By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
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A rematch between an upstart Norman North team against Muskogee highlights the Class 6A quarterfinals. In week two, Muskogee defeated the Timberwolves, 33-14. A lot has changed since the teams first squared off.
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Norman North has won six of their last eight contests, including losses to Mustang and Lawton, who are both still alive in their quest for the state championship. After being widely considered to break up the dominance of Jenks and Tulsa Union for Class 6A supremacy, Muskogee lost 28-3 to Jenks and then upset by Owasso, 17-14.
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Muskogee quarterback Rell Lewis is still smarting from a torn medial collateral ligament earlier in the season, but was back in Muskogee's upset of Class 6A two-time defending champion Union in the first round of the playoffs.
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Muskogee also features running back Dre' Stout and wide receiver Jameel Owens, both receiving major college attention. Stout has rushed for 1,137 yards and 13 touchdowns on the campaign, while Owens has caught six touchdown passes for the Roughers.
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Norman North's decision to build for the future by playing sophomores has payed immediate dividends. Running back Beau Blankenship rushed for 191 yards and two touchdowns as the Timberwolves defeated cross-town rival Norman for the first time in school history to open the playoffs. Blankenship has 1,514 yards and 16 touchdowns this season.
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Another sophomore, quarterback Tyler Tettleton, has been stellar in his first season running the Norman North offense. Tettleton has thrown for 1,677 yards for Norman North, while rushing for eight touchdowns on the season.
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Mustang will travel to Enid for the only Class 6A contest on Friday. Jenks' visit to Lawton was originally scheduled for Friday, but the OSSAA approved a move to Saturday to accommodate Class 5A Lawton MacArthur. Owasso will visit unbeaten Westmoore to round out the quarterfinal slate in Class 6A.
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Class 6A Quarterfinals, Friday, Nov. 17
Mustang (10-1) at Enid (7-4)
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Class 6A Quarterfinals, Saturday, Nov. 18
Norman North (6-5) at Muskogee (9-2)
Owasso (9-2) vs. Westmoore (11-0) at Moore Stadium, Moore
Jenks (10-1) vs. Lawton (8-3) at Cameron Stadium, Lawton
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Guthrie's visit to Bixby on Saturday looks to be the most tantalizing contest in the Class 5A quarterfinal slate. Guthrie is 9-2 this season while allowing just 6.5 points per game and 170 yards per contest on defense. Bixby has had a relatively easy time other than their only loss on the season to Class 6A favorite Jenks.
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The two faced off in the same scenario a year ago, with Bixby winning 28-14. In the victory, Bixby quarterback Chase Boles rushed for three touchdowns.
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This season, Boles has thrown for 1,831 yards and 17 touchdowns, while Guthrie quarterback Kyle Staley has rushed for 1,186 and accounted for 31 touchdowns. Bixby freshman running back Dalton Irvin is emerging with 1,108 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns.
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Friday, El Reno will travel to Class 5A defending champion Tulsa East Central while Ada travels to Lawton MacArthur. Ada responded from losing their last two regular season games to pull a mild upset over Bishop Kelley (Tulsa) in round one.
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In other action this Saturday, McAlester will attempt to slow down one of the best rushing attacks in the state in Carl Albert (Midwest City). The Titans have averaged 325 yards per game on the ground this season.
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Class 5A Quarterfinals, Friday, Nov. 17
Ada (7-4) at MacArthur (8-3)
El Reno (9-2) at East Central (10-1)
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Class 5A Quarterfinals, Saturday, Nov. 18
Guthrie (9-2) at Bixby (10-1)
McAlester (8-3) at Carl Albert (10-1)
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If Oklahoma City's Bishop McGuinness is to win its first-ever state title, they will earn it. The unbeaten Fighting Irish face arguably their toughest opponent this season in Broken Bow Friday.
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Should McGuinness pass the upcoming test from the Savages, their reward will be a possible showdown with Wagoner, the other unbeaten team in Class 4A.
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McGuinness racked up 517 rushing yards in an opening round victory over Deer Creek. Throughout the 2006 season, the Fighting Irish featured a three-headed monster at running back.
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Fullback Joey DeGuisti, Towns Holmboe, and Kris Parham received a majority of the workload. After Parham went down with an injury, a fourth head to the monster has emerged. Sophomore Alex Valle rushed for 161 yards against Deer Creek and could feature elusiveness not seen in the other backs for McGuinness.
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Running back Gregory King is the workhorse for Broken Bow, who is chasing its fifth state title. King has 1,376 rushing yards on the season and 15 rushing touchdowns on the season for Broken Bow.
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Jody Shomo is the signal-caller for Broken Bow. Shomo has rushed for 837 yards on the season for the Savages, who average 255 yards per game on the ground thus far on the season. Shomo has also tossed 12 touchdown passes on the campaign.
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In other action Friday, Poteau travels to McLoud. On Saturday, Elk City travels to unbeaten Wagoner fresh off an upset of Mannford. Glenpool and Grove also collide on Saturday to round out the Class 4A Quarterfinal games.
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Class 4A Quarterfinals, Friday, Nov. 17
Broken Bow (8-3) at Bishop McGuinness (11-0)
Poteau (8-3) at McLoud (8-3)
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Class 4A Quarterfinals, Saturday, Nov. 18
Elk City (6-5) at Wagoner (11-0)
Glenpool (8-3) at Grove (8-3)
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Scott Hansen: shansen17@cox.net