Rankings preview: Oct. 1
Class 6A
1. Tulsa Union (1)#5-0
2. Jenks (2)#4-1
3. Midwest City (3)#5-0
4. Broken Arrow (4)#4-1
5. Norman (5)#5-0
6. Edmond North (7)#5-0
7. Putnam City (9)#5-0
8. Edmond Santa Fe (NR)#4-1
9. Owasso (8)#3-2
10. Lawton (6)#3-2
A couple of times a year I throw out my rankings and start fresh, take an overall look at the season and don’t constrain myself with past rankings. This is one of those weeks and while their figures to be other classes that are more drastically affected, there is a bit of that here. The biggest questions in my mind were where to place Edmond Santa Fe (and Lawton) and what to do with Putnam City. I considered dropping Broken Arrow a spot but the Tigers still stand as the only team to really challenge Union this season and I’ll give them their small bump Friday. Edmond Santa Fe goes from just outside to No. 8 after their win at Lawton. The Wolverines drop to No. 10. Owasso stays in at No. 9 but has a tough test this week against Union.
Picks: Week 5
Jason had the best call of the week, locking Edmond Santa Fe over Westmoore in a game the Wolves won with a late comeback. Scott slipped back a spot on Jason and Ryan after picking Thackerville to beat Ryan (Ryan won 56-7). Through four weeks, Ryan stands one game up on both Scott and Jason and a game up on Scott in locks of the week.
Last week
Ryan: 8-2
Jason: 8-2
Scott: 7-3
Overall
Ryan: 30-10, 4-0
Scott: 29-11, 3-1
Jason: 29-11, 2-2
Ryan
DC-Lamont 35, Coyle 12
Wynnewood 20, Elmore City 7
Timberlake 36, Covington-Douglas 24
Tulsa East Central 27, Coweta 14
Seminole 24, Stigler 20
Broken Bow 24, Hilldale 14
Lawton 28, Edmond Santa Fe 14
Fox 32, Paoli 24
Commerce 21, Colcord 14
Clinton 34, Piedmont 14
Lock of the week: Broken Bow over Hilldale. Broken Bow is one of the toughest places to play on the road and Hilldale isn’t quite ready to go win a game like this on the road against one of the best teams in 4A.
Jason
DC-Lamont 35, Coyle 27
Wynnewood 31, Elmore City 21
Timberlake 52, Covington-Douglas 45
Tulsa East Central 42, Coweta 24
Seminole 41, Stigler 28
Broken Bow 35, Hilldale 27
Lawton 24, Edmond Santa Fe 21
Fox 45, Paoli 38
Colcord 24, Commerce 17
Clinton 35, Piedmont 20
Lock of the Week: DC-Lamont over Coyle. Coyle has made significant strides this season and will, in all likelihood, earn the first playoff berth in school history this year. But the defending Class C champion Eagles will be too much for the Bluejackets this week.
Scott
DC-Lamont 42, Coyle 35
Wynnewood 28, Elmore City 21
Timberlake 44, Covington-Douglas 36
Tulsa East Central 34, Coweta 24
Seminole 38, Stigler 27
Broken Bow 35, Hilldale 28
Lawton 28, Edmond Santa Fe 24
Paoli 42, Fox 38
Colcord 28, Commerce 21
Clinton 34, Piedmont 31
Lock of the week: Seminole over Stigler. Mike Snyder is in his 40th season on the Seminole coaching staff and his 32nd as the head coach. And he’s still going strong. Led by QB Garrett Clark, the Chieftains are talented enough to make a deep run in the 3A playoffs this season, and I think they’ll keep rolling this week.
Top 10 games of the week
Top 10
1. Class C No. 1 DC-Lamont (4-0) at No. 7 Coyle (4-0)
Eight-man showdown between the defending champions and a Coyle team looking to to earn its first playoff berth in its seventh season.
2. Class A No. 8 Elmore City (4-0) at No. 3 Wynnewood (4-0)
Two of the three undefeated teams in District A-5 go head-to-head.
3. Class C No. 3 Timberlake (3-0) at No. 5 Covington-Douglas (4-0)
A week after squeaking out a win over Tipton on the road, Covington-Douglass gets another big challenge.
4. Class 5A No. 1 Tulsa East Central (4-0) at No. 10 Coweta (2-2)
The Cardinals get another solid test in a rough schedule as the defending runners-up try to solidify their place in 5A-4. Coweta hasn’t won a game by more than six points or lost by more than four.
5. Class 3A No. 9 Seminole (4-0) at Stigler (4-0)
Seminole has scored 41 or more points in all four games thus far while Stigler has topped 42 in three out of four.
6. Class 4A No. 10 Hilldale (3-1) at No. 6 Broken Bow (3-1)
Big win over Poteau last week lifted Hilldale into the rankings while Broken Bow has shut out two opponents last season.
7. Edmond Santa Fe (3-1) at Class 6A No. 6 Lawton (3-1)
Both teams started district play with statement wins and this game will feature two of the best defensive ends in the state in Lawton’s D.J. Ward and Santa Fe’s Michael Onuoha.
8. Class B No. 6 Fox (3-1) at Paoli (4-0)
Fox has shutouts in each of its three wins while Paoli has topped 53 points three times and scored 42 in its other win.
9. Commerce (3-1) at Class 2A No. 8 Colcord (4-0)
Commerce has two shutouts and its only loss came to a Kansas school. Colcord has won games primarily with its offense (41-14 at Salina last week) and with its defense (8-0 vs. Haskell on Sept. 16).
10. Class 4A No. 4 Clinton (3-1) at Piedmont (2-2)
Clinton blew out McGuinness last week at home while Piedmont got a statement win over Elgin.
Other good bets:
Heritage Hall at Tulsa NOAH
Millwood at Luther
Mustang at Edmond North
Woodward at McGuinness
Yukon at Norman North
By Ryan Aber
Rankings preview: Sept. 24
Class 6A
1. Tulsa Union (1)#4-0
2. Jenks (2)#3-1
3. Midwest City (3)#4-0
4. Broken Arrow (4)#3-1
5. Norman (5)#4-0
6. Lawton (6)#3-1
7. Edmond North (7)#4-0
8. Owasso (9)#2-2
9. Putnam City (10)#4-0
10. Stillwater (NR)#3-1
With Westmoore falling out from No. 8 after its loss to Edmond Santa Fe, there were two logical candidates to take the spot: Edmond Santa Fe, who was ranked before its loss to Midwest City the week before, and Stillwater. I chose the Pioneers based on their recent performances but just barely. Santa Fe gets a tough test next week at Lawton. A good performance there, win or lose, gives the Wolves a chance to move back in.
All-Time wins list
I wrote today about Ada football and included the all-time wins list among state high school programs, according to sports historian David Porch as well as The Oklahoman archives. The order was correct but the wins number for Jenks and Thomas was not. Here is the correct list:
1. Ada 745
2. Clinton 743
3. Lawton 736
4. Tulsa Washington 717
T5. Jenks 642
T5. Thomas 642
Win totals through last week’s games
Lawton’s D.J. Ward adds Oklahoma State, Oregon State to offer list
Take everything I said here, and let’s just add to it. Lawton junior-to-be defensive end D.J. Ward added offers from Oregon State and Oklahoma State on Friday.
Ward has picked up four offers from big-time programs in the last four days. Texas Tech on Tuesday, Oklahoma on Thursday and now the Cowboys and Beavers on Friday. He has eight offers total.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Lawton’s D.J. Ward picks up Oklahoma offer
It’s rare for Oklahoma to make an offer to a football recruit that’s not for the upcoming year and is also an in-state product. But that’s the type of talent Lawton defensive end D.J. Ward has.
Ward, who will only be a junior in the fall, picked up an offer from OU on Thursday to give him six total and second from a Big 12 school this week. Texas Tech offered Ward on Tuesday.
“D.J. is a kid who just does everything that is asked of him,” coach Randy Breeze said. “He’s never content. He’s always wanting to do more to help the program.”
Ward burst onto the scene last year and received some looks when scouts were looking at stars wide receiver Tyrequek Zimmerman and linebacker Jabral Johnson. Zimmerman and Johnson are headed to Oregon State.
Ward, 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, had 94 tackles and nine sacks last season. He is considered my many recruiting experts as the top in-state prospect for the class of 2013. Ward also has offers from Tulsa, Texas A&M, Kansas State and Arizona.
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Not much to add here, except I loved getting to watch Ward last year. I haven’t been able to see him this spring, but nobody should be doubting his ability. He is the real deal.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Notes: Guthrie’s Blake Belcher on the move, in-state recruiting camp this month
Though the football recruiting class of 2012 is still heating up, one prospect for the 2013 class is already starting to make his name.
Lawton sophomore defensive end D.J. Ward picked up his first offer as Texas A&M offered Ward earlier this week.
Ward was helped out in getting notice with how deep and talented last year’s Wolverines squad was. Lawton went 12-1 and lost to eventual champion Tulsa Union in double overtime in the semifinals.
Ward is 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds.
Belcher with five offers
Guthrie football coach Rafe Watkins knew it was only a matter of time before the recruiting interest started to pick up for offensive lineman Blake Belcher.
Watkins was right. Belcher has picked up two offers in the last week to give him five from three different conferences.
The Pac-10 has been the biggest supporter of Belcher as Oregon State, Stanford and Arizona have offered the junior.
Belcher, 6-foot-6 and 271 pounds, has also been offered by Iowa State and Tulsa. He is No. 6 on The Oklahoman’s Super 30 for 2012.
Top area recruiting camp returns
OkVarsity.com will have two separate all-state combines for the first time. The website, the Oklahoma high school site in the Rivals.com network, has always had an Oklahoma City area venue but has added a Tulsa one, too, for the top football recruits
The first combine is May 21 at Yukon, while Broken Arrow is the site for the combine May 28.
Check-in for offensive players participating will begin at 8:30 a.m. for both combines. Defensive players’ registration will begin at 9:30.
Recruits will be tested in the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, vertical leap, kneeling power ball toss and bench press.
The combine costs $45 at the event, but recruits can register on the website for $35 through the day of the event.
Players that shine can participate in an invitation-only all-state showcase in the summer. For more information, visit OkVarsity.com.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
All-Centennial Conference boys basketball postseason honors
Here is the All-Centennial Conference team as selected by the coaches from the conference members, Lawton, Lawton Eisenhower, Enid, Stillwater and Ponca City.
Player of the Year – Jordan Pound, Stillwater
Coach Of the Year – Michael Davis, Stillwater
All-Conference Team
Alex Budke, Stillwater
Austin Brinker, Stillwater
Zack Brown, Lawton Eisenhower
Dominique Perkins, Lawton Eisenhower
Mitchell Foote, Enid
Alex Patterson, Enid
Brent Wilson, Ponca City
Cole Hibler, Ponca City
Kendall Suttles, Lawton
Richard Sheperd, Lawton
Honorable Mention All–Conference
Josh Pierre, Stillwater
Connor Lamb, Stillwater
Delvonte Pierre, Lawton
Jalon Jackson, Enid
Brandon Wilcoxson, Ponca City
Sherief Stafford, Lawton Eisenhower
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
The Oklahoman’s Super 30 revisited, Pt. III
Back in August, we unveiled the Super 30 for the Class of 2011. Here’s where they’re all going as we are at Signing Day:
1. Josh Turner, Millwood (Texas) — A great fit. One of the most selfless, unassuming top prospects I’ve ever met. Ready to make a name for himself.
2. Kendal Thompson, Southmoore (Oklahoma) — Already got a leg up and has enrolled with the Sooners. He’ll play somewhere at OU, unsure if it will be QB.
3. Dylan Dismuke, Duncan (Oklahoma) — Great senior season to send him off to Norman. Lifelong dream come true for the big man.
4. Kentrell Brothers, Guthrie (Missouri) — Took his time and made the right call for himself. Felt he was the best player in the state this year.
5. Tyrequek Zimmerman, Lawton (Oregon State) — Zimmerman and Jabral Johnson are headed to Corvallis and should make a big impact for the Beavers.
6. Domonique Petties, Duncan (Arizona) — Petties was extremely busy making the rounds. He is double-signing with Arizona and NEO. Freakish talent, for sure.
7. Garrett Gladd, Sallisaw (Tulsa) — Switched from Stanford to Tulsa and seems really pleased with his decision. Would have been a force anywhere.
8. Kevonte Richardson, Millwood (Hutchinson, Kan.) — An all-around talent for the Falcons. Can do a little bit of everything on the field on both sides of the ball. Could be QB or could be DB, good at both.
9. Jamelle Naff, Del City (TCU) — Naff will join teammate Chazten Gonzales with the Horned Frogs as team makes leap to Big East. Both are pumped about it.
10. Austin Beck, Nowata (Arkansas) — Tried to early enroll with Razorbacks but was denied. Shouldn’t adversely affect him at all.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
