Oklahoma high school football playoffs: Class 6A-5A overview
After 10 weeks (in some cases 11) of riveting high school action throughout Oklahoma, postseason football has finally arrived.
The two biggest classes in the state kick into playoff mode this week but under slightly different formats.
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For Class 6A, which is split up into two divisions, the postseason begins this week for 16 teams. The other eight squads now get a first-round bye under the new Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) playoff format that benefits teams that either won their district or were the runners-up.
For Class 6AI, which features the biggest schools in the state, that essentially means almost every school in the Tulsa area has the week off. Defending champion Bixby is joined by Union, Owasso and Jenks in sitting out the first-round action. Those four programs have combined to win every 6A championship, except one, since 1996.
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any interesting first-round games on tap this week.
It starts with the only Thursday night game on the slate when Norman hosts Broken Arrow at Harve Collins Field.
Both teams got off to horrendous starts before turning their seasons around to claim spots in the postseason.
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Edmond Santa Fe (7-3), which has been the most consistent team outside the Tulsa area schools, will take on Enid (3-7) Friday in a home playoff game. A victory over the Plainsmen would set up a rematch with Jenks, who the Wolves defeated in the season opener.
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The most intriguing matchup in 6AI comes Friday when Westmoore (6-4) and Mustang (6-4) will tangle at Moore Stadium. The two programs faced off throughout the summer passing league and know each other very well.
The matchup between Mustang’s offense and Westmoore’s defense should be entertaining and could determine the outcome of the game.
“I feel like we're a better team than our record shows, but obviously we'll get a chance to go and back that up in the playoffs,” MHS coach Lee Blankenship said. “So excited for our guys to get to continue playing and looking forward to the week of preparation.”
Mustang fends off Edmond Memorial to secure spot in Class 6AI playoffs
In 6AII, defending champion Stillwater, Edmond Deer Creek, Choctaw and Muskogee will have this week off. Of the four games scheduled for Friday, three of them feature teams from the Putnam City School District.
That includes Putnam City West (5-5), who is traveling to Ponca City in search of their first playoff victory under head coach Greg Johnson.
“What has gotten us to this point is a lot of team unity; we have 20 seniors who are working hard and determined to change the culture and the image of PC West,” Johnson said.
Ponca City is 5-5 on the season as well. However, all of their victories came against fellow District 6AII-2 opponents. Each time they played a squad from outside their district, they were unable to come up with a victory.
“What we need to see from the team this week is what we saw last week,” Johnson said. “A lot of team tackling, running to the ball and we had several individuals step up and make plays offensively.
"We’re going to need a team effort in order to win. Be the team that makes the least amount of mistakes and be consistent on special teams.”
Unlike in 6A, no teams in Class 5A have the first round off. Every team from defending champion Midwest City Carl Albert on down will take the field Friday night.
The Titans (10-0) are one of three teams in Class 5A who head into the postseason with unblemished records. They also include Elgin (10-0) and Del City (9-0).
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Claremore (9-1) and Guthrie (9-1) sit right behind them with one loss each.
The Titans, who haven’t lost a game since Sept. 9, 2022, will begin their title defense when they host El Reno in their opener.
The Piedmont (7-3) at Elgin contest has the makings of an entertaining first-round game. While EHS has yet to lose a game, only Midwest City has come within two touchdowns of them this season.
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The Wildcats, on the other hand, have been in a number of tight games. That includes a 38-24 loss to Carl Albert in the regular season finale.
“We need to continue to raise our level of physicality on both sides of the ball,” Elgin coach Chalmer Wyatt said. “Win field position, and score when we have the ball.”
Photo of Edmond Santa Fe tailback Demarius Robinson (left) and quarterback Daniel Newton
-- Michael Kinney | @SBLiveOK
