Week-by-Week in OKC: Best games to check out each week
All right, I wrote this morning on the top games each week across the state. But was thinking earlier about different groups of games. I’ve already posted what I think are the top All-City Athletic Conference Games each week (sticking mostly to city-area games). Here’s my pick for best games to watch in the city-area each week. So if you’re just a fan wanting a good game each week, give this schedule a whirl.
Week 1: Tulsa Washington at Carl Albert. A rematch of last season’s Class 5A state title game, and should be every bit as explosive this year, with Tulsa Washington’s Eric Bennett and Carl Albert’s Tre Porter among the season’s top recruits.
Week 2: Douglass at Millwood (Saturday). The Soul Bowl is always one of the most entertaining games around and this year will be no different with talent (and state championship hopes) overflowing both places.
If you’re really wanting a Friday game, check out El Reno and Guthrie. Tom Cobble did a fantastic jon helping turn around El Reno last season and the Indians should be really good again this year. Rafe Watkins always has Guthrie among Class 5A’s best. Or, if you’re just wanting to see one of the state’s best players in a game that might not be extremely competitive, check out Tulsa Central at Northeast. Central featured Demarco Cobbs, the state’s top overall player.
Week 3: Millwood at McGuinness. Yes, here the Falcons are for a second consecutive week but the non-district schedule the play makes for good games each of the first three weeks. The Falcons should be really good for a 2A team and the Irish should also be competitive at the top of 4A despite losing stars like Gabe Ikard and Ryan Randolph from last year’s team. RB LaRone Richardson and WR Sam Crabtree especially should be fun to watch.
Week 4: Southmoore at Del City. These could be the most improved teams in the state regardless of class. Del City made great strides late in the season last year but just missed a playoff berth. Southmoore was 2-8 last year but had talent, especially on offense. The SaberCats have added to that talent stable with several key move-ins. This game could last 3 1/2 hours.
Week 5: Heritage Hall at Kingfisher. This matchup features two of the top sophomores in the state in Heritage Hall’s Barry Sanders and Marc Robinson. The Chargers, the defending champions in 2A, won’t run over Kingfisher, though. The Yellowjackets were semifinalists last season and return 10 starters.
Week 6: Madill at Bethany. This should be a great game overall but its also a chance to catch some of the best players in the state in a rare trip to the city area. Kerry Robert’s Madill team has senior RB Darryl Fields, junior QB Spencer Bond in addition to a pretty good receiver in Roberts’ son.
Week 7: Double dip this week. Carl Albert at Guthrie (Thursday). This one is always a classic. Last season, Carl Albert snuck Daytawion Lowe onto the field wearing a different number in a play that wound up being a touchdown and wound up making a difference in the outcome. Who knows what craziness awaits this year.
Douglass at McGuinness (Friday). This one featured a wild ending last year that saw McGuinness come out ahead. Douglass has revenge on their minds already.
Week 8: Okeene at Hennessey. Sure, I could tell you to check out Norman North at Southmoore or Guthrie at Shawnee, but there’s a lot to be said for small-school football. Jeff Wardlaw does a great job with the Whippets and Hennessey has plenty of talent to challenge Okeene in this one.
Week 9: Edmond North at Edmond Memorial. This could (should?) be for the Edlam title. Kameron Doolittle is a fun player to watch for Memorial, as are Joe Aska and Qua’Don Henderson for Edmond North.
Week 10: Mustang at Southmoore. If you can make the drive, do it this week, checking out Star Spencer as they head to Glenpool in a game that figures to be for a district title. Otherwise, be perfectly content to stay in the city area and see another game that could face two teams battling for a district title. Southmoore figures to be loaded and Mustang, while losing a good number of starters from last year’s 12-1* team (*Yes, I know it’s 13-0, after considering Jenks’ forfeit), seems to always find a way to be really good.
By Ryan Aber
Twitter: @ryaber
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