by Jayce Osmus (@jayce_osmus)11/23/2021 2:00:59 PM
posted in: Articles | 3,393 views
Class 6A-I
The 6A-1 playoffs have gotten to the championship game, with the two teams being familiar opponents. Jenks and Union seemed destined to meet each other again in the finals. Union has one loss this season: 22-0 to Jenks in Week 3. Jenks also has one loss to the 6A-II powerhouse Bixby. Both teams won decisively in their quarterfinal match, but both only scored 17 points in their semifinals. Union beat Broken Arrow 17-14 this past Friday while Jenks won 17-10 against Mustang.
The surprise team in this class has to be the Broken Arrow Tigers. Going up against Owasso in the quarterfinals, most people thought the Rams would roll the Tigers again. Back in Week 4, Owasso pounced on the Tigers for a 42-3 victory. I picked Owasso in my weekly picks last week and was thoroughly surprised by the Tigers’ 41-40 victory. The Tigers also put up a great fight against Union, leading in the fourth quarter, but ultimately came up short.
Class 6A-II
Bixby meets Deer Creek in the championship. Bixby won its first two games of the playoffs by a combined 113 points. I don’t believe Deer Creek will be able to put up much of a fight against Bixby, but no one really has this year outside of Jenks.
The surprises of this class were both Deer Creek and Sand Springs. Deer Creek knocked off Choctaw while Sand Springs beat Del City in the quarterfinals. Choctaw and Del City were set to be a big matchup in the semifinals, but instead got upset.
Class 5A
The 5A playoffs are into the semifinals with the four district champions still in the hunt. McAlester takes on MacArthur at Noble High School. Carl Albert faces Collinsville at Western Heights High School.
Carl Albert vs. Collinsville was my pick for the best potential matchup and the game could be great. The Titans have given up only seven points to both of their opponents in the first two rounds. The Cardinals have scored at least 56 in both of their games. High powered offense meets stout defense for a spot in the title game.
MacArthur shutout Pryor in the quarterfinals 40-0, but had a tough go of it against Piedmont in the first round, winning 14-10. McAlester squeaked by a tough Guthrie team in the quarterfinal round, 27-21. The Buffaloes dominated Sapulpa 48-14 in the first round.
State Champion Game Pick: Collinsville vs. McAlester
Class 4A
The 4A playoffs are also into the semifinals. Elk City takes on Clinton at SWOSU. Tuttle faces Poteau at Jenks High School.
The 2018 and 2019 state champions face off at Jenks. Tuttle has been undefeated this year, the last team in 4A. Poteau has lost one game this year, but to an out-of-state opponent. Tuttle shutout Wagoner in the quarterfinals after beating Newcastle 34-3 in the first round. Poteau has been equally dominant, beating Catoosa 56-14 in the first round. The Pirates also beat Blanchard 45-14 in the quarterfinals. Tuttle’s defense will be put to the test in an effort to make the state title game.
Elk City has been the surprise team this year. The Elks went on the road and beat Cushing 21-14 in the first round and then went to Grove and beat the Ridgerunners 45-24. After placing third in District 4A-1, the Elks have proven they belong in the semifinals. They do face a familiar district foe in Clinton. Four short weeks ago, Clinton dominated Elk City 34-0 on its way to a district title.
State Champion Game Pick: Clinton vs. Tuttle
Class 3A
The 3A playoffs are into the semifinals. Heritage Hall takes on Lincoln Christian at Oklahoma Baptist University. Verdigris faces Holland Hall at Owasso High School. The four teams combined have two losses on the year.
A battle of the last two undefeated teams in the class is at OBU. Heritage Hall comes in at 12-0 on the year with a statement win early in the year against 4A semi-finalist Clinton. Lincoln Christian is also 12-0, only giving up 13 points in its two games of the playoffs. The winner of this game goes into the state title game 13-0 with a chance for a perfect season.
On the other side, defending state champion Holland Hall take on the surprise semifinalist Verdigris. The Dutch have one loss the last two years: It was 12-7 to the Verdigris Cardinals four weeks ago. Verdigris also has one loss - to Berryhill early in district play. A rematch of district opponents always brings a certain intensity and I expect nothing less of this game.
State Champion Game Pick: Lincoln Christian vs. Holland Hall
Class 2A
The 2A playoffs are into the quarterfinal round. Crossings Christian will travel to Beggs. Washington travels to Rejoice Christian. Marlow travels to Cascia Hall. Eufaula travels to OCS.
Two district champions did not reach the quarterfinals, with three teams still undefeated in the playoffs. Washington, OCS and Marlow are all trying to complete the perfect season. Marlow and OCS should meet in the semifinals, Washington will meet the winner of Beggs and Crossings. Surprise team in the playoffs is the Beggs Demons. They defeated district 2A-5 champion Vian in the second round and have a real shot to make the semifinals.
State Champion Game Pick: Marlow vs. Washington
Class A
The Class A playoffs are also in the quarterfinals. Pawhuska goes to Elmore City-Pernell. Cashion will travel to Woodland. Ringling travels to Pawnee. Morrison travels to Tonkawa.
Only four district champions proceed into the quarterfinals: Ringling, Cashion, Morrison and Pawhuska. Woodland upset undefeated Gore in the second round, setting up a home matchup against defending state champion Cashion. Tonkawa went into Fairview and spoiled the Yellowjackets’ undefeated season in the second round as well. The Bucs face Morrison, a team they beat back in Week 4. Pawnee upset Mounds in the second round, setting up a matchup with undefeated and top-ranked Ringling. Pawhuska dominated Hominy and Colcord, setting up its matchup against 11-1 Elmore City-Pernell.
State Champion Game Pick: Ringling vs. Cashion
Class B
Quarterfinal matchups for Class B. Summit Christian travels to Laverne. Pioneer Pleasant-Vale travels to Shattuck. Dewar travels to Seiling. Davenport travels to Balko/Forgan.
Four undefeated teams entered this bracket and only three remain. The Shattuck Indians bested undefeated Velma-Alma in the second round. District B-1 still has all four teams in the playoffs, with an actual possibility of three making it to the semifinals.
Top-ranked Laverne should get past Summit. Shattuck has shown it can pull off big wins and now gets Pioneer in the quarters. Balko-Forgan and Davenport should be the game of the week in the class. Undefeated Davenport has to travel all the way to Balko to try and keep its perfect season alive. Seiling is the one team that should lose in the district, as it faces undefeated Dewar.
State Champion Game Pick: Laverne vs. Balko-Forgan
Class C
These playoffs are into the semifinals. Tyrone will face Timberlake at Woodward High School. Mountain View-Gotebo will face Waynoka at Southern Nazarene.
District champion Maud got beat in the quarterfinals by Waynoka 44-8, setting up the Railroaders’ game against Mt. View-Gotebo. Undefeated Timberlake goes up against 11-1 Tyrone, with its one loss to Class B Balko-Forgan.
State Champion Game Pick: Mt. View-Gotebo vs. Timberlake.