Class 3A playoff preview
by Ben Johnson (@BenJohnsonTUL)
11/8/2018 8:10:50 AM
posted in: Articles | 2,864 views
- 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.
- 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.
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."
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.
by Ben Johnson (@BenJohnsonTUL)11/8/2018 8:10:50 AM
posted in: Articles | 2,864 views
