Class 3A, of course. Not too shabby when these two clash, and they do it again this year after Millwood won last year, 30-20.
 
2. Broken Arrow at Union
This one had been one-sided for quite some time, and Broken Arrow put a stop to that last season. Union still owns a 38-5 record all-time against Broken Arrow, but the Tigers took out frustration of 14 straight losses by dismantling Union, 33-10. The Tigers went on to win the state championship and finally join Union among the ranks of state champions in 6AI. One matchup to watch will be Union’s passing game against Broken Arrow’s secondary, led by the likes of Oregon commit Myles Slusher, who had an interception return for a touchdown in a blowout win over Mansfield on Saturday.
 
3. Carl Albert at Midwest City
This one had been all Midwest City, dating back to 1976 when the Bombers started their six-game winning streak against Carl Albert. But the Titans put a stop to that with a 28-21 victory last season. Then the Titans did what they always do – win a 5A championship.
 
4. Bixby at Jenks
Both were dominant last week with wins over teams in Mansfield, Texas, last week. Jenks’ defense was stout, pitching a shutout against Mansfield Legacy, while Bixby’s offense was unstoppable against Mansfield Timberview. Bixby managed to thwart Jenks in 2017, but the Trojans won this matchup last  year, 28-14, and they now own a 47-13 record against Bixby.
 
5. Booker T. Washington at Bishop Kelley
The Hornets were shut out last week in a loss to North Little Rock (Ark.), and they’ll get another stout defensive challenge from Bishop Kelley, who lost to Booker T. Washington last year, 24-14.
 
6. Bishop McGuinness at Del City
Plenty of offensive firepower will be on the field for both teams, including Del City’s Quinlan Ganther and Bishop McGuinness’ Dominic Richardson. Del City won this one last year, 47-7.
 
7. Lincoln Christian at Jones
Bust out the calculators for this one; could be plenty of points being scored. Both teams soared on offense last week, with Lincoln Christian beating Inola, 51-19 and Jones knocking off Oklahoma Christian School, 56-8. Last year it was Lincoln Christian that prevailed over Jones, 34-19.
 
8. Tuttle at Kingfisher
Tuttle knocked off Kingfisher 26-14 last season, and now the reigning 4A champions will explore life without quarterback Carson Berryhill.
 
9. Sapulpa at Edison
The Chieftains, powered by Eli Williams, a TCU commit, at quarterback, took down Edison, 34-13, last season. But it wasn’t long after that game that Edison running back – now a Nebraska commit – Sevion Morrison started taking down every Edison rushing record that ever existed.
 
10. Crossings Christian at Rejoice Christian
Two heavy favorites in Class A, and for good reason. Rejoice Christian won both matchups last season – 21-20 in the regular season and 33-14 in the playoffs. In fact, Rejoice has won the past four showdowns with Crossings, dating back to 2016.

 
Honorable mentions
Norman at Norman North
Claremore at Bartlesville
Broken Bow at Idabel
Cascia Hall at Holland Hall
Vian at Eufaula
Davenport at Weleetka
Medford at Buffalo

CLASS 3A PREVIEW

8/28/2019 |  Ben Johnson

Class 3A preview

Rankings

Our best guess(es)

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

PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK: Classes 2A, 3A & 4A

11/16/2018 |  Ben Johnson

Class 2A

First round rewind

•    Kellyville 41, Perry 21: Hayden Hutchins rushed for 206 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries with the Ponies being the only team to knock off a district champion in the first round. It was the Ponies’ first playoff appearance since 2004 and postseason victory since 2002.

•    Sperry 68, Salina 13: In just one half of football, quarterback Beau Teel completed 11 of 15 passes for 281 yards and four touchdowns for the Pirates. “All playoff wins are good wins,” Sperry coach Robert Park said. “We took care of the football this week, and that is always important this time of year. Big challenge coming up for us at Kellyville.”

•    Eufaula 27, Spiro 0: Zac Anderson had 116 yards and three touchdowns on eight carries for the Ironheads. “The kids have been playing with great effort,” Eufaula coach Larry Newton Jr. said. “Somebody has had to step for the past few weeks because of an injury, kid sick or ineligible. They were determined to hold Spiro scoreless.”

•    Coalgate 57, Lexington 31: Austin Lambert completed 12 of 16 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns to lead Coalgate, who hadn’t advanced beyond the first round since 2010.

•    Adair 44, Morris 20: Garrett Long had eight catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns for the Warriors, who have advanced to the quarterfinals every year 2011.

•    Chisholm 48, Meeker 42: Braden Meek completed 19 of 24 passes for 274 yards and six touchdowns or the Longhorns, who had 492 yards of total offense.

•    Millwood 48, Dickson 6: Falcons won their 39th straight game, moving them into a tie with Jenks for fifth all-time for winning streaks among 11-man teams.

•    Vian 74, Hugo 21: Bodhi Vann rushed for 162 yards and four touchdowns on eight carries for the Wolverines, who improved to 57-39 all-time in the playoffs.

•    Holland Hall 31, Valliant 0: Quarterback Drake Roush threw two touchdown passes and had a 50-yard touchdown run for the Dutch, who have reached the quarterfinals of the playoffs every year since 2016 -- the season Holland Hall moved from Southwestern Preparatory Conference play to OSSAA competition.

•    Washington 49, Lindsay 7: The Warriors picked up a playoff victory for the seventh straight season.

•    Jones 49, Newkirk 18: The Longhorns came up with five interceptions on defense, and kept Newkirk running back Laike Wilhelm in check. Tye Tucke also had five receptions for 116 yards and four touchdowns for Jones.

•    Metro Christian 60, Victory Christian 19: Asher Link passed for 391 yards and three touchdowns and also scored a rushing touchdown for the Patriots, who are back in Class 2A, a class they hadn’t played a playoff game in since 2003. Oh, and they last went to the quarterfinals in 2003.

•    Kingston 49, Community Christian 13: Redskins moved closer to an all-time record of .500 in the playoffs, now 22-25. The game was also Community Christian’s postseason debut.

•    Antlers 29, Panama 18: Antlers won the playoffs for the third straight season.

•    Beggs 56, Wyandotte 13: Demons rushed for 437 yards while picking up where they left off as last year’s runner-up in 3A.

•    Okla. Christian School 63, Okemah 26: Jaxon Conrad rushed for 258 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries for the Saints. “First time to see (Okemah) and they ran some unusual stuff,” OCS coach Derek Turner said. “We struggled in the first half, and we were down 20-14 at halftime. But then we scored 49 unanswered points. The offense played out of this world, and our kids put it together.”
 

On tap this week…

•    Sperry at Kellyville: Ponies return home after upsetting Perry on the road. Sperry and Kellyville have met five times since 1999, and Sperry has won them all. The most recent was a 62-24 contest in 2015. The Pirates’ defense against Kellyville’s rushing attack and Hayden Hutchins will be front and center in this one.

•    Coalgate at Eufaula: Only separated by about an hour on Highway 69, these two haven’t met since …. wait for it ….. 1956! Coalgate is 2-0 against Eufaula, but that was a long long time ago.

•    Chisholm at Adair: Only meeting between these two was 2015 at Sand Springs High School in what was a 44-14 victory for the Warriors on their way to the title.

•    Vian at Millwood: A matchup most would have been content with the semifinals or finals, but here we are. River Simon, Bodhi Vann and the Wolverines will have their hands full with Marcus Majors and crew at Millwood. And it was Millwood who dispatched Vian from the playoffs last year, 44-0 in the quarterfinals.

•    Washington at Holland Hall: First meeting between these two. If the game comes down a field goal, Holland Hall has a secret weapon in Alex Felkins.

•    Metro Christian at Jones: First meeting between these two, too. The quarterback clash between Jones’ Daniel Jackson and Metro Christian’s Asher Link will be key, and the more successful one likely moves on to the quarterfinals. Then there’s Jones’ Korbin Cox and Metro Christian’s Ryan Johnson. Bottom line: a lot of talent all over the field in this one.

•    Antlers at Kingston: Kingston is 6-0 against Antlers all-time. The Redskins, though, have won only one second round game since … 1992.

•    Okla. Christian School at Beggs: Rematch of last year’s quarterfinal clash that the Demons won 32-26. OCS’ Jaxon Canard has rushed for 474 yards in the last two weeks. Then there’s Beggs’ quarterback Dalton Spring, who leads a high-powered offense himself.
 
 
 

Class 3A

First Round Rewind

•    Heritage Hall 42, Marlow 0: New class, same result for the Chargers. The reigning 4A champion improved to 14-1 in playoff games since 2014, thanks to limiting Marlow to 157 yards of offense. Billy Ross scored on TD runs of 38, 21 and 90 yards for Heritage Hall.

•    Stigler 33, Locust Grove 7: Nate Bryant endured a heavy workload, rushing 48 times for 289 yards and four touchdowns while also throwing a touchdown pass in the Panthers’ road victory. “Nate Bryant was the best player on the field,” Stigler coach Chris Risenhoover said.

•    Lincoln Christian 61, Verdigris 21: Bulldog quarterback Chase Ricke threw for 322 yards and three touchdowns, and he also ran for 124 yards and a touchdown.

•    Plainview 45, John Marshall 6: Brock Parham threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns, and he also ran for a touchdown to eliminate last year’s 3A state champion from the playoffs. “Our kids played really well,” Plainview coach Joe Price said. “Our intensity was good on defense, and we did a good job of creating turnovers. Our players were excited about the challenge of playing John Marshall.”

•    Sulphur 34, Perkins-Tryon 7: Trey Kiser rushed for 232 yards and two touchdowns, and he also recorded one sack and four tackles for loss. Tavius McDonald added 117 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries for Sulphur.

•    Idabel 33, Cascia Hall 0: Warriors recorded their first shutout of the season, and LaQuan Wells rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns, and he also threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns for Idabel, who has now recorded a playoff victory in five straight seasons.

•    Berryhill 33, Seminole 13: Daniel Rice rushed for 264 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries for the Chiefs.

•    Kingfisher 48, Purcell 15: Trey Green scored in a variety of ways for the Yellowjackets -- on a 35-yard interception return, a 29-yard reverse and on a 12-yard catch. Kingfisher quarterback Jett Sternberger also added three touchdowns through the air and two on the ground.
 

On tap this week…

•    Stigler at Heritage Hall: Stigler’s upset of Locust Grove in the first round was stunning, mostly because of the way the Panthers dominated the Pirates. Now Nate Bryant and Co. get to figure out how to take down the juggernaut that is Heritage Hall. It’ll be the first matchup between these two schools.

•    Plainview at Lincoln Christian: Another stout challenge in the works for the Plainview defense. The Indians have allowed only two opponents this season to score 20 or more points. Lincoln Christian has scored under 31 points only once this year. This is a rematch of a 2016 3A quarterfinal clash, a 35-34 win for Plainview.

•    Idabel at Sulphur: There’s no question what Sulphur will attempt to do in this game and that’s run the ball. It’ll be up to LaQuan Wells and the rest of the Idabel roster to find a way to slow down the Bulldogs’ rushing attack. These two haven’t met since 1956, and Sulphur is 2-0 in the all-time series.

•    Kingfisher at Berryhill: There were some that thought Seminole and its running attack could upset Berryhill in the first round, but the Chiefs prevailed regardless. The Chiefs just wore down Seminole on both lines, and that’ll be Berryhill’s goal against Kingfisher, too. The Yellowjackets are a sneaky No. 2 seed out of District 3A-1, so watching Jett Sternberger against the Berryhill defense should be a treat. The last time these two met was 2004 in a 35-25 win for Berryhill in the 3A semifinals.
 
 

Class 4A

First Round Rewind

•    Clinton 49, Cushing 20: The Red Tornadoes collected 388 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, led by Atrel Bryson who had six carries for 178 yards and two touchdowns.

•    Broken Bow 21, Catoosa 0: The Savages recorded their first playoff shutout win since 1993.

•    Wagoner 21, Fort Gibson 0: The Tigers hung around the entire game, but Wagoner used 92 yards and 22 carries from Schyler Adair to prevail. “A win is a win at this point of the season,” Wagoner’s Jaden Snyder told the Coweta American. “I love those (Fort Gibson) guys to death, but I’d rather win.”

•    Bethany 38, Weatherford 13: Sam Brandt was dominant on both sides of the ball for Bethany, passing for 177 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 175 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. On defense, he snagged two interceptions.

•    Tuttle 31, Anadarko 0: Tristin Truelove had 194 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries for the Tigers, who picked up only their second playoff win since 2014.

•    Hilldale 35, Bristow 21: Dawson Neighbors led the way for the Hornets with 208 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. “They played their tails off,” Hilldale coach Greg Werner said of Neighbors and Devin Hembry. “They are big time players.”

•    Poteau 16, Oologah 0: Easton Francis rushed for 160 yards as the Pirates picked up their first playoff win since 2015.

•    Blanchard 21, Cache 11: Bryce Madron scored on a 62-yard TD run in the third quarter to put Blanchard in front for good.
 
 

On tap this week…

•    Broken Bow at Clinton: Broken Bow’s defense has been stout all season long, and it’ll have to be to limit Atrel Bryson’s production. These two clubs have met five times overall and three times in a title game. Clinton has all five games, and most recently 28-0 in the 2004 4A title game.

•    Bethany at Wagoner: Bethany ventured east and upended Hilldale last year in the quarterfinals. The Bulldogs’ defense will have its hands full with Sam Brandt -- Mr. Do Everything for the Bronchos.

•    Hilldale at Tuttle: The Hornets caught the attention of everyone last week with a massive upset win over Bristow. Now Hilldale is tasked with shutting down Carson Berryhill and the rest of Tuttle’s team this time around. These two haven’t met since 2009, and Tuttle is 2-0 against Hilldale.

•    Blanchard at Poteau: Bryce Madron vs. Easton Francis? Absolutely! Sounds like a great time. This is an excellent matchup with two rock-solid defenses. And they’re meeting for the first time.

Class 3A playoff preview

11/8/2018 |  Ben Johnson

Players to watch

- Conner Carey (Heritage Hall): If you stop the senior running back who has 1,229 yards and 16 touchdowns on 139 carries this season, nice job. Then you get to deal with Billy Ross who is equally as explosive out of the Chargers' backfield.

- Trey Kiser (Sulphur): Often overlooked in a state where running backs have been running rampant this season, but the senior tailback picked up where he left off last season. Kiser has 1,847 yards and 28 touchdowns on 182 carries.

- Ty Hill (Perkins-Tryon): The Sulphur-Perkins game will feature two elite running backs with Hill, a senior, totaling 1,067 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground this season.

- Cameron Gunville (Seminole): The junior tailback's workload has been almost unmatched by any other player in the state this season. Gunville has racked up 2,046 yards and 32 touchdowns on 194 carries.

- Jerod Leviston (John Marshall): The senior quarterback has been a passing machine for the Bears, racking up 2,132 yards and 34 touchdowns while completing 118 of 185 passes this year.

- LaQuan Wells (Idabel): The senior quarterback is the Sam Brandt of 3A -- he does everything. Wells has thrown for 836 yards and seven touchdowns, he's rushed 81 times for 323 yards and 13 touchdowns and he's caught 15 passes for 117 yards. Then on defense he's picked off three passes.

- Addison Love (Purcell): Junior tailback has rushed for 1,124 yards and 17 touchdowns on 152 carries for the Dragons.

- Chase Ricke (Lincoln Christian): Senior quarterback has completed an impressive 64.4 percent (121 of 188) of his passes for 2,403 yards and 30 touchdowns -- mostly to his favorite target, Sam Brueggemann, who has 48 receptions for 1,147 yards and 15 TDs.

- Cody Ross (Berryhill): Junior quarterback has tossed for 1,807 yards and 16 touchdowns while also rushing 105 times for 632 yards and 13 touchdowns.

- Brant Hager): Junior QB has engineered the Cardinals' offense smoothly this season, thanks to 1,585 yards and 12 touchdowns through the air.

Don't overlook... Kingfisher

The Yellowjackets reeled off an impressive victory in the final week of the season, beating John Marshall to claim a home playoff game in the first round. Kingfisher could be lethal, especially with Jett Sternberger running the show on offense.

Favorite (potential) matchup - Kingfisher at Berryhill

Wouldn't take long to get there either, with this one being a potential second round clash. This quadrant of the bracket -- along with Seminole and Purcell -- is quite difficult, so advances to the semifinals out of this will have earned it. And potentially waiting at that point could be Trey Kiser and Sulphur. Better buckle up.

Coaching candor

How do other high school coaches see the 3A postseason playing out? We asked and they made their predictions (after being granted anonymity, of course). 

Coach One: "Heritage Hall wins it all. They ran through the toughest district in Class 3A, and they expect to win. They are on the toughest side of the bracket, but should roll into the semis where they will get challenged by Lincoln Christian or the winner of Plainview-John Marshall. The other side of the bracket is wide open. ... Watch out for Seminole. They beat Lincoln Christian 50-31 in week five. ... Also, 3A-3 probably has five teams that would have been in the playoffs if not for all being in the same district together."

Coach Two: "I feel like 3A is one of the toughest classes in the state. In my opinion, Sulphur will win this year if Trey Kiser can get healthy. He is one of the best players I have seen in a long time, and his team seems to feed off of him. As a team, they are very physical on defense and are going to pound the ball at you. Those two things, I feel, are vital to win this time of year."

Prediction time

Michael Swisher: Heritage Hall over Berryhill - I’m guessing this will be a popular pick. On paper, the Chargers have the tougher side of the bracket with the likes of defending champ John Marshall, Plainview, Lincoln Christian, etc. Meanwhile, Berryill likely will have to survive Kingfisher in the second round to move on. These two have just seemed to be the most consistent all season. I don’t think there’s a dominant team in the class, but Heritage Hall just doesn’t do much to beat itself and has a couple of dynamic offensive weapons to score just enough points.

Ben Johnson: Heritage Hall over Berryhill - There are so many good teams in 3A. Heck, even a team like Checotah isn't even in the playoffs and the Wildcats were a solid bunch this year. I say that to mention that 3A is been a bear all season long -- and not just for the John Marshall Bears. But all lame jokes aside, I'd be foolish not to go with Heritage Hall. The Chargers breezed to the 4A title last season, and they dropped down a class this year and kept on motoring. Not only that, but Heritage Hall made 3A-1 -- likely the toughest district in the state -- look easy. Sign me up for another Chargers state championship.

Whitt Carter: Sulphur over Heritage Hall - Make no mistake, Heritage Hall was the clear favorite heading into the season, after winning the state title in Class 4A last year and back-to-back championships in 3A in 2014 and 2015. The Chargers opened the season with a loss to Millwood, but responded by winning their next nine games and remaining the top-ranked team in the class behind running backs Conner Carey and Billy Ross Jr. Sulphur has flown under the radar for most of the year, but their 26-7 win over No. 5 Plainview a few weeks ago cannot be overlooked. The Bulldogs are as physical of a team as you will see in 3A and have the best player in the class - senior running back and linebacker, Trey Kiser. Sulphur has a potential semifinal matchup with Seminole or Berryhill along the way, but I like the Bulldogs to make the title game. And yes, I am a Sulphur graduate, so who would I be if I didn't pick them? Sulphur and legendary head coach Jim Dixon bring home the school's third state championship.

Week 9: Top 10 games

10/24/2018 |  Ben Johnson

We are two weeks away from playoff games starting. But for now, it's time to hand out playoff berths and district titles.

Here's what's on tap for week nine:

1. 5A No. 4 Bishop McGuinness (7-1) at 5A No. 6 Guthrie (7-1): Laying low and waiting for the final two weeks of the season -- that's been Bishop McGuinness for about a month now. The playoffs essentially start now for the Irish with Guthrie in the crosshairs, followed by Carl Albert. The winner all but secures a home playoff game in the first round, whereas a Bishop McGuinness win sets up a showdown for the district title next week against the Titans. Should mention that Bishop McGuinness has won four of the past six matchups against Guthrie since 2012.

2. 6AI No. 2 Jenks (7-1) at 6AI No. 4 Edmond Santa Fe (7-1): The Wolves had a chance to make a splash against Broken Arrow two weeks ago and got beat 35-7. But Edmond Santa Fe can still earn a home playoff game and all but wrap up second place in 6AI-1 with a victory. Jenks, meanwhile, has been on a roll since losing to Broken Arrow on Sept. 20

3. A No. 2 Cashion (8-0) at A No. 5 Crossings Christian (8-1): Another week, another District A-3 game in the top 10. This time, it's the top two teams clashing for the district title. This is it for Crossings Christian in the regular season; a win and the Knights enjoy a bye week in week 10 with the playoffs around the corner. A victory for Cashion will be followed by a another interesting matchup with Minco next week. Never a dull moment in A-3.

4. 4A No. 7 Catoosa (7-1) at 4A No. 5 Bristow (7-1): For the first time since 1989, these two I-44 establishments will square off, and thanks to Oologah and Wagoner it's a glorified mess atop 4A-3. Wagoner, Oologah, Bristow and Catoosa are all 4-1 in district play, so the winner of this one at least feels better about staying home for a first-round playoff matchup. Plus, Bristow's Tyler Wayland and Catoosa' Daniel Queen sharing a field is exciting within itself.

5. 6AII No. 5 Del City (6-2) at 6AII No. 4 Lawton (5-3): The Wolverines had Stillwater on the ropes, and they flat out gave up too many points against Midwest City. Del City was throttled last week by Midwest City. Needless to say, one of these two desperately needs a victory. The winner likely finishes third and earns a date at Booker T. Washington in the opening round of the playoffs. That's a much better option than venturing to Bixby.

6. 3A No. 5 Lincoln Christian (7-1) at 3A No. 9 Idabel (6-2): Raise your hand if you have a firm handle on how things are playing out in District 3A-3. Now put it down, because no one knows what's happening in that chaotic mess. Both Lincoln Christian and Idabel seem likely to be playoff representatives from 3A-3, so this one is more about district supremacy. It's likely the result will be whatever further creates havoc in that bizarro district.

7. Hominy (6-2) at A No. 9 Morrison (7-1): Class A has itself some stacked districts -- A-3 and A-5 come to mind. Here we have more A-5 hijinks afoot. Morrison has been dominant this season, outside of its loss to Tonkawa. Hominy's only district loss was a six-point setback against Pawhuska. Morrison's rushing attack against Hominy Hipp brothers (Blake and Mike) should be fun to watch. All eight clashes between these two have occurred since 2008, and Morrison has won six of them.

8. Skiatook (6-2) at 5A No. 3 Collinsville (8-0): A few weeks ago, this one looked like it had all the makings of a week nine district clash for the 5A-4 title. Then Skiatook went and lost to Tahlequah and Claremore and now appears to be almost assuredly locked into the No. 4 spot in the district. The Bulldogs, though, can claim some Highway 20 bragging rights with a win. Neither defense has given up more than 69 points this season, so expect plenty of carries and a quick game.

9. B No. 6 Dewar (7-1) at B No. 10 Keota (6-1): Perhaps the best defense not mentioned in the state resides in Keota this season. The Lions have given up only 58 points and only 14 in their last four games. Then there's Dewar, a team that's averaging 47.6 points per contest. Winner here claims the B-6 crown.

10. 4A No. 4 Blanchard (6-2) at Cushing (4-4): Upon further review, Cushing might have been overlooked early on this season. But the Tigers continue to churn out points, much like they've done in recent seasons. Bryce Madron is a running machine for the Lions, and Cushing's Wil Moyer continues to rack up passing yards every week. Expect some offensive fireworks in this one.

Honorable mention

Westmoore at Norman: Fourth place in 6AI-1 is up for grabs here. Of course, being in the playoffs will mean a trip to Union in the first round. But, better to have a shot than closing up shop after the regular season.

Midwest City at Choctaw: Choctaw in desperate need of a win to keep its playoff hopes alive. Any letdown from the Bombers after torching Del City last week?

Coweta at Bishop Kelley: The Comets have been coasting along in 5A-3 play this year. Their defense, though, should get a challenge from Coweta quarterback J.D. Geneva this week.

Perkins-Tryon at John Marshall: In a different district in 3A, Perkins would be competing for a district title. But the Demons' have the misfortune of being paired with Heritage Hall, John Marshall and Kingfisher. Still, though, don't sleep on Perkins-Tryon against the Bears this week.

Pauls Valley at Plainview: Winner likely finishes second in 3A-2 and welcomes Kingfisher to town in the first round of the playoffs. That's no picnic, but seems like a better option than traveling to John Marshall.

Verdigris at Locust Grove: Berryhill is the class of 3A-4, but Verdigris has worked itself into position to possibly host a playoff game. The Pirates' defense has been stingy this season, but next up is Verdigris quarterback Brant Hager and running back Hayden Hutchinson.

Okemah at Jones: The Longhorns haven't been challenged much this season. The Panthers need a win to keep playoff hopes alive in 3A-2.

Prague at Meeker: Staying in 3A-2, Meeker can solidify its spot in the No. 2 spot with a win. Prague is tussling with Kellyville and Okemah just to get into the playoffs.

Shattuck at Seiling: A victory for Shattuck wraps up the B-1 crown.

Tyrone at Pond Creek-Hunter: Buffalo has reigned supreme in C-1, so it's now down between PC-Hunter and Tyrone to claim the second spot.

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

*Photo courtesy of Coweta football

Week 8: Top 10 games

10/16/2018 |  Ben Johnson

It's time for fall break, and some district titles could be decided this week.

Here's what's on tap:

1. 6AII No. 4 Midwest City (5-2) at 6AII No. 3 Del City (6-1): District 6AII-1 has become a three-team race, and this one will go a long way in deciding whether it's a two-horse race or not. If Midwest City wins, it remains a three-team sprint to the end -- so long as Del City knocks off Stillwater in two weeks. A win for Del City sets up a clash for district supremacy on Nov. 2. Midwest City has dominated this matchup with five straight wins dating back to 2013. Overall, Midwest City is 35-16 against its long-time rival.

2. 4A No. 2 Tuttle (7-0) at 4A No. 3 Blanchard (6-1): Buckle up for Blanchard tailback Bryce Madron against Tuttle's defense, which has yielded only 56 points this season. Also, can Blanchard slow down Tuttle quarterback Carson Berryhill? A win for Tuttle all but wraps up the 4A-2 crown. Since 2011, Blanchard has won four of the seven meetings, but before Tuttle had won all 13.

3. 4A No. 4 Bristow (7-0) at 4A No. 5 Wagoner (6-1): This had all the looks of two unbeaten teams clashing for district bragging rights up until Oologah upset Wagoner in overtime last week. Another loss all but keeps Wagoner from winning the 4A-3 crown, and it would be the first time since 2011 that the Bulldogs hadn't claimed a district title. As for Bristow, quarterback Tyler Wayland leads a dynamic rushing attack that's powered by a demoralizing offensive line. The Bulldogs will counter with Schyler Adair in the backfield.

4. 4A No. 7 Broken Bow (6-1) at 4A No. 1 Poteau (7-0): When it comes to two teams not liking one another, here is exhibit A. And this time the District 4A-4 title is up for grabs. A win for Broken Bow all but secures the district title, whereas Poteau still has Hilldale looming on the schedule. Neither one of these teams has given up more than 48 points this season, so don't expect a wild, high-scoring shootout. Poteau and Broken Bow have met every year since 1996, and it's been Poteau with wins in five victories in the last seven seasons.

5. 5A No. 6 Duncan (7-0) at 5A No. 2 Ardmore (7-0): The similarities are striking between these two. Both are 4-0 in 5A-1. Duncan has scored 268 points this season, compared to Ardmore's 267. Then on defense, the Tigers have given up 51 points, whereas Duncan has issued 53 points to opposing teams. So the only question remains is what prevails in the game: Duncan's balanced offensive attack or Ardmore's nonstop rushing attack? Ardmore has won five straight against the Demons, including a 28-7 victory last season.

6. 2A No. 3 Vian (6-1) at 2A No. 6 Holland Hall (5-2): These two generated a memorable showdown during the 2016 playoffs when Holland Hall edged past the Wolverines, 27-26. This time, however, Vian has River Simon and Bodhi Vann back as seniors with the 2A-5 title on the line. The winner can start preparing for the fourth-place finisher in 2A-6.

7. 3A No. 1 Heritage Hall (6-1) at 3A No. 6 Kingfisher (5-2): A Charger victory all but nails down the 3A-1 district title. A win for Kingfisher creates chaos at the top of the district with Heritage Hall, Kingfisher and John Marshall in a three-team clash to the end. The Yellowjackets have scored an average of 38.7 points per game, but can their defense slow down Conner Carey and Billy Ross on the other side of the ball?

8. B No. 6 Laverne (6-1) at B No. 1 Shattuck (6-0): Perhaps the first of two matchups this season? That's how it's gone the past two years. Laverne and Shattuck have squared off in district play -- both games won by Laverne -- and twice in Class B title games -- split between the two schools -- since 2016. Only wrench in the plans this year could be Seiling, a team sitting there unbeaten in B-1 play like Laverne and Shattuck.

9. 2A No. 2 Sperry (7-0) at Victory Christian (6-1): Pure excitement surrounded the outcome of last year's game -- a 26-21 win for Victory Christian. The Conquerors won on a Hail Mary pass at the end of the game when quarterback R.J. Wakley found Caleb Calhoon for a 33-yard touchdown pass. Both of those players are gone now for the Conquerors, who have to win to keep pace with Sperry in 2A-3. A win for Sperry creates a winner-take-all showdown with Beggs in week 10.

10. A No. 3 Minco (6-1) at Christian Heritage (4-3): District A-3 never disappoints when it comes to top-notch matchups each week, so it's no surprise to see this game crack the top 10. Despite being in third place in A-1 right now, Minco has given up the fewest amount of points in the district at 70. Christian Heritage isn't far off with 95. With Crossings Christian and Cashion atop the district standings, the winner of this one at least feels more secure in nabbing a playoff spot. Also, Christian Heritage is 3-0 all-time against Minco with the last game between the two being played in 2009.

Honorable mention

Edmond Santa Fe at Westmoore: The Wolves are looking to bounce back from last week's 35-7 loss to Broken Arrow. A win over Westmoore for Edmond Santa Fe would create a clash against Jenks for second place in 6AI-1 next week.

Muskogee at Booker T. Washington: Muskogee's two losses have been by a combined three points this season. Meanwhile, the Hornets continue to struggle on offense, and they just lost a receiving weapon in DJ Jones for the rest of the season.

Mustang at Owasso: Mustang desperately needs to win to keep its playoff hopes alive. Owasso is 3-1 in 6AI-2, but the Rams are issuing 24.7 points per game.

Weatherford at Cache: Weatherford can work its way back into 4A-1 contention with a win. For Cache, it's been quite a week with Arthur McDonald appearing on national shows with his highlight-reel TD run.

Idabel at Stigler: Idabel hammered Stigler last year, 62-10. But 3A-3 has proven to be chaotic every single week, so expect an outcome that further mucks up the 3A-3 standings.

Seminole at Checotah: More 3A-3 craziness here. At this point, both of these teams need victories to stay in postseason contention. Seminole is 4-1 against Checotah, but they haven't met since

Kellyville at Prague: Ponies and Red Devils -- what a combo. District 3A-2 has proven to be pretty deep, and someone among Meeker, Prague, Kellyville and Okemah will miss the playoffs. The outcome of this one could help determine who advances beyond the regular season.

Commerce at Rejoice Christian: Commerce's Chris Ibarra is coming off a monster week against Oklahoma Union last week -- 18 carries, 301 yards, four touchdowns. And that doesn't even account for his defensive contributions. The Ibarra vs. Andrew Crow showdown at running back should be a fun one to watch.

Oklahoma Bible Academy at Hooker: District A-1 is all but a done deal if Hooker wins. Oklahoma Bible Academy can make it an interesting final few weeks among Hooker, Fairview and itself with a win.

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

*Photo courtesy of Chance Batey/Bristow

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

Week 6: Top 10 games

10/2/2018 |  Ben Johnson

There are some quality games to be had in week 6, but nothing like the run of games recently.

Here's what's on tap this week:

1. 5A No. 3 Collinsville (5-0) at 5A No. 5 Tahlequah (5-0): District 5A-4 supremacy is on the line, and another big game on tap for Tahlequah, who knocked off Skiatook last week. Meanwhile, Collinsville put the clamps on Memorial running back Jamoni Jones, who was coming off a 300-yard rushing game the week prior. Both Collinsville and Tahlequah can play some defense, so points could be at a premium here. And the matchup of Tahlequah tailback Dae Dae Leathers against Collinsville should be must-see theater. Also, these clubs have met every year since 2012, and the Cardinals are 5-1. Tahlequah did manage to win last year's game, 31-21.

2. 2A No. 6 Washington (4-1) at 2A No. 1 Millwood (5-0): Rematch of last year's Class 2A title game, but now there is District 2A-7 positioning at stake. The Falcons labored through a victory over Community Christian last week, so can Washington pounce on the Falcons? Should mention Millwood is 3-0 all-time against Washington.

3. 4A No. 3 Tuttle (5-0) at 4A No. 4 Bethany (5-0): A win for Bethany all but wraps up the 4A-2 crown. That would give the Bronchos wins over both Tuttle and Blanchard. Tuttle had been 1-5 against Bethany since 2006, but the Tigers won last year's game, 21-12.

4. B No. 5 Coyle (3-1) at B No. 2 Southwest Covenant (6-0): Southwest Covenant has beaten Coyle two years in a row. And the winner here keeps pace with Covington-Douglas for the C-3 crown.

5. 6AII No. 1 Stillwater (5-0) at 6AII No. 8 Choctaw (3-2): It appears a good football team will be left out of the playoff picture in District 6AII-1. Stillwater and Del City sit atop the district, but teams like Choctaw, Midwest City and Lawton all figure to be there in the final week competing for postseason spots. A win for Choctaw here creates a large mess in 6AII-1. But first, Choctaw would have to shut down the Pioneers' offense, which has generated 234 games in five contests so far. Since 2008, Stillwater has beaten Choctaw five out of six times.

6. 6AI No. 6 Putnam City North (5-0) at 6AI No. 3 Union (3-2): The Panthers have risen to the top -- along with Edmond Santa Fe -- as the two Oklahoma City-area teams in 6AI to challenge the likes of Broken Arrow, Jenks and Union this season. Perhaps this is PC North's chance to upend Union -- something the Panthers haven't done since 2001.

7. 6AII No. 7 Muskogee (4-1) at 6AII No. 9 Sapulpa (4-1): Should be plenty of offensive fireworks in this one, especially for a Chieftains team that score 63 last week against Bartlesville. The winner here puts Bixby in its crosshairs in an attempt to go after the 6AII-2 title. The Roughers have won the past four games in this match, including last season's 27-14 victory.

8. 5A No. 2 Ardmore (2) at El Reno (4-1): El Reno has posted some quality wins over Piedmont, Chickasha and Noble. But now comes a stout test against the Tigers and a stingy defense. Through five games, Ardmore is giving up an average of 6.8 points per contest. Since 2000, Ardmore is 5-3 against El Reno, and that includes a current five-game winning streak after last season's 37-13 win.

9. 3A No. 4 Seminole (5-0) at Idabel (4-1): Seminole running back Cameron Gunville has been stellar through five games, racking up 1,107 yards and 16 touchdowns on 111 carries. Averaging 10 yards per rush will usually get the job done, and in this case it has the Chieftains 5-0 after a statement win over Lincoln Christian. Idabel has allowed a lot of points (134), but the Warriors can score, too, posting 214 to this point. Expect an offensive barrage in this one. Oh, and Seminole is 3-0 against Idabel in the all-time series.

10. C No. 6 Tyrone (4-0) at C No. 4 Buffalo (5-0): It's a three-team race to the C-1 title, and the winner here has to like its chances with Pond Creek-Hunter as the final district hurdle. Tyrone is 7-17 against Buffalo since 1980, but the Bobcats own a four-game winning streak over Buffalo after last year's 30-6 win.

Honorable mention

Westmoore at Broken Arrow: Westmoore has been solid, but can it figure out a way to slow down Noah Cortes and the Tigers?

Stigler at Checotah: Last time these two met was a 22-15 win for Stigler in 2013. Expect a lot of points on the scoreboard in this one.

Haskell at Victory Christian: Tayden Lucero continues to turn in one spectacular performances after another for Haskell. But Garrett Williams, Josh Sirleaf and Gabe Byrams have the Conquerors' offense humming along.

Okemah at Prague: District 2A-2 is providing some quality depth early on. The winner here could potentially challenge Jones for the district title.

Wynnewood at Stroud: District A-7 is on the line in this one. Winner faces very few speed bumps the rest of the way.

Prue at Yale: These two haven't met since 2003, and Yale was 4-1 from 1999 to 2003 against Prue. The winner here can shift its focus to Davenport for the B-7 crown.

Regent Prep at Watts: The Engineers (superb team nickname, by the way) have been a pleasant surprise in Class B. They can prove they're Class B title contenders by taking down the high-powered Rams.

Tipton at Mountain View-Gotebo: A throwback matchup to late 1950's here. These two haven't met since 1991 despite only being one hour apart from each other. Winner here as the inside track to the C-2 title.

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

*Photo courtesy of Tahlequah Daily Press

Week 5 Player of the Week Poll

10/1/2018 |  Ben Johnson

The Skordle Week 5 Player of the Week poll is sponsored by:

Noah Cortes (Broken Arrow) - Senior tailback rushed for 200 yards and a single-game school-record six touchdowns on 14 carries in the Tigers’ 63-7 win over Norman.

Cameron Gunville (Seminole) - Junior tailback rushed for 319 yards and four touchdowns on 41 carries in the Chieftains’ 50-31 victory over Lincoln Christian.

Corey Ramsey (Okemah) - Senior running back rushed for 359 yards and seven touchdowns on 16 carries in the Panthers’ 70-32 victory over Holdenville.

Brant Hager (Verdigris) - Junior quarterback completed 22 of 33 passes for 537 yards and five touchdowns. Also rushed for 24 yards and one touchdown in the Cardinals’ 45-35 win over Vinita.

Austin Hines (Adair) - Senior quarterback completed 14 of 23 passes for 496 yards and seven touchdowns in the Warriors’ 48-21 win over Wyandotte..

Tayden Lucero (Haskell) - Senior quarterback had 23 carries for 271 yards and four touchdowns, and also completed 9 of 17 passes for 197 yards and one touchdown. On defense, had 10 tackles and an 81-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Haymakers’ 44-16 win over Dewey.

Stevie Orr (Davenport) - Senior quarterback rushed for 123 yards and five touchdowns on 18 carries. Completed 20 of 34 passes for 396 yards and two touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ 50-38 win over Dewar.

Josiah Markum (Okla. Christian Academy) - Senor tight end caught nine passes for 398 yards and seven touchdowns. On defense, he finished with four tackle, one interception, one sack, one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery in OCA’s 63-42 win over Northeast.

Honorable Mention

Nick Jones (Eufaula) - Rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass in only one half against Hartshorne in the Ironheads’ 41-6 win.

Michelle Artzberger (Lawton Mac) - Caught eight passes for 100 yards and three touchdowns. Also had six tackles on defense in the Highlanders’ 48-0 win over Southeast.

Cade Shropshire QB (Checotah) - Passed for 172 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 155 yards and four touchdowns on 16 carries in the Wildcats’ 55-26 win over Okmulgee.

Wyatt Conley (Minco) - Passed for 148 yards and one touchdown and also ran for one touchdown. On defense, had an 18-yard interception return for a touchdown in Minco’s 34-8 win over Watonga.

Laquan Wells (Idabel) - Passed for 186 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 88 yards and three touchdowns in the Warriors’ 70-12 win over Webster.

Dae Dae Leathers (Tahlequah) - Rushed for 202 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries in Tahlequah’s 14-7 win over Skiatook.

Danny Brockup (Inola) - Senior running back scored three touchdowns while rushing for 176 yards on 20 carries. Also had one catch for 45 yards in the Longhorns’ 42-0 win over Claremore Sequoyah.

Andrew Crow (Victory Christian) - Rushed for five touchdowns on offense and had two interceptions on defense in the Eagles’ 54-0 win over Fairland.

Garrett Williams (Victory Christian) - Threw for 301 yards and four touchdowns, also rushed seven times for 58 yards and two touchdowns in the Conquerors’ 63-16 victory over Morris.

Jaxon Canard (OCS) - Rushed for 182 yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries in the Saints’ 42-22 win over Newkirk.

Senior LB/WR Jonathan Buskirk (Regent Prep) - Had 15 tackles and three tackles for loss on defense. On offense, had two catches for 44 yards and a touchdown in Regent Prep’s 32-22 win over Yale.

Michael Marin (Barnsdall) JR RB - Junior tailback had 244 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries in the Panthers’ 50-36 win over Langston Hughes.

Qwontrel Walker (Stillwater) - Rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. Also had a 44-yard touchdown reception in the Pioneers’ 31-13 win over Midwest City.

Will Dunigan (Spiro) - Caught five passes for 130 yards and one touchdown. On defense, he had 14 tackles in Spiro’s 47-14 win over Westville.

Shade Watie (Tahlequah Sequoyah) - Rushed for 148 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries. Also had six catches for 77 yards and one touchdown in the Indians’ 34-13 win over Pocola.

Drake Roush (Holland Hall) - Completed 14 of 23 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. Also had eight tackles on defense in a 49-21 win for the Dutch over Keys.

Conner Carey (Heritage Hall) - Rushed for 188 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. Also had three catches for 86 yards in the Chargers’ 27-20 win over John Marshall.

Nate Asbill (Sallisaw) - Rushed for 274 yards and four touchdowns in the Black Diamonds’ 42-21 win over Stilwell.

OLB Cole McMurphy (Crossings Chr) - Recorded 17 tackles and a touchdown off his own blocked punt in Crossings Christian’s 16-14 win over Crescent. 

Makai Blades (Glenpool) - Rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries in the Warriors’ 66-0 win over Hale.

Collin Oliver (Edmond Santa Fe) - Recorded 17 tackles, three tackles for loss, one tackle for a safety and a fumble recovery in the Wolves’ 30-14 win over Yukon.

Blake Lair (Coweta) - Caught six passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns in the Tigers’ 41-7 win over Durant.

Jahkobie Smith (Del City) - Completed 17 of 22 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns in Del City’s 49-13 win over Putnam City West.

Jeff Foreman (Del City) - Caught 10 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns in the Eagles’ 49-13 win over PC West.

Miles Davis (Lawton) - Rushed for 256 yards and a touchdowns on 35 carries in the Wolverines’ 34-17 win over Deer Creek. 

Trenton Skinner (Shawnee) - Caught seven passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. Also threw a touchdown pass in the Wolves’ 32-27 win over Ponca City.

Brennan Presley (Bixby) - Caught three passed for 51 yards and a touchdown, and also rushed for 25 yards. Even completed a pass for 34 yards. On defense, he had a 36-yard interception return in the Spartans’ 21-7 win over Booker T. Washington.

Jimmie Coleman (Muskogee) - Rushed for 206 yards and five touchdowns on 29 carries. Also caught three passes for 49 yards in the Roughers’ 45-27 win over Sand Springs.

Week 1 picks

8/30/2018 |  Ben Johnson

Full slate of games greets us on this last week of August. Rejoice! Also, fans of Swisher, Coach Turney and myself will be happy to know we tied at 11-5 last week. Whitt is lagging way behind at 10-6.

OK, let's do this. Week 1 picks for your enjoyment:

Heritage Hall at Millwood

Michael Swisher: Millwood 31, Heritage Hall 28

Ben Johnson: Heritage Hall 24, Millwood 23

Whitt Carter: Millwood 34, Heritage Hall 21

Randy Turney: Heritage Hall 24, Millwood 20

Midwest City at Carl Albert

Michael Swisher: Midwest City 33, Carl Albert 29

Ben Johnson: Midwest City 35, Carl Albert 34

Whitt Carter: Carl Albert 27, Midwest City 24

Randy Turney: Midwest City 28, Carl Albert 14

Coweta at Wagoner

Michael Swisher: Wagoner 22, Coweta 12

Ben Johnson: Coweta 32, Wagoner 29

Whitt Carter: Coweta 41, Wagoner 37

Randy Turney: Coweta 21, Wagoner 14

Del City at Bishop McGuinness

Michael Swisher: Bishop McGuinness 31, Del City 17

Ben Johnson: Bishop McGuinness 28, Del City 23

Whitt Carter: Del City 27, Bishop McGuinness 26

Randy Turney: Bishop McGuinness 28, Del City 10

Kingfisher at Tuttle

Michael Swisher: Tuttle 29, Kingfisher 20

Ben Johnson: Tuttle 37, Kingfisher 22

Whitt Carter: Tuttle 34, Kingfisher 28

Randy Turney: Tuttle 21, Kingfisher 20

Holland Hall at Cascia Hall

Michael Swisher: Cascia Hall 21, Holland Hall 14

Ben Johnson: Cascia Hall 33, Holland Hall 23

Whitt Carter: Cascia Hall 31, Holland Hall 17

Randy Turney: Cascia Hall 20, Holland Hall 14

Laverne at Alex

Michael Swisher: Laverne 34, Alex 30

Ben Johnson: Laverne 47, Alex 28

Whitt Carter: Laverne 28, Alex 20

Randy Turney: Laverne 36, Alex 14

Oologah at Collinsville

Michael Swisher: Collinsville 16, Oologah 7

Ben Johnson: Collinsville 30, Oologah 27

Whitt Carter: Collinsville 37, Oologah 35

Randy Turney: Collinsville 17, Oologah 14

Norman at Norman North

Michael Swisher: Norman North 38, Norman 14

Ben Johnson: Norman North 30, Norman 13

Whitt Carter: Norman North 41, Norman 24

Randy Turney: Norman North 21, Norman 17

Mansfield Lake Ridge (Texas) at Union

Michael Swisher: Union 28, Mansfield Lake Ridge 19

Ben Johnson: Union 26, Mansfield Lake Ridge 23

Whitt Carter: Mansfield Lake Ridge 28, Union 17

Randy Turney: Union 24, Mansfield Lake Ridge 10

Mansfield (Texas) at Broken Arrow

Michael Swisher: Broken Arrow 22, Mansfield 20

Ben Johnson: Broken Arrow 28, Mansfield 17

Whitt Carter: Broken Arrow 24, Mansfield 21

Randy Turney: Broken Arrow 35, Mansfield 17

Mansfield Legacy (Texas) at Jenks

Michael Swisher: Mansfield Legacy 31, Jenks 20

Ben Johnson: Mansfield Legacy 23, Jenks 13

Whitt Carter: Mansfield Legacy 28, Jenks 20

Randy Turney: Mansfield Legacy 20, Jenks 14

Mustang at Yukon

Michael Swisher: Mustang 31, Yukon 28

Ben Johnson: Yukon 27, Mustang 26

Whitt Carter: Mustang 37, Yukon 22

Randy Turney: Mustang 24, Yukon 7

Altus at Lawton

Michael Swisher: Lawton 23, Altus 20

Ben Johnson: Lawton 29, Altus 17

Whitt Carter: Lawton 42, Altus 21

Randy Turney: Lawton 28, Altus 7

Owasso at Fayetteville (Ark.)

Michael Swisher: Owasso 31, Fayetteville 30

Ben Johnson: Owasso 41, Fayetteville 20

Whitt Carter: Owasso 30, Fayetteville 27

Randy Turney: Owasso 17, Fayetteville 14

Ada at Ardmore

Michael Swisher: Ardmore 33, Ada 14

Ben Johnson: Ardmore 32, Ada 17

Whitt Carter: Ardmore 37, Ada 24

Randy Turney: Ardmore 32, Ada 20

Idabel at Broken Bow

Michael Swisher: Broken Bow 31, Idabel 20

Ben Johnson: Broken Bow 20, Idabel 13

Whitt Carter: Broken Bow 28, Idabel 16

Randy Turney: Broken Bow 21, Idabel 20

Jones at Lincoln Christian

Michael Swisher: Lincoln Christian 30, Jones 17

Ben Johnson: Lincoln Christian 44, Jones 37

Whitt Carter: Lincoln Christian 41, Jones 27

Randy Turney: Jones 34, Lincoln Christian 14

Commerce at Adair

Michael Swisher: Adair 28, Commerce 20

Ben Johnson: Commerce 26, Adair 23

Whitt Carter: Commerce 21, Adair 14

Randy Turney: Adair 28, Commerce 7

Thomas at Alva

Michael Swisher: Alva 28, Thomas 24

Ben Johnson: Thomas 35, Alva 33

Whitt Carter: Thomas 34, Alva 13

Randy Turney: Thomas 14, Alva 13

Crescent at Morrison

Michael Swisher: Morrison 23, Crescent 17

Ben Johnson: Morrison 24, Crescent 16

Whitt Carter: Crescent 35, Morrison 31

Randy Turney: Crescent 31, Morrison 28

Rejoice Christian at Crossings Christian

Michael Swisher: Rejoice Christian 42, Crossings Christian 21

Ben Johnson: Rejoice Christian 41, Crossings Christian 21

Whitt Carter: Rejoice Christian 28, Crossings Christian 24

Randy Turney: Rejoice Christian 34, Crossings Christian 18

Pioneer at Coyle

Michael Swisher: Coyle 38, Pioneer 31

Ben Johnson: Coyle 44, Pioneer 40

Whitt Carter: Pioneer 32, Coyle 20

Randy Turney: Coyle 41, Pioneer 20

Regent Prep at Prue

Michael Swisher: Regent Prep 44, Prue 40

Ben Johnson: Regent Prep 51, Prue 32

Whitt Carter: Prue 21, Regent Prep 18

Randy Turney: Regent Prep 48, Prue 6

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

Class 3A preview

7/6/2018 |  Ben Johnson

Look back at 2017

2017 district champs

3A-1: Oklahoma Christian School - Kingfisher gave OCS a run for its money in district play, but the Saints marched to a 28-22 victory against the Yellowjackets to close out the regular season. In the playoffs, Mason Arnold, who rushed for 1,368 yards his senior season, and the Saints almost knocked off Beggs, but the Demons moved on an eventually made the 3A championship game.

3A-2: Jones - The Longhorns were machine-like in 2017. It was a near cakewalk to 13-0, and it was the same story in the first three rounds of the playoffs. But then John Marshall got in the way. That's when Jones' season came to a half at 13-1.

3A-3: John Marshall - The Bears had weapons for days on their way to the 3A-3 title and the Class 3A crown. Both Devonte Lee and Trey Eason rushed for more than 1,000 yards, but it was Lee who amassed 2,175 yards and 35 touchdowns before heading off to Nevada to start his collegiate career.

3A-4: Sulphur - The only blemish the Bulldogs endured in the season's first 13 weeks was a loss to John Marshall out of district play. Beyond that, the Bulldogs rolled right up until the 3A semifinals. There, Beggs derailed Sulphur and its plans to advance to the title game.

3A-5: Berryhill - Had all the makings of a team poised to make a run at the title in 2017. The Chiefs pulled out a seven-point win over Sperry in district play for the crown, and Berryhill's defense was stout all season long. But then Tahlequah Sequoyah pulled off a 32-30 upset in the second of the 3A playoffs to stun Berryhill.

3A-6: Beggs - The Demons had no problem scoring points last season. Quarterback Dalton Spring and all his weapons put up 592 points in 14 weeks, including eight performance of 40-plus points. Beggs stormed its way to the 3A finals, but there points were hard to come by in a 14-7 loss to John Marshall.

3A-7: Jay - No one pegged as the 3A champion before the 2017 season started. That's when Gabe Simpson and company steamrolled their way to a 9-1 regular season, including an unbeaten run through district play. But in the second round of the playoffs, Sperry ousted the Bulldogs from the playoffs.

3A-8: Idabel -Offering up stout defense all year long, the Warriors only slip-up in district play was against Eufaula. Idabel did, however, knock off Muldrow, who tied with the Warriors atop the district standings. In the playoffs, Idabel beat Bristow in the second round of the postseason, but John Marshall ended the Warriors' season in the quarterfinals.

Talking title game: John Marshall 14, Beggs 7

Both John Marshall and Beggs could put up points at will in 2017, but neither succeeded in doing so in the championship game. The two teams combined for six turnovers in the title game, but it was Devonte Lee's 51-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter to put the Bears ahead for good. Lee rushed for 223 yards on 25 carries in John Marshall's first championship since 1995.

On to 2018...

Players to watch

- Jett Sternberger (Kingfisher): The Yellowjacket quarterback was instrumental on offense all year long in 2017. Sternberger completed 183 of his 282 passes for 2,398 yards and 35 touchdowns.

- Trey Kiser (Sulphur): Bulldog tailback is gaining traction on the recruiting scene, thanks to his monster junior year in 2017. He rushed for 1,937 yards and 25 touchdowns on 195 carries, and he mixed in 100 tackles on defense.
- Jamon Dennis (Seminole): In 2017, Dennis was one of two 1,000-yard rushers for the Chieftains. Dennis racked up 1,121 yards and 12 touchdowns on 184 carries.

- Cameron Gunville (Seminole): Gunville joined Dennis in the 1,000-yard rushing club with 1,067 yards and 10 touchdowns on 167 carries.

- Chase Ricke (Lincoln Christian): Emerged on the scene last year as a sophomore and immediately took command of the Bulldogs' passing attack. Ricke passed for 3,055 yards and 25 touchdowns while completing 222 of 367 attempts.
- Cody Ross (Berryhill): The Chiefs were led on offense by Ross, who completed 132 of 211 passes for 2,319 yards and 29 touchdowns.

- Jerod Leviston (John Marshall): Leviston takes over the Bears' offense with the departure of Devonte Lee. Last season, Leviston passed for 1,698 yards and 19 touchdowns.
- Kaysen Fisher (Mount Saint Mary): The leader of the Rockets' defense last season with 106 tackles and five sacks.

- Aaron Wolcott (Mannford): Landry Wasson was the key cog for Mannford on offense last season, but now Wolcott will look to build on his 919 yards and six touchdowns on 180 carries last season.
- Billy Ross (Heritage Hall): A situational tailback during his freshman and sophomore years, Ross emerged as a key playmaker for the Chargers in 2017. He had 1,388 yards and 22 touchdowns on 168 carries, and he also caught 31 passes for 380 yards and four touchdowns. Then on defense, he added 49 tackles.

- Cole Crosswhite (Kingfisher): His rushing totals were down last year, but his effectiveness wasn't. Crosswhite is a true dual threat with lightning-quick moves and surprising power packed into his smaller frame.

District debriefs

(Note: Class 3A has only four districts for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.)

3A-1: Things could get interesting here. First off, there's Heritage Hall, who faced limited resistance en route to a 14-0 season and the 4A title in 2017. The Chargers drop down a class and now share district space with the reigning 3A champion, John Marshall. Then mix in a solid Kingfisher team and 3A-1 offers up plenty of intrigue from start to finish. Also vying for the 3A-1 crown the next two seasons will be Blackwell, Bridge Creek, Mount Saint Mary, Mannford and Perkins-Tryon.

3A-2: Shades of 3A-4 from the last couple of seasons. Sulphur and Plainview will again clash for district supremacy, and they're once again joined by Pauls Valley and Lone Grove. Bethel, Douglass, Purcell and Marlow round out the rest of the district.

3A-3: Break out the gas card for this group of eight, which spans from the far southeast corner of the state up through east Tulsa. Idabel, Stigler and Roland all stick together in the move from 3A-8. The rest includes a mixture of Checotah, Seminole, Okmulgee, Webster and Lincoln Christian.

3A-4: Berryhill, Claremore Sequoyah and Verdigris will all be familiar with one another, while Inola, Locust Grove and Jay move in from 3A-7. Then there's Cascia Hall and Vinita who both shift down from Class 4A.

What’s new? (coaching moves)

- Dusty Raper is now in charge at Pauls Valley, taking the place of Matt Weber.

- Speaking of Matt Weber, he's now in charge at Marlow.

- Former Roland coach Jeff Streun left, and assistant coach Waymon Potts was elevated to head coach.

- Tragedy struck Okmulgee in the offseason when head coach Carl Lee died due to complications with kidney cancer. The Bulldogs' new head coach is Bruce Munden, who was recently the head coach at Hale.

- Dennis Parker retired at Idabel, and Jeffrey Gibson is now the head coach.

- Matt Hennesy led a resurgence at Locust Grove, and he took over at Pawhuska this summer. Now David Blevins is the head coach for the Pirates.

- Rob Gilbreath spent eight seasons as the head coach at Claremore, and now he's back in Claremore again -- this time as the head coach at Claremore Sequoyah.

Fun facts:

- Brett Bogert took over for his dad, Andy, prior to the 2015 season. In three years at the helm for the Chargers, Brett Bogert is 40-1 -- the only loss being a quarterfinal setback against Cascia Hall in 2016.

- Cascia Hall head coach Joe Medina has been in charge of the midtown Tulsa school since 1999. During that time, Medina has gone 202-39.

Prediction time

Swisher - You know about Kingfisher's Trey Green and his basketball exploits. You'll read more about him and football this year | Captain Obvious: 3A-1 is a bit top-heavy | Defending champ John Marshall lost a lot of talent and its OC, but coaches tell me they don't expect a huge drop-off on the field | The class is loaded with quality teams. Maybe not "great" teams, but really good ones that will make the top-10 tough to pick each week | I can't go against Heritage Hall until someone beats the Chargers. Tough pre-district schedule will help prepare them for two anticipated district games and then a strong playoff run.

Whitt Carter - Sulphur's Trey Kiser is Oklahoma's best-kept secret | No, seriously. He might just be the best player in the class | Although 3A looks much different now, the smaller-sized class is loaded with good teams | And it's even tougher with the addition of Heritage Hall and Cascia Hall, both down from Class 4A | Familiar programs like Kingfisher, Lincoln Christian, Berryhill and Plainview will certainly be tough to beat | But can anyone beat the aforementioned Chargers? | They won it all in a class above last year and are the clear favorite to win their fourth state title in five years.

Ben - Yowza, 3A-1 is loaded at the top -- of course, like Swisher said, that's plainly obvious | Sulphur will lay low and rack up victory after victory and then start wrecking havoc on the rest of the field come playoff time | Always feel like Mike Snyder and Seminole are overlooked, and I'm guilty of that nearly every year. But shocker, the Chieftains will be good yet again | Lincoln Christian's statkeeper will be one of the hardest-working individuals on Friday nights this season | Cascia Hall returns to 3A and wins District 4 | Going chalk here with Heritage Hall to win the 3A crown. No reason to doubt Brett Bogert, so why start now?

Guest picker - Hall of Fame coach Randy Turney - Gotta go with Heritage Hall here.

*Photos courtesy of Joey Johnson & Russell Stitt