by Ben Johnson (@BenJohnsonTUL)7/6/2018 1:17:57 AM
posted in: Articles | 2,000 views
Look back at 2017
2017 district champs
6AII-1: Midwest City - The Bombers parlayed a narrow overtime loss to Booker T. Washington into an unbeaten run through 6AII's District 1. Midwest City's only challenge in district play was a six-point victory over Lawton in late September, and from there the Bombers claimed their seventh district title since 2007. But on the verge of advancing to the title game, Midwest City was upended by Bixby.
6AII-2: Booker T. Washington - Not a single team was able to put forth a sustainable challenge for the Hornets in district play. Booker T. Washington averaged 47.7 points per game against district opponents, and that was after posting three straight 63-point showings to begin 6AII-2 play. The playoffs weren't much different for the Hornets. Blowout wins over Putnam City and Lawton segued to a title game, where the Booker T. Washington knocked off Bixby, 28-21.
Talking title game: Booker T. Washington 28, Bixby 21
Bixby had the inside track to its fourth straight championship. The Spartans led 21-7 midway through the third quarter, and then the Hornets put together a furious rally. Javion Hester, who hauled in four catches for 145 yards, caught a 25-yard TD pass from Phillip Wheatley with 3:49 left in the third quarter, and all of a sudden Booker T. Washington was within 21-14 through three periods. Wheatley later found DeWayne Cooks Jr. for a 32-yard score to tie the game, and Wheatley's 1-yard touchdown run with 3:21 left was the deciding blow. For good measure, Hester cemented his breakout sophomore season with an interception to halt Bixby's final march down the field. The title was the Hornets first since 2010 and the ninth overall.
On to 2018...
Players to watch
- Miles Davis (Lawton): An absolutely stellar junior season saw Davis rush for 2,383 yards and 32 touchdowns on 304 carries. The question for 2018: Does Davis eclipse 300 carries again during his senior season?
- Qwontrel Walker (Stillwater): The Pioneers had plenty of weapons on offense last season, but perhaps none more impactful than Walker during his freshman campaign. He burst onto the varsity scene with 1,321 yards and nine touchdowns on 200 carries.
- Quinlan Ganther (Del City): Guided the Eagles' offense with precision as a sophomore in 2017. He completed 99 of 168 passes for 1,650 yards and 16 touchdowns.
- Eli Williams (Sapulpa): It was an up-and-down season for Williams in 2017, but given time in the pocket he's a deadly weapon. During his sophomore season, he passed for 752 yards and seven touchdowns, and he ran for 428 yards and two touchdowns on 101 carries.
- Preston Colbert (Midwest City): An exceptional junior season saw Colbert throw for 3,242 yards and 36 touchdowns while completing 66.5 percent (187 of 281) of his passes. He even mixed in 607 yards and 14 touchdowns on 97 carries.
- Thomas Grayson (Booker T. Washington): As the Hornets' primary running source in 2017, Grayson rushed for 1,332 yards and 17 touchdowns on 174 carries. And in the offseason, he committed to the University of Nebraska.
- Dax Hill (Booker T. Washington): At 6 feet, 2 inches and 200 pounds, he's the most sought-after recruit in Oklahoma. He's currently weighing offers from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Michigan after he collected 67 tackles and five interceptions during his junior season in 2017.
- Cade Cavender (Bixby): Racked up 80 tackles and two interceptions for the Spartans on defense last season a junior. On offense, he hauled in 31 catches for 488 yards and seven touchdowns.
- Collin Clay (Putnam City): Recently committed to the University of Arkansas after his impressive junior season. He finished with 60 tackles and three sacks for the Pirates in 2017.
- Heath Hunter (Shawnee): Captained the Wolves' offense with 2,357 yards and 18 touchdowns while completing 150 of his 273 pass attempts.
District debriefs
6AII-1: Midwest City will be chasing its third straight district title against mostly the same field. The Bombers will once again be joined by Lawton, Putnam City, Choctaw, Stillwater, Deer Creek and Putnam City West. The only change is Enid moving up to 6AI and Del City taking the Plainsmen's place.
6AII-2: Not much change here, either. It's Booker T. Washington chasing another district title against Bixby, Muskogee, Sand Springs, Bartlesville, Sapulpa and Ponca City. The same seven teams will welcome Shawnee into the fold for 2018 and 2019.
What’s new? (coaches on the move)
- Randy Breeze stepped down as Lawton's head coach, and his son, Ryan Breeze, is now at the helm for the Wolverines after serving as an assistant for 12 years under his father.
- It was a successful five-year run for Lee Blankenship at Beggs, but he's now the head coach at Bartlesville. Blankenship went 46-16 at Beggs, including a trip to the 3A title game last season.
- Scott Harmon is a head coach again after recently stepping down as Hominy's head coach. He takes over at Ponca City heading into the 2018 season.
Fun facts:
- Randy Breeze stepped down at Lawton after going 100-38 in 12 seasons.
- Scott Harmon's impressive run at Hominy included an 82-43 record, including the 2016 Class A title.
Prediction time
Michael Swisher - Bixby did a great job last year of working through major distractions and nearly pulled off the improbable fourth straight title run. Looks like the distractions have returned for the Spartans in 2018 | I was really impressed with Preston Colbert, not only on the field, but off it as well, at the Skordle Showdown. He's the kind of kid you root for | Here's a name you haven't heard of, but you'll want to remember...Dax Hill. Oh, wait. | My head says Booker T. repeats, but I'm going against that. Midwest City lost a heartbreaker in the semifinals last year. The Bombers will use that to fuel a title run for the first time since 1995.
Ben - In a class full of superstar potential, Preston Colbert is a name we all know but unfairly overlook at the same time. He's really really good | Tucker Barnard has a ton of weapons at his disposal at Stillwater, and Qwontrel Walker is merely a sophomore. With everyone focused on Gunnar Gundy at quarterback, Walker figures to have another monster season | Speaking of stellar seasons, hello, Miles Davis | Just when I think Sand Springs will struggle to replace Player X or Player Y, Dustin Kinard and his staff figure a way to have a really strong defense and grind every game out | Muskogee has to pretty much introduce an entirely new offense this season, but Rafe Watkins is in charge so you know they'll be good | The amount of talent at Booker T. Washington might be elite enough to win 6AI (barring any dilemmas at quarterback). I can't convince myself of any other team outside of BTW winning the gold ball.
Whitt Carter - For good reason, much of the talk is about Dax Hill, but Booker T. has difference makers everywhere | Del City is a team that is dangerous, led by stud wideout Jeff Foreman | Gunnar Gundy is going to be awesome, and if he grows a mullet I may have to change my pick to Stillwater | The district with Del City, Stillwater, Lawton and Midwest City doesn't seem fair, but it will no doubt be exciting | I also would advise no one to sleep on Bixby | But the path to the title goes through the defending champs, and with their talent all over the field, it's too much to overcome | The Hornets do it again in 2018.
Guest picker - Hall of Fame coach Randy Turney - I'm going with Booker T. Washington to repeat this season.
*Photos courtesy of Joey Johnson