1st Round Top Performers
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The first round of the playoffs is in the books and we saw quite a few big performances that stood out across the state. Every Sunday throughout the year, we put a spotlight on some of the top performers from across Oklahoma. Throughout the playoffs, that will remain the same. Be sure to check back with Prep Redzone Oklahoma every Sunday for a new batch of top performers! To submit your pick for top performers each week, be sure to tweet at us @PrepRedzoneOK following the games or email Michael@PrepRedzone.com with your pick and that player’s stat line!
STATS: 304 Rushing Yards | 3 Rushing Touchdowns | 158 Passing Yards | 1 Passing Touchdown
We mentioned in our Class A preview on Friday that Wynnewood sophomore Caden Knighten Caden Knighten 6’1″ | 180 lbs | RB Wynnewood | 2025 State OK was not only a player to watch, he was one of the best players in the state. He played like it on Friday night and the Savages needed him to as they avoided an upset, beating Minco 26-20. Knighten would run for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns but it was what he did with his arm that moved the Savages on to the next round. With less than a minute to play, Knighten would throw what would be the game-winning touchdown while many expected him to run. The Savages now move on and will face Hooker in the next round.
STATS: 28 Carries | 208 Yards | 3 Touchdowns | 7 Tackles
On a night where a lot of running backs had workhorse performances because of the weather, Verdigris senior standout Caden Parnell Caden Parnell 5’11” | 180 lbs | RB Verdigris | 2023 State OK was part of that list. The Verdigris senior would run for just over 200 yards on 28 carries and would reach the end zone three times on the night. He also finished with seven tackles on the defensive side of the ball and several pass breakups as the Cardinals would shut out Berryhill in impressive fashion. Parnell and the Cardinals now turn their attention to Perkins-Tryon, a team that was also dominant in the opening round on Friday night. Parnell and this Verdigris senior group is determined to go out on top.
STATS: 7 Catches | 178 Yards | 4 Touchdowns
4A’s number one ranked Cushing had no problems in their first round victory over Broken Bow. The Tigers rolled once again on the offensive side of the ball and it seems like each and every week, we have someone from that explosive offense on the top performer this list. You could have flipped a coin between seniors Camden Crooks Camden Crooks 6’0″ | 190 lbs | WR Cushing | 2023 State OK and Blaze Berlowitz Blaze Berlowitz 6’3″ | 195 lbs | QB Cushing | 2023 State OK . The coin came up on the receiver over the quarterback for this week. In their blowout win, Crooks finished with just over 175 yards receiving and four touchdowns on the night. The Tigers are determined to capture that state championship and they now move on and will host Blanchard next week.
Highlights
STATS: 19 Carries | 167 Yards | 2 Touchdowns | 21 Tackles
In one of the biggest shootouts of the first round, Piedmont outlasted and outscored district champion Midwest City 60-41. And the Wildcats would complete the district sweep with all four playoff teams from 5A-2 moving on. In their win, as the snow continued to fall, Piedmont’s rushing attack could not be stopped. Leading the way was junior two-way star Cannon Wood Cannon Wood 6’1″ | 215 lbs | ATH Piedmont | 2024 State OK , who finished with 167 yards and a pair of touchdowns on offense. But it’s what Wood did on offense and defense that earned his spot here. On defense, Wood led the Wildcats with 21 tackles on the night. Now, Piedmont hits the road again to face last year’s runner up in McAlester.
Highlights
STATS: 9 Carries | 142 Yards | 3 Touchdowns | 10 Tackles | 81 Yard KR Touchdown
4A contender Poteau would roll over Miami with a 48-14 victory. This game was close early on and then junior standout Dax Collins Dax Collins 6’2″ | 180 lbs | ATH Poteau | 2024 State OK would get loose for a few touchdowns and this one was in the books early on. On offense, Collins finished with nearly 150 yards and three touchdowns on just nine carries on the night. On defense, he finished with ten tackles. And in special teams, Collins would take a kick back to the house on an 81-yard kick return for his fourth touchdown on the night. Collins has established himself as a true impact player in all three phases of the game. Poteau now will host defending champion Clinton next week.
Highlights
STATS: 23 Carries | 304 Yards | 5 Touchdowns | 52 Yard Receiving Touchdown
Grove remained unbeaten with a blowout victory over Sapulpa in the first round. And at this point, we shouldn’t be surprised that senior running back Emmanuel Crawford Emmanuel Crawford 5’10” | 170 lbs | RB Grove | 2023 State OK could not be stopped and he put up some monster numbers once again. Crawford finished with just over 300 yards and five touchdowns in the win over Sapulpa. But Crawford also caught a 52-yard touchdown in the win, giving him over 350 yards of total offense and six touchdowns in the runaway victory. Crawford and the Ridgerunners are clicking on all cylinders right now and they’ll look to continue that momentum when they host Guthrie in the quarterfinals.
STATS: 8 Carries | 224 Yards | 4 Touchdowns
Class A’s top-ranked Gore beat up on Fairland on Friday night as they remained unbeaten on the season. The Pirates scored early and often and senior Jackson Duke Jackson Duke 6’0″ | 180 lbs | ATH Gore | 2023 State OK put up some pretty ridiculous numbers in the win. Duke would run for well over 200 yards and four touchdowns on the night and he only had eight carries. That’s some math that’s easy enough for us to do. He averaged a touchdown every other carry and over 25 yards per carry. But the Pirates now turn their attention to Woodland in the second round. This is a team that has eliminated Gore in each of the last two years, including an upset loss last season.
STATS: 26 Carries | 299 Yards | 4 Touchdowns
Claremore Sequoyah opened up the playoffs with a dominating win over Sperry on Friday night. Senior running back Logan Hattaway Logan Hattaway 5’10” | ATH Claremore Sequoyah | 2023 State OK was another example of a running back that could not be stopped in the opening round Friday night. He ran for nearly 300 yards and four touchdowns while toting the rock 26 times on the night. Claremore Sequoyah is definitely one of the dark horses to keep an eye on in the Class 2A playoffs. Their only loss came to Rejoice Christian back in late September and was by single digits. The Eagles will move on to face district champion Eufaula in the next round.
STATS: 17-21 | 358 Yards | 6 Touchdowns
Lincoln Christian has been the top team in Class 3A all season and they showed it in their opening round win over Bristow. Once again, the starters were mostly out of the game by halftime, a trend that has been around all season for Lincoln Christian. And leading their offense was junior quarterback Luke Milligan Luke Milligan 6’2″ | 185 lbs | QB Lincoln Christian | 2024 State OK , who has become one of the more efficient quarterbacks in the state. On Friday night, the weather didn’t bother Milligan as he threw for over 350 yards and six touchdowns on 17-21 passing. Milligan and the Bulldog offense is clicking on all cylinders and they’ll look to continue that in the quarterfinals when they host Kingfisher.
Highlights
STATS: 9 Carries | 212 Yards | 2 Touchdowns | 1 Receiving Touchdown
Vian had no problems in their first round victory over Spiro. The Wolverines advanced with a 52-7 victory and similar to a few teams who enjoyed blowouts on Friday, they had their starters out by halftime. One of those offensive playmakers is freshman Masyn Wright Masyn Wright 5’11” | 180 lbs | ATH Vian | 2026 State OK , who is having a breakout season this year for the Wolverines. On Friday night, Wright would run for over 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns and he only carried the ball nine times. He also caught a touchdown pass as the Wolverines would roll to the first round win. Now, they turn their attention to a Kiefer team that has been one of the surprise teams in Class 2A this year.
STATS: 41 Carries | 237 Yards | 3 Touchdowns
The Bartlesville sophomore was an absolute workhorse in Bartlesville’s first playoff win since 2015. They would go on the road and knock off Lawton 36-30 in overtime. Wallace carried the Bruins with well over 200 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown in overtime. Wallace would finish the game with 41 carries on the night. He was listed as one of our players to watch in the 6A-2 playoffs coming in and even this performance exceeded our expectations. Now, Bartlesville turns their attention to a district rematch as they’ll hit the road to face off with top-ranked Stillwater. The Pioneers beat the Bruins in week seven.
Highlights
STATS: 43 Carries | 359 Yards | 4 Touchdowns | 55 Yard Receiving Touchdown
There’s no doubt what was the upset of the first round and it was Beggs running away from Rejoice Christian, beating the Eagles 48-28. Beggs lost by 54 points to Rejoice back in September and would send the Eagles home in the first round. Talk about a turnaround. And when we said they ran away from Rejoice, we meant that literally as star running back Red Martel Red Martel 5’11” | 195 lbs | RB Beggs | 2024 State OK could not be contained. He finished with over 350 yards and four touchdowns while carrying the ball 43 times on the night. He also had a 50+ yard receiving touchdown in the win. Martel recently committed to Kansas and showed why he’s one of the best backs in Oklahoma.
Highlights
STATS: 30 Carries | 216 Yards | 2 Touchdowns
Less than a week after committing to Ohio, senior standout Rickey Hunt Jr Rickey Hunt Jr 6’0″ | 175 lbs | RB Millwood | 2023 State OK would go off in Millwood’s playoff opener as they would get challenged by Crossings Christian but would come out on top with a 34-29 victory. Hunt would finish with over 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground and he had 30 carries on the night. Hunt would also continue to show his versatility as he took several snaps from quarterback throughout the night. But the Falcons are moving on because of the ground game. Hunt combined with junior Micho Lavine Micho Lavine 6’3″ | 210 lbs | ATH Millwood | 2024 State OK to run for more than 300 yards on the night. Millwood hosts Lindsay this week in the second round.
STATS: 188 Rushing Yards | 1 Rushing Touchdown | 173 Receiving Yards | 1 Receiving Touchdown | 91 Yard KR Touchdown
The only player on this week’s breakdown from a team that had their season come to an end on Friday night is Lawton senior standout Tyron Amacker Tyron Amacker 6’0″ | 170 lbs | ATH Lawton | 2023 State OK . In that overtime game with Bartlesville, the Wolverines came up short in the extra period. Amacker absolutely went off and continued to show why he’s one of the more versatile offensive weapons in the state. Amacker finished with nearly 200 yards on the ground with a touchdown. He also finished with nearly 175 yards receiving and a touchdown. As if that wasn’t enough, he had an impact on the defensive side of the ball and then had a kick return for a touchdown from 91 yards out.