SBLive Oklahoma Top 25 football rankings: Who are the best 24 teams still playing?
By Christian Potts
Bixby photo by Christian Potts
Just 24 teams remain as the Oklahoma high school football playoffs are down to the nitty-gritty.
Six championships will be decided this coming weekend, with the other three division semifinal contests set this Friday night before those championship games take place the following weekend.
Needless to say, we're down to the best of the best at this point.
As this space has been used for ranking Oklahoma's top teams all year in our SBLive Oklahoma Top 25, here's a ranking of the remaining 24 teams and their prospects for their biggest games of the season coming up this weekend.
1. Bixby (11-1, Class 6AI championship game vs. Owasso, 7 p.m. Friday at the University of Central Oklahoma)
The Spartans are back on top after taking down Jenks, 28-14, in the rematch of the teams' nationally televised classic that wrapped up the regular season. After a rough first quarter, the Spartans' defense shut Jenks out the final three quarters, forcing four turnovers overall in the game.
Now, Bixby will finish the season with the same foe they started it against - Owasso, which comes in off a historic six-overtime triumph against Tulsa Union in the other 6AI semifinal. The Spartans rolled to a 49-14 victory against the Rams in the season opener in late August.
2. Cushing (13-0, Class 4A championship game vs. Wagoner, 7 p.m. Saturday at the University of Central Oklahoma)
The Tigers have ransacked the competition all season and did so again in the semifinals, crushing Elk City, 56-14, behind senior quarterback Blaze Berlowitz, who threw for 335 yards and five touchdowns and also ran for a score.
They'll see a familiar foe in the 4A state title game in District 4A-3 rival Wagoner. When the teams played back in early October, Cushing dominated in a 42-0 triumph.
But Wagoner has the big tradition edge here, as it looks for its sixth state title and fifth in the last nine years. Cushing is looking for its third state championship.
3. Stillwater (12-0, Class 6AII championship game vs. Choctaw, 1 p.m. Friday at the University of Central Oklahoma)
The Pioneers dominated the first half, leaping out to a 30-0 advantage; then had to hang on against a furious rally by Edmond Deer Creek, eventually prevailing, 33-28, in the semifinal round.
Now, they'll play for the 6AII championship for the third time in five years, facing the division's other district champion, Choctaw. The Yellowjackets have been perfect since a season-opening defeat to Del City.
4. Midwest City Carl Albert (11-2, Class 5A championship game vs. McAlester, 1 p.m. Saturday at the University of Central Oklahoma)
The Titans ended a magical season for Grove and did so in a dominating fashion, rolling to a 55-21 victory against the previously unbeaten Ridgerunners in the 5A semifinals. Xavier Robinson found the end zone three times, and the Titans scored seven straight touchdowns over about a 28-minute stretch of the game.
The Titans had a run of five straight 5A state titles snapped in 2021, but they'll return to the big stage this year to face McAlester, which was last year's 5A runner-up.
5. Choctaw (11-1, Class 6AII championship game vs. Stillwater, 1 p.m. Friday at the University of Central Oklahoma)
The Yellowjackets controlled from start to finish in a 45-20 victory against Muskogee, ending a fine 10-2 campaign for the Roughers behind two touchdown passes and a scoring run from senior Steele Wasel.
The Yellowjackets now find themselves in the 6AII state title game for the first time, facing an undefeated Stillwater team that has dominated the overall series, 18-3, but lost to Choctaw in the teams' last meeting, 38-35, in the 2020 6AII semifinals.
6. Owasso (9-4, Class 6AI championship game vs. Bixby, 7 p.m. Friday at the University of Central Oklahoma)
The Rams have more losses than any other team playing this weekend, but now are on an eight-game winning streak. And they're coming off one of the great wins any team could ever have, outlasting rival Tulsa Union, 50-47, in six overtimes in an instant classic that went well into the night in the 6AI semifinal round.
Their reward is a second date against a Bixby squad that looks to make its jump to 6AI this year a championship one. Owasso won the title for coach Bill Blankenship in 2017 and 2019, and is seeking its fourth overall football state championship in school history.
7. McAlester (11-2, Class 5A championship game vs. MWC Carl Albert, 1 p.m. Saturday at the University of Central Oklahoma)
The Buffaloes rebounded from a slow start to overcome Bishop McGuinness, 39-29, behind 434 rushing yards and a defense that forced three turnovers to advance to the 5A championship game for a second straight year.
In Carl Albert, they'll face a squad that has won its last 10 games. The Titans lead the overall series 4-3, most recently defeating the Buffaloes, 38-7, in the quarterfinals during their state title run in 2019.
8. Washington (13-0, Class 2A semifinal vs. Jones, 7 p.m. Friday at Putnam City High School)
The Warriors dominated their quarterfinal contest, rolling past Idabel, 47-6, led by Cole Scott, who rushed for nearly 200 yards and three scores as the Warriors leaped to a five-touchdown lead by halftime.
Next up is a rematch from earlier in the year against Jones. The Warriors pounded the Longhorns, 33-14, way back on Sept. 9. Since that night, Jones hasn't lost a game, winning 10 in a row.
9. Tulsa Metro Christian (13-0, Class 3A championship game vs. OKC Heritage Hall, 7 p.m. Thursday at the University of Central Oklahoma)
Many thought Lincoln Christian might be the team to beat in the 3A bracket. The Patriots did just that, scoring on seven of their first eight possessions to score a 49-35 victory in the semifinals to keep their perfect season going.
The senior-led Patriots will face another veteran squad in the championship game in Oklahoma City's Heritage Hall. The Chargers haven't lost or really even been in a close game since a Week 2 loss to defending 4A champion Clinton.
10. OKC Heritage Hall (12-1, Class 3A championship game vs. Tulsa Metro Christian, 7 p.m. Thursday at the University of Central Oklahoma)
Speaking of the Chargers, they put up a strong all-around showing in knocking out Verdigris, 41-20, in the other 3A semifinal matchup. Quarterback Andy Bass threw four touchdown passes and ran for a fifth to lead the offensive onslaught.
Both teams have great championship history. The Chargers have seven total state titles, most recently in 2018, while Metro claimed the 2A championship in both 2019 and 2020.
11. Wagoner (11-2, Class 4A championship game vs. Cushing, 7 p.m. Saturday at the University of Central Oklahoma)
The Bulldogs have been putting everyone on notice with the way they've played in recent weeks. And in no game have they been more impressive than last weekend's semifinal, when Wagoner rolled past 4A-4 district champion Poteau, 30-0.
They'll get their highly sought-after rematch with Cushing in the finals. In that Week 6 contest, Cushing's quick strike offense got Wagoner in trouble, and while the Bulldogs moved the ball reasonably well, they never were able to crack the end zone or the scoreboard.
12. Gore (13-0, Class A semifinal vs. Hominy, 7 p.m. Friday at Jenks High School)
Class A's final four all are undefeated, led by this Pirates' squad that has piled up huge offensive numbers week after week. They did it again in the quarterfinals, pounding District A-3 champion Crescent, 69-13.
The Pirates head into this week's contest against A-5 champion Hominy having scored at least 50 points in 12 of their 13 games.
13. Hominy (13-0, Class A semifinal vs. Gore, 7 p.m. Friday at Jenks High School)
The Bucks will come into the semifinal against Gore with great momentum as well. They kept their perfect season going by soundly defeating Hooker, 46-13, in the quarterfinals.
Hominy and Gore have met only one time, a first-round playoff contest in 2000 won 28-14 by the Bucks. More will be on the line this time, with the winner punching a ticket to the state title game.
14. Waynoka (13-0, Class C championship game vs. Tipton, 7 p.m. Friday at Southern Nazarene University)
The Railroaders are finding their stride as the weather gets cold and the games get the biggest. In the semifinals, Waynoka rolled to a 50-0 mercy rule defeat of Mountain View-Gotebo, a team that went to last year's title game in Class C.
This week, they'll play for the gold ball against the top squad from Southwest Oklahoma, a fellow unbeaten squad in Tipton. Waynoka has lost three of the four all-time meetings, but did win the last time they played, a 72-48 victory in the 2019 Class C semifinals.
15. Colcord (13-0, Class A semifinal vs. Fairview, 7 p.m. Friday at Harrah High School)
Another of the Class A stalwarts, the Hornets scored one of the most impressive victories in the state in any class last weekend, crushing defending Class A runner-up Ringling, 48-6, in a game they controlled right from the outset.
Led by a speedy dual-threat quarterback in Gabe Winfield, Colcord's stout offense will face a Fairview squad in the semifinals that is allowing just 12 points per game on the season.
16. Fairview (13-0, Class A semifinal vs. Colcord, 7 p.m. Friday at Harrah High School)
The Yellowjackets continued their perfect run through the season, putting on another good show against a quality foe in the quarterfinal round, scoring a 27-21 victory against District A-6 champion Stroud.
Fairview has two state championships in the trophy case, but they haven't been to a title game since 1999, when they won the 2A championship. Next up is Colcord, and this will be the first meeting between the two schools, arriving with enormous stakes.
17. OKC Millwood (12-1, Class 2A semifinal vs. Tulsa Victory Christian, 7 p.m. Friday at East Central University)
The Falcons trailed for a while but made a big second-half push to get past Sequoyah-Claremore, 49-30, in the quarterfinals. Five of Millwood's seven touchdowns came on plays of at least 56 yards.
Next up is what figures to be another offensive-minded contest, against the high-octane offense of Tulsa Victory Christian.
18. Oklahoma Bible Academy (13-0, Class B semifinal vs. Seiling, 7 p.m. Friday at Northwestern Oklahoma State University)
OBA was again impressive in the quarterfinals, sailing past Dewar by a 46-0 count. Bodie Boydstun and Jud Cheatham accounted for six touchdowns and 268 rushing yards on the night for the Trojans.
The Enid-based school has only competed in the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association since 2001, and this is just the Trojans' second time to reach the semifinals. They'll have a rematch with Seiling, who they defeated 58-34 in September, to decide this year's Class B champion.
19. Seiling (12-1, Class B semifinal vs. Oklahoma Bible Academy, 7 p.m. Friday at Northwestern Oklahoma State University)
Like Waynoka in Class C, the Wildcats are hitting their stride at the right time. Seiling rolled past Wetumka, 46-0, in a dominating quarterfinal performance.
Now they'll face an OBA squad with a taste of revenge in mind after the Sept. 16 meeting that marked Seiling's only loss, and the last time they've really even been tested.
20. Tipton (13-0, Class C championship game vs. Waynoka, 7 p.m. Friday at Southern Nazarene University)
The Tigers eliminated Class C's defending state champions, Timberlake, 64-32, in the semifinals, providing big momentum heading into the state title contest this week.
Tipton features a dominating all-around squad, but particularly defensively. Timberlake a week ago was the first team to score more than 16 on Tipton all season, and the Tigers have recorded six shutouts.
21. Tulsa Victory Christian (10-3, Class 2A semifinal vs. OKC Millwood, 7 p.m. Friday at East Central University)
The Conquerors needed all that aforementioned and impressive offense in the quarterfinals, holding off Chandler and its star running back Casmen Hill, 46-35, in the quarterfinals.
Victory has averaged 44.6 points per game, led by the run-pass threat of quarterback Ayden Hamilton. But the Conquerors also have allowed 25.8 points per game, and they'll be tested by the array of athletes Millwood puts on the field.
22. Laverne (11-1, Class B semifinal vs. Velma-Alma, 7 p.m. Friday at Southwestern Oklahoma State University)
The defending state champion Tigers pushed their way into the semifinals by taking down Weleetka in a nail-biter, 30-26, last week, setting up their semifinal date against Velma-Alma.
Laverne is one of the traditional powers in 8-man football. The Tigers are in the playoffs for the 45th season, and they've claimed four state championships.
23. Jones (10-3, Class 2A semifinal vs. Washington, 7 p.m. Friday at Putnam City High School)
The Longhorns found themselves in a battle with Kiefer, but got through with a 27-19 victory in the quarterfinals.
They have had close games each week this postseason, with that victory following a 21-20 win against Newkirk and a 27-20 decision against Community Christian. Jones has won 10 in a row since losing all three of its non-district contests.
Next up is a familiar foe in Washington. The Longhorns and Warriors have been regular foes over the years in multiple sports, including this year on the football field, the aforementioned 33-14 Washington win.
24. Velma-Alma (10-3, Class B semifinal vs. Laverne, 7 p.m. Friday at Southwestern Oklahoma State University)
The Comets took down a dangerous foe in Regent Prep, sending the Rams to their first loss of the season in a 40-26 victory in the quarterfinal round.
A longtime powerhouse in Class A, the Comets now are tearing it up in the 8-man ranks. They'll face Laverne in the second Class B semifinal this week.
