6A-1 State Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New year, new class, same results. For the ninth straight year, the Bixby Spartans played for a state championship in early December. For the eighth time in that span, they were raising a gold ball by the end of the night. Bixby took down Owasso in dominant fashion with a 69-6 beat down of the Rams underneath the lights of what has become their second home in Edmond at UCO. Bixby's win gave them a fifth consecutive state championship and their first since moving up to 6A-1 after eight years of dominance in 6A-2. For the complete game recap, <strong><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/12/bixbys-dynasty-continues-in-6a-1/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/12/bixbys-dynasty-continues-in-6a-1/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a></strong>. In this post, we're taking an in-depth look at the top performers from Friday night's game from both sides, and there were plenty of them on the offensive side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["197183"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"There probably isn't another player in the state of Oklahoma this year that has made a greater improvement than Bixby senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='197183' first='Connor' last='Kirby']. The Bixby signal caller has transformed himself from an athlete playing quarterback to a quarterback who happens to be a good athlete. And there is a difference. On Friday night, Kirby helped lead the Spartans to another title with 205 yards and four touchdowns on 16-25 passing. He also had 86 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground as Bixby's leading rusher. He's been Bixby's leading rusher all season and that element of his game has never been questioned. But it's his improvement as a passer that has made him arguably the most improved player in the state this season and he finished off his season in style.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["91881"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Bixby senior and captain [player_tooltip player_id='91881' first='Dylan' last='Hasz'] finished off his storied career with a complete performance on Friday night. The senior standout hasn't been used that much this season on the offensive side of the ball but he was Friday as he caught a 65-yard touchdown from Kirby early in the second quarter to make it 28-6 in favor of the Spartans. This was after he had recovered an onside kick in the first quarter, making an impact on special teams. That set up another Bixby touchdown drive. And then on defense, Hasz would finish with a pair of interceptions in the second half. One in the third quarter and one in the fourth quarter. Bixby's overall team dominance this season has made it to where Hasz kind of flew under the radar this year. But he's been one of the best overall players for the Spartans during the last three years.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["157509"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Another player for Bixby that has been making a massive impact on both sides of the ball for three seasons is senior [player_tooltip player_id='157509' first='Jersey' last='Robb']. And for the third straight season, Robb scored a touchdown in the state championship game. Robb would finish with 29 yards and a fourth quarter touchdown. He was also Bixby's leading tackler on defense with 12 tackles on the night as the Spartans were determined to not only go out on top, but absolutely dominate the Owasso offense. With the exception of Owasso's only touchdown, Bixby's defense gave up just 121 yards of total offense on the night. Robb and the rest of the Bixby defense were flying all over the field and it definitely had a big impact on the outcome of the game. Robb, more known as a wrestler when it comes to the next level, has been a heckuva high school football player.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["115730"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"A breakout player this season for Owasso has been junior wide receiver and overall athlete [player_tooltip player_id='122241' first='J'Kharri' last='Thomas']. The electric junior has made plays as a wide receiver, as a return man and even provided the Rams with some much needed depth and help at the running back position. Owasso's offense struggled on Friday night, that's not a secret. So the numbers aren't as impressive as what you see from Bixby but Thomas is still a player to watch moving forward. Thomas was the leading receiver for the Rams with four receptions and he also would finish with four carries on the night. Thomas was bottled up by the Bixby defense for the most part but everyone on Owasso's offense was, with the exception of the quarterback, who's featured later. Keep an eye on Thomas moving forward.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["110743"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Bixby's swiss army knife on offense this season has been junior standout [player_tooltip player_id='110743' first='Kordell' last='Gouldsby']. Not only has been one of the top options at wide receiver, he's also helped the Spartans in the run game and then as a return specialist in kickoffs. Gouldsby had another great all around performance on Friday night as he would catch five passes for 23 yards. He would also add 54 yards on seven carries. And he had a 43 yard kick return, following Owasso's only touchdown that set up another Bixby score. Gouldsby's best football is still ahead of him. There were so many seniors on this Bixby offense, specifically in the skills department. Gouldsby should have an expanded role within the offense next season that he could become one of the more electric playmakers in the state in 2023.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["427389"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"There were quite a few breakout players on the defensive side of the ball this season but Owasso senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='427389' first='Kunta' last='Jordan'] is near the top of the list. Jordan would finish as Owasso's leading tackler on the season and once again had a strong performance in their game on Friday. The first time we saw Jordan and the impact he was having on the field was in the first meeting with Bixby back in August. Despite the loss, Jordan was one of the best defensive players on the field that night and the same can be said again about him this time around. Jordan led the team with eight tackles on the night, including two of them coming for a loss. And Bixby's offense obviously had a a big night but anytime they did stumble, Jordan was one of the causes. He's emerged as one of the top available linebackers in the 2023 class.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["55156"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Bixby All American tight end [player_tooltip player_id='55156' first='Luke' last='Hasz'] saved his best for last in the final two games of his high school career. Hasz would dominate their semifinal rematch with Jenks last week and then carried that over into this week against Owasso. He would finish with three catches for 75 yards and a pair of touchdowns receptions. He caught a touchdown from Kirby and fellow senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='51037' first='Austin' last='Havens'] late in the game. Hasz earned his way to becoming an All American with not only his abilities to catch the ball and make plays after the catch, he's always been a physically dominant player on the field. He loves hitting opponents and his downfield blocking has to be considered at an elite level. Hasz went out on top with another state title and a memorable performance on Friday night.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["38821"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Just like Jordan on the Owasso defense, senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='38821' first='Mason' last='Willingham'] has been the best player on Owasso's offense all season. An injury-riddled season put Willingham in a position this year where he had to play Superman for the Rams to make it to Edmond. He answered that call. And the senior gave everything he had in the game on Friday night but Bixby was just too much to overcome. Willingham would finish 9-11 for 47 yards and then also had 81 yards on 17 carries. He also provided the only fireworks on the night for Owasso in the first quarter when he went 54 yards for the only Owasso touchdown. Willingham finished off his career with an outstanding senior season and he is one of, if not the main reason that Owasso was able to rebound from 1-4 to make it to Edmond.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-638cfee823aba"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->