Second round musings…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@Oklahoman.com
Boy oh boy, that McAlester-Carl Albert game this weekend is going to be great. Wait, you mean they BOTH didn’t make it. That’s not a rip on either the Buffs or the Titans, no, that’s a rip on yours truly.
Through two rounds, one lowly Stooge’s take on the football playoffs.
Class 6A
Surprise: Muskogee beats Norman North without Jameel Owens dominating the game. The Roughers are now 4-0 vs. the T’Wolves in the last two seasons.
Upset in the making: None. For us here in the OKC area it’s going to be a treat to see Jenks at UCO. As Ryan said when the playoffs started, Jenks-Union could happen in Norman. Now that would be a real treat.
Class 5A
Surprise: Straying away from Bixby over Carl Albert, it’s the dominance of Tulsa East Central so far. If you read this blog, you know how much I loved Durant and the White Brothers (Bo and Max). A 54-7 drubbing later, the Lions were out. And after pasting Duncan, 52-8, sheer dominance right now in Tulsa.
Upset in the making: Eh, if you can call Bixby over Lawton Mac an upset. This class has provided some fantastic games, they’re all a pick ‘em at this point.
Class 4A
Surprise: None really. Only thing that surprised me a bit was Glenpool giving up 24 points to Grove and Broken Bow allowing 25 to Miami. Those are two of the best defenses this side of McGuinness, so that’s the tiniest of tiny surprises.
Upset in the making: Not seeing it happen. I picked Glenpool to win, but the Irish have shown no signs at all of slipping.
Class 3A
Surprise: Take your pick of either Plainview surviving both games or Tuttle averaging 37 points in two road wins. I’ll take Tuttle. I admit I thought Tuttle was left for dead after late season stumbles. But with three teams from the district in the final four, well, now we know why.
Upset in the making: Nah, just enjoy these final three games. Me and my boy, Jason Kersey, have said all season that 3A is big enough for great, Division I talent but small enough for that excellent community support.
Class 2A
Surprise: Going to Lincoln County and Chandler. The Lions won two road games. Yeah, that’s no biggie but winning each by a single point shows great heart and composure in hostile environments.
Upset in the making: I think perhaps the best game in this class is Saturday night with Heritage Hall at Henryetta. The Knights and Chargers have been unreal in both wins. If any team deserves a third home game, it’s Henryetta. As I’ve said before, the Knights played Morris, Chandler and Prague all on the road.
Class A
Surprise: Bubba Hyde and Stroud. The Tigers had been slumping the last couple of years but Chris Elerick has things working now.
Upset in the making: What a story Hominy has been, but if the final is anything other than Washington-Rush Springs, it’ll be a shock.
Class B
Surprise: Pond Creek-Hunter over Cashion. Cashion had played all season with a chip on it shoulder for last year’s upset to Davenport. I don’t know if it just ran out of steam, piqued too early or what, but Lynn Shackelford’s boys are out.
Upset in the making: Hmm, Timberlake and Dewar should be a lot of fun. But they’re fighting for second place to Morrison.
Class C
Surprise: How incredibly wrong I was about Maud. Like, not even close. Ringwood beating Temple raised my eyebrows as well.
Upset in the making: Not so much. Shattuck looked human against Waynoka, but that doesn’t mean beatable.
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Comments
You are right about being a stooge. You’ve been calling them wrong all year. Did you watch the OU-Tech game last week? When Mac plays Bixby this week and EC or Guthrie next week that’s what it is going to look like. Mac plays Tech’s offense and verry well too. The only diiferense is Tech has 1 or 2 good recievers, Mac has 5. But there is one twist to that. They run the ball as well. Oh, also Mac’s defense is better than Tech’s as well. My prediction Mac 42 Bixy 14 and Mac 56 EC or Guthrie 21. (Don’t forget Mac beat Guthie last year in the semis with just a rushing team.)
Here is the web site of Har-Ber HS in Ark. Mac Dominated them and Har-Ber is in the class “7″ State Championship this weekend.
Sorta sheds some light on the Mac squad. They are a good bunch with a lot of Seniors. Bixby has a lot of young Soph in key starting roles (QB/RB) and it will be difficult for them to over come the veteran Mac Team. Turn overs is the only way it will be close.
My prediction:
Guthrie 31 – East Central 28
Bixby 24 – Lawton Mac 31