Oklahoma: Hansen's Playoff Preview, Part I

By Scott Hansen

MaxPreps.com

Class 3A

No. 9 Sulphur (7-3) at No. 1 Clinton (10-0)
Berryhill (6-4) at Muldrow (6-4)
Roland (5-5) at No. 3 Vinita (9-1) 
No. 6 Tuttle (8-2) at No. 8 Purcell (7-3)
Newcastle (6-4) at No. 2 Plainview (10-0)
Seminole (6-4) at No. 5 Metro Christian (9-1) 
No. 10 Sequoyah-Claremore (7-3) at Victory Christian (6-4) 
No. 7 Marlow (7-3) at No. 4 Kingfisher (7-3)

Five-Star Billing

Sulphur at Clinton

Sulphur's Robert Thomas is just 23 rushing yards short of surpassing 1,000 in both rushing and passing. Thomas has rushed for 11 touchdowns and added 1,136 passing yards and nine scores through the air.

Clinton is usually known for having what seems like 45 running backs that will pound you into submission. That is somewhat true yet again for this Oklahoma small-school superpower, but quarterback Ryan Stringer does have 20 touchdown passes. Running backs Chris Pearson, Antonio Huddlen, and Cameron Gladd are all game-changers.

Tuttle at Purcell

Junior running back Bryce Moore appeared to be heading towards the 2,000-yard plateau for Tuttle after the fast start to the season. Moore still was extremely effective with 1,633 yards and 18 touchdowns for the Tigers, but as the District competition got tougher, Moore found the yards harder to come by. Tuttle also can lean on quarterback Sterling Koons and Kansas State-bound tight end Cooper Bassett. The two have hooked up for seven touchdowns through the air this season.

Purcell has had an up and down season en route to a 7-3 record and a second seed from District 3A-2. The Dragons dropped two straight to Lindsay and Blanchard to open the season before winning seven of its last eight, only losing to Plainview within the District. Seth Barrett leads the effort for Purcell as the quarterback and arguably its best defender. Barrett is a true dual-threat option and also is one of the state leaders in interceptions.

Four-Star Billing

Marlow at Kingfisher. Last season Marlow entered the playoffs with two losses before rolling to the state final. Kingfisher is one of the hottest teams in the state, that despite its thrilling loss to Clinton in four overtimes.

Did You Know?

Clinton has won 14 state championships, with its last coming in 2005 as a member of Class 4A. The Red Tornadoes dropped to 3A last season and came into the campaign considered a shoe-in to win another. Clinton fell in the quarterfinals to eventual champion, Sequoyah-Claremore.

Kingfisher is ranked fourth despite a 7-3 record. The losses were to Class 4A favorite Bishop McGuinness to open the season and Class 2A Chandler, 14-10 on Sept. 7. Two months removed from the loss to Chandler, the Yellowjackets won seven straight until a four overtime loss to Clinton on the road to close the regular season. Kingfisher is playing its last season in 3A for at least two years as they fall to 2A next season.

Plainview's Justin Blackmon is the most exciting player in Class 3A. Through 10 games, Blackmon has 1,248 receiving yards on only 45 receptions and 12 touchdowns. Throw five interceptions on top of that. Blackmon and quarterback Brandon Allen are able to provide a game-breaking play with little or no warning.

Metro Christian has provided college-type numbers since the word go this season. Quarterback Jason Robison has thrown for 2,460 yards and 39 touchdowns. With that sort of production, who is the go-to guy? Trouble is, for the rest of 3A, Robison has two. Ryan Nussbaum has 52 grabs for 910 yards and 14 touchdowns, while David Fitter has 597 yards and nine touchdowns. Colton Blankenship and Rylan Hess have also combined for eight touchdown receptions.

The Predictions

First Round: Clinton over Sulphur, Muldrow over Berryhill, Vinita over Roland, Tuttle over Purcell, Plainview over Newcastle, Metro Christian over Seminole, Sequoyah-Claremore over Victory Christian, Kingfisher over Marlow.

Quarterfinals: Clinton over Muldrow, Tuttle over Vinita, Plainview over Metro Christian, Kingfisher over Sequoyah-Claremore.

Semifinals: Clinton over Tuttle, Kingfisher over Plainview.

Final: Clinton over Kingfisher.

Darkhorse: Seminole

Defending Champion: Sequoyah-Claremore

Returning Semifinalists: Kingfisher, Marlow

Class 2A

Bethel (6-4) at No. 6 Hennessey (10-0)
Valliant (8-2) at Bridge Creek (9-1)
Prague (7-3) at Eufaula (9-1)
Pawhuska (5-5) at Keys (6-4)
Hobart (5-5) at No. 10 Davis (8-2)
Perkins (8-2) at Jones (6-4)
Colcord (6-4) at No. 1 Cascia Hall (10-0)
Stigler (5-5) at No. 7 Morris (9-1)
Spiro (6-4) at No. 4 Henryetta (10-0)
Wyandotte (8-2) at Verdigris (7-3)
Fairview (6-4) at No. 2 Heritage Hall (10-0)
Lexington (6-4) at Tishomingo (7-3)
Nowata (5-5) at No. 5 Sequoyah-Tahlequah (9-1) 
No. 9 Chandler (8-2) at Vian (8-2)
Coalgate (3-7) at No. 3 Bethany (9-1)
Oklahoma Christian (7-3) at No. 8 Alva (9-1)

Five-Star Billing

Chandler at Vian

Chandler junior quarterback Jack Gray has produced a solid season for the Lions. Gray has thrown for 17 touchdowns and added eight of the rushing variety. Junior Austin Major has rushed for 604 yards and six touchdowns and leads the Lions in rushing.

Vian has Miguel Pratt, an automatic touchdown machine. Pratt has rushed for 1,396 yards and 25 touchdowns for the Wolverines. Tyren Samuels isn't asked to throw it much for Vian, but has eight touchdown passes on 44 attempts. Samuels also has nine rushing touchdowns for the Wolverines.

Four-Star Billing

Oklahoma Christian at Alva...A rematch of the season-opener for both teams, which Alva won 19-9. For OCS, George Overbey has been solid throwing for 1,712 yards and 15 touchdowns and adding nine rushing touchdowns. As the Gale-twins go, so does Alva. Quarterback Mitchell Gale has thrown for 22 touchdown passes this season. Brother Tyson has caught six of them, but Derek Lohmann and Trent Lanie have combined for 15 scoring receptions.

Prague at Eufaula. Eufaula enters the playoffs with a 9-1 record without much respect. The Ironheads have a chance to change that in a hurry with a victory against Prague. Ethan Sharp is the trigger man for Eufaula. Prague junior signal-caller Dakota Harris has tossed 13 touchdowns this season for the Red Devils.

Did You Know?

Heritage Hall is searching for its second state title in school-history, and its first since 1998. The Chargers are loaded on offense, led by quarterback Garrett Valdez. Valdez could be the most underrated player in the state, having thrown for over 1,600 yards and 25 touchdowns. Keep an eye on sophomore Tanner France and junior Turner Peterson out of the Heritage Hall backfield.

Davis is one of the top programs in the state of Oklahoma. The Wolves have won four state titles, but have not had a gold ball come its way since 1995. Davis, after Class 5A Ada missed the playoffs, has qualified for the most consecutive playoffs in the state with 24 straight appearances. Davis started out 1-2 this season after back-to-back losses to Sulphur and Heritage Hall, but true to form, has rolled to seven straight decisive victories. Quincy Black and Cody Tinsley hold the key to Davis' success this time around.

Bridge Creek and Eufaula enter the postseason with 9-1 records and not much fanfare. Both have a chance to make some serious noise in this wide-open bracket, despite it having three unbeaten teams. Bridge Creek's Michael Aska has eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards and has 16 touchdowns. He is a game-breaker that is crucial in a playoff situation. Eufaula's only loss was a 49-46 shootout to Hilldale in non-District action. Eufaula owns a victory over Vian this season, a win anybody could hang its hat on. Ashton Bowie has 1,013 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns for the Ironheads.

The Predictions

First Round: Hennessey over Bethel, Bridge Creek over Valliant, Prague over Eufaula, Keys over Pawhuska, Davis over Hobart, Perkins over Jones, Cascia Hall over Colcord, Morris over Stigler.

Henryetta over Spiro, Verdigris over Wyandotte, Heritage Hall over Fairview, Lexington over Tishomingo, Sequoyah-Tahlequah over Nowata, Chandler over Vian, Bethany over Coalgate, Alva over OCS.

Second Round: Hennessey over Bridge Creek, Prague over Keys, Davis over Perkins, Cascia Hall over Morris, Henryetta over Verdigris, Heritage Hall over Lexington, Chandler over Sequoyah-Tahlequah, Bethany over Alva.

Quarterfinals: Hennessey over Prague, Davis over Cascia Hall, Heritage Hall over Henryetta, Bethany over Chandler.

Semifinals: Davis over Hennessey, Heritage Hall over Bethany.

Final: Heritage Hall over Davis

Darkhorse: Alva

Defending Champion: Millwood (missed playoffs)

Returning Semifinalists: Vian, Davis

Class A

Hollis (3-6) at No. 6 Texhoma (9-1)
Maysville (8-2) at No. 5 Velma-Alma (9-1)
Crescent (5-5) at No. 2 Woodland (10-0)
Afton (7-3) at Panama (8-2)
Wynnewood (5-5) at No. 1 Rush Springs (10-0)
Seiling (6-4) at Apache (7-3)
Warner (5-5) at Commerce (7-2)
Hominy (8-2) at Luther (8-2)
Foyil (7-3) at No. 10 Stroud (7-3)
Gore (6-4) at Ketchum (7-2)
Mooreland (5-5) at Hinton (7-3)
Walters (7-3) at No. 4 Washington (8-2)
Fairland (5-5) at No. 9 Pocola (9-1)
Tonkawa (8-2) at No. 8 Pawnee (9-1)
Minco (7-3) at No. 3 Ringling (10-0)
Snyder (5-5) at No. 7 Okeene (8-2)

Five-Star Billing

Foyil at Stroud

Foyil is unbelievably dangerous despite its 7-3 mark heading into the postseason. The losses were within District A-6 to second-ranked Woodland, a 45-44 overtime defeat to eighth-ranked Pawnee, and another loss to Hominy. Taylor Antle is arguably the most electrifying player in the field, along with quarterback Jared Ward. Both are big plays waiting to happen.

Stroud's Bubba Hyde and Cody Pritchard have been the catalysts behind the resurgent Tigers. Hyde has rushed for 1,417 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, while Pritchard has added 1,198 yards and 17 scores. Stroud kicked off its campaign slowly with a 1-3 record. After a victory over Crescent, the Tigers have continued to gain momentum and defeated then seventh-ranked Luther to finish the regular season.

Four-Star Billing

Tonkawa at Pawnee: For the hosts, Kaleb Schwartz has rushed for 19 touchdowns

Hominy at Luther: Can Josh Birmingham allow Luther to survive at home?

Class B (Eight-Man) Pairings