Oklahoma Class 3A state championship preview: Heritage Hall, Lincoln Christian vying to finish 14-0
Two undefeated private school squads will play for the Class 3A state championship Saturday night between Oklahoma City Heritage Hall and Tulsa Lincoln Christian.
The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Chad Richison Stadium, located on the University of Central Oklahoma campus in Edmond.
Lincoln Christian (13-0) is ranked 10th in the latest SBLive Oklahoma poll and is coached by Jerry Ricke, in his seventh year as head coach and 22nd overall with Lincoln Christian, after previously serving as the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator.
Heritage Hall (13-0) is ranked fifth in the SBLive Oklahoma poll and is coached by Brett Bogert, who is in his ninth season as the head coach and was an assistant under his father, Andy Bogert, for eight seasons before taking over the program in 2014. Brett has only lost seven games during his reign with the Chargers.
These two teams have a history of meeting in the playoffs recently. After playing six times in the past 15 years, the all time series stands at an even .500.
Heritage Hall won the first three meetings in 2008, 2015 (state championship) and 2018. Since then, Lincoln Christian has ended the Chargers' seasons in the semifinals: 2019, 2020 and 2021.
The Chargers have won eight gold balls in football, the most recent coming last season when they beat Metro Christian, 72-56, in the highest scoring championship game in state history. Lincoln Christian has won two gold balls, the most recent coming in 2019.
With Heritage Hall being the defending 3A state champion, Bogert said they get teams' best shots every single game.
“It is great to be back and it never gets old,” he said. “We never take it for granted and it is hard to get there. Championships are hard to win and we are excited to play Saturday.
“Our district was tough. Some of the scores may have been seen lopsided, but almost all of those games were closer than the score indicated, but our guys made plays down the stretch tough.”
Lincoln Christian returns to the title game since its last appearance in 2021, where the Bulldogs lost to Holland Hall. In the semifinals last season, Lincoln Christian lost to Metro Christian.
Ricke is happy to be back in the championship game.
“I am excited for our kids,” he said. “The state championship is the pinnacle of a football season, and we are excited to play in the game.”
For Heritage Hall, their high-powered offense averages 49 points per game. Quarterback and Oklahoma commitment Andy Bass has thrown 34 touchdowns and for 3,029 yards. Wide receivers Rashaud Smith and Jordyn Harris both have more than 1,000 yards receiving.
Zavier Freeman, who plays both offensive and defensive line, is a train wreck for Lincoln Christian, as Bogert said. The offensive line is a veteran group, as most guys have started for three seasons.
Linebacker Jordyn Harris leads the team in tackles, as he has tallied 86 total tackles. Bogert said this group must play well Saturday if they want to win a state championship.
“Lincoln Christian is extremely well-coached,” Bogert said. “When we play Lincoln Christian, Coach Ricke does a great job and they confuse the defense.
"Based on the film we have watched, they start fast and run lots of motion. (Perkins-Tryon) did a good job stopping them and we want to finish the job since Lincoln has beaten us these past years it seems like.”
Heritage Hall did not struggle much this season. In the playoffs, they beat North Rock Creek 55-13, Berryhill 49-0, but were battle-tested against Marlow and won, 31-29.
Heritage Hall kicker Cal Welker, who is former Charger great Wes Welker’s nephew, nailed the 33-yard walk-off field goal to send Heritage Hall to the state championship game.
For Lincoln Christian, it has seven seniors on the roster and is starting several sophomores and freshmen. Ricke is proud of everyone on his team, because he said it is hard to go undefeated.
Quarterback Luke Milligan has thrown 36 touchdown passes, including two touchdown passes for a 17-10 semifinal win against Perkins-Tryon. Wide receiver Malakai Dillard has 900 yards receiving.
Moses Fullingim leads the team in rushing with 1,416 yards and has scored 20 touchdowns, while fellow running back Sawyer Brooks has scored 15 touchdowns, and Ricke said this duo must run the ball well Saturday.
Lincoln Christian uses defense, especially brother act, to fend off Arkansas power Shiloh Christian
Up front on both lines, Ricke remarked they will rely on players like Grayson Swafford, David Smithwick and Caden Ricke.
Lincoln Christian has been dominant in most ball games and knows how to win, but was challenged in a few games. The closest regular season game they played in was against Shiloh Christian, where it won, 20-14.
In the first round of the playoffs, they pummeled Bristow, 56-6. In the quarterfinals, they beat Sulphur, 45-7, and the semifinals was a grind-out game against Perkins-Tryon. Lincoln Christian found ways to win, as described above.
“Our schedule has been physical and brutal,” Ricke said. “We knew going into the quarterfinals and semifinals that teams will challenge you. Playing a good Perkins-Tryon team helped us calm some nerves and will give us more momentum heading into the title game.”
Ricke added the biggest key to the game will be getting to Bass and not giving him time to throw the ball.
“Andy is a special player,” Ricke said. “We must account for him and their offensive line has experience and they stretch your defense. Their kids play hard on both sides of the ball, so we must also play hard on both sides.”
Photo of Heritage Hall quarterback Andy Bass by Michael Kinney
-- Josh Jennings | @SBLiveOK
