El Reno-McAlester preview capsule
McAlester (10-1) at El Reno (11-0)
When: 7:30 tonight
Where: Memorial Stadium, El Reno
Looking ahead: The winner advances to the semifinal round to play the Carl Albert-Tulsa Kelley winner at a neutral site.
Why McAlester could win: Defense. The Buffs are allowing just a touch over 200 yards per game and only one team — Tulsa East Central — has scored more than 18 points against them. McAlester can run the ball, too, which pairs well with a stingy defense in the playoffs, especially on the road.
Why El Reno could win: The Indians have had the total package, with an efficient offense and strong defense, especially when they needed it. This team has had its eyes on the gold ball all year, and they don’t want to see another season end before they get a chance to play for it.
Key stats
Rushing
McAlester: Tony Kiefer, 1,073 yards, 20 TDs; Caleb Carney, 517 yards, 1 TD
El Reno: Jakeil Everheart, 724 yards, 13 TDs; Cory Dauphin, 553 yards, 13 TDs
Passing
McAlester: Kiefer, 135-of-234, 1,656 yards, 15 TDs, 9 INT
El Reno: Everheart, 100-of-181, 1,416 yards, 10 TDs, 4 INT
Receiving
McAlester: Alvery Braxton, 32 rec., 589 yards, 8 TDs; Cody Leflor, 30 rec., 366 yards, 3 TDs
El Reno: Jovia Franklin, 41 rec., 621 yards, 9 TDs; Ray Little, 22 rec., 300 yards, 2 TDs
Defense
McAlester: Jesse Patton, 118 tackles; Tim Curry, 98 tackles, 5 sacks; Delante Redway, 6 INT
El Reno: Tyler Palmer, 102 tackles; Tank Mulanax, 92 tackles; Cody Dauphin, 8 sacks; Matt Pruitt, 6 INT
Key matchup: El Reno run game vs. McAlester defensive front. McAlester is one of the best teams in 5A against the run, allowing barely 100 yards per game. While El Reno is a fairly balanced offense, it does lean a little more toward the run game and will need to establish that to keep the passing attack open.
The pick: El Reno 24-20. I went with ER to win it all in 5A, and I still like them. Jakeil Everheart has the offense looking sharp, averaging nearly 37 points per game the last six weeks. McAlester’s D will provide a challenge, but I think the Indians can handle it.
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