Class 6AI playoff preview
by Ben Johnson (@BenJohnsonTUL) 11/5/2018 8:35:56 PM
posted in: Articles | 1,990 views
Players to watch
- Noah Cortes (Broken Arrow): Now the all-time leading rusher in Broken Arrow history, the senor tailback has been on cruise control for the Tigers this season. Cortes has racked up 1,331 yards and 26 touchdowns and often times not even playing in the final 10-15 minutes of game time.
- Ian Corwin (Jenks): The orchestrator of the Trojans' offense has completed 126 of 203 passing attempt this season. He's tossed for 2,042 yards and 17 touchdowns.
- Trace Ford (Edmond Santa Fe): The standout defensive end has mixed in some offensive exposure this season. The Oklahoma State commit has caught 18 passes for 298 yards and four touchdowns. On defense, he's collected 38 tackles and three sacks.
- Daniel Hishaw (Moore): Junior quarterback has completed 107 of 190 passes for 1,820 yards and 16 touchdowns.
- Aaron Norment (Putnam City North): While leading PC North to an 8-2 season, the junior quarterback has thrown for 20 touchdowns and 1,949 yards.
- Darius Boone (Union): Closing in on 1,000 yards this season with 973 heading into the playoffs.
Don't overlook... Jenks
The senior leadership of Ian Corwin at quarterback is not to be ignored. He directs an offense that also features Noah Hernandez and Dreyson Watters. And the only setback for the Trojans this season was a week four, 28-13, loss to Broken Arrow.
Favorite (potential) matchup - Jenks vs. Union
Don't be surprised if it's the second edition of the Backyard Bowl at Tulsa' Chapman Stadium. Corwin threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns to lead Jenks to a 27-10 win over Union back in September. It was Union that made the finals last year, but Owasso broke through to break the 20-plus-year mutiny on titles on the state's top classification. The winner here figures to get Broken Arrow for the gold ball.
Coaching candor
How do other high school coaches see the 6AI postseason playing out? We asked and they made their predictions (after being granted anonymity, of course).
"Broken Arrow has all the ingredients on offense and defense to win in any situation."
Prediction time
Michael Swisher: Broken Arrow over Jenks - I’m not expecting a ton of surprises in this class this season, other than the gargantuan fact Broken Arrow will be a football state champion. It’s been the perfect storm. Broken Arrow is pretty danged solid and Jenks and Union aren’t quite up to normal standards and the west….oh, nevermind. Anyway, time for a parade in BA. I’m sure Ben Johnson will be right in the middle of it, crying like a teenage girl at a Bieber concert (is that still a thing?).
Ben Johnson: Jenks over Broken Arrow - Look, I graduated from Broken Arrow. I endured a state championship beatdown from Union during my senior year. Since then, it's been a parade of Union and Jenks continuing to add gold balls to their trophy cases. And honestly, I think Broken Arrow will be the 6AI champion this season. But I've operated under the mindset, "I can't pick it until I see it." So, here's me picking Jenks over Broken Arrow. It's not like Broken Arrow blew out Jenks the first time around this season, and I guarantee Jenks would have a puncher's chance in the finals. Plus, having Ian Corwin would help tremendously.
Whitt Carter: Broken Arrow over Jenks - Jenks has been very good under first year coach Keith Riggs. Quarterback Ian Corwin has been as good as anyone in the class this year and the Trojans have two big-time weapons in Noah Hernandez and Dreyson Watters out of the backfield. But make no bones about it, this Broken Arrow team is next level. Led by Noah Cortes, Andrew Raym, Zach Marcheselli, Gavin Potter and many others, Broken Arrow ran through a brutal first four games with ease. The Tigers took care of Jenks in the final game of that stretch, winning 28-13 in a game that didn't even seem that close. There are D-1 players everywhere for Broken Arrow and its' dominance on both sides of the ball is just too much. The best team in school history finally brings home a gold ball.
by Ben Johnson (@BenJohnsonTUL)