Scouting Report – Bixby

Bixby’s 39th win in a row came over a very good Stillwater squad. In the end, the rushing attack and stout defense of the Spartans proved to just be too much for the Pioneers. Take a look at the recap <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/09/free-bixby-routs-visiting-stillwater/">HERE</a>, then come back here for a closer look at some individual stars on this squad. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="38679" first="Braylin" last="Presley"] - 2022 Running Back</strong></span> The No. 8-ranked player in the state definitely looked it on Friday night. Any list of top players from the Bixby vs. Stillwater match-up has to start with Braylin. He just made it look so easy. The 5’9" future OSU Cowboy is a handful for any defense. He uses his size - or relative lack thereof - to hide behind his blockers until the moment he emerges and faces off with players at the second level. Those unfortunate players saw a bevy of moves from the No. 2-ranked running back in the 2022 class as he "broke ankles" and left defenders in his wake. Presley is shifty, next-level fast and tough as nails. Bixby’s entire offense is predicated on his ability to move the ball consistently and though it took a little while to get it going in the game, eventually Braylin showed why he has earned accolade after accolade during his career with the Spartans. Coming into the game, he was averaging under 100 yards rushing in the previous two games. That all changed with a massive 233 yard rushing game and three touchdowns - plus one more receiving. If this big game is the catalyst for the rest of Bixby’s season, teams are in really big trouble. <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0829-crop-4813x3161-1632156483.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-204158" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0829-crop-4813x3161-1632156483-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></p> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="197182" first="Miles" last="Hill"] - 2022 Linebacker</strong></span> Hill worked as an OLB/Edge Rusher and had way too much speed for the tackles of Stillwater. He blasted around the edge and got to QB [player_tooltip player_id="157517" first="Gage" last="Gundy"] before anybody even realized what was happening. Miles is a workout warrior who is incredibly strong (445 lb. squat) and an absolute menace on defense. He racked up five and a half tackles and two and a half sacks against the Pioneers and was a HUGE part of what the Spartans did defensively. What they did was allow only 260 yards of total offense and nine total first downs in the game. Gundy took a beating and despite being a very, very good quarterback, he was held to only 10 of 25 passing as he spent most of the game seemingly running for his life. So much of what Hill does coming off the line is done before even contacting the opposing lineman as he jukes, spins, clubs... does whatever it takes to get there. Hill is a defensive menace and definitely one to watch. <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/09/a-298-crop-4813x3161-1632155975.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-204148" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/09/a-298-crop-4813x3161-1632155975-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></p> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="193013" first="Christian" last="Burke"] - 2022 Quarterback</strong></span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="197183" first="Connor" last="Kirby"] - 2023 Quarterback</strong></span> Bixby has a two-headed monster at quarterback and Christian-Connor Burke-Kirby is it’s name. Wait, that’s awful. How about C.C. Burby? Connian Kurky? I don’t know, I’ll come up with something. The point is, the two of these guys together are absolutely deadly. As I watched and noticed that Bixby was about 90% more likely to run the ball with one of them in, I thought "man, this is kind of predictable." Well, you can be predictable when even if the defense knows what’s coming, they are powerless to do anything against it. Burke can sling it. He went 20-for-30 with 204 yards and two TD’s. Kirby can also sling it (2-for-2 with 28 yards), but it is his running that is absolutely deadly. The second leading rusher on a team that can obviously move the ball on the ground, Burke ended up with 86 yards on 15 carries. Both guys run what looks like a read option running (and passing) game and both look to be very good at it. Burke has great pocket presence and a very strong arm. He should be playing somewhere next season. Kirby is a tall, strong and a forceful runner. In an offense like the one at West Point, Kirby would be absolutely deadly. <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0553-crop-5609x3683-1632156156.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-204151" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0553-crop-5609x3683-1632156156-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0796-crop-4813x3161-1632156339.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-204154" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0796-crop-4813x3161-1632156339-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></p>