6A-2 Season In Review
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The 2021 football season has come and gone. Once again, the football season has just flown by. A little over a week removed from the final football games of the 2021 season, we officially begin our postseason coverage. We continue things today with our season in review series. Every day, for the next week, we’ll be taking a look back at the 2021 football season in each class. We continue the series today with Class 6A-2. Stay tuned to Prep Redzone Oklahoma throughout the next three weeks for more postseason coverage. From season in review features, to All State teams and plenty of awards, we’ll have you covered!
STATE CHAMPION
Bixby Spartans
For the fourth consecutive season and seventh out of the last eight years, the Bixby Spartans won it all in Class 6A-2. The Spartans came into this season with all eyes on them after winning the last three state championships and also bringing a 36-game winning streak into the 2021 football season. The Spartans hadn’t lost since their season opener in 2018 when they fell at home to Jenks. Bixby would not only capture another title, they would set the state record for most consecutive wins by an 11-man program with 49, beating Wagoner’s record from the mid-2010’s.
Bixby’s only true test this season came on the road in week one when they beat Jenks 23-15. This was a game that the Spartans actually led 23-0 before the Trojans would rally and had a chance to potentially send the game into overtime but turnovers would doom that rally. Overall, the Spartans would beat their 13 opponents by an average margin of 50 points per game.
The Spartans were the favorites despite having to replace three-year starter Mason Williams at quarterback. Christian Burke Christian Burke 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB Bixby | 2022 State OK would step into that role and the offense would actually be more explosive this season. That’s because Burke had help at QB as the Spartans unleashed junior Connor Kirby Connor Kirby 6'2" | 190 lbs | ATH Bixby | 2023 State OK , who would be used as a jumbo athlete who would give the Spartans another weapon in the running game. As if they needed another weapon with OSU commit and reigning Prep Redzone Oklahoma Player Of The Year Braylin Presley Braylin Presley 5'9" | RB Bixby | 2022 State OK returning at running back.
The Spartans were a special kind of dominant this season and in August, we found out that this would be their last season in 6A-2 as they move up to 6A-1 next season. This move was inevitable for a Bixby community that continues to grow every year. And in their last year, competing in a class that they’ve dominated since it’s creation, Bixby went out on top in dominating fashion. Is this Bixby team one of the best in state history? Yes. Are they THE best in state history? No. But this could be one of the best dynasty runs we’ve seen in state history and they’ll certainly look to continue that next season in 6A-1.
CHAMPIONSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Braylin Presley Braylin Presley 5'9" | RB Bixby | 2022 State OK – 2022 Running Back – Bixby
Not only was Bixby senior running back Braylin Presley Braylin Presley 5'9" | RB Bixby | 2022 State OK the 6A-2 Player Of The Year in 2020, he won our first ever overall award in 2020 as well. He’s back again as a finalist for that award this season and once again as the 6A-2 Player Of The Year after leading Bixby to a fourth consecutive state title and 49 consecutive wins. Presley didn’t put up the kind of numbers he put up last year but he didn’t need to as the Spartans were beating teams by an average margin of 50 points per game. He only played in a handful of games after halftime. And as always, Presley was at his best in the biggest games of the year. Despite not playing near as much, Presley still finished with 27 total touchdowns and was Bixby’s leading rusher and leading receiver on the season. Presley also eclipsed 100 total touchdowns and became the school’s all time leading rusher in the state championship game. Presley has been one of the most electric players in Oklahoma for three seasons now and goes out on top.
BREAKOUT STARS
Aiden Walker
Aiden
Walker
6'0" | LB
Booker T Washington | 2023
State
OK
– 2023 Linebacker – Booker T Washington
Connor Kirby
Connor
Kirby
6'2" | 190 lbs | ATH
Bixby | 2023
State
OK
– 2023 Quarterback – Bixby
Darius Hampton
Darius
Hampton
6'4" | DL
Del City | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Defensive Lineman – Del City
Gage Gundy
Gage
Gundy
6'3" | 200 lbs | QB
Stillwater | 2023
State
OK
– 2023 Quarterback – Stillwater
La’Trell Ray
La’Trell
Ray
5'9" | 165 lbs | RB
Choctaw | 2023
State
OK
– 2023 Running Back – Choctaw
OTHER TOP PLAYERS
Blake Jones
Blake
Jones
5'9" | 180 lbs | RB
Sand Springs | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Running Back – Sand Springs
Brett Pense
Brett
Pense
6'2" | QB
Deer Creek | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Quarterback – Deer Creek
Dylan Hasz
Dylan
Hasz
6'0" | DB
Bixby | 2023
State
OK
– 2023 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back – Bixby
Jack Puckett
Jack
Puckett
6'2" | LB
Bixby | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Linebacker – Bixby
Jacob Sexton
Jacob
Sexton
6'6" | OL
Deer Creek | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Offensive Lineman – Deer Creek
Jaleel Johnson
Jaleel
Johnson
6'5" | 240 lbs | DL
Putnam City North | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Defensive Lineman – Putnam City North
Lathan Boone
Lathan
Boone
6'1" | 175 lbs | QB
Booker T Washington | 2023
State
OK
– 2023 Quarterback – Booker T Washington
Micah Tease
Micah
Tease
6'1" | WR
Booker T Washington | 2023
State
OK
– 2023 Wide Receiver – Booker T Washington
Steele Wasel
Steele
Wasel
6'4" | 210 lbs | QB
Choctaw | 2023
State
OK
– 2023 Quarterback – Choctaw
Ty Pennington
Ty
Pennington
6'1" | QB
Sand Springs | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Quarterback – Sand Springs
TOP STORYLINE
Only One Storyline This Year
The only thing anyone wanted to talk about when it came to 6A-2 football this season was Bixby and their winning streak. Granted, we saw some great things elsewhere in 6A-2 like Deer Creek making their run to the title game. Sand Springs upsetting district champ Del City to make it to the semifinals and many more during the regular season. But at the end of the day, 2021 was all about Bixby and their last dance before moving up to 6A-1 in 2022. From winning their fourth straight gold ball and their seventh in the last eight years, to winning a state record 49 consecutive games with the 49th coming in style with the championship romp of Deer Creek. The Spartans were the heavy favorite to win it all in 6A-2 all season and people began asking not IF Bixby would win, but winning by how much?
EARLY LOOK AT 2022
2022 will begin a new era of 6A-2 football as the four-time defending champion Spartans will take that 49-game winning streak up to Class 6A-1. For the first time since 2017 and for only the second time ever, someone other than Bixby will be raising the 6A-2 gold ball in 2022. In fact, the new era beginning in 6A-2 is much bigger than Bixby leaving. Both reigning district champions are changing classes with Bixby jumping up to 6A-1 and Del City dropping down to Class 5A. The new top dogs in 6A-2 as of now appear to be Booker T Washington, Choctaw and Stillwater. However, we saw teams like Deer Creek and Sand Springs make runs while Muskogee also had a very young team. One thing is for sure, 6A-2 will be more competitive in 2022 with the dominating Spartans moving on up.