By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
Player of the Week: Timothy Flanders- RB/DB- Midwest City
Looks like Carl Albert's David Oku is not alone in the crop of talented Midwest City junior running backs. Midwest City's Timothy Flanders is emerging, and fast.
In a 38-14 victory over Moore on Thursday night, Flanders stole the show. Flanders rushed for 234 yards and four touchdowns and also added to his budding resume' with an interception return for a score in a Bomber rout.
Honorable Mention
Josh Zimmer- Washington: In a 49-7 victory over Wayne, Zimmer rushed for six touchdowns to go along with 163 yards.
Jeremy Smith- Tulsa Union: Smith had a huge second half for the second straight week for the top-ranked Redskins. Smith rushed for 158 of his 203 yards after halftime in a 26-11 victory over Muskogee.
Austin Giles- Lawton MacArthur: Giles threw for 266 yards and rushed for 61 while throwing and rushing for a touchdown in Mac's 31-28 victory over Lawton Eisenhower. Giles also led the game-winning drive, resulting in Colton Rainey's 37-yard field goal as time expired.
Clayton Smith- Guthrie: Smith rushed for five touchdowns as Guthrie mauled Deer Creek, 58-0. The victory for the Bluejays avenged an upset loss last season to Deer Creek.
Dominik Williams- Ardmore: Williams rushed for three touchdowns and added another on a reception as the Tigers rolled over Piedmont, 42-0.
Team of the Week: Yukon
Yukon moved to 3-0 with a comfortable victory over Putnam City West, 42-12. Quarterback Clay Garrett threw for two touchdowns and added two more on the ground in the rout for the Millers. Joey Davidson added 175 rushing yards for Yukon. Last season, Yukon finished 3-7 while giving up 52 points or more on three occasions.
The Top Ten (Record) Previous
1. Tulsa Union (3-0) 2
2. Jenks (2-1) 1
3. Muskogee (2-1) 4
4. Carl Albert (3-0) 5
5. Norman North (2-1) 3
6. Midwest City (3-0) 9
7. Lawton MacArthur (3-0) 7
8. Tulsa East Central (3-0) 8
9. Owasso (3-0) NR
10. Guthrie (3-0) NR
Dropped Out:
Westmoore (2-1) 6
Lawton Eisenhower (2-1) 10
Class 6A
1. Tulsa Union (2-0) 1
Defeated Muskogee, 26-11. Jeremy Smith rushed for 203 yards for the Redskins in a monumental victory over Muskogee. In 2006, Muskogee ousted Union from the playoffs and beat them in the regular season. Tahj Lark returned a kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter with 7:47 remaining to seal the victory for Union. Next: Friday at Enid (2-1).
2. Jenks (2-1) 2
Defeated Broken Arrow, 48-21. Quarterback Mark Ginther completed 20-of-23 passes for 287 yards and two scores to lead the Trojans in the victory. Chris Adkins added 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns to pace the Trojans. Next: Friday at Tulsa Washington (2-1).
3. Muskogee (2-1) 3
Lost to Tulsa Union, 26-11. A loss to top-ranked Union capped off a tumultuous week for the Roughers after Coach Matt Hennesy was involved in a minor accident Thursday. With the score tied at three at intermission, Muskogee found itself trailing 17-3 when quarterback Trae Cook threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Colton Richardson. But Union's Tahj Lark hauled the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown. Next: Friday vs. Tahlequah (1-2).
4. Norman North (2-1) 4
Beat Westmoore, 38-13. Norman North pulled off another first in the victory over Westmoore. Joining its season-opening triumph over Norman, Norman North defeated the Jaguars for the first-time in school history. Junior running back Beau Blankenship rushed for 143 yards and touchdowns in the emphatic victory over the ranked Jaguars. Next: Thursday at Edmond Santa Fe (2-1).
5. Midwest City (3-0) 6
Beat Moore, 38-14. MaxPreps state Player of the Week Timothy Flanders rushed for 234 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Bombers in the rout. Flanders continues to emerge as one of the top running backs in the Sooner State. Next: Friday vs. Yukon (3-0).
6. Owasso (3-0) 8
Beat Claremore, 22-0. Owasso pulled off another huge victory over Claremore, who moves to Class 6A next season. Quarterback Mike Shouse scored two touchdowns for the Rams. Owasso held the Zebras to 181 total yards in the victory. Next: Thursday vs. Sapulpa (1-2).
7. Edmond Santa Fe (2-1) 10
Beat Edmond Memorial, 42-20. The Wolves exploded for 520 yards of offense in their second Edlam victory of the season. Running back Stephen Sumpter rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown to lead the way for the Wolves. Michael Hodges threw for three touchdowns to pace Santa Fe. Next: Thursday vs. Norman North (2-1).
8. Westmoore (2-1) 5
Lost to Norman North, 38-13. Westmoore's offensive problems continue to haunt it in the loss to the Timberwolves. The Jaguars managed just 147 yards of total offense in the loss. Quarterback Tracey Norwood was the bright spot for Westmoore, rushing for a 43-yard touchdown. Next: Friday vs. Choctaw.
9. Lawton Eisenhower (2-1) 7
Lost to Lawton MacArthur, 31-28. Harrison Jeffers struggled, rushing for just 58 yards. Quarterback Brayden Stringer was injured of the fourth play of the game, and threw two interceptions. Jeffers did manage to show his talent by returning a kickoff 89 yards for a score late in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 28. Next: Friday vs. Putnam City (3-0).
10. Putnam City (3-0) NR
Beat Putnam City North, 17-0. The Pirates turned in another defensive gem in the victory over their rivals. Putnam City held the Panthers to just 99 yards of total offense in the victory. Nico Watson scored a touchdown to pace the Pirates. Next: Friday at Lawton Ike (2-1).
Team to Watch: Tulsa Washington (2-1)
Also 3-0: Yukon
Dropped Out: Putnam City North (2-1) 9
Class 5A
1. Carl Albert (3-0) 1
Beat Duncan, 34-21. The Titans survived a major test with a road victory at Duncan. Junior David Oku rushed for 130 yards on 27 carries in the victory. Carl Albert forced seven Duncan turnovers to stay unbeaten. Next: Thursday at John Marshall (0-3).
2. Lawton MacArthur (3-0) 2
Beat Lawton Eisenhower, 31-28. Mac took home the Lawton city title when Colton Rainey booted a 37-yard field goal as time expired to give the Highlanders the victory. Austin Giles threw for 266 yards and rushed for 61 for MacArthur. Next: Friday at Northwest Classen (1-2).
3. Tulsa East Central (3-0) 3
Beat Broken Bow, 26-6. Running back Kenny Session rushed for 112 yards and three touchdowns in an impressive victory over Class 4A contender Broken Bow. Session exploded for a 64-yard touchdown run for the Cardinals. Next: Thursday at Skiatook (1-2).
4. Guthrie (3-0) 4
Beat Edmond Deer Creek, 58-0. Upset, what upset? Guthrie made a resounding statement against the 4A Antlers after being upset last season. Clayton Smith rushed for five touchdowns, while Kye Staley added two touchdowns to pace the Bluejays. Next: Friday at Harrah (1-2).
5. McAlester (3-0) 5
Beat Tahlequah, 42-27. Justin Klusak broke away on two touchdown runs of over 40 yards in the third quarter to allow the Buffaloes to pull away from Tahlequah. Klusak also added two touchdown passes for McAlester. Next: Friday vs. Tulsa McLain (2-1).
6. Bixby (2-1) 6
Beat Tulsa Bishop Kelley, 34-3. Sophomore Dalton Irvin rushed for 163 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Spartan rout. Irvin broke free from 61 yards out in the second quarter to extend a 7-3 lead. Next: Thursday at Tulsa Edison (1-2).
7. Durant (3-0) 8
Beat Howe (Texas), 52-12. Next: Friday at Shawnee (1-2).
8. Duncan (2-1) 7
Lost to Carl Albert, 34-21. Trent Wilkins threw for 124 yards and rushed for another 101 yards in a losing effort, but the Demons could not escape the turnover bug. Duncan committed seven turnovers in the loss. Next: Friday vs. Capitol Hill (2-1).
9. Ardmore (2-1) 9
Beat Piedmont, 42-0. Dominik Williams rushed for three touchdowns and added a fourth on a 12-yard pass as Ardmore rolled. Next: Friday vs. Western Heights (3-0).
10. Tulsa McLain (2-1) 10
Beat Broken Arrow JV, 14-13. Junior Shawn Jackson struggled against the Broken Arrow JV squad, totaling just 89 yards of total offense for the Titans. Next: at McAlester (3-0).
Team to Watch: Shawnee (1-2)
Also 3-0: Western Heights
Dropped Out: None
District Predictions by Scott Hansen
Class 6A
District 6A-1
1. Norman North, 2. Edmond Santa Fe, 3. Lawton, 4. Putnam City North, 5. Moore, 6. Mustang, 7. Putnam City West, 8. U.S. Grant
Notes: Norman North has established itself as the elite team of the West heading into district play with a 2-1 record and a loss only to Muskogee. Edmond Santa Fe found some offense in week three and heads into district play with some confidence and will only be helped down the road when junior Randy Ponder returns. Lawton, with Cornelius Douglas, is still a sleeper in this district despite a 1-2 record. Putnam City North has enough offensive talent to make a push for the final playoff spot in this district.
District 6A-2
1. Midwest City, 2. Lawton Eisenhower, 3. Westmoore, 4. Norman, 5. Putnam City, 6. Yukon, 7. Edmond Memorial, 8. Choctaw
Notes: Midwest City is the cream of the crop in 6A-2 with junior running back Timothy Flanders rolling. From there, Harrison Jeffers and Lawton Ike are very talented, and could barely beat out Westmoore for second. Westmoore still have athletic quarterback Tracey Norwood operating the controls. From there, this district gets a little jumbled. Between Norman, Putnam City, Yukon, and Edmond Memorial, any four of the teams could finish as high as third or slip to seventh. Choctaw is on the outside looking in.
District 6A-3
1. Tulsa Union, 2. Broken Arrow, 3. Enid, 4. Stillwater, 5. Edmond North, 6. Del City, 7. Ponca City, 8. Tulsa Memorial.
Notes: Tulsa Union, by far, is the class of 6A-3. Broken Arrow is 0-3, but its losses are to Owasso, Muskogee, and Jenks. Enid has been solid for the most part in non-district play other than its loss to Midwest City. Stillwater is 2-1 and has enough talent to get the nod for the final playoff spot. Edmond North might be a ways off from a playoff push, while Del City, Ponca City, and Tulsa Memorial are going to battle for sixth.
District 6A-4
1. Jenks, 2. Muskogee, 3. Owasso, 4. Tulsa Washington, 5. Sand Springs, 6. Sapulpa, 7. Tahlequah, 8. Bartlesville
Notes: As predicted, by far the toughest district with three of the top six teams in the state. Jenks gets the nod over Muskogee. Despite Jenks' loss to Union by one in overtime, the Trojans still might be the best Oklahoma has to offer. Muskogee has been impressive despite a loss to Union, while Owasso is off to a flying start. Washington is quietly sitting at 2-1 with a loss to 5A Carl Albert. After that, Sand Springs is playing well at 2-1. Sapulpa, Tahlequah, and Bartlesville will all battle for sixth.
Class 5A
District 5A-1
1. Lawton MacArthur, 2. Duncan, 3. Ardmore, 4. Altus, 5. Chickasha, 6. Western Heights, 7. Northwest Classen, 8. Capitol Hill
Notes: Lawton MacArthur, who started last season 0-3 before going unbeaten in district play, will get a major push from Duncan and Ardmore. Duncan and Ardmore are both highly competitive, while Altus is still a playoff contender despite a 0-3 start. Chickasha and Western Heights both have an outside chance at the playoffs. Northwest and Capitol Hill, both with just one win last season, are improved. Northwest is 1-2 while Capitol Hill is 2-1. Neither will be an easy victory in 2007.
District 5A-2
1. Carl Albert, 2. Guthrie, 3. Noble, 4. Harrah, 5. El Reno, 6. OKC Southeast, 7. Woodward, 8. John Marshall.
Notes: Mark your calendars for October 26 for Guthrie's visit to Carl Albert. Guthrie has outscored its opponents 162-10 thus far while standing at 3-0. Carl Albert, with a much tougher schedule, has beaten Tulsa Washington, Ada, and Duncan en route to 3-0. Carl Albert, despite all of its state titles, has never finished unbeaten. From there, it's a wide open. With the exception of John Marshall, only because of enrollment issues, any one of five teams could finish third.
District 5A-3
1. McAlester, 2. Durant, 3. Bixby, 4. Shawnee, 5. Ada, 6. Tulsa McLain, 7. Tulsa Edison, 8. Tulsa Hale.
Notes: Loaded. Six teams could win the district, and two solid football teams will be sitting at home in the playoffs. McAlester has the best player in the district with quarterback Justin Klusak. Durant, Ada, Shawnee, and Tulsa McLain have All-State potential at quarterback, while Bixby has the best defense in the district. McLain probably has the least chance to grab a playoff spot out of the top six. Edison and Hale are clearly going to be the whipping boys in a district where point differential matters.
District 5A-4
1. Tulsa East Central, 2. Claremore, 3. Bishop Kelley, 4. Coweta, 5. Skiatook, 6. Catoosa, 7. Tulsa Central, 8. Tulsa Rogers.
Notes: Tulsa East Central, for the second straight season, has no threat within the district and will finish unbeaten. Claremore, Bishop Kelley, and Coweta have a slight edge over Skiatook and Catoosa. This should be an interesting district, but for different reasons than 5A-3. One or two teams that may not deserve a playoff spot will get one.
Scott Hansen: maxprepsok@sbcglobal.net
