Week 2 picks

9/13/2019 |  Ben Johnson

That noise you heard following the games in Week 1 was Michael Swisher shouting for joy. The oldest of the bunch is proving to be much wiser than those going against him so far. But we’ll see if we can’t gain some ground on him with a solid slate of Week 2 games.

Standings so far

Week 1
Michael Swisher - 15-2
Whitt Carter - 12-5
Ben Johnson - 11-6

Overall
Michael Swisher - 26-5
Whitt Carter - 19-12
Ben Johnson - 19-12
And the fan favorites….
Madison Carter - 16-15
Alicia Johnson - 18-13

And away we go….

Owasso at Broken Arrow

Michael Swisher - Broken Arrow
Whitt Carter - Broken Arrow
Ben Johnson - Broken Arrow

Jenks at Union

Michael Swisher - Union
Whitt Carter - Union
Ben Johnson - Union

Del City at Carl Albert

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

Sapulpa at Claremore

Michael Swisher - Claremore
Whitt Carter - Claremore
Ben Johnson - Sapulpa

Bishop Kelley at Bishop McGuinness

Michael Swisher - Bishop McGuinness
Whitt Carter - Bishop McGuinness
Ben Johnson - Bishop McGuinness

Clinton at Heritage Hall

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

Plainview at Tuttle

Michael Swisher - Tuttle
Whitt Carter - Plainview
Ben Johnson - Tuttle

Vian at Lincoln Christian

Michael Swisher - Lincoln Christian
Whitt Carter - Lincoln Christian
Ben Johnson - Lincoln Christian

Purcell at Washington

Michael Swisher - Washington
Whitt Carter - Washington
Ben Johnson - Washington

Morrison at Pawnee

Michael Swisher - Pawnee
Whitt Carter - Morrison
Ben Johnson - Morrison

Wetumka at Davenport

Michael Swisher - Davenport
Whitt Carter - Wetumka
Ben Johnson - Davenport

Sulphur at Davis

Michael Swisher - Sulphur
Whitt Carter - Sulphur
Ben Johnson - Sulphur

Douglass at Millwood

Michael Swisher - Millwood
Whitt Carter - Millwood
Ben Johnson - Millwood

Photo credit - David Stacy

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.

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

2/21/2019 |  Ben Johnson

Skordle shorts: Piedmont, Midwest City, Crossing Christian, Grove post big wins, plus news and notes

9/12/2018 |  Ben Johnson

Piedmont upends Weatherford

Quarterback Dylan Hampton scored on a 5-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, and Piedmont was able to hang on for a 21-10 victory over the Eagles in Week 2. The win over Weatherford was Piedmont's first since 2004, and it also helped the Wildcats atone for a season-opening loss to El Reno.

"Our kids played extremely hard and found a way," Piedmont coach Trent Worley said. "There were very resilient. Defense was outstanding all night."

Baylor Hendren led the way for Piedmont (1-1) with three interceptions, three tackles, one pass break-up and a fumble recovery. The Wildcats limited Weatherford to 10 points, and Hampton capped the game off for PIedmont with a 37-yard touchdown run with 1:34 left.

"Great win over a very good Weatherford team," Worley said. "We cleaned some things up, especially defensively. Proud of how our kids responded to the El Reno game and the adversity we faced during the Weatherford game."

Midwest City holds off Muskogee

Midwest City moved up from No. 3 to No. 2 in Class 6AII, after holding on for a 16-14 victory at Muskogee in Week 2. Muskogee's Caleb Webb was tackled in the end zone by Midwest City to give the Bombers a two-point lead late in the first half.

From there, Midwest City (2-1) was able to deny the Roughers from scoring the rest of the way.

"The defense has been playing extremely good," Midwest City coach Darrell Hall said. "The safety proved to be the different in this one."

Cameron Wilson was Midwest City's offensive catalyst, racking up 135 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries. On defense, Kyle Lindsey had 14 tackles and two for loss.

"We knew our offensive line would weight heavy in the game's decision," Hall said. " They put the game on their backs. It was a total team win, and I'm proud of the team because there is no quit in these guys."

Midwest City was able to block a field goal attempt by Muskogee with 8:54 left, and the Bombers never gave the ball back to the Roughers. Midwest City marched down the field and chewed up the clock along the way and escaped Indian Bowl with a two-point victory.

"With hard running from our running backs and great blocking by the wideouts," Hall said, "we were able to move the ball and run out the clock."

Crossings Christian tops Minco for A-3 win

Unranked Crossings Christian made its presence known in Class A with a resounding  14-6 victory at top-ranked Minco in Week 2. In overtime, Crossings Christian's Hunter Johnson scored on an 8-yard touchdown run, and Jacob Snyder added the two-point conversion score.

From there, the Knights (2-1) kept Minco (2-1) out of the end zone for the victory.

"We just gutted out against a great team on their home field," Crossings Christian coach Jonathan Keathly said. "It was muddy and wet, and it was great to see our guys make the plays when they had to."

Trent Miller led the Knight's defensive effort with nine tackles, five tackles for loss, including one in overtime, one sack and a forced fumble. Together, Crossing Christian's defense limited Minco to 232 yards of offense.

"It is a huge shot of confidence for our guys," Keathly said. "In our last five games, including last season, we've beaten two great programs in Wynnewood and Minco. Those are the kinds of programs we want to be and we're gaining fast."

The win also moved Crossings Christian to 1-0 in District A-3.

"It's huge because every week in this district is a battle," Keathly said. "There's going to be some good teams that get left out of the playoffs, and we're going to fight to be sure it's not us."

Grove routs rival Jay

Bragging rights along Highway 59 returned to Grove following the Ridgerunners' 33-6 win over Jay last week. Jay won the 2017 showdown between the two Delaware County rivals, but Grove has now won three of the last four Delco Bowl trophies.

"It felt good to get the Delco trophy back," Grove coach Ron Culwell said. "Our kids have worked hard, and they played hard. We try to control what we can control, and that's attitude and effort. So far it has been awesome."

And so was Grove's defense against the Bulldogs (1-1). Defensive end Dawson Tanner spearheaded the Ridgerunners' defensive efforts with 10 tackles, two sacks, one tackle for loss and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

"This is a huge rivalry," Culwell said. "Some strange things happen in this game. That makes it special to win. All these kids know each other, so we knew we had to play together to make things happen. And we did that."

For Grove (1-1), Dalton Cash scored a pair of touchdown runs -- a 1-yard run in the first quarter and the game's final score, a 6-yard TD run in the fourth period. Cash also had a 19-yard TD pass to Mason Baxter, and Nick Estrada also chipped in with a 7-yard touchdown run for the Ridgerunners.

News and notes: Wagoner coach Dale Condict posted his 200th career coaching victory, thanks to the Bulldogs' 35-17 victory over Pryor last week. ... Sulphur tailback Trey Kiser set a school record with 403 rushing yards in the Bulldogs' 47-9 win over rival Davis. Kiser also scored six touchdowns, and he did it all on only 15 carries.

Week 2 picks

9/6/2018 |  Ben Johnson

Can't sugarcoat the truth: it was a rough go of it for everyone not named Michael Swisher last week. Old man Swisher managed to pull off a 16-8 slate with Week 1 picks, but we can all assume he cheated somehow. As it stands now, Swisher leads the pack through two weeks at 27-13, and I'm three games off his pace. Randy Turney is currently third at 23-17 and Whitt Carter is hovering just above .500 at 21-19.

It's our vow to you to be better this week (or something like that). Week 2 picks right here:

Broken Arrow at Owasso

Michael Swisher: Broken Arrow 24, Owasso 14

Ben Johnson: Broken Arrow 37, Owasso 20

Whitt Carter: Broken Arrow 31, Owasso 17

Randy Turney: Broken Arrow 21, Owasso 17

Carl Albert at Del City

Michael Swisher: Carl Albert 31, Del City 20

Ben Johnson: Carl Albert 34, Del City 16

Whitt Carter: Del City 28, Carl Albert 27

Randy Turney: Carl Albert 24, Del City 20

Union at Jenks

Michael Swisher: Union 33, Jenks 24

Ben Johnson: Union 20, Jenks 17

Whitt Carter: Jenks 34, Union 24

Randy Turney: Union 24, Jenks 23

Lincoln Christian at Vian

Michael Swisher: Lincoln Christian 22, Vian 19

Ben Johnson: Vian 32, Lincoln Christian 27

Whitt Carter: Lincoln Christian 28, Vian 21

Randy Turney: Lincoln Christian 34, Vian 24

Tuttle at Plainview

Michael Swisher: Tuttle 21, Plainview 20

Ben Johnson: Tuttle 29, Plainview 22

Whitt Carter: Tuttle 34, Plainview 31

Randy Turney: Tuttle 35, Plainview 21

Booker T. Washington vs. Horn Lake (Miss.)

Michael Swisher: Booker T. Washington 35, Horn Lake 14

Ben Johnson: Horn Lake 24, Booker T. Washington 22

Whitt Carter: Booker T. Washington 35, Horn Lake 27

Randy Turney: Horn Lake 28, Booker T. Washington 17

Bishop McGuinness at Bishop Kelley

Michael Swisher: Bishop Kelley 31, Bishop McGuinness 24

Ben Johnson: Bishop Kelley 16, Bishop McGuinness 13

Whitt Carter: Bishop McGuinness 20, Bishop Kelley 16

Randy Turney: Bishop Kelley 21, Bishop McGuinness 20

Heritage Hall at Clinton

Michael Swisher: Heritage Hall 30, Clinton 20

Ben Johnson: Heritage Hall 35, Clinton 18

Whitt Carter: Heritage Hall 35, Clinton 21

Randy Turney: Heritage Hall 31, Clinton 20

Anadarko at Blanchard

Michael Swisher: Blanchard 29, Anadarko 18

Ben Johnson: Blanchard 29, Anadarko 16

Whitt Carter: Blanchard 42, Anadarko 21

Randy Turney: Blanchard 24, Anadarko 7

Davis at Sulphur

Michael Swisher: Sulphur 18, Davis 16

Ben Johnson: Sulphur 30, Davis 14

Whitt Carter: Sulphur 34, Davis 12

Randy Turney: Sulphur 21, Davis 20

Coweta at Tahlequah

Michael Swisher: Coweta 23, Tahlequah 17

Ben Johnson: Coweta 27, Tahlequah 19

Whitt Carter: Coweta 34, Tahlequah 27

Randy Turney: Tahlequah 17, Coweta 10

Southwest Covenant at Empire

Michael Swisher: SW Covenant 48, Empire 28

Ben Johnson: SW Covenant 44, Empire 29

Whitt Carter: SW Covenant 38, Empire 22

Randy Turney: SW Covenant 34, Empire 17

Stillwater at Norman North

Michael Swisher: Stillwater 29, Norman North 19

Ben Johnson: Stillwater 42, Norman North 19

Whitt Carter: Stillwater 34, Norman North 24

Randy Turney: Stillwater 24, Norman North 17

Mustang at Edmond Santa Fe

Michael Swisher: Edmond Santa Fe 24, Mustang 21

Ben Johnson: Edmond Santa Fe 28, Mustang 24

Whitt Carter: Edmond Santa Fe 35, Mustang 28

Randy Turney: Edmond Santa Fe 18, Mustang 16

Lawton MacArthur at Lawton

Michael Swisher: Lawton 28, Lawton MacArthur 20

Ben Johnson: Lawton 33, Lawton MacArthur 31

Whitt Carter: Lawton MacArthur 41, Lawton 28

Randy Turney: Lawton 21, Lawton MacArthur 14

Ada at Noble

Michael Swisher: Noble 24, Ada 18

Ben Johnson: Noble 33, Ada 23

Whitt Carter: Noble 21, Ada 13

Randy Turney: Ada 21, Noble 7

Edison at Memorial

Michael Swisher: Memorial 23, Edison 16

Ben Johnson: Edison 26, Memorial 24

Whitt Carter: Edison 27, Memorial 21

Randy Turney: Memorial 14, Edison 13

Adair at Locust Grove

Michael Swisher: Adair 38, Locust Grove 22

Ben Johnson: Adair 38, Locust Grove 22

Whitt Carter: Adair 34, Locust Grove 18

Randy Turney: Adair 28, Locust Grove 13

Oklahoma Christian Academy at Crescent

Michael Swisher: Crescent 30, OCA 15

Ben Johnson: OCA 35, Crescent 30

Whitt Carter: Crescent 21, OCA 20

Randy Turney: OCA 28, Crescent 21

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

Week 2: Top 10 games

9/3/2018 |  Ben Johnson

Week 1 offered up a tremendous slate of games. This week doesn't provide near as many spectacular games, but still solid nonetheless.

Here are this week's top 10 games:

1. 6AI No. 1 Broken Arrow (2-0) at 6AI No. 4 Owasso (1-1): One thing is becoming increasingly clear early on this season: Broken Arrow's defense is really good. The Tigers will get their stiffest test from an opponent's offense this week in the form of North Texas quarterbcak commit Will Kuehne, who fuels the Rams' high-powered offense. The problem currently for Owasso is defense, where the Rams have given up an average of 42.5 points through two games. In the all-time series, Broken Arrow leads 23-11.

2. 5A No. 1 Carl Albert (1-0) at 6AII No. 5 Del City (1-0): The Titans have the inside track to claiming supremacy in the Mid-Del school district this season. Fresh off a 28-21 win over Midwest City -- the Titans' first ever against the Bombers -- Carl Albert will square off with a Del City team that it's beaten four times in a row (2013, 2012, 1979, 1978). The last two showdowns were in the playoffs, but with Del City now in 6AII that's no longer an option.

3. 6AI No. 3 Union (1-1) vs. 6AI No. 2 Jenks (2-0) at the University of Tulsa: If it's non-district time, it must mean another edition of the Backyard Bowl in Tulsa. Despite Owasso's 6AI championship last season, Union and Jenks still reign supreme in Oklahoma. This one never disappoints and same goes for this year with both teams coming off impressive wins over teams from Mansfield, Texas. Since Jenks' state title in 2013, the Trojans have six of the last night matchups.

4. 3A No. 4 Lincoln Christian (2-0) at 2A No. 2 Vian (1-0): Lincoln Christian certainly hasn't shied away from a tough non-district slate this season after knocking off Jones last week in Tulsa. Now the Bulldogs' high-octane offense takes an excursion toward Arkansas, where River Simon and the Wolverine defense will be waiting. These two clubs haven't met since 2011, when Vian won 41-24. They've only met four times overall and split all of those decisions.

5. 4A No. 4 Tuttle (2-0) at 3A No. 6 Plainview (2-0): This would make for a quality wrestling dual, but the football matchup should be even better this week. The Tigers endured a stiff test from Kingfisher last week and won 26-14, and Plainview flexed its muscles with a 42-7 victory over Sanger (Texas). The Tigers and Indians have met 10 times since 1999, and it's been a mostly even series with Tuttle owning a 6-4 edge.

6. 6AII No. 1 Booker T. Washington (1-1) vs. Horn Lake (Miss.) at Battle on the Border in Shreveport, La.: The top-ranked Hornets return to Shreveport for the third straight season. Last year, Booker T. Washington came up short against West Monroe (La.). Horn Lake enters ranked No. 3 in Mississippi.

7. 5A No. 8 Bishop McGuinness (0-1) at 5A No. 9 Bishop Kelley (0-1): Nothing resembles bragging rights more than an old Irish stick used as weaponry. The shillelagh will be on the line when the two Catholic schools square off this week. Since 2010, Bishop McGuinness has won seven of the last night meetings, including a victory in the 2012 playoffs. (Side note: There should be more rivalries in this state playing for inanimate objects. Let's make that happen.)

8. 3A No. 1 Heritage Hall (0-1) at 4A No. 10 Clinton (1-0): The Chargers are no strangers to loading up their non-district slate with tough games, so a trip west a week after playing Millwood sounds about right. The Red Tornadoes are coming off an easy win over Woodward, and now they turn their focus to Heritage Hall, who has beaten Clinton in each of the past four seasons.

9. 4A No. 8 Anadarko (2-0) at 4A No. 1 Blanchard (1-0): Former district foes in Class 3A rekindle their matchup this week for the first time since 2011. Anadarko beat Blanchard in both 2010 and 2011, but the Lions had beaten the Warriors in 2008 and 2009 before that.

10. Davis (1-0) at 3A No. 7 Sulphur (1-1): Separated by close to nine miles on Highway 7, these two have squared off every year since 1968. Sulphur owns a 38-31 edge in the rivalry. Also, if anyone witnesses a pass during the game, record a video or snap a photo for documentation, as it could be quite rare. But hey, good luck to any other games in the state finishing before this one.

Honorable mention

Coweta at Tahlequah: It was Tahlequah that bounced Coweta from last year's playoffs.

Southwest Covenant at Empire: These two met for the first time last year, and Southwest Covenant won, 41-14.

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

Parker named new head coach of Davis

Football | 3/16/2018 | Evan Grice | The Daily Ardmoreite

There’s a new coach at the helm of the Davis Wolves football program. There’s a new coach at the helm of the Davis Wolves football program. But the Davis faithful need not worry, as the new skipper is someone who is all too familiar with the tradition of the red and white. Longtime coach Greg Parker will be stepping into the head coaching role next season for the Wolves, as he replaces Jody Weber, who retired from the position following this past year.

Playoff Round 4 Pay Dirt Picks

12/3/2025 |  Korry Rogers

	TOM	MARK	SHAWN	CHRIS	SHACK	JUSTIN
Weleetka @ Seiling
Dewar @ Laverne
Pocola @ Tonkawa
Washington @ OCS
Ryan @ Medford
Bishop McGuinness @ Carl Albert
Choctaw @ Sand Springs
Fairland @ Talihina
Allen @ Hominy
Rejoice Christian @ Pawhuska
Adair @ Stroud
Davis @ Vian
Marlow @ Jones
Lincoln Christian @ Heritage Hall
Sulphur @ Perkins-Tryon
Elgin @ Cushing
Tuttle @ Broken Bow

Playoff Round 3 Pick Results

11/29/2025 |  Korry Rogers

	TOM 7-5 (121-39 75.63%)	MARK 10-2 (126-46 73.26%)	SHAWN 10-2	CHRIS 8-4	SHACK 8-4	JUSTIN 10-2
Medford @ Timberlake
Seiling @ Cherokee
Weleetka @ Okeene
Dewar @ Hollis
Pond Creek - Hunter @ Laverne
Bixby @ Broken Arrow
Jenks @ Owasso
Choctaw @ Stillwater
Putnam City @ Sand Springs
Tipton @ Ryan
Carl Albert @ Newcastle
Bishop McGuinness @ MacArthur

Playoff Round 3 Pay Dirt Picks

11/25/2025 |  Korry Rogers

	TOM	MARK	SHAWN	CHRIS	SHACK	JUSTIN
Medford @ Timberlake
Seiling @ Cherokee
Weleetka @ Okeene
Dewar @ Hollis
Pond Creek - Hunter @ Laverne
Bixby @ Broken Arrow
Jenks @ Owasso
Choctaw @ Stillwater
Putnam City @ Sand Springs
Tipton @ Ryan
Carl Albert @ Newcastle
Bishop McGuinness @ MacArthur

Playoff Round 2 Pick Results

11/21/2025 |  Korry Rogers

	TOM 11-1 (114-34 77.03%)	MARK 11-5 (116-44 72.50%)	JACOB 10-6 (111-35 75.00%)	SHAWN 13-3	SHACK 14-2	CHRIS 15-1
Maud @ Timberlake
Coyle @ Seiling
Okeene @ Wilson Henryetta
Waukomis @ Weleetka
Cyril @ Cherokee
Waurika @ Dewar
Pond Creek - Hunter @ Yale
Allen @ Southwest Covenant
Pocola @ Fairview
Minco @ Tonkawa
Kiefer @ Washington
Kingfisher @ Lincoln Christian
Holdenville @ Adair
Mustang @ Broken Arrow
Grove @ Tuttle
Del City @ MacArthur

Playoff Round 2 Pay Dirt Picks

11/19/2025 |  Korry Rogers

	TOM	MARK	JACOB	SHAWN	SHACK	CHRIS
Maud @ Timberlake
Coyle @ Seiling
Okeene @ Wilson Henryetta
Waukomis @ Weleetka
Cyril @ Cherokee
Waurika @ Dewar
Pond Creek - Hunter @ Yale
Allen @ Southwest Covenant
Pocola @ Fairview
Minco @ Tonkawa
Kiefer @ Washington
Kingfisher @ Lincoln Christian
Holdenville @ Adair
Mustang @ Broken Arrow
Grove @ Tuttle
Del City @ MacArthur

Playoff Round 1 Pick Results

11/15/2025 |  Korry Rogers

	TOM 9-3 (103-33 75.74%)	MARK 8-4 (105-39 72.92%)	JACOB 8-4 (101-29 76.52%)	SHAWN 8-4	TJ 10-2	RYAN 10-2
Sallisaw @ Grove
Kingfisher @ Lone Grove
Pioneer @ Hollis
Wewoka @ Fairland
Blanchard @ Weatherford
Chandler @ Kiefer
Cashion @ Minco
Chisholm @ Washington
Norman North @ Mustang
Collinsville @ McAlester
Bishop McGuinness @ Guthrie
Dibble @ Hennessey

Playoff Round 1 Pay Dirt Picks

11/14/2025 |  Korry Rogers

	TOM	MARK	JACOB	SHAWN	TJ	RYAN
Sallisaw @ Grove
Kingfisher @ Lone Grove
Pioneer @ Hollis
Wewoka @ Fairland
Blanchard @ Weatherford
Chandler @ Kiefer
Cashion @ Minco
Chisholm @ Washington
Norman North @ Mustang
Collinsville @ McAlester
Bishop McGuinness @ Guthrie
Dibble @ Hennessey

Week 10 Pick 'Em Results

11/10/2025 |  Korry Rogers

	TOM 8-4 (94-30 75.81%)	MARK 8-4 (97-35 73.48%)	JACOB 9-3 (93-25 77.50%)	SHAWN 7-5	JORDAN 7-5	COACH V 9-3
Ada @ Sallisaw
Kingfisher @ Plainview
Timberlake @ Tyrone
Waukomis @ Cherokee
Regent Prep @ Wewoka
Woodland @ Fairland
Dewar @ Caddo
Fairview @ Cashion
Piedmont @ Putnam City
Del City @ Pryor
Metro Christian @ Sequoyah Tahlequah
Vian @ Valliant

Week 11 High School Football Rankings

11/9/2025 |  Michael Swisher

6A Division-I

1. Bixby (10-0)
2. Jenks (9-1)
3. Owasso (8-2)
4. Broken Arrow (8-2)
5. Mustang (7-3)
6. Edmond Memorial (7-3)
7. Union (4-6)

6A Division-II

1. Sand Springs (8-2)
2. Stillwater (8-2)
3. Putnam City (8-2)
4. Piedmont (7-3)
5. Choctaw (6-4)
6. Sapulpa (7-3)
7. Muskogee (5-5)

Class 5A

1. Carl Albert (10-0)
2. Pryor (10-0)
3. Guthrie (8-2)
4. Del City (8-2)
5. Lawton MacArthur (8-2)
6. Bishop McGuinness (9-1)
7. Coweta (9-1)

Class 4A

1. Tuttle (10-0)
2. Elgin (10-0)
3. Cushing (9-1)
4. Broken Bow (9-1)
5. Grove (9-1)
6. Ada (9-1)
7. Fort Gibson (7-3)

Class 3A

1. Lincoln Christian (10-0)
2. Sulphur (10-0)
3. Heritage Hall (9-1)
4. Holland Hall (9-1)
5. Cascia Hall (8-2)
6. Inola (8-2)
7. Anadarko (8-2)

Class 2A Division-I

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

Class 2A Division-II

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

Class A Division-I

1. Rejoice Christian (9-1)
2. Tonkawa (9-1)
3. Fairview (9-1)
4. Hooker (8-2)
5. Pocola (8-2)
6. Wynnewood (10-0)
7. Pawhuska (9-1)

Class A Division-II

1. Talihina (10-0)
2. Mangum (9-0)
3. Thomas (8-1)
4. Hominy (8-2)
5. Fairland (8-2)
6. Konawa (7-2)
7. Allen (7-3)

Class B Division-I

1. Dewar (8-2)
2. Hollis (8-1)
3. Caddo (9-1)
4. Laverne (7-2)
5. Empire (8-2)
6. Pond Creek-Hunter (7-3)
7. OBA (7-3)

Class B Division-II

1. Weleetka (10-0)
2. Seiling (10-0)
3. Okeene (9-1)
4. Cyril (8-1)
5. Cherokee (8-2)
6. Wilson-Henryetta (7-2)
7. Boise City (8-2)

Class C

1. Ryan (9-0)
2. Timberlake (9-1)
3. Mountain View-Gotebo (8-2)
4. Tipton (6-3)
5. Medford (8-2)
6. Sasakwa (9-1)
7. Tyrone (6-3)

Week 10 Pay Dirt Picks

11/6/2025 |  Korry Rogers

	TOM	MARK	JACOB	SHAWN	JORDAN	COACH V
Ada @ Sallisaw
Kingfisher @ Plainview
Timberlake @ Tyrone
Waukomis @ Cherokee
Regent Prep @ Wewoka
Woodland @ Fairland
Dewar @ Caddo
Fairview @ Cashion
Piedmont @ Putnam City
Del City @ Pryor
Metro Christian @ Sequoyah Tahlequah
Vian @ Valliant

SKORDLE SAMPLER: 2025 Week 10 - BG10 Cafe in Cashion

11/6/2025 |  Michael Swisher

The SKORDLE Game of the Week makes its way to Cashion this Friday night and I wanted to take the opportunity to encourage any hungry football fans to visit the BG10 Cafe prior to the big game between the Yellowjackets and Wildcats. 

It's not often in high school football you get a Week 10 matchup that could decide the district championship and playoff seedings depending on outcomes, scores and a possible coin flip like the book and movie Friday Night Lights. 

The BG10 Cafe opened this past July in downtown Cashion and ever since has been cooking up some of the best burgers anyone can get ahold of in central Oklahoma!

          I have included some of my own pictures from some of my visits and I think the burgers keep getting better every time I go. 

The menu includes a variety of great burger options from the namesake the “BG10 Burger” which has grilled onions, pickles and cheese. 

The “Classic American Burger” includes the traditional toppings of lettuce, onion, tomato, pickles and cheese. 

The “Mushroom and Swiss Burger” is exactly that and maybe my favorite.