Class 3A Championship Preview

Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!   The Class 3A state championship game is set for Thursday night at 7PM in Edmond as #2 Metro Christian will face off with #3 Heritage Hall. Metro Christian is looking to finish off a perfect season while Heritage Hall is seeking their first title since 2018. In this post, we're taking a more in-depth look at this match-up. From how they got here to the biggest keys to the game and even a championship pick, we'll get you ready for Thursday's showdown. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma for more 3A state championship content before, during and following the game on Thursday night!   IN CASE YOU MISSED IT   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/11/class-3a-title-first-look/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/11/class-3a-title-first-look/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">- 3A Title First Look</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/11/3a-state-heritage-hall-players-to-watch/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/11/3a-state-heritage-hall-players-to-watch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">- Heritage Hall Players To Watch</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/11/3a-state-metro-christian-players-to-watch/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/11/3a-state-metro-christian-players-to-watch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">- Metro Christian Players To Watch</a>   HOW THEY GOT HERE   #2 Metro Christian Patriots (13-0)   Sept. 2 – Beat NOAH 41-9 Sept. 9 – Beat Poteau 35-31 Sept. 16 – Beat Prairie Grove, AR. 41-21 Sept. 23 – Beat Mount Saint Mary 50-14 Sept. 30 – Beat Perkins-Tryon 63-28 Oct. 7 – Beat McLoud 35-0 Oct. 13 – Beat Kingfisher 42-7 Oct. 21 – Beat Mannford 55-6 Oct. 28 – Beat Anadarko 45-6 Nov. 4 – Beat North Rock Creek 41-12 1st Round – Beat Pauls Valley 41-14 Quarterfinals – Beat Cascia Hall 49-19 Semifinals – Beat Lincoln Christian 49-35   After several seasons in Class 2A, including state championships in 2019 and 2020, #2 Metro Christian moved up to Class 3A this season and immediately became a top five team. They also are the last unbeaten team in 3A football and are looking for a third title in four seasons. They began the year by getting a dramatic road win over Poteau in week two. We should have known then that senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='38790' first='Kirk' last='Francis'] was destined for a big year as he led the Patriots to a big win early. The Patriots then dominated their district and would not get any kind of challenge until they ran into top-ranked Lincoln Christian in the semifinals. The final score was 49-35 but the Patriots were never in danger last week. Lincoln turned the ball over early and that put the Bulldogs in a hole they would not be able to overcome. Now, Metro is one win away from a perfect season and another gold ball but standing in the way is Heritage Hall.   #3 Heritage Hall Chargers (12-1)   Sept. 1 – Beat Millwood 35-28 Sept. 9 – Lost To Clinton 28-7 Sept. 16 – Beat John Marshall 43-0 Sept. 23 – Beat Lone Grove 56-14 Sept. 30 – Beat Pauls Valley 56-20 Oct. 7 – Beat Douglass 41-8 Oct. 13 – Beat Dickson 58-20 Oct. 21 – Beat Plainview 50-14 Oct. 28 – Beat Sulphur 41-6 Nov. 3 – Beat Marlow 31-7 1st Round – Beat Anadarko 42-14 Quarterfinals – Beat Stigler 55-23 Semifinals – Beat Verdigris 41-20   #3 Heritage Hall has returned to the state championship game for the first time since winning it in 2018. After three straight years of falling to Lincoln Christian in the semifinals in frustrating fashion, the Chargers are finally back playing for a gold ball. They opened the season in week one on a muddy field in Oklahoma City with a close win over Millwood, who is in the 2A semifinals this week. The following week, they would lose in surprising fashion to Clinton. The Chargers wouldn't lose again. They wouldn't be challenged again really until they faced off with Verdigris in the semifinals last week. After the return of senior star [player_tooltip player_id='155875' first='River' last='Faulkner'] in week four, the Chargers started hitting their stride. They had a three week stretch to close the regular season with decisive wins over Plainview, Sulphur and Marlow. The Chargers expected to make a trip to Edmond this season and now they are one win away from adding another gold ball to their growing collection.   HOW THEY MATCH UP   These two programs looked rather dominant in the semifinals a week ago. All top four teams in Class 3A advanced to the semifinals and these are the two that came out on top with #2 Metro Christian facing #3 Heritage Hall. Both teams will look to pick up where they left off last week. But the game plans will be somewhat different for Heritage Hall. Last week, their main goal was to block well and keep Verdigris' linebackers out of the backfield. They did just that. This week, their offense has to extend drives and try to avoid getting into a shootout with Metro Christian.   For Metro Christian, they are going to lean on that passing attack that has lit up opponents all season. Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='38790' first='Kirk' last='Francis'] has been flawless throughout the year but there's no doubt that Heritage Hall's defense will provide a strong challenge. They're experienced, they're talented, and they're ready to do what no other team has been able to do this season. The Patriots will continue to bend but not break on the defensive side of the ball. And that's what could make the difference between winning and losing. If the Patriots can win the time of possession battle, they'll have a very strong shot at a third title in four seasons.   The Chargers are going to lean on the running game but make no mistake about it, this is a team that can throw the ball if you commit to stopping the run. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='207182' first='Andy' last='Bass'] can beat defenses with his legs or his arm and he's proven that so far this season. Both teams have two-way senior stars at running back with Heritage Hall's [player_tooltip player_id='155875' first='River' last='Faulkner'] and Metro Christian's [player_tooltip player_id='38802' first='Tagg' last='Campbell']. We can almost guarantee that at least one, if not both, of these guys will make a big play or two on Thursday night.   Both head coaches believe that in a match-up like this, a punt or better yet, a three and out is as good as forcing a turnover. Both teams are going to score so this game will more than likely come down to who gets stops. Based on what each team wants to do in Thursday's game, it would seem apparent that if this game ends up being a shootout, that will favor Metro Christian and their high-powered offense. If it's a low-scoring affair, Heritage Hall will more than likely be in a good position. These two teams are so evenly matched and spoiler alert, we're already dreading making a prediction on who wins this game and we're not even to that part of the article yet.   MATCH-UP HISTORY   This is actually somewhat notable as Heritage Hall and Metro Christian haven't met in four decades. They've only met one time ever and that was when Metro Christian beat Heritage Hall 13-7 in 1983. Despite both teams being two of the best programs in the last decade, they've never crossed paths in the playoffs. A lot of that has to do with the fact that both teams have been moved around the various classes over the last decade. Heritage Hall has spent the majority of the last ten years in Class 3A, but also spent a couple seasons in Class 4A. Metro Christian has played in 2A, 3A and 4A over the last decade. Despite a lack of history between these two teams, they are very familiar with one another. And Class 3A has become familiar with private school dominance. This is the third straight year that the 3A championship features two private schools.   CRYSTAL BALL   Metro Christian Over Heritage Hall   Full disclosure right from the jump, we are not confident in this pick at all. Out of the five state championship games this weekend, this one and the 6A-2 game are the toughest to pick a winner. Both teams are so evenly matched and we don't have much of a lean one way or the other in terms of who wins it. And this might just be recency bias and we'll openly admit that considering we just saw Metro Christian take care of Lincoln Christian, who was our favorite to win Class 3A when the playoffs began. Both teams have good arguments for why they are going to win on Thursday night. But when it comes down to making a pick, we're leaning to [player_tooltip player_id='38790' first='Kirk' last='Francis'] and the Patriots. As we mentioned above, if this game is a shootout, that favors Metro Christian. If it's a low-scoring game, that favors Heritage Hall. And we think it's more likely to be a shootout so we'll take Metro in this one, with absolutely no confidence.

Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!