Week 8 means time to take a big step forward toward the playoffs or start playing out the string, depending on what your football team has done up to this point.
The west side of the state has a number of crucial contests coming up. We’ll look at seven of them and then mention a few more than are worth note.
There’s still time for teams to make a run toward a playoff berth, but for many squads it is go time now.
This week brings some intriguing matchups around the Oklahoma City area.
Norman North at Edmond North
This could be a battle for the fourth playoff spot in these squads’ district. The Timberwolves are 0-3 in the district after a brutal stretch that featured Owasso, Mustang and Tulsa Union. Edmond North has won its last two after a 1-3 start.
McGuinness at Carl Albert
The Irish have lost three but have played a tough schedule and are still aiming to be a factor in the 5A race. That’s where the Titans always are, and a win here would push them further along toward hosting in the opening round of postseason.
Douglass at Bethany
This one will say a lot for these squads in their 3A district. Douglass is 5-1 and Bethany 4-1-1 after a rare tie in a weather-shortened nondistrict game at Lone Grove. The winner has a good track toward a playoff home game and possibly a district championship.
Other good area matchups include Heritage Hall at Cushing, Seminole at Jones, Yukon at Putnam City, Southmoore at Mustang.
It’s time for district football to begin for most of the state, and this year’s realignment has some new foes facing off for the first time in a while, or even ever.
Douglass at Plainview
The Trojans visit from Oklahoma City in a matchup of teams used to deep playoff pushes. Douglass knocked off Star-Spencer 22-6 last week while Plainview fell 38-24 at Clinton and is off to a bit of a surprising 1-2 start.
Hobart at Hollis
Two of the best squads from the southwest corner of the state bring strong starts to their seasons. Hobart is 2-1, with a lone loss to 4A Cache, while Hollis, the defending Class A champ is a perfect 3-0 after crushing Beaver last week.
Grandfield at Tipton
A strong 8-man test faces a pair of undefeated squads. Neither has been tested, with each scoring lopsided or run-rule wins each time, including Tipton’s 48-8 win against highly-regarded Fox in the season opener. Grandfield reached postseason last year after a five-year playoff drought and is well on its way again.
A few other southwest matchups of interest this week include Northwest Classen at Lawton MacArthur, Blanchard at John Marshall, Lexington at Washington and Apache at Mangum.
It’s another week for big rivalry games in central Oklahoma in week two of the high school football season. Here are a few favorites.
Midwest City at Carl Albert
It’s a rare treat for football fans in the east metro as Midwest City’s two schools hook up for the first time in many years. The Bombers are stinging from a 17-12 loss to Booker T. Washington last week, while the Titans rolled against El Reno 48-14.
Southmoore vs Westmoore
The Jaguars looked the part of a 6A Division I challenger by rolling past Moore 49-20 in their opener. Southmoore struggled to get much going offensively and fell 20-0 to Edmond Memorial. But this is quickly growing to be a big rivalry contest and will have both teams’ attention.
Millwood at Douglass
The Trojans look like a big contender in Class 3A and started with a dominating 75-0 victory against Northeast last weekend. Millwood got a measure of revenge on Star-Spencer in a 36-24 victory, avenging a loss to Star in the All-City preview two weeks ago. Douglass’ only regular-season loss last year came at Millwood, 31-12.
Many other good games dot the schedule during week two, including Deer Creek at Norman, OCS at Metro Christian, Yukon at Norman North and Edmond Memorial vs Edmond North.
Tonight brings the semifinals and finals of the annual Oklahoma City All-City High School Football Preview. One thing is already certain, that this year’s event will have a new champion.
That’s thanks to Star-Spencer, who knocked off defending champion 6-0 in Thursday’s mini-game to advance to a semifinal date against John Marshall.
Both teams had to win twice on Thursday, with Star-Spencer defeating Northeast 16-0 and John Marshall taking down Western Heights and Northwest Classen.
In the other side of the bracket, host Douglass and Centennial moved on to the semifinals. Centennial knocked off Southeast while Douglass defeated Capitol HIll, which had started play on the evening with a victory against fellow independent U.S. Grant.
The seven schools not advancing will face off in mini-games at Star-Spencer tonight, with the semifinals, third-place game and finals set for Moses F. Miller Stadium at Douglass at 6, starting with the John Marshall-Star Spencer game.
The annual Oklahoma City All-City High School Football Preview Thursday and Friday highlights the final weekend of preseason scrimmages before the games start to count for real.
But make no mistake about it, there still is pride on the line as Oklahoma City Public Schools squads, joined by neighboring Millwood and Western Heights, begin play at Star-Spencer’s Twidell and Douglass’ Moses F. Miller Stadiums.
The schedule for Thursday at Douglass features Capitol Hill vs. U.S. Grant at 6; Centennial vs. Southeast at 6:45 and Douglass vs. the opening game winner at 7:30.
At Star-Spencer, John Marshall faces Western Heights at 5:30 and Star-Spencer meets Northeast at 6:15. The JM-WH winner takes on Northwest Classen at 7 while the SS-NE winner will face Millwood at 7:45.
Six consolation bracket games will be played Friday at Star-Spencer, with the semifinals, third place game and finals at Douglass at 6, 6:45, 7:30 and 8:15.
Millwood knocked off Douglass in last year’s All-City title game, 7-0.
Douglass is a year-in, year-out contender on the football field, seemingly regardless of what district the school’s enrollment lands it in.
But a move down to Class 3A after nearly reaching the 4A championship game last year has the attention of all the top teams in the Trojans’ new class.
The Trojans have plenty of returning talent, including Wyoming commitment Dameko Doddles, a multi-purpose performer for Douglass, and quarterback Patrick McKaufman, who had many solid moments as a sophomore last season.
The Oklahoma East and West High School Sports Desk 