by Steven Reese (@stevenreese33)11/5/2021 8:10:55 AM
posted in: App News | 1,858 views
I don’t know about you, but this fun-filled season has flown by.
Coach Mike Leach’s Halloween weekend full of Sprees in a box and Nerds Clusters has concluded.
Believe it or not, we are at the final week of the 2021 regular season.
Many teams will be fighting for not only the district title, but for home field advantage as well. These games are just the preview of how intense the playoffs will be.
I think for this week, we can go off of the classic 1970s hit “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” by Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
1. #1 Bixby 9-0 (6-0 in 6AII-2) @ #2 Booker T. Washington 8-1 (5-1 in 6AII-2)
Bixby has won 45 straight games dating back to 2018 and is ever-so-close to Wagoner’s state record of 48 consecutive wins that it set in 2017. Everyone thought traveling to Choctaw would be scary, but it wasn’t for this Spartan squad. The Spartans made the Yellowjackets look like they don’t belong in the brutal 6A-II District 2. No one just travels to a top-three opponent and wins 70-7. That is more than just incredible. The offense, the defense, the special teams, the list goes on for the Spartans. Through nine games, they’ve only allowed a total of 97 points. It’s insane that this late in the season they haven’t gone past the 100 mark in that category. Then rushing and passing, the Spartans offense has over 2,000 yards total in each of those two categories.
Nonetheless, Bixby has its last true road test against a steady Booker T. Washington team. The Hornets lost a close one on the road at Choctaw 29-20 in their first district game of the season, but they’ve had no problems since. Stealing one on the road against Sand Springs was the game that flipped the switch for the Hornets. In the road environment, they never lost the lead in the second half. Junior running back DJ McKinney has maybe been the key factor to this Hornet offense. Not only does he have seven rushing touchdowns, but he also has six touchdown receptions as well. Regardless of what this team does this year, the Hornets are something special and they have almost everyone back next season. The top-ranked Bixby Spartans could have a tough test this week unless if they have the same mentality as they did when they traveled to Choctaw.
2. #5 Bethany 8-1 (6-0 in 4A-1) @ #3 Clinton 8-1 (6-0 in 4A-1)
Wait what? The Bethany Bronchos who went 5-6 last season? Yep, you guessed it. This may be the most improved team in 4A. Taylor Heim and the Broncho offense did not let last season get to their heads one bit. Two of their wins have been very clutch. Two close home wins against Cache and Newcastle have probably been the story of the Bronchos’ whole season. I’ve been to a few Broncho games and the PA announcer goes nuts every single first down and touchdown. It’s a fun atmosphere! Chase Horsley, who broadcasts Tuttle football with me, is a proud Broncho grad. Can Bethany pull off another clutch win and claim the district?
Clinton has improved this season as well. Not only were the Red Tornadoes the Cinderella team in 4A last year, but they’ve now turned into one of the favorites to make it again to the state championship. Despite losing to Wagoner in the 2020 4A state championship, 42-13, they’ve managed to climb all the way to #3 in the final week of the regular season. And their only loss this year was to a currently undefeated 3A Heritage Hall team. Can Clinton keep the momentum up from 2020 and have another run for the state title?
3. #10 Blanchard 7-2 (5-1 in 4A-2) @ #1 Tuttle 9-0 (6-0 in 4A-2)
The defending district champion Blanchard Lions will be traveling to Tuttle in hopes of having back-to-back victories against the Tigers. These two battled it out for the district last season, but the Lions’ defense ended up being the better defense in an intense 7-0 win against the Tigers. Sophomore quarterback Carson Cooksey has been nothing but sensational as an underclassman, throwing for 22 touchdowns as well as five rushing touchdowns. This kid has a bright future for this program.
This Tuttle Tiger defense has only allowed a total of 53 points all season. When the Tigers went to Cushing, which has one of the top offensive teams in 4A, the Tigers completely shut them out in the second half eventually getting the win on the road 22-7. Todd Miller and some of the Skordle crew will be covering this top-10 matchup this Friday. Chase and I will be on the radio broadcasting the game for the top-tanked Tuttle Tigers.
4. #8 Ardmore 8-1 (5-1 in 5A-1) @ #3 MacArthur 9-0 (6-0 in 5A-1)
Besides 2019 and 2020, Ardmore is a team that consistently has a very exceptional record every year. In 2018, they were a touchdown away from winning the 5A state championship. From 2013-2018, the Tigers won eight games or more and have had a winning season every year since 2013. Despite losing at home on Halloween weekend to Noble, 36-35, the Tigers still control their own destiny. With a win at MacArthur this Friday, it is very possible for a three-way tie for the top spot in the district.
Besides a win on the road against Enid, 28-21, earlier this season, the Highlanders mighty offense has scored at least 41 points or higher in every one of their victories in 2021. Just two seasons ago, they went 5-5. And in 2018, they went 4-6. And despite falling short to Guthrie in the 2020 playoffs, 42-39, the Highlanders went 8-3 that year. It has been a huge gradual improvement for this program.
5. #5 Stigler 8-1 (4-1 in 3A-3) @ #1 Lincoln Christian 9-0 (5-0 in 3A-3)
The scoring duo of sophomore quarterback Mckade Peery and senior running back Tanner Mobley is looking to make another deep run in the playoffs as the Panthers made it all the way to the 3A semis last season. This Panther duo is responsible for 49 touchdowns from this dynamic offense. They are looking to shake up the district standings after losing a close one on the road to Seminole, 28-21. Seminole is currently second in the district right behind Lincoln Christian and Stigler is in third.
Lincoln Christian is by far the hottest team in 3A. Not only have the Bulldogs blown everyone in the district out, they also had a walk in the park at Seminole 35-7. With a win against Stigler, the Bulldogs will lock up two home playoff games.