2020 Championship Predictions

With the season kicking off in just one day, it is time for us here at Prep Redzone Oklahoma to go class by class and predict who we think will be in the championship come December, and more importantly, who we think will come away with a gold ball at the end of 2020. Check out who PRZ Oklahoma Director Michael Knight and scout Jacob Johnson believe will be the best in each class this fall. CLASS 6A-D1 JACOB: Broken Arrow VS Edmond Santa Fe This class was one of the most difficult to narrow down to just 2 teams because any of the top 5 in our preseason rankings are more than capable of reaching this game, and unlike many other classes in Oklahoma, they will all play each other in the regular season for the most part. However, based off last years’ results and the rosters they return, these two teams have some of the best chances of making the title game this year. Broken Arrow was just one game away from the gold ball last season and returns one of the most experienced offenses in the state, and Edmond Santa Fe returns many of their key playmakers who proved that they are more than contenders by beating Jenks and Broken Arrow on the road in the regular season in 2019. If the Wolves can avoid another upset in the playoffs this season, they have the talent and experience to go all the way in 2020. 6A-D1 Champion: Edmond Santa Fe MICHAEL: Jenks VS Owasso It’s a rematch of last year’s championship game and for Jenks, it’s time to end a title drought. The last time the Trojans went five straight years without a title was three decades ago. And when you look at the way Jenks ended 2019 and the talent they return, it’s very similar to what Owasso had last season. They ended 2018 with momentum, had a strong returning cast, and went undefeated and won state. Jenks is capable of that in 2020. As for Owasso, the Rams have proven that they can reload for another title run every year. They have some questions they’ll need to find answers for but they have a strong cast of playmakers on both sides of the ball. However, in the end, it looks like this could be Jenks’ year to bring back the gold ball. I’ll take the Trojans to get their 17th state title in school history. 6A-D1 Champion: Jenks <hr /> CLASS 6A-D2 JACOB: Del City VS Stillwater Leaving defending champion Bixby off this list was a tough decision, but all dynasties have to come to an end, and 2020 may be the end of Bixby’s great run. With that being said, these two teams are some of the most exciting and explosive in the state. For Stillwater, they return many key contributors from last years offense, which was one of the highest scoring in the state. For Del City, they return one of the most athletic and talented defenses that the state of Oklahoma has seen in a long time. This game will be a hard fought battle and will likely come down to who can score or make a stop at the end of the game, and after coming up just short in the state title game a year ago, my money is on Stillwater to avenge that loss and come out of 2020 with a gold ball. 6A-D2 Champion: Stillwater MICHAEL: Del City VS Stillwater Basically everything Jacob said is what I’m thinking as well. The east side district in 6A-D2 is going to be an absolute gauntlet this year. Bixby, Booker T Washington, Choctaw and Muskogee are all going to beat up on each other in the regular season. And when it comes down to it, we have Stillwater and Del City at 1 and 2 in our preseason rankings for a reason. Stillwater is hungrier than ever for a title. Del City has arguably their most talented team in recent memory. The good news is we’ll see this match-up during district play. And that could give us a glimpse into who the favorite will be going into the playoffs. But when it comes down to it, it’s hard to pick against Stillwater. The Pioneers know what it takes to get there. They were minutes away from gold last year. They get the job done in 2020. 6A-D2 Champion: Stillwater <hr /> CLASS 5A JACOB: Carl Albert VS El Reno This pick is a bit hypocritical since it comes right after I predicted that Bixby would not defend their title, but it was just too tough to pick anyone but Carl Albert to win it all in 5A. El Reno will certainly be a contender in 5A with a much more experienced roster which includes [player_tooltip player_id="38688" first="Dorian" last="Plumley"] returning for his highly anticipated senior year, but I just can’t see Carl Albert losing many games much less a championship as long as they have [player_tooltip player_id="38534" first="Ben" last="Harris"] and [player_tooltip player_id="38487" first="Javion" last="Hunt"] at the helm. All dynasties must come to an end, but this one is going to roll on for another season. 5A Champion: Carl Albert MICHAEL: Carl Albert VS El Reno I’m on the same page as Jacob again with Class 5A. The Carl Albert dynasty is one of the best in state history. These Titans simply don’t lose games. [player_tooltip player_id="38534" first="Ben" last="Harris"] has the chance to finish his career as arguably the most decorated high school quarterback in state history. Let that sink in. And for El Reno, they are much more than Plumley at quarterback. Which is why this is the year they make a run at the title. With experience all over the field, guys who have started three and four years, the Indians will be tough to slow down. We could see some other teams emerge in 5A that might be flying under the radar right now. Remember Piedmont last year. They went from somewhat of an unknown to the semifinals and ending Carl Albert’s winning streak. When it comes down to winning the title, nobody is doing quite like Carl Albert right now. 5A Champion: Carl Albert <hr /> CLASS 4A JACOB: John Marshall VS Weatherford This may be the most unlikely matchup throughout all the classes but I have a hunch that John Marshall will have a breakout season as a team this year with star WR [player_tooltip player_id="38490" first="Bryce" last="Stephens"] and a more experienced and refined [player_tooltip player_id="38524" first="Devin" last="Johnson"] at QB. However, I think their run will eventually end in the title game at the hands of [player_tooltip player_id="38500" first="Ethan" last="Downs"]. There won’t be many teams if any that will slow him down this season. 4A Champion: Weatherford MICHAEL: Blanchard VS Wagoner My championship match-up comes with somewhat of an asterisk. I think Wagoner and Weatherford are the two best teams in 4A. However, if both teams win their district, they’ll meet in the semifinals and not the championship round. So unless I’m predicting a regular season upset, I have to go with another match-up. Enter a Blanchard team that returns all but a few starters from last year’s team. And wouldn’t it be great to see a Blanchard-Wagoner rematch with the gold ball on the line. Blanchard ended Wagoner’s 48-game winning streak a few years ago. As for my pick, Wagoner gets some revenge and adds another state title to their trophy case. 4A Champion: Wagoner <hr /> CLASS 3A JACOB: Berryhill VS Holland Hall These two teams are in the same district and both have a lot to prove in 2020. Holland Hall must prove that they can keep up with new opponents this year as they transition to 3a, and Berryhill needs to show that they have moved on from last season and have forgotten about their 39 game regular season win streak that was broken at the end of 2019, and they must also prove that they are more than just a regular season team as they have failed to make it out of the second round of the playoffs the last two season. I believe both teams will prove themselves and then some with Berryhill coming out on top for the title. 3A Champion: Berryhill MICHAEL: Heritage Hall VS Holland Hall This isn’t going to make the "public vs private" argument go away anytime soon. But for 2020, these two teams appear to be the best in 3A football. Heritage Hall is going to come into this season with a big chip on their shoulder after beat up in the semifinals a year ago. Holland Hall does have a big challenge of moving up to 3A but they return nearly everyone. Led by [player_tooltip player_id="38533" first="Owen" last="Ostroski"], the Dutch have a team that can play with anyone in 3A. And on the other side, the Chargers have a wealth of talent returning which is bad news for the rest of the class. Similar to my logic with the Jenks and Carl Albert picks, Heritage Hall hasn’t been in the business of losing titles. 3A Champion: Heritage Hall <hr /> CLASS 2A JACOB: Jones VS Vian This class will be very competitive this season and will end with [player_tooltip player_id="38579" first="Javyn" last="Wright"] and [player_tooltip player_id="38671" first="Carson" last="May"] battling for the state title in December. However, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Jones’ stacked offense doesn’t come out on top in this one. With under the radar stars such as [player_tooltip player_id="38544" first="Korbin" last="Cox"] and [player_tooltip player_id="38528" first="Elijah" last="Reed"], Vian and the rest of 2A will have their work cut out for them this season. 2A Champion: Jones MICHAEL: Millwood VS Vian I like Jacob’s pick but I’m going with a different team out of that district. Instead of Jones, I’m going with Millwood to square off with Vian for the title. Vian makes it back to the championship game and you know the Wolverines will be thinking unfinished business all year after falling to Metro last year. For Millwood, the Falcons have absolutely reloaded and are once again one of the best teams in Oklahoma. Millwood contends for the title this year, but they’ll certainly be in the conversation for the next few years with their young talent. However, Vian’s defense, led by [player_tooltip player_id="38502" first="Solomon" last="Wright"] is going to be too tough and we like the Wolverines to bring home the gold ball 2A Champion: Vian <hr /> CLASS A JACOB: Pawhuska VS Ringling Ringling comes into this season as the defending champs in class A with a great chance at repeating this season, but to do so they will have to take down a bunch of capable contenders including Pawhuska who has improved vastly over the last three seasons. With the help of North Texas Commit [player_tooltip player_id="38509" first="Bryce" last="Drummond"] and an experienced set of WRs and defenders, Pawhuska has the chance this year to win it’s first state title in school history just three years after going 0-10. If they can stay healthy, I think Drummond has the skill set to will his team to a lot of victories this season. Class A Champion: Pawhuska MICHAEL: Cashion VS Thomas Similar to Class 4A, I actually think Pawhuska and Cashion would be the two best teams come playoff time. But if it plays out that way and they win their district, they won’t face off in the title game. So we’ll take Cashion to come out on top and make it back to the championship game. On the other side of the bracket, it’s hard to pick against defending champion Ringling. And if they replicate what they did defensively last year, they’ll be defending that title. But we’ll go with Thomas to make a trip back to the championship game. Coincidentally, these two teams square off in non-district play. I like Cashion in September, and we like them again in December. Class A Champion: Cashion <hr /> CLASS B JACOB: Shattuck VS Davenport Class B Champion: Davenport MICHAEL: Dewar VS Shattuck Class B Champion: Dewar <hr /> CLASS C JACOB: Buffalo VS Sasakwa Class C Champion: Buffalo MICHAEL: Buffalo VS Fox Class C Champion: Buffalo