By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
MaxPreps Game of the Week - Shawnee at Bixby
The quarterback that can't stop making headlines against the irresistible force.
On Friday night in Bixby, Tucker Brown and Shawnee pay a visit to one of the top programs in Class 5A in a monumental District 5A-3 battle.
Brown has been as good as advertised in his two games thus far. Last week in a victory over previously-unbeaten Durant, Brown threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-24 victory.
Brown has received a bad rap for making negative headlines in recent years. In 2005, Brown was suspended for the Class 5A semifinals after being ejected for allegedly kicking a Tulsa Washington player. Shawnee's appeal to allow Brown to play went to the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which ruled Brown would be unable to play. Shawnee lost the game that Brown was suspended.
Last season as Brown attempted to put the mishap behind him, he suffered a nasty knee injury in the second game of the season. Last spring, the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association ruled that Brown would receive an extra semester of eligibility.
After sitting on the sidelines and watching his teammates start the season 0-2, Brown has returned in fine fashion with two victories. On the field, there might not be a better quarterback in Class 5A. The fifth-year senior has big-time talent and will single-handedly throw the Wolves into the logjam atop the Class 5A state title discussion.
For Bixby, its only loss of the season was to Class 6A power Jenks. Since the season-opener, the Spartans have been dominant. Last week in a 51-0 victory over Tulsa Edison, the defense allowed just 24 total yards.
The ring leader of the defense is linebacker Beau Bentley. As college recruiters salivated over Oklahoma State commit Jared Glover in 2006, Bentley put up gaudy numbers as a junior. Bentley posted 119 tackles and 27 sacks.
Bixby has given up three points since allowing 27 to Jenks to open the season. It has allowed just 102.5 rushing yards per game over the course of four games. Bentley already has 62 tackles and six sacks for the Spartans.
Junior Jacob Inbody and Taylor McWherter have been solid along side Bentley. Inbody has 44 tackles, while McWherter has posted four sacks for Bixby.
Sophomore Dalton Irvin leads the offense. Irvin has rushed for 317 yards and four touchdowns for the Spartans.
Other Headliners
Duncan at Western Heights: It doesn't get any easier for Western Heights. After last week's 21-14 victory at Ardmore, quarterback Trent Wilkins and Duncan come to Oklahoma City. Wilkins, who is committed to Tulsa, has thrown for 592 yards and nine touchdowns and has rushed for 466 yards and six touchdowns. For Western Heights, the combination of Jo Jo Durham and Will McCullogh have totaled 761 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
Owasso at Jenks: Owasso is unbeaten heading into its stiffest test of the season to date. Jacques Washington rushed for 158 yards and three touchdowns last week in a 28-12 victory over Sapulpa, by far his best output this season. For Jenks, the combination of Mark Ginther and running back Chris Adkins is as formidable as any in the state.
In District 2A-1, Four Unbeatens Will Whittle Down to Two on Friday
Perkins-Tryon at Alva
Alva, the top ranked team in Class 2A, gets by far its stiffest test of the campaign as Perkins-Tryon visits. Perkins-Tryon is led by sophomore running back Matt Hill and quarterback Jake Hart. Hill has 330 yards rushing and three touchdowns, and also has made a difference with two interceptions on the season. Hart has six rushing touchdowns and has thrown for 308 yards.
For the Goldbugs, Mitchell and Tyson Gale have been outstanding. Mitchell Gale has thrown for 653 yards and 10 touchdowns. Tyson has hauled in four touchdowns and has picked off three passes this season. The wildcard for Alva is Derek Lohmann. Lohmann has 432 yards rushing and six touchdowns, has 237 yards receiving to lead the team, and has four interceptions.
Hennessey at Fairview
In another tantalizing battle in 2A-1, Hennessey visits unranked Fairview. Hennessey junior Auggie McCulley has rushed for eight touchdowns this season to lead the Eagles. Quarterback Clint Cooper has posted respectable numbers for Hennessey.
Fairview quarterback Kaleb Kemp leads the way for Yellow Jackets. Junior Ethan Nance has rushed for seven touchdowns for Fairview.
Week 5 Predictions by Scott Hansen
The Rundown
Week 4: 82-33 (.713)
Self-prognosis: Went a deplorable 8-8 in Class 3A. Somehow got the score in Grove's 37-6 victory over Pryor exactly right.
Season: 261-95 (.733)
Games I Will Attend This Week
Thursday: Westmoore at Putnam City
Friday: Shawnee at Bixby
Miles Traveled (Season): 508.9
Tolls Paid (Season): $12.50
Class 6A
District 6A-1
Lawton 52, Mustang 7
Moore 57, U.S. Grant 7
Norman North 42, Putnam City West 7
Putnam City North 21, Edmond Santa Fe 14
District 6A-2
Lawton Eisenhower 28, Yukon 21
Midwest City 41, Edmond Memorial 24
Norman 14, Choctaw 7
Putnam City 21, Westmoore 13 (Thurs.)
District 6A-3
Broken Arrow 34, Edmond North 14
Enid 35, Ponca City 7
Stillwater 28, Tulsa Memorial 7
Tulsa Union 51, Del City 14
District 6A-4
Jenks 38, Owasso 14
Muskogee 44, Bartlesville 14
Sand Springs 20, Tahlequah 6
Tulsa Washington 42, Sapulpa 10
Class 5A
District 5A-1
Ardmore 58, Capitol Hill 7
Lawton MacArthur 41, Chickasha 14 (Thurs.)
Duncan 42, Western Heights 30
Northwest Classen 14, Altus 7
District 5A-2
Carl Albert 55, El Reno 8
Guthrie 63, OKC Southeast 0
Noble 42, John Marshall 0
Woodward 27, Harrah 21
District 5A-3
Ada 28, Tulsa McLain 25
Durant 45, Tulsa Edison 7
McAlester 52, Tulsa Hale 0
Shawnee 21, Bixby 14
District 5A-4
Bishop Kelley 28, Tulsa Central 7
Catoosa 15, Skiatook 7
Coweta 21, Claremore 14
Tulsa East Central 62, Tulsa Rogers 6 (Thurs.)
Class 4A
District 4A-1
Anadarko 21, Piedmont 6
Bishop McGuinness 44, OKC Northeast 0
Guymon 18, Elk City 14
Weatherford 28, Douglass 22
District 4A-2
Deer Creek 28, Cushing 21
Glenpool 34, Cleveland 12
Mannford 28, Star Spencer 21
McLoud 35, Tecumseh 21
District 4A-3
Broken Bow 27, Hilldale 14
Idabel 35, Fort Gibson 7
Grove 34, Jay 6
Wagoner 38, Collinsville 13
District 4A-4
Miami 33, Pryor 12
Oologah 31, Tulsa Webster 14
Poteau 25, Okmulgee 21
Stillwell 28, Sallisaw 7
Class 3A
District 3A-1
Clinton 41, Cache 13
Kingfisher 43, Santa Fe South 7
Newcastle 14, Elgin 7
Tuttle 34, Blanchard 12
District 3A-2
Madill 23, Purcell 14
Marlow 15, Dickson 13
Plainview 49, Lone Grove 7
Sulphur 35, Pauls Valley 28
District 3A-3
Blackwell 41, Inola 7
Metro Christian 28, Locust Grove 15
Sequoyah-Claremore 27, Berryhill 21
Vinita 28, Dewey 21
District 3A-4
Hugo 42, Bristow 6
Muldrow 21, Checotah 6
Seminole 42, Kellyville 3
Victory Christian 28, Roland 13
Class 2A
District 2A-1
Alva 28, Perkins-Tryon 24
Hennessey 21, Fairview 19
Chisholm 27, Newkirk 14
Watonga 33, Perry 8
District 2A-2
Bethel 30, Wellston 14
Heritage Hall 52, Mount St. Mary's 6
Millwood 40, Jones 14
Oklahoma Christian 41, Meeker 7
District 2A-3
Bethany 42, Hobart 13
Bridge Creek 28, Comanche 14
Lexington 30, Little Axe 13
Lindsay 22, Frederick 8
District 2A-4
Antlers 33, Kingston 29
Davis 41, Tishomingo 13
Marietta 14, Coalgate 8
Valiant 40, Atoka 7
District 2A-5
Chandler 40, Okemah 7
Henryetta 36, Haskell 7
Morris 28, Beggs 13
Prague 44, Holdenville 21
District 2A-6
Eufaula 47, Heavener 9
Spiro 37, Savanna 9
Vian 30, Hartshorne 13
Wilburton 51, Stigler 12
District 2A-7
Cascia Hall 42, Chouteau 7
Chelsea 22, Pawhuska 13
Nowata 27, Verdigris 22
Sperry 12, Caney Valley 7
District 2A-8
Colcord 27, Adair 22
Keys (Park Hill) 40, Salina 6
Sequoyah-Tahlequah 34, Westville 7
Wyandotte 36, Kansas 7
Eight-Man Ranked Teams
#1 Morrison 50, Christian Heritage 14
#2 Shattuck 54, Goodwell 12
#3 Pond Creek-Hunter 34, Pioneer-Pleasant Vale 22
#4 Cashion 46, Weleetka 6
#5 Temple 34, #9 Ryan 26
#6 Dewar 42, Depew 20
#7 Timberlake 52, Garber 8
#10 Grandfield 50, Duke 14
Have any questions or comments about Nebraska high school football? Email them to maxprepsok@sbcglobal.net. I respond to all email and will even put the good questions and comments in my weekly previews.