SBLive Oklahoma Top 25 football rankings: Top teams to make final push toward postseason momentum
By Christian Potts
Photo of Coweta's Mason Ford by Karen Schwartz
With the playoffs now just a week away, top teams are making their final push for both postseason seeding and momentum.
As such, almost everyone in last week's SBLive Oklahoma Top 25 fared well in Week 9, meaning not a whole lot of movement in the rankings.
Not to say there weren't some huge and clutch victories, including two instant classics that needed overtime.
Jenks' annual showdown game against Broken Arrow went down to the wire and then some. The Trojans picked up perhaps their most critical win of the season and did it in dramatic fashion, rallying from a late two-score deficit to Broken Arrow to force overtime; then won it, 35-34, when Ashton Cunningham blocked a Tiger extra point in the extra period.
Coweta and Del City played a game with huge district title and even playoff bracket implications in Class 5A, and it also needed extra time.
With the game, an unbeaten record and potentially the district championship all on the line, coach Tim Harper decided to go for the win. Down 17-16 in overtime to Del City after Mason Ford's touchdown catch, the Tigers went for the two-point conversion and the win.
They got it, as quarterback Na'Kylan Starks found LoLo Bell open for the score and the win, keeping the Tigers' memorable 2022 run going.
While several squads have already clinched district championships, more than a dozen other districts will go down to the final week of the regular season. Several, like District 6AII-1, will be decided in head-to-head battles like the one undefeated foes Stillwater and Muskogee will play.
So while there aren't playoff games for another week, many games around the state already have that important feel of the playoff season.
Plus, the wait to play many of these games is less than normal due to the fact that several games in the state will now be played Thursday night, in anticipation of inclement weather on Friday.
Here are Oklahoma's top teams heading into the first week of November.
1. Bixby (9-0, 6-0 District 6AI-1)
The Spartans' state 11-man record 58-game winning streak continued with a 64-7 romp at Moore. Senior Cale Fugate added his chapter to the team's almost unbelievable numbers this season, recording four interceptions, returning two of those for touchdowns - in the first half. He also added two receiving touchdowns.
Next up is a game being televised nationally through ESPN, with two-time defending 6AI champion Jenks visiting Bixby. It'll be as big a deal as any game ever has been at the Spartans' home stadium in all their school history.
2. Tulsa Union (9-0, 6-0 District 6AI-1)
Union was tested by an improved Edmond Memorial squad in Week 9. But ultimately, a big night from quarterback Shaker Reisig helped the Redhawks to their ninth straight win, 52-21, a result that officially wrapped up the district championship.
Reisig completed 24 of his 27 passes for 418 yards and a touchdown in an incredibly efficient night.
3. Coweta (9-0, 6-0 District 5A-4)
Coweta's dramatic victory in Del City adds to a remarkable 2022 run that started somewhat under the radar, but now has them squarely in the middle of the picture with big hopes for a deep run in the 5A postseason.
The Tigers will finish the regular season this week against a 1-8 Tulsa Memorial squad.
4. Choctaw (8-1, 6-0 District 6AII-2)
The Yellowjackets can claim the district championship with a win this week in a battle of two teams really on a roll.
Ponca City has won five straight games to clinch a playoff berth, while the Yellowjackets haven't lost since late August, ripping off eight wins in a row by an average margin of 35.1 points per game.
5. Stillwater (9-0, 6-0 District 6AII-1)
The Pioneers put their perfect season on the line Thursday in a showdown game against fellow unbeaten Muskogee.
Both squads have been dominant in slicing up all comers in this district, with Stillwater sporting quarterback Gage Gundy and his 1,920 passing yards with 22 touchdowns and just one interception, as well as 1,272 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns for tailback Noah Roberts.
6. Cushing (9-0, 6-0 District 4A-3)
One of the state's top passing offenses resides in Cushing, where the Tigers are district champions after a 70-21 victory against Oologah in Week 9.
Quarterback Blake Berlowitz crossed 2,500 yards for the season with 35 touchdown throws, 15 of those to Camden Crooks, who also moved over 1,000 receiving yards on the season in the Oologah win. They'll look to finish a perfect regular season against Skiatook in Week 10.
7. Edmond Deer Creek (8-1, 5-1 District 6AII-2)
The Antlers have dominated in their late-season schedule against overmatched opponents, outscoring OKC Northwest Classen and OKC Capitol Hill, 118-0, the previous two weeks. They'll again be a big favorite this week against a 2-7 Putnam City North squad.
The Antlers are likely in line for a second-place finish in district play, which gets them a week off to begin the postseason under the new bracket format for the two divisions of Class 6A.
8. OKC Bishop McGuinness (8-1, 5-1 DIstrict 5A-2)
The Irish wrapped up second place in district play with an impressive 34-17 victory against Piedmont in Week 9.
McGuinness figures to be a big player in what is a deep field in Class 5A, trying to improve upon last year's run to the second round before a loss to eventual state champion Collinsville.
9. Mustang (7-2. 4-1 District 6AI-2)
The Broncos had little trouble in a 56-17 victory against Edmond North in Week 9.
Win or lose this week against Edmond Memorial to close the regular season, the Broncos already are locked in as the No. 2 finisher in the district, which gives them a week off to begin the 6AI playoffs.
10. Lincoln Christian (8-1, 5-0 District 3A-3)
The Bulldogs wrapped up the district championship in an emphatic way, pounding a strong Muldrow squad, 49-7.
The Lincoln defense continues to suffocate opponents, with Muldrow's touchdown being just the second score the Bulldogs have allowed in district play. After back-to-back runner-up finishes in Class 3A, they may well be the favorite heading into this year's postseason.
11. Muskogee (9-0, 6-0 District 6AII-1)
It's time. The Roughers have taken down all comers all season, including playoff-bound squads like MWC Carl Albert, Enid and Tulsa Booker T. Washington.
Now, the unbeaten Roughers head to a Week 10 showdown game for the district championship, welcoming Stillwater to town for one of the biggest games in years in Muskogee.
12. Jenks (7-2, 5-1 District 6AI-2)
After their dramatic overtime triumph against Broken Arrow, the Trojans have to get right back up on a short week as they head to Bixby for a nationally televised ESPN broadcast and a chance to battle the unbeaten and mostly unchallenged Spartans in a huge contest to cap the regular season on Thursday night.
13. Del City (7-2, 4-2 District 5A-3)
It was deja vu all over again for the Eagles, who again came up on the wrong end of a one-point overtime loss to a top district opponent in their 18-17 defeat to Coweta. The same result happened earlier in the season against McAlester to make up the Eagles' only two defeats of the season.
But Del City still is a major player in Class 5A, and likely will finish second in the district if they can finish the regular season off with a win this week against Durant.
14. Rejoice Christian (9-0, 6-0 District 2A-8)
The Eagles kept flying high in Week 9, hammering Caney Valley, 70-6, to wrap up the district championship. They'll finish the regular season against another playoff-bound squad in Pawhuska that averages 50.7 points in its six wins but just 21.3 in its three losses.
15. Grove (9-0, 6-0 District 5A-4)
The freight train keeps rolling in northeast Oklahoma, as the Ridgerunners are one win from a perfect regular season and a district championship following a 72-7 blowout of Pryor.
The district title is on the line this week, with visiting Tulsa Bishop Kelley sitting in second place coming into the teams' Week 10 showdown.
16. MWC Carl Albert (7-2, 5-0 District 5A-2)
The Titans will be district champions no matter what, but they're trying to keep their momentum and winning streak going in a Week 10 test against playoff-bound Piedmont.
Carl Albert has been Class 5A's most prolific team, winning five straight state championships from 2016-20 before falling to the eventual champion, Collinsville, in last year's semifinals.
17. McAlester (7-2, 4-2 District 5A-3)
The Buffaloes fell into a pitfall in Week 9 as Sapulpa pulled off a 28-27 victory that threw off the Buffaloes' possible hopes for a district championship.
Now, they're likely headed for no better than third in the district in a likely tiebreaker situation, meaning a possible 5A championship game rematch with Collinsville could be looming, although this time it would be in the first round.
18. Washington (9-0. 6-0 District 2A-3)
The crowded trophy case in Washington adds another district championship after last week's 55-6 victory against Comanche.
The Warriors will wrap up the season this week against a winless Little Axe squad before taking their place as one of the favorites in the Class 2A postseason bracket.
19. Owasso (5-4, 4-2 District 6AI-2)
The Rams were able to grind out a tough 13-7 win in a defensive battle against Edmond Santa Fe for their fourth consecutive victory.
They'll finish the regular season against Norman, and a win locks up a third-place district finish and a home playoff game in round one of the 6AI playoffs.
20. Norman North (7-2, 5-1 District 6AI-1)
The Timberwolves kept on their district roll, taking down Westmoore, 52-28, for a fifth straight victory since a defeat to No. 1 Bixby.
An improved Enid squad comes to Norman for the Week 10 finale, and a win most likely gives the Timberwolves second place in the district and a first-round bye on the postseason.
21. Collinsville (8-1, 5-1 District 5A-4)
Collinsville bounced back from its first loss with a solid 42-21 victory at Tulsa Edison. Now, they'll wait on the Grove-Bishop Kelley game to help decide their final fate in the district standings.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals cap the regular season against a Claremore squad that will finish in the fourth and final district playoff spot regardless of this week's result.
22. Tulsa Metro Christian (9-0, 6-0 District 3A-1)
The Patriots wrapped up a district championship with another dominant performance, rolling past Anadarko, 45-6, in Week 9.
Metro Christian finishes up the regular season against North Rock Creek, and a win gives the Patriots their first undefeated regular season since 2019, when they went on to win the Class 2A state championship.
23. Gore (9-0, 6-0 District A-8)
The Pirates keep making a statement week after week, with the latest victim being Haskell in a 51-0 romp. The numbers are startling, with Gore outscoring their first nine foes by a combined total of 516-33.
They'll look to finish off an unbeaten regular season run in a Week 10 contest against Porter.
24. OKC Heritage Hall (8-1, 6-0 District 3A-2)
The Chargers have a district championship on the line this week against Marlow, which is rolling in the last month in its move up to 3A after winning the 2A title last year.
Heritage Hall dropped its second game this season to Clinton but since has won seven straight, with no foe coming closer than 33 points of the Chargers.
25. Ringling (9-0, 6-0 District A-4)
It's also a district championship contest this week for the Blue Devils, who face an 8-1 Stratford squad that allows less than 10 points a game.
This could be a ball-control, defensive slugfest, with Ringling's own defense allowing less than seven points per contest, including four shutout victories.
