Rankings preview: Oct. 10
Class 6A
1. Jenks (1)#6-0
2. Tulsa Union (2)#5-1
3. Broken Arrow (3)#4-2
4. Edmond North (5)#6-0
5. Southmoore (7)#5-1
6. Del City (8)#5-1
7. Norman North (4)#4-1
8. Midwest City (9)#4-2
9. Bartlesville (10)#6-0
10. Putnam North (NR)#5-1
There seems to be about 12-13 teams that deserve to ve ranked in 6A but none outside the top 3 much deserve to be about 6-7. Save the outrage Edmond North fans. I was looking for the Huskies to really put a hurting on Putnam City tonight and they didn’t at all. They beat Mustang by 10 in the second week but outside of that, they really should’ve won by more in each of their other five wins. Now, 6-0 is 6-0 so Edmond North is No. 4 but not real confident in that. The Huskies need some more killer instinct and they’ve got to show it next week. Lawton drops out, mainly because no one else lost (besides Broken Arrow and the Tigers’ only losses are to Jenks and Tulsa Union) and Putnam North deserves a spot after beating Southmoore last week.
Class 5A
1. Tulsa Kelley (1)#6-0
2. El Reno (2)#6-0
3. Shawnee (3)#6-0
4. McAlester (4)#6-0
5. Tulsa Washington (5)#4-2
6. Carl Albert (6)#4-2
7. Tulsa East Central (7)#4-1
8. Bixby (10)#3-3
9. Tulsa Central (NR)#5-1
10. Guthrie (NR)#4-2
The biggest addition here is Guthrie, which beat Harrah 35-0 and has contonied to look impressive since an 0-2 start. Debated between them and leaving Lawton Mac in but they both played El Reno, and Guthrie (while not scoring themselves) only allowed 18 points to the Indians while they dropped 42 on Lawton Mac on Friday night. And Guthrie’s defense is still just as good while its offense has gotten much better since then. Guthrie gets a test this week when Carl Albert comes to town. The other new entrant here is Tulsa Central, which beat previously undefeated Ada. Central nearly jumped in a couple weeks ago before a second-half meltdown led to East Central beating the Braves. Tulsa East Central plays Tulsa Edison on Saturday which could alter things if Edison wins but I don’t see that happening.
Class 4A
1. Glenpool (1)#6-0
2. Sallisaw (2)#6-0
3. Weatherford (3)#6-0
4. McGuinness (4)#4-2
5. Douglass (5)#5-1
6. Poteau (8)#6-0
7. Star Spencer (9)#4-2
8. Wagoner (6)#4-2
9. Broken Bow (10)#3-3
10. Jay (NR)#4-2
The top five here hold serve but there could be plenty of shuffling the next couple weeks as Douglass plays Weatherford and McGuinness the next two weeks. Poteau pulls off the upset of the night, beating Wagoner and switching spots with the Bulldogs. The battle for the No. 10 spot (vacated by Grove) came down to Collinsville and Jay. Collinsville has lost to Hilldale (2-4) and Catoosa (3-3) while Jay’s losses came to Gravette, Ark., and 5-1 Pryor. So Jay it is.
Class 3A
1. Cascia Hall (1)#5-0
2. Tuttle (2)#6-0
3. Madill (4)#6-0
4. Checotah (5)#6-0
5. Metro Christian (7)#6-0
6. Blanchard (10)#5-1
7. Bethany (6)#5-1
8. Berryhill (NR)#4-2
9. Clinton (9)#3-3
10. Sequoyah-Claremore (3)#5-1
Lots of shaking things up here as Sequyah-Claremore falls to Berryhill 24-14. But looking at Berryhill’s results so far maybe we shouldn’t be so surprised. They lost to Glenpool by 19 and Cascia Hall by 18, not exactly embarrassing margins against the top teams in 4A and 3A, respectively. Berryhill moves up to No. 8, Blanchard moves up to No. 6 while Bethany falls a spot after losing to Madill. Clinton stays at No. 9 and Sequoyah-Claremore drops seven spots to No. 10. Even though they lost, I think Clinton really showed they can still be a force in 3A after playing Tuttle within a point despite being without Delans Griffin. Anadarko also drops out after a big loss to Elgin.
Class 2A
1. Lincoln Christian (1)#5-1
2. Davis (2)#6-0
3. Sequoyah-Tahlequah (3)#6-0
4. Vian (5)#5-1
5. Heritage Hall (6)#3-3
6. Kingfisher (7)#4-2
7. Millwood (8)#4-2
8. Lexington (4)#5-1
9. Bridge Creek (9)#5-1
10. Pawhuska (10)#6-0
All of the shifting here happens because of one game, Millwood’s win over Lexington. Vian, Heritage Hall, Kingfisher and Millwood each moves up a spot while Lexington drops four to No. 8. I think Lexington and Millwood might be a little better than their spots but that’ll come out the next few weeks.
Class A
1. Tonkawa (2)#6-0
2. Ringling (3)#5-0
3. Hennessey (4)#6-0
4. Stroud (5)#6-0
5. Commerce (6)#6-0
6. Oklahoma Bible (10)#6-0
7. Talihina (8)#6-0
8. Okeene (1)#5-1
9. Watonga (9)#5-1
10. Oklahoma Christian (NR)#5-1
Big movings here as Okeene’s loss to Oklahoma Bible causes a re-think of the top spots. With seven undefeated teams in the class, all of those leapfrog Okeene, who drops all the way to No. 8. Watonga sticks where they were and Oklahoma Christian takes advantage of Woodland’s loss to Pawnee to move back in at No. 10. The Black Bears (4-2) were the other team strongly considered for that spot.
Class B
1. Garber (1)#6-0
2. Canton (2)#6-0
3. Laverne (3)#4-2
4. Porter (4)#6-0
5. Ryan (5)#6-0
6. Fox (6)#5-1
7. Kiefer (7)#6-0
8. Davenport (10)#5-1
9. Alex (9)#5-1
10. Depew (NR)#4-2
The top 7 here stay the same but Davenport’s win over Weleetka shakes up the bottom three spots. Davenport moves up two spots to No. 8, Alex stay No. 9 and Depew moves into the final spot, thanks to a head-to-head win over Weleetka.
Class C
1. Shattuck (1)#6-0
2. Timberlake (2)#6-0
3. Temple (3)#5-1
4. Seiling (4)#5-1
5. Thackerville (5)#5-1
6. Maud (8)#6-0
7. Deer Creek-Lamont (7)#5-1
8. Covington-Douglas (6)#3-3
9. Claremore Chr. (9)#4-2
10. Boise City (10)#4-2
Just a bit of shuffling near the bottom here, although most of the winning came from other ranked teams. Maud moves up by staying undefeated while Deer Creek-Lamont and Covington-Douglas switch and drop down a spot as a block. Claremore Christian and Boise City stay where they were.
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Comments
John,
Right now I’ve got Mustang as the first team out, right ahead of Lawton (even though they lost head-to-head). This district is so wild right now that it’s hard to come up with how to rank the teams in that district, much less the rest of 6A. We’ll find out plenty about Norman North the next week weeks as they play Del City next week, then Southmoore, Edmond Santa Fe and Lawton to close the season. I’ve never really bought into them as the best team on this side (although rankings wise that’s where they were last week). And it’s easy to explain Lawton jumping up the way they did: The Wolverines were undefeated at the time. There’s a big difference in an undefeated team getting a win that validates their season and a two-loss team pulling off an upset. I do think Mustang will wind up ranked again at some point, though.
Mustang will have a chance to jump back in shortly, they get about as close to a “gimme” game as you can get in 6A-1 next week when they play Moore, then have three really tough games to end the season. I don’t expect them to go 0-3 in that stretch (at Putnam North, Del City, at Southmoore) and a win in that stretch and hanging in there in the others might still be enough to get them ranked.
Thanks for the comment, I hope I answered your question.
-Ryan
Mustang had a 41 point QUARTER against #4 in the STATE…. more points than Norman North allowed ALL SEASON. Mustang deserves a position in the top ten after their off week last week against Lawton (lost by 13!) Mustang finished off Norman North hands down. Amazing, you need some actual method in your rankings other than your bias.
You people are forgetting that this is just one game. Mustang has proven that they’re deserved of this ranking by past performances.
If Mustang is actually a top 10 team, they’ll prove it in future matchups.
Well, CJ, using that logic Mustang shouldn’t be ranked because they lost to a Lawton team that wasn’t ranked at the time and now isn’t ranked again. Norman North, quite frankly, is in the rankings on the back of a win over Putnam North a couple weeks ago. We’ll see if the Timberwolves are for real the next couple weeks. I could see them, realistically, finishing 5-4 (and possibly 4-5, I’ve talked to a few people who’ve said Santa Fe will beat someone they aren’t expected to at some point this season).
I’ve explained by method every week and explained week in and week out that I don’t overreact to one game. I’ve been consistent with that. Mustang has plenty of chances to get back in the rankings. I have no reason to be biased, either against Mustang or for anyone else in the state.
Ryan, keep doing what you’re doing. It makes for a pleasurable few minutes to get my mind off serious matters. These kids are busting their tails and we appreciate you covering them. You’re never going to please them all and very few on a weekly basis.
Everyone can argue for almost every 6A-1 team having an ‘off week’ when they lose. That’s just excuse talk. You have to play it on the field. Here is who has had an ‘off night’. NNorth against Mustang. Mustang against Lawton. Lawton against Del City. Del City against Southmoore. Southmoore against PC North. PCNorth against NNorth. Kind of funny when you see the circle.
These rankings are really just interesting weekly conversation and fun eyewash. The playoffs are where the dominant two have to be taken down for anything or anyone else to matter. Who remembers the next year where you ended up ranked if you didn’t win the Gold Ball.
I am sorry I do not see how Mcguinness deserves a number 4 ranking in 4A they have lost twice? Douglass has lost once and is under them poteau finally proved they could win friday night and are under them. Pointless no matter how many times they lose they have to be in top 5. When are you going to stop blowing smoke up their football programs end.
Shelli,
Feel free to call me out if I make a mistake but I’m pretty comfortable in this one and I’ve not been one to “blow smoke” with anybody. I had McGuinness lower than any rnaking in the state in the preseason ranking. McGuinness’ two losses were to Weatherford (undefeated and now No. 3) and Tulsa Kelley (undefeated and No. 1 in 5A). Both losses were by one point. I don’t simply rank based on record, I try to look at much more than that and right now, the Irish deserve the spot where they’re at.
I like Douglass and think they’ve got a great chance to beat McGuinness, but their one loss came to Millwood by four (A team McGuinness blew out). The next two weeks will tell the tale for the Trojans. If they win the next two weeks, they’ll doubtless be No. 3 at the worst. As for Poteau, I really respect what Jeff Broyles is doing down there. The last time Sallisaw-Poteau was a big-time game, I was working in Fort Smith, Ark., and covering the Pirates. But I don’t overreact to one game and while the Pirates are undefeated, the win over Wagoner was their first over a top-level opponent. Their schedule is much tougher the next three weeks. I’ll certainly be keeping an eye on the Pirates but when you stack things up, I don’t think they deserve to be above either of the other two teams mentioned.
For the readers of Class A rankings, Ryan refers to the October 10 rankings to Pawhuska which should be the Pawnee…Black Bears.
What is very puzzling is how Casady is totally ignored in this list.
They’re independant and a part of the SW Prep conference.
As such, they’re grouped in MaxPreps(a division of CBS sports) rankings as part of a Texas conference (I know, its goofy, but…whatever).
Anyway, they are the 8th best 2A school in the Texas Rankings. Their rankings points places them in 2nd place in Oklahoma’s 2A division.
Traditionally oklahoma sportswriters have grouped Casady, Holland Hall, & Tulsa NOAH in the 2A class.
So I think it’s incumbent upon the Oklahoman Sports department to explain why independant schools like Casady are excluded?
Casady is 7-0 and defeated Heritage Hall(3-3). It would be one thing if all Casady’s victims were unranked and mediocre, but If you rank Heritage Hall, at least answer for ignoring Casady.
Mr. Van – Just to add a little to what my colleague Ryan Aber was saying, I have written a lot about the Cyclones. Here is the official Casady blog, if you want more info: http://blog.newsok.com/private-schools/category/casady/. Thanks for the input.
- Bone
Mr Van,
It’s pretty simple. Casady is different. Being part of the SPC, they play by different rules and there isn’t a way to quantify them in the rankings as far as what class they belong, etc.
Since I’ve been here, we’ve only ranked OSSAA schools that fit into the classes. I didn’t rank Christian Heritage a few years ago when they weren’t part of the OSSAA and I won’t rank Casady, Holland Hall, Destiny Christian, Tulsa NOAH, etc. now. Nothing against those schools, it’s impossible to 1.) Accurately judge them against the others and 2.) Figure out what class they belong based on ADM, differences in rules, etc.
Casady hasn’t been ignored this year. We’ve written about them quite a bit but they won’t be involved in the rankings.
Ryan,
Thanks for the open and clear expanation of your ranking policies. It’s refreshing to get honest and prompt answers from media leaders.
A Couple of clarifications:
1. All 11-man varsity football in Oklahoma that is officiated by the same statewide referee pool, follow the same rules of the game. When any Oklahoma team travels to another state, the host team’s state rules are followed. Very very minor changes in the game are evident(returning blocked extra points, etc.).
2. Tulsa NOAH and other independants subject themselves to essentially all OSSAA regulations in order to play Oklahoma teams. Its only right(when one team is restricted in practice times, eligibility, etc.).
3.While some independants avoid OSSAA entanglements (Holland Hall, Casady); Tulsa NOAH and others are forbidden membership, specificly by OSSAA charter specifications.
4.School size is very difficult to measure all school’s size by. Sand Springs is in 6A only because the state’s largest juvenile detention center is in the district but those detainees are barred from extra curricular activities. Private schools have distinct advantages.
NOAH is a homeschool activities organization. If athletic teams were classified by NOAH’s student registry, NOAH would be classed much smaller than the 2A presumption that statewide media have often assigned them in.
NOAH is one of very few homeschool athletic organizations in the state. Team members usually have to travel as much as 85 miles daily, to be on the NOAH team. Typical school district boundaries are unworkable for these families.
Cascia Hall has considerably more athletes in their enrollment than say, Kansas high school in rural eastern OK., but both are in the 2A class.
Any school with students coming from families with average household incomes in the $400,000 range will be much more competitive than schools with average family incomes.
Mr Van,
Thanks for the response. Was talking more about the administrative rules than on-the-field ones while talking abotu Casady and other independents but certianly understand your points. Tulsa NOAH is an interesting case and completely different from the others to be sure. It’s certainly hard to judge them based on enrollment or any other measure by which other schools are judged.
And I understand school size is hard to judge but the OSSAA at least has a uniform way to apply the ADM numbers they receive from the state department of education and the schools. I’ll have to check on the Sand Springs situation but my understanding is those students shouldn’t count against the school’s ADM for OSSAA purposes if none of them can compete. I know in the case with other schools that have students that cannot compete, none are counted as long as none participate. If one participates, they all are counted. I’ll look into it though.
And Cascia is 3A football, but you make a good point about sizes. There are no doubt big differences between say, Cascia Hall and, say, Blanchard or Tuttle that go way beyond the public-private debate. There are a lot of differences as well between rural and urban schools. Certainly teams like Douglass, Star Spencer, Millwood and even Bethany are different from a lot of the schools in their respective classes.
Thanks for the responses. We try to be very upfront and open about our processes, whether it be rankings or All-State/All-City teams. And there’s no doubt it’s a worthwhile conversation to have.
-Ryan
Am i missing something or is the Mustang broncos not in your top ten? They hung 62 on #4 ranked Norman North(now #7 on your list)tonight in Mustang………. very easily could have been 69, but who is counting? last weeks 13pt loss to lawton dropped them out of the top ten by two or three spots. First three quarters at Lawton were fairly close, but a couple of late td’s by Lawton and six int’s sure did’nt help matters. No excuse, Lawton has a good football team and the broncos got beat. Tonight, Norman Norths int’s tonight did not help them. The Broncos offense is either leading or in the top 3 of several of the 6a stats both team and individual.(#1 >points scored per game stat with 35 avg and #2 >total offensive yards per game stat with 414 avg in the first five weeks of play) Norman Norths defense was ranked first in points given up per game(5.2 avg) and second in total yards given up per game(147 avg) in the first 5 weeks of play. 5.2 pts PER GAME! Less than a touchdown….That is a TOTAL of 26…….in five weeks. Take the 3 Bronco int’s returned for six away, and we still have a bronco win with an offense that racked up its normal 450yds per game and a defense that stepped up and shut down the second ranked rushing team in the state. If the broncos had not consistantly each week posted enormous amounts of offense, I would have chalked it up to Norman North just having an “off” night. Maybe they did. If that is the case, one would have to say Mustang had an “off” night last week at Lawton. Whatever the case, How can Mustang almost “run-rule” the no. 4 team in the state and (in your opinion) not break the top ten? Yet last week a non-ranked Lawton beats the top ten ranked broncos by 13, and they move to 7th and Mustang falls of the charts? Please explain……