Week Five Top Ten Games
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Every Tuesday, we take a look at the top ten match-up’s across Oklahoma. It’s week five and as the calendar flips to October, these games are going to start heating up. This week’s games are headlined by several match-up’s featuring top teams, with the main event taking place in 6A-1 as Broken Arrow hosts defending state champ Jenks. Plus many more games all across Oklahoma highlight what should be an exciting week five!
1) #1 JENKS (3-1) AT #5 BROKEN ARROW (2-2)
In our game of the week for week five, it’s defending champ Jenks, who just jumped up into the number one spot in 6A-1, traveling to Broken Arrow. This game is obviously a big one for several reasons as it’s a top five match-up and it’ll have big district standing implications. However, arguably the most underrated storyline is a simple one for Broken Arrow. It’s home sweet home for the Tigers. Broken Arrow played their first four games away from home. Even their scrimmage and mini game in August was on the road. So while the wait was long, Broken Arrow will be more than happy to be playing in front of the home fans for the first time in 2021. Now the team on the other side is the top ranked and defending champion Jenks Trojans. The Trojans come in after winning their last two in impressive fashion. Freshman quarterback Shaker Reisig Shaker Reisig 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Union | 2025 State OK is backing up all the hype he had coming into the season and the Trojans also feature a defensive unit that might be one of the best in Oklahoma. The Tigers aren’t low on talent but Friday night will be a tough test.
2) #2 VERDIGRIS (4-0) AT #6 BERRYHILL (3-1)
This district is without a doubt the toughest district in Class 3A in our opinion. It features #1 Holland Hall, #2 Verdigris and #6 Berryhill. #2 and #6 will square off on Friday night as Verdigris travels to the Tulsa area to face off with the Chiefs. Berryhill bounced back after a week three blowout loss to 4A’s Cushing. Verdigris is 4-0 and after a close call with Victory Christian, they blew out Jay in week four. The Cardinals come in with a two-headed monster in the backfield at running back. They have two players with over 300 rushing yards this season. This is an incredibly balanced and talented Verdigris team and the majority of their talent is in the 2023 class. The Cardinals are not only contenders this year, but they might be heavy favorites in 2022. Before we start talking about that, they have Berryhill on Friday night. This is a Berryhill team that is getting back to normal after a very strange 2020 season that had several cancellations throughout. The winner here keeps their district title hopes alive while the loser will have a tall mountain to climb.
3) #5 CARL ALBERT (2-2) AT #7 GUTHRIE (4-0)
In the 2000’s and the early 2010’s, this game would be a no-brainer for game of the week and it was one of the top rivalries in Oklahoma. However, Carl Albert has owned Class 5A for the last five years and Guthrie hasn’t been close to challenging the Titans in this head to head clash. 2021 certainly feels different and almost similar to what we felt about a decade ago. Guthrie has been dominant to start their 2021 season and the strength has certainly been on the defensive side of the ball. The Blue Jays shut out their first two opponents and their closest game was a 21-point victory last week against Piedmont. But Friday night’s test against the five-time defending state champion Titans is without a doubt the biggest measuring stick game you could ask for. Carl Albert started off the year 0-2 against rivals Midwest City and Del City. But the Titans have been rolling in the last two weeks. We’re very excited to see this once great rivalry back in the headlines coming up this week. The Blue Jays can make a very loud statement with a win on Friday.
4) #9 DEER CREEK (3-1) AT #7 PUTNAM CITY NORTH (3-1)
Deer Creek already had our attention coming into district play after starting the season with a 3-0 record. However, nearly upsetting Stillwater and going to double overtime with the Pioneers certainly should have woken up anyone else who isn’t taking this Deer Creek team seriously in 2021. The Antlers are legitimate playoff contenders which makes this district even deeper as we head further into district play. A team that we thought was a lock for a playoff spot was Putnam City North. However, now it could be much more complicated and Friday night’s contest could decide who’s in and who’s out in November. Putnam City North is off to a 3-1 start and the Panthers have looked good ever since their early season loss. They absolutely blew out U.S. Grant to open up district play last week but Friday’s test against Deer Creek will provide a serious test for the Panthers. The Panthers and Antlers both have strong quarterback play from Carson Laverty Carson Laverty 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Coweta | 2023 State OK and Brett Pense Brett Pense 6'2" | QB Deer Creek | 2022 State OK respectively. We expect another close and competitive game Friday.
5) #8 DEL CITY (3-1) AT #4 STILLWATER (3-1) (Thurs.)
Week five’s marquee games get kicked off on Thursday as Stillwater plays host to Del City in what should be a massive game in that district. In addition to Deer Creek and PC North, this match-up on Thursday night will have district standing implications throughout the rest of the season. Stillwater bounced back from their loss to Bixby by surviving an upset scare from Deer Creek. The Pioneers prevailed in double overtime and they have no time to celebrate as they welcome in a Del City team that makes no secret about what they want to do. The Eagles absolutely housed Northwest Classen in their district opener in week four and they’ll come to Stillwater looking to continue their success within the running game. In fact, both teams are going to want to establish the run first. One of the match-up’s we’ll keep our eye on is the Stillwater offensive line going against the Del City defensive line. Both teams have some absolute dudes in those positions and you’re going to see some hard hitting and some big collisions on Thursday night.
6) #4 CLINTON (2-1) AT #10 CHICKASHA (3-1)
Let’s see if Chickasha can do it again. The Fightin’ Chicks jumped up into the top ten over the weekend after upsetting Weatherford in week four. We told you time and time again back in July that this district in 4A could be the most entertaining and unpredictable district in the state and it didn’t take long to start producing chaos. This game could end up being one of the quickest games on Friday night as both teams are very run-oriented. Chickasha has a very talented 2023 running back in Malek Murphy Malek Murphy 6'0" | RB Chickasha | 2023 State OK and Clinton will counter with star quarterback Caden Powell Caden Powell 6'3" | 210 lbs | LB Clinton | 2022 State OK who has directed this Clinton offense for the last several years. Both teams have non-district losses that they’ve bounced back from. Because this district is so unpredictable and could end up being chaotic, every game is incredibly important. Another game within this district to keep an eye on is Bethany hosting undefeated Elk City. We tried to warn you back in July that this district would be a fun one to watch, unless you’re one of the schools within the district.
7) #8 NORMAN NORTH (3-1) AT #3 OWASSO (3-1)
We’ll be honest here, we thought that both of these teams would be meeting this week with 4-0 records. Both Norman North and Owasso are coming off losses in the district openers and they happened in very different fashions. Norman North lost by a single point in a shootout with Mustang where they combined for nearly 100 points. Then Owasso lost to Union in overtime and the Rams only scored 7 points after averaging 40+ points per game in their first three victories. As we come into week five, this game becomes incredibly important as the loser can all but kiss goodbye an opportunity at winning the district title and potentially having a home playoff game. We could end up seeing another shootout in this one as both teams can really air it out. Owasso’s passing attack is in bounce back mode after being grounded in the week four loss to Union. Meanwhile, Norman North senior quarterback Gavin Frakes Gavin Frakes 6'4" | 210 lbs | QB Norman North | 2022 State OK , a Princeton commit, hasn’t been contained yet this year. It won’t surprise us at all if this one turns into a shootout.
8) #3 WASHINGTON (4-0) AT #10 BETHEL (4-0)
We’re looking forward to this one as #3 Washington travels to face newly ranked Bethel on Friday night. #10 Bethel jumped into the top ten after starting off the year 4-0 and they’ve looked impressive in the first month of the season. We really feel like the Wildcats could give Washington a scare in this district that they’ve dominated. Bethel has a very balanced attack on the offensive side of the ball and a defense with playmakers everywhere. We also like the balance of youth and experience that they have on both sides of the ball that could give opponents some serious problems. For Washington, the Warriors have picked up right where they left off last year when they made it all the way to the state championship game. The Warriors are 4-0 and have also looked great so far this season. Like Bethel, Washington has a nice mix of youth and experience and we don’t expect the Warriors to have any kind of drop off anytime soon. Like nearly all of the games on this list, this game will go a long way to deciding playoff seeding in November.
9) #4 HERITAGE HALL (4-0) AT #10 PERKINS-TRYON (3-1)
Can anyone challenge Heritage Hall before the playoffs? The Chargers have absolutely dominated their way through the first month of the season but their first district challenge comes on Friday night as they travel to Perkins to face Perkins-Tryon. The Demons are 3-1 and the offense has looked really good under senior quarterback Gunnar Thrash Gunnar Thrash 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Perkins-Tryon | 2022 State OK . However, Heritage Hall has looked like the unbeatable Chargers that we were used to seeing a few years ago. The Chargers have won their four games by an average margin of nearly 30 points per game. Nobody has really given the Chargers a true test for all four quarters. That could change on Friday night as they travel to face the Demons. Or, if Heritage Hall wins in another rout, they might just not be tested until they get into the playoffs and start playing the other top teams within 3A football. No Heritage Hall defender has been able to figure out a way to contain senior superstar Gavin Freeman Gavin Freeman 5'10" | WR Heritage Hall | 2022 State OK so for Perkins-Tryon to pull off the upset, that has to be the first step to pulling off the win.
10) CHANDLER (2-2) AT #2 JONES (2-2)
While the biggest game in Class 2A is Bethel hosting Washington in a battle of unbeaten teams, don’t overlook this match-up of 2-2 teams as Jones hosts Chandler in a big district clash. Both Chandler and Jones have had some hurdles earlier in the season because of tough non-district schedules. However, Jones has won two in a row and Chandler is coming off a big win over Crossings Christian. And when it comes to this district, it is guaranteed that this game will go a long way to deciding playoff seeding later on this year and it could eventually decide the district champ. Friday’s contest will be a clash of styles as Jones wants to air it out behind their senior standout Carson May Carson May 6'5" | QB Jones | 2022 State OK , an Iowa quarterback commit. Meanwhile, Chandler will look to use a two-man rushing attack with their quarterback and junior star running back Casmen Hill Casmen Hill 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB Chandler | 2023 State OK . May and Hill are two of our favorite Class 2A standouts and if you haven’t gotten a chance to see them in person, don’t miss out because they’ll be putting on a show on Friday night.