Scene Setter: Bixby VS Owasso

Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!   The 2022 football season is finally upon us! While some teams have their final tune up scrimmages this week, it's officially week zero and for a large amount of schools across the state, they open up their seasons this week. Every single Wednesday on Prep Redzone Oklahoma, we'll have our weekly Scene Setter post, taking an in-depth look at the top game that week across Oklahoma. We look at the match-up and some of the big keys and look at the top players for both sides. Be sure to check back every Wednesday for our weekly Scene Setter and also follow us on Twitter <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneOK" data-type="URL" data-id="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneOK" target="_blank">@PrepRedzoneOK</a> to follow along during the game!   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" />   #3 BIXBY VS #4 OWASSO - Thursday @ TU's Chapman Stadium   GAME PREVIEW   It's been labeled as the “Battle Of The Burbs” with #3 Bixby squaring off with #4 Owasso at TU's Chapman Stadium on Thursday night. The Spartans bring in a 49-game winning streak and begin their trek into 6A-1 while Owasso looks to immediately pop Bixby's bubble. The Spartans will have a familiar name to Owasso fans as former Owasso starting quarterback will be one of two quarterbacks that get playing time on Thursday night. Both teams expect to be in the state championship conversation come November and December and this could very well be the first of two meetings between the two Tulsa-area powers. Either the Rams make history and snap the streak or the streak reaches 50.   Both coaches in the match-up understand the magnitude of a big season opener but in the big picture, it is just week zero and there is so much football to be played, no matter what happens on Thursday night. Both teams will look to limit turnovers and unforced errors that could end up costing them. Owasso head coach Bill Blankenship mentioned with both teams having quite a few new faces, it will be important to not give up the big play. Younger teams have harder times putting together lengthy drives. Meanwhile Bixby head coach Loren Montgomery mentioned the pressures that come along with playing at Bixby with their lengthy winning streak. But he discussed how "pressure is a privilege" and he's learned that once the game begins and that first game happens, all the outside noise and hype going into a big game goes away and the players are just playing football.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" />   BIXBY PLAYERS TO WATCH   [player_tooltip player_id='51037' first='Austin' last='Havens'] & [player_tooltip player_id='197183' first='Connor' last='Kirby'] - 2023 Quarterbacks   One of the biggest storylines going into this game will be the quarterback position for Bixby. Last week, 2023 quarterbacks [player_tooltip player_id='51037' first='Austin' last='Havens'] and [player_tooltip player_id='197183' first='Connor' last='Kirby'] split snaps and that is the plan as the Spartans go into their game with the Rams. Havens started for Owasso in the last two seasons and he's now on the other side of this marquee match-up. Havens is definitely more of a pocket passer, although he can run the ball. Meanwhile Kirby saw plenty of time last year at quarterback but he almost exclusively ran the ball. Kirby has made a big jump as a quarterback and passer this offseason so the Spartans have two very capable guys at the position.   [player_tooltip player_id='91881' first='Dylan' last='Hasz'] - 2023 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back   Bixby has some very talented players but arguably the most important player is 2023 wide receiver and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='91881' first='Dylan' last='Hasz']. The Arkansas commit is mainly a safety but he'll also be a playmaker for the Spartans on the offensive side of the ball. Montgomery talked about Hasz being one of the smartest players on the team and the impact he has on both sides of the ball is so important. In last year's championship run, some of Hasz's best performances were in the biggest games of the year. As Owasso's offense looks to be balanced, Hasz leads an incredibly experienced secondary into the match-up and they look to shut down the Owasso passing game.   [player_tooltip player_id='157509' first='Jersey' last='Robb'] - 2023 Running Back/Linebacker   You don't lose a player like Braylin Presley to graduation and just plug in a new star running back. The Spartans will use a couple guys at the running back position but one familiar face will be 2023 running back and linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='157509' first='Jersey' last='Robb'], who's been a big part of the Spartans over the last two seasons. Two years ago, Robb was more of the short yard specialist and he reminds Montgomery of former Bixby standout Nic Roller, who was a power runner during their first three state titles nearly a decade ago. Robb will split carries but the Spartans expect him to be a big part of the offense this fall. He's also a standout at the linebacker position.   [player_tooltip player_id='55156' first='Luke' last='Hasz'] - 2023 Tight End   Whoever is lining up under center at quarterback will have the benefit of having one of the top tight ends in the country on his side of the ball. 2023 tight end and Arkansas commit [player_tooltip player_id='55156' first='Luke' last='Hasz'] is one of the biggest mismatch players in Oklahoma today. Hasz is too big for opposing linebackers and defensive backs and he has incredibly reliable hands to go along with his deceiving speed. Hasz enjoyed a breakout sophomore season and the Spartans will look to replicate his success he had in 2020. Hasz is one of the top prospects in Oklahoma's 2023 class and has earned All American honors already. Owasso's defense will need to know where he is at all times.   MORE NAMES TO KNOW   [player_tooltip player_id='194066' first='Brody' last='Duffel'] - 2024 Offensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='194065' first='Cale' last='Fugate'] - 2023 Defensive Back Hank Puckett - 2024 Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='98179' first='Jakeb' last='Snyder'] - 2023 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back [player_tooltip player_id='1005117' first='Jett' last='Turner'] - 2024 Running Back/Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='116023' first='Joshua' last='Newkirk'] - 2023 Athlete [player_tooltip player_id='110743' first='Kordell' last='Gouldsby'] - 2024 Athlete [player_tooltip player_id='115219' first='Tyson' last='Williams'] - 2023 Defensive Back   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" />   OWASSO PLAYERS TO WATCH   [player_tooltip player_id='45651' first='Cole' last='Adams'] - 2023 Wide Receiver   Like Bixby with TE [player_tooltip player_id='55156' first='Luke' last='Hasz'], the Rams also have a top five overall prospect in the state's 2023 class with wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='45651' first='Cole' last='Adams']. The Alabama commit has been a playmaker since his freshman season. He's going into his fourth year as a starter and he'll definitely have everyone's attention this fall as Owasso's top playmaker on offense. This could end up being the top match-up in Thursday's game as Owasso's best player is Adams, while Bixby's strength on defense is their secondary. If Adams can still have success against a very talented and experienced secondary for the Spartans, the Rams will have a good shot to end Bixby's streak.   [player_tooltip player_id='425427' first='Luke' last='Harris'] - 2023 Running Back   Last week in their scrimmage victory over Springdale Har-Ber, the Rams had a new playmaker emerge on the offensive side of the ball with 2023 running back [player_tooltip player_id='425427' first='Luke' last='Harris']. With fellow 2023 RB [player_tooltip player_id='38786' first='Emery' last='Neeley'] sitting out due to an injury, Harris ended up taking the majority of the carries and he ended up scoring three touchdowns. Neeley will not be available in the game against Bixby so Harris will get another workload on Thursday night. The Spartans have a relatively young and inexperienced front seven so Owasso establishing the run game will be important on Thursday night. Harris will look to have the kind of success he had last week in the mini game.   [player_tooltip player_id='38821' first='Mason' last='Willingham'] - 2023 Quarterback   Owasso 2023 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='38821' first='Mason' last='Willingham'] replaced Havens as QB1 for the Rams late last season and he's made a massive jump as a quarterback this offseason. Willingham came to Owasso after starting for Skiatook during his freshman and sophomore seasons. Willingham was mainly used last year as a rushing threat from the quarterback position. But Blankenship has really liked how Willingham has grown as a passer and he definitely has a better understanding of the Owasso offense as they go into this season. Blankenship also noted that since Willingham became the starter, his whole demeanor changed and he embraced the opportunity.   [player_tooltip player_id='47158' first='Tyler' last='Rich'] - 2023 Defensive Lineman   One of the more experienced players returning on the Owasso defense is 2023 defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='47158' first='Tyler' last='Rich']. He's been a standout at defensive tackle since his sophomore season. He's one of the lone returning starters and the Rams will definitely want him to set the tone along the line of scrimmage. Bixby's offense will probably lean to the running game early on in the season and Rich and the Owasso front seven will have their work cut out for them against a very physical running game. Rich has been one of the top defensive tackle prospects in the state's 2023 class for a while now and this could end up being a huge senior season in terms of his ability to play at the next level.   MORE NAMES TO KNOW   Anthony Hills - 2023 Wide Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='350246' first='Blake' last='Cherry'] - 2025 Offensive Lineman Braeden Foster - 2023 Linebacker Eli'Sha Malveaux - 2023 Linebacker Jake Adams - 2023 Defensive Back [player_tooltip player_id='122241' first='J'Kharri' last='Thomas'] - 2024 Wide Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='350245' first='Ryker' last='Haff'] - 2025 Offensive Lineman Tariek Johnson - 2025 Athlete   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" />   Be sure to stay tuned to Prep Redzone Oklahoma on the web and on Twitter throughout the game and throughout the weekend. You can follow us on Twitter <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.twitter.com/PrepRedzoneOK" target="_blank">@PrepRedzoneOK</a> to follow along during the game with game updates. And following the game, we'll have scouting reports on both teams and postgame interviews with the winning squad.

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