Andrew Crow commits to OU

6/6/2019 |  Ben Johnson

Brent Marley worked tirelessly to circulate Andrew Crow’s game film. Rejoice Christian’s head coach wanted Crow, his star running back and defensive back, to receive the attention he was due.

It finally paid off Wednesday.

Crow’s accomplishments landed in the lap of Drew Hill, director of player personnel at the University of Oklahoma. From there, it didn’t take much time for OU to extend an invitation Crow’s way.

Now Crow will head to Norman in the fall, tweeting his commitment to the Sooners on Wednesday.

XXJANKEINS

“After countless phone calls from several people, mainly Coach Marley, I was able to get my film, state and accomplishments in front of Coach Hill and the staff at OU,” Crow told Skordle. “(Hill) contacted me after, and we went from there.”

Crow will serve as a walk-on for the Sooners, but it’s the goal Crow had in place all throughout his senior year at the small private school in Owasso.

“Playing at OU has always been a dream of mine,” said Crow, who rushed for 2,620 yards and 48 touchdowns his senior year. “I can’t put into words how blessed I am to be able to play at such an amazing program, and I think I’ll be able to show my skill set and make an impression when the opportunity comes.”

All of it is pretty remarkable, considering a harrowing night Crow endured in November. During the week leading up to Rejoice Christian’s Class A semifinal matchup with Christian Heritage, Crow was in a car accident that left his vehicle totaled. 

Crow was able to play, but the soreness was palpable throughout the entire game against the Crusaders.

“The car wreck was very traumatic, and I still can’t believe I walked away from the crash unharmed that night,” Crow said. “I just kept trusting God that if football was meant to be in my future then it would be and he provided.”

Crow will head to OU after helping the Eagles’ basketball team with the 2A state championship. But when asked to quantify where the OU commitment ranks, Crow said it stands in a category by itself.

“It’s hard to compare this one,” he said. “My teammates and coaches were always a huge reason for my high school awards. This is an amazing accomplishment, for sure, so I feel like it’s the cherry on top to finish out my amazing high school career.”

NEW PODCAST: Spring sports spotlight and much more

5/10/2019 |  Ben Johnson

It's hardware galore as spring sports wind down. Michael and Ben dissect baseball, slowpitch softball, golf, track & soccer as teams and individuals enter the final weekend of competition for this athletic season.

Find out which performances this spring have impressed the guys the most, and listen in as they give props to the outstanding offensive performances at the slowpitch state tournaments that happened to close out the school year.

All that, plus some coaching moves to mention, including Justin Brown filling the shoes left by Larry Callison at Tahlequah Sequoyah. And also some football recruiting tidbits.

Thanks as always for listening.

WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK! Have a topic you'd like discussed, or have any questions for us, feel free to contact the show at:

EMAIL: ben@skordle.com

@michaelswisher & @benjohnsontul

PLAYOFF PICKS: Week 2 edition

11/16/2018 |  Ben Johnson

At this point, Randy Turney is just showing off. He went 23-7 last week and has all but sewn up his title as Skordle's premier picker this year. The rest of us are not worthy! And spinzone: I wasn't horrendous at picking games last week, so baby steps.

Playoff picks - Week 1 - Coach Turney 23-7 | Ben 19-11 | Whitt 17-13 | Swisher 14-16

Overall - Turney 181-59 | Swisher 165-75 | Whitt 165-75 | Ben 159-81

Now I present picks for the second round of the playoffs:

Broken Arrow vs. Owasso

Michael Swisher: Broken Arrow 38, Owasso 18

Ben Johnson: Broken Arrow 42, Owasso 10

Whitt Carter: Broken Arrow 42, Owasso 17

Randy Turney: Broken Arrow 38, Owasso 17

Jenks vs. Union

Michael Swisher: Union 34, Jenks 33

Ben Johnson: Jenks 27, Union 24

Whitt Carter: Jenks 31, Union 28

Randy Turney: Jenks 24, Union 14

Bixby vs. Midwest City

Michael Swisher: Bixby 30, Midwest City 24

Ben Johnson: Bixby 37, Midwest City 21

Whitt Carter: Bixby 27, Midwest City 21

Randy Turney: Bixby 32, Midwest City 22

Stillwater vs. Booker T. Washington

Michael Swisher: Stillwater 24, Booker T. Washington 18

Ben Johnson: Stillwater 16, Booker T. Washington 14

Whitt Carter: Stillwater 31, Booker T. Washington 28

Randy Turney: Stillwater 32, Booker T. Washington 20

Bishop McGuinness at Bishop Kelley

Michael Swisher: Bishop McGuinness 21, Bishop Kelley 20

Ben Johnson: Bishop Kelley 20, Bishop McGuinness 19

Whitt Carter: Bishop McGuinness 35, Bishop Kelley 31

Randy Turney: Bishop McGuinness 24, Bishop Kelley 10

Guthrie at Collinsville

Michael Swisher: Collinsville 31, Guthrie 20

Ben Johnson: Collinsville 23, Guthrie 17

Whitt Carter: Collinsville 27, Guthrie 20

Randy Turney: Collinsville 24, Guthrie 14

Bethany at Wagoner

Michael Swisher: Wagoner 22, Bethany 22

Ben Johnson: Bethany 24, Wagoner 21

Whitt Carter: Wagoner 27, Bethany 24

Randy Turney: Wagoner 17, Bethany 14

Blanchard at Poteau

Michael Swisher: Poteau 19, Blanchard 18

Ben Johnson: Poteau 20, Blanchard 16

Whitt Carter: Poteau 28, Blanchard 21

Randy Turney: Poteau 21, Blanchard 20

Broken Bow at Clinton

Michael Swisher: Clinton 21, Broken Bow 20

Ben Johnson: Broken Bow 14, Clinton 9

Whitt Carter: Clinton 31, Broken Bow 27

Randy Turney: Clinton 34, Broken Bow 28

Hilldale at Tuttle

Michael Swisher: Tuttle 30, Hilldale 18

Ben Johnson: Hilldale 27, Tuttle 26

Whitt Carter: Tuttle 35, Hilldale 21

Randy Turney: Tuttle 35, Hilldale 14

Kingfisher at Berryhill

Michael Swisher: Berryhill 32, Kingfisher 24

Ben Johnson: Berryhill 27, Kingfisher 22

Whitt Carter: Kingfisher 28, Berryhill 27

Randy Turney: Berryhill 28, Kingfisher 21

Plainview at Lincoln Christian

Michael Swisher: Lincoln Christian 35, Plainview 31

Ben Johnson: Lincoln Christian 29, Plainview 27

Whitt Carter: Plainview 38, Lincoln Christian 31

Randy Turney: Lincoln Christian 42, Plainview 38

Metro Christian at Jones

Michael Swisher: Metro Christian 24, Jones 20

Ben Johnson: Metro Christian 27, Jones 23

Whitt Carter: Jones 35, Metro Christian 28

Randy Turney: Jones 27, Metro Christian 21

Vian at Millwood

Michael Swisher: Millwood 35, Vian 30

Ben Johnson: Millwood 30, Vian 16

Whitt Carter: Millwood 34, Vian 21

Randy Turney: Millwood 42, Vian 21

Washington at Holland Hall

Michael Swisher: Holland Hall 27, Washington 20

Ben Johnson: Holland Hall 20, Washington 18

Whitt Carter: Washington 27, Holland Hall 24

Randy Turney: Washington 35, Holland Hall 20

OCS at Beggs

Michael Swisher: Beggs 31, OCS 21

Ben Johnson: Beggs 37, OCS 29

Whitt Carter: Beggs 42, OCS 31

Randy Turney: Beggs 34, OCS 24

Fairview at Cashion

Michael Swisher: Cashion 34, Fairview 28

Ben Johnson: Cashion 30, Fairview 13

Whitt Carter: Cashion 34, Fairview 21

Randy Turney: Cashion 26, Fairview 20

Christian Heritage at Thomas

Michael Swisher: Christian Heritage 22, Thomas 14

Ben Johnson: Christian Heritage 27, Thomas 25

Whitt Carter: Christian Heritage 30, Thomas 27

Randy Turney: Christian Heritage 21, Thomas 14

Crossings Christian at Hooker

Michael Swisher: Hooker 35, Crossings Christian 18

Ben Johnson: Hooker 26, Crossings Christian 22

Whitt Carter: Hooker 28, Crossings Christian 14

Randy Turney: Hooker 19, Crossings Christian 14

Morrison at Stroud

Michael Swisher: Morrison 22, Stroud 19

Ben Johnson: Morrison 23, Stroud 21

Whitt Carter: Stroud 27, Morrison 24

Randy Turney: Morrison 28, Stroud 20

Commerce at Hulbert

Michael Swisher: Commerce 36, Hulbert 33

Ben Johnson: Commerce 41, Hulbert 37

Whitt Carter: Hulbert 35, Commerce 28

Randy Turney: Commerce 31, Hulbert 21

Laverne at Snyder

Michael Swisher: Synder 34, Laverne 22

Ben Johnson: Snyder 44, Laverne 29

Whitt Carter: Snyder 38, Laverne 36

Randy Turney: Snyder 38, Laverne 28

Keota at Regent Prep

Michael Swisher: Regent Prep 48, Keota 18

Ben Johnson: Regent Prep 33, Keota 22

Whitt Carter: Regent Prep 42, Keota 32

Randy Turney: Regent Prep 42, Keota 42

Coyle at Tipton

Michael Swisher: Tipton 38, Coyle 33

Ben Johnson: Coyle 43, Tipton 41

Whitt Carter: Tipton 48, Coyle 38

Randy Turney: Tipton 42, Coyle 14

Pond Creek-Hunter at Paoli

Michael Swisher: PC-Hunter 41, Paoli 35

Ben Johnson: PC-Hunter 55, Paoli 23

Whitt Carter: PC-Hunter 42, Paoli 36

Randy Turney: PC-Hunter 26, Paoli 14

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

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 7 picks

10/10/2018 |  Ben Johnson

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

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

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

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

Carl Albert at Guthrie

Michael Swisher: Carl Albert 33, Guthrie 17

Ben Johnson: Carl Albert 30, Guthrie 16

Whitt Carter: Carl Albert 28, Guthrie 21

Randy Turney: Carl Albert 31, Guthrie 14

Broken Arrow at Edmond Santa Fe

Michael Swisher: Broken Arrow 38, Edmond Santa Fe 14

Ben Johnson: Broken Arrow 41, Edmond Santa Fe 19

Whitt Carter: Broken Arrow 34, Edmond Santa Fe 14

Randy Turney: Broken Arrow 28, Edmond Santa Fe 7

Stillwater at Lawton

Michael Swisher: Stillwater 35, Lawton 21

Ben Johnson: Stillwater 23, Lawton 22

Whitt Carter: Stillwater 42, Lawton 34

Randy Turney: Stillwater 35, Lawton 20

Cascia Hall at Berryhill

Michael Swisher: Berryhill 24, Cascia Hall 12

Ben Johnson: Berryhill 20, Cascia Hall 19

Whitt Carter: Cascia Hall 32, Berryhill 28

Randy Turney: Berryhill 28, Cascia Hall 20

Victory Christian at Beggs

Michael Swisher: Beggs 28, Victory Christian 10

Ben Johnson: Beggs 33, Victory Christian 24

Whitt Carter: Beggs 35, Victory Christian 27

Randy Turney: Beggs 21, Victory Christian 20

Plainview at Sulphur

Michael Swisher: Plainview 24, Sulphur 22

Ben Johnson: Plainview 29, Sulphur 23

Whitt Carter: Sulphur 28, Plainview 24

Randy Turney: Sulphur 34, Plainview 31

Buffalo at Pond Creek-Hunter

Michael Swisher: PC-Hunter 30, Buffalo 14

Ben Johnson: PC-Hunter 43, Buffalo 22

Whitt Carter: PC-Hunter 31, Buffalo 12

Randy Turney: PC-Hunter 34, Buffalo 22

Booker T. Washington at Sapulpa

Michael Swisher: Booker T. Washington 31, Sapulpa 30

Ben Johnson: Booker T. Washington 27, Sapulpa 24

Whitt Carter: Booker T. Washington 42, Sapulpa 28

Randy Turney: Booker T. Washington 31, Sapulpa 22

Stigler at Seminole

Michael Swisher: Seminole 34, Stigler 17

Ben Johnson: Seminole 23, Stigler 20

Whitt Carter: Seminole 34, Stigler 21

Randy Turney: Seminole 34, Stigler 20

Tonkawa at Morrison

Michael Swisher: Morrison 18, Tonkawa 14

Ben Johnson: Morrison 26, Tonkawa 16

Whitt Carter: Morrison 27, Tonkawa 21

Randy Turney: Morrison 38, Tonkawa 14

Yukon at Westmoore

Michael Swisher: Yukon 17, Westmoore 16

Ben Johnson: Yukon 21, Westmoore 17

Whitt Carter: Westmoore 21, Yukon 20

Randy Turney: Westmoore 24, Yukon 17

El Reno at Duncan

Michael Swisher: Duncan 24, El Reno 21

Ben Johnson: Duncan 32, El Reno 17

Whitt Carter: Duncan 28, El Reno 14

Randy Turney: El Reno 28, Duncan 21

Bethany at Cushing 

Michael Swisher: Bethany 31, Cushing 17

Ben Johnson: Bethany 33, Cushing 27

Whitt Carter: Bethany 35, Cushing 13

Randy Turney: Bethany 30, Cushing 24

Catoosa at Cleveland

Michael Swisher: Catoosa 36, Cleveland 25

Ben Johnson: Catoosa 28, Cleveland 18

Whitt Carter: Catoosa 37, Cleveland 21

Randy Turney: Catoosa 20, Cleveland 14

Kingfisher at Perkins-Tryon

Michael Swisher: Kingfisher 31, Perkins-Tryon 28

Ben Johnson: Kingfisher 27, Perkins-Tryon 21

Whitt Carter: Kingfisher 35, Perkins-Tryon 21

Randy Turney: Kingfisher 34, Perkins-Tryon 20

Okemah at Meeker

Michael Swisher: Meeker 33, Okemah 21

Ben Johnson: Meeker 34, Okemah 24

Whitt Carter: Okemah 33, Meeker 24

Randy Turney: Meeker 28, Okemah 12

Stratford at Washington

Michael Swisher: Washington 27, Stratford 23

Ben Johnson: Washington 32, Stratford 19

Whitt Carter: Washington 28, Stratford 20

Randy Turney: Washington 38, Stratford 20

Hooker at Okeene

Michael Swisher: Hooker 31, Okeene 13

Ben Johnson: Hooker 29, Okeene16

Whitt Carter: Hooke 35, Okeene 13

Randy Turney: Hooker 34, Okeene 7

Covington-Douglas at Southwest Covenant

Michael Swisher: SW Covenant 48, Covington-Douglas 30

Ben Johnson: SW Covenant 44, Covington-Douglas 25

Whitt Carter: SW Covenant 45, Covington-Douglas 31

Randy Turney: SW Covenant 42, Covington-Douglas 20

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

Week 7: Top 10 games

10/9/2018 |  Ben Johnson

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

Here's what's on tap this week:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Honorable mention

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*Photo courtesy of Guthrie Booster Club

Week 4 picks

9/19/2018 |  Ben Johnson

Well, I can't lie, my performance in Week 3 was disgraceful. It's been a rough go of it for myself and Whitt this season. But we're just waiting for district play to kick it into gear.

Week 3 picks - Swisher 11-3 | Coach Turney 10-4 | Whitt 9-5 | Ben 8-6

Overall - Swisher 51-22 | Turney 48-25 | Ben 43-30 | Whitt 42-31

Week 4 picks comin' at ya:

Jenks at Broken Arrow

Michael Swisher: Broken Arrow 23, Jenks 14

Ben Johnson: Broken Arrow 24, Jenks 17

Whitt Carter: Broken Arrow 27, Jenks 17

Randy Turney: Broken Arrow 21, Jenks 20

Blanchard at Bethany

Michael Swisher: Blanchard 34, Bethany 25

Ben Johnson: Blanchard 32, Bethany 27

Whitt Carter: Blanchard 34, Bethany 31

Randy Turney: Blanchard 28, Bethany 7

Lawton at Midwest City

Michael Swisher: Midwest City 35, Lawton 30

Ben Johnson: Lawton 21, Midwest City 20

Whitt Carter: Midwest City 27, Lawton 17

Randy Turney: Midwest City 35, Lawton 31

Owasso at Union

Michael Swisher: Owasso 38, Union 30

Ben Johnson: Union 34, Owasso 28

Whitt Carter: Union 42, Owasso, 40

Randy Turney: Union 28, Owasso 24

Thomas at Hooker

Michael Swisher: Hooker 21, Thomas 18

Ben Johnson: Hooker 25, Thomas 24

Whitt Carter: Thomas 21, Hooker 14

Randy Turney: Hooker 20, Thomas 14

Noble at Duncan

Michael Swisher: Duncan 22, Noble 7

Ben Johnson: Duncan 28, Noble 24

Whitt Carter: Duncan 28, Noble 14

Randy Turney: Duncan 24, Noble 13

Wagoner at Catoosa

Michael Swisher: Wagoner 24, Catoosa 22

Ben Johnson: Catoosa 20, Wagoner 17

Whitt Carter: Wagoner 27, Catoosa 24

Randy Turney: Wagoner 34, Catoosa 20

Bixby at Sapulpa

Michael Swisher: Bixby 29, Sapulpa 20

Ben Johnson: Bixby 33, Sapulpa 31

Whitt Carter: Bixby 42, Sapulpa 21

Randy Turney: Bixby 30, Sapulpa 14

Lawton MacArthur at Ardmore

Michael Swisher: Ardmore 31, Lawton MacArthur 22

Ben Johnson: Ardmore 32, Lawton MacArthur 23

Whitt Carter: Ardmore 34, Lawton MacArthur 21

Randy Turney: Ardmore 22, Lawton MacArthur 7

Cashion at Christian Heritage

Michael Swisher: Cashion 33, Christian Heritage 14

Ben Johnson: Cashion 41, Christian Heritage 17

Whitt Carter: Cashion 37, Christian Heritage 27

Randy Turney: Cashion 34, Christian Heritage 14

Guthrie at Piedmont

Michael Swisher: Guthrie 28, Piedmont 21

Ben Johnson: Guthrie 30, Piedmont 20

Whitt Carter: Guthrie 21, Piedmont 13

Randy Turney: Guthrie 31, Piedmont 13

Stigler at Lincoln Christian

Michael Swisher: Lincoln Christian 31, Stigler 24

Ben Johnson: Lincoln Christian 22, Stigler 20

Whitt Carter: Lincoln Christian 38, Stigler 28

Randy Turney: Lincoln Christian 38, Stigler 20

Chandler at Jones

Michael Swisher: Jones 30, Chandler 19

Ben Johnson: Chandler 17, Jones 16

Whitt Carter: Jones 32, Chandler 20

Randy Turney: Jones 42, Chandler 14

Haskell at Sperry

Michael Swisher: Sperry 34, Haskell 10

Ben Johnson: Sperry 27, Haskell 20

Whitt Carter: Sperry 34, Haskell 13

Randy Turney: Sperry 20, Haskell 14

Meeker at Kellyville

Michael Swisher: Kellyville 19, Meeker 14

Ben Johnson: Kellyville 22, Meeker 18

Whitt Carter: Kellyville 21, Meeker 17

Randy Turney: Kellyville 18, Meeker 14

Spiro at Vian

Michael Swisher: Vian 33, Spiro 23

Ben Johnson: Vian 29, Spiro 21

Whitt Carter: Vian 42, Spiro 21

Randy Turney: Vian 31, Spiro 20

Pawnee at Tonkawa

Michael Swisher: Tonkawa 24, Pawnee 18

Ben Johnson: Tonkawa 20, Pawnee 16

Whitt Carter: Tonkawa 37, Pawnee 26

Randy Turney: Tonkawa 28, Pawnee 20

Davenport at Strother

Michael Swisher: Davenport 55, Strother 20

Ben Johnson: Davenport 61, Strother 12

Whitt Carter: Davenport 50, Strother 14

Randy Turney: Davenport 58, Strother 12

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

Week 4: Top 10 games

9/18/2018 |  Ben Johnson

District play has arrived in full force, and there are great games all over the state this week.

Narrowing down the list to the top 10 games wasn't easy, but here it is:

1. 6AI No. 2 Jenks (3-0) at 6AI No. 1 Broken Arrow (3-0): This game was an offensive showcase for both teams last year, despite a relatively low-scoring 26-13 final, which was won by Jenks. Both teams accumulated more than 400 yards on offense, and Noah Cortes rushed for 164 yards on 22 carries. But it was Jenks quarterback Ian Corwin who passed for 365 yards and three scores. And thus Jenks' domination of Broken Arrow throughout the years continued. The Trojans have gone 14-2 against Broken Arrow since the Tigers won back-to-back seasons against Jenks in 2002 and '03.

2. 4A No. 1 Blanchard (3-0) at 4A No. 5 Bethany (3-0): Heck of a way to get things started in 4A-2. Blanchard is 6-3 against Bethany since 2008, but the two club have altered wins in the series since 2013. And it was Blanchard who won last year, 17-0.

3. 6AII No. 6 Lawton at 6AII No. 2 Midwest City (2-1): Expect points aplenty. Between Lawton's Miles Davis and Midwest City's Preston Colbert, there should be plenty of offensive fireworks. Midwest City has won the last two meetings, including a 41-35 victory last season.

4. 6AI No. 3 Owasso (1-2) at 6AI No. 4 Union (1-2): The Rams have scored at will this season with Will Kuehne at quarterback, but Owasso's defense has failed to stop anyone. Owasso is yielding an average of 44 points per game, and that's exactly how much Union scored against the Rams in last year's regular-season showdown. But then Owasso got its revenge with a 21-14 victory in the 6AI title game.

5. A No. 5 Thomas (2-1) at A No. 1 Hooker (3-0): Hooker has punished some out-of-state teams recently with wins over Booker (Texas) and Clayton (New Mexico). But now the Bulldogs return the the Sooner State and get fifth-ranked Thomas in District 1 play. Thomas won last year's game, 20-0, and expect another moderately low-scoring game again this year.

6. 5A No. 10 Noble (2-1) at 5A No. 8 Duncan (3-0): Talk a one-sided matchup throughout history. Since 1999, Duncan is 8-0 against Noble and the closest result along the way a 21-0 win for Duncan in 2006. The rest have been routs, including the last meeting between the two -- a 41-0 pummeling in 2011.

7. 4A No. 2 Wagoner (3-0) at Catoosa (3-0): Copy and paste the Noble-Duncan series information here. Only it's Wagoner owning the series for more than two decades. Since 1996, Wagoner is 10-1 against Catoosa, with the Indians' lone victory in 2011 (45-27). The two clubs have shared District 4A-3 real estate since 2010, and this one will go a long way in determining who finishes atop 4A-3 this year.

8. 6AII No. 3 Bixby (2-1) at 6AII No. 8 Sapulpa (3-0): Eli Williams and Co. have posted some impressive wins over Edison, Claremore and East Central and are off to a 3-0 start -- the best start to a Chieftains' season since going 4-0 to begin the 2013 campaign. The winning streak in 2013 was snapped by Jenks in Week 5 and Bixby followed with a win over the Chieftains. That actually began a current five-game winning streak for the Spartans over Sapulpa, including last year's 48-10 rout.

9. Lawton MacArthur (1-1) at 5A No. 2 Ardmore (3-0): The Tigers may be the higher-ranked team here, but it's been Lawton MacArthur with all the wins in this series dating back to 2005. The Highlanders won last season against Ardmore, 36-7, but the games in 2016 and 2015 were both decided by one point apiece.

10. A No. 2 Cashion (4-0, 1-0 A-3) at Christian Heritage (2-1, 1-0): These two reunite for the first time since 2009. The Wildcats' offense gets its rightful share of attention, but so far it's been the Cashion defense that has been dominant, allowing a total of 18 points through four games. And in an incredibly-deep District A-3, every victory is important.

Honorable mention

5A No. 9 Guthrie at Piedmont: Bluejays are 7-1 since the two started playing each other in 2006.

Stigler at 3A No. 4 Lincoln Christian: District 3A-3 is going to be deep, and someone among Lincoln Christian, Seminole, Stigler, Checotah and Idabel is going to miss the playoffs. Look for plenty of offensive fireworks in this one.

Chandler at 2A No. 4 Jones: Jones is 4-0 against Chandler since 1999, including a 58-6 victory in last year's playoffs.

Haskell at 2A No. 2 Sperry: The last time these two met was 2007 -- a 20-7 win for Sperry.

Meeker at Kellyville: Both clubs are off to surprising 3-0 starts, and they meet for the first time.

Spiro at 2A No. 3 Vian: Wolverines are 4-0 against Spiro since 2006, including a 32-14 win in the last meeting in 2013.

Pawnee at Tonkawa: Playoffs spots in District A-5 look like they will be difficult to come by with the likes of Barnsdall, Morrison, Pawhuska, Tonkawa and Pawnee off to solid starts. Since 2008, Tonkawa has won seven of eight meetings against the Black Bears.

B No. 2 Davenport at Strother: The Bulldogs have mercy-ruled Strother the past two seasons, but Strother is coming off solid wins of its own against Bowlegs and Sasakwa. One problem for Strother: Davenport posted 80 points last week!

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

Class A preview

7/6/2018 |  Ben Johnson

Look back at 2017

2017 district champs

A-1: Thomas - The Terriers hit the half-century mark in district titles with an unbeaten run against A-1 foes. A 20-0 win over Hooker set the stage for a district crown, and that was part of the Terriers' 10-game winning streak, which continued into December. But Afton derailed Thomas' playoff run in the semifinals.

A-2: Watonga - A September win over Cordell proved to be the deciding factor for the A-2 crown for Watonga. The Eagles went on to avenge a season-opening loss against Okeene with a win to open the playoffs, but then Watonga was dispatched from the postseason in the next round against Oklahoma Christian Academy.

A-3: Ringling - The Blue Devils knocked off Apache to begin district play, and they rolled the rest of the way against A-3 opponents. Ringling's playoff run lasted until the second round when Hooker moved on to the quarterfinals.

A-4: Minco - Led by Cole Burchfield in the backfield, Minco motored to the district title last year. Eleven straight wins, including six in district play, preceded Minco's run to the Class A quarterfinals, where the Bulldogs were beaten by Afton.

A-5: Crescent - Cashion, Pawnee and Morrison were no match for the Tigers during district play. Crescent manhandled every opponent it faced in its first 14 games, including wins over Cashion (54-14), Morrison (51-24) and Pawnee (35-14) during the regular season. The Tigers' unbeaten run, though, came to a halt in the Class A title game, which ended with a 44-12 loss to Afton.

A-6: Kiefer - The Trojans started the season 0-4, but a 34-14 win over Woodland in late September turned Kiefer's season around. Kiefer, Woodland and Hominy all finished atop the district at 5-1, but it was the Trojans who prevailed, thanks to district points. Kiefer, though, was bounced quickly from the playoffs, a 28-0 loss to Morrison in the opening round of the postseason.

A-7: Afton - The Eagles labored through a stout district -- that included Rejoice Christian, Barnsdall and Hulbert -- and emerged unscathed. A 22-20 victory over Rejoice Christian in mid October propelled Afton a district title, and from there the Eagles went into cruise control the rest of the season. In the playoffs, Afton outscored its opponents 214 to 46.

A-8: Talihina - Led by seniors Heath Humphreys and Sooner Box, the Tigers coasted to the A-8 crown. Talihina dismantled Central Sallisaw, 36-0, in a showdown of the district's top two teams. The Tigers finished the regular season 9-1 and beat Barnsdall in the opening round of the playoffs before being upset by Hominy in the second round.

 

Talking title game: Afton 44, Crescent 12