Week Four's Ten Best Games

Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!   The 2023 football season is in full swing and now it gets serious as we head into week four and district play opens up. Every single Monday, we're taking a look at the week's ten best games across the state and a few others to keep an eye on this week. Disclaimer, these games are listed in alphabetical order. There is no specific order for the ten best games every single week. But they feature the best match-ups and all of the top teams and players.   Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma throughout the week for more preview content of this week's top games and players to watch. This week, we'll have three practice reports with updates on Bixby, Harrah and Owasso. We'll also have a spotlight on this week's players to watch on Thursday and we'll update the Player Of The Year Watchlist on Friday. And be sure to check back every Monday for another breakdown on the week's top games across Oklahoma!   #10 APACHE (2-1) AT #6 MANGUM (4-0)   Week four is headlined by several marquee match-ups in Class A featuring ranked teams and we start here with #6 Mangum hosting #10 Apache. Mangum is 4-0 on the season and the Tigers have looked dominant so far this fall. Mangum has had to overcome a preseason injury to their freshman quarterback but [player_tooltip player_id='998360' first='Aidan' last='Warner'] has made sure the Tigers haven't missed a beat on offense. Warner was their quarterback last fall and moved back to QB following the injury. Apache has a stellar quarterback on their own as well. [player_tooltip player_id='998365' first='Houston' last='Herrin'] looked great as they shut out Ringling in week three. With that win, they jumped into the top ten and added a little more hype to this marquee match-up in Class A. In the last five years, Mangum is 3-2 against Apache but they lost 46-18 to the Warriors last season.   #7 BARTLESVILLE (0-3) AT #6 BOOKER T WASHINGTON (1-2)   In 6A-2, #7 Bartlesville is starving for a win after losing their first three games to ranked teams in Class 5A. The schedule isn't going to get much easier now that they enter district play. They head to Tulsa on Friday to face #6 Booker T Washington. The Bruins are led by their star junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='515901' first='PJ' last='Wallace'] and despite the losses, he's had a great start to this season. He's a threat in the running game and has also proven he can help the passing game as well. The Hornets are a team that we are very interested in as the Hornets come in at 1-2. But this is a Booker T Washington team that has a very bright future because they have a handful of freshmen and sophomores that are producing in a big way already. But senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='901773' first='Kuhron' last='Ross'] is going to be a player to watch in this one as he's electric with the ball in his hands.   #10 BETHANY (2-1) AT #4 TUTTLE (2-1)   The marquee game in Class 4A will take place here as #4 Tuttle hosts #10 Bethany. But when we're talking about Class 4A, there's a chance that this district features the marquee match-up every single week considering all of the talent in this particular district. The Tigers host the Bronchos and they are going to be hungry coming off a loss to 5A's Guthrie. Tuttle was held to a field goal and they'll be determined to get their offense back in gear and rolling. And this is a district where winning each week is going to be incredibly important. Bethany is coming off a bye week. They lost their opener to Jones but have won two in a row since. These two teams played a close contest last season that featured a lot of points as Tuttle won 40-34. It wouldn't be surprising to see another potential shootout this week.   #2 FAIRVIEW (3-0) AT HOOKER (2-1)   Out of the three marquee Class A games this week, this is the only one that doesn't feature two ranked teams but it does include the defending champs in Fairview. The champs will go on the road to face a Hooker team that's knocking on the door of the Class A rankings and would certainly jump into the top ten with a win on Friday night. Fairview was dominant in this match-up last season as they won 55-12 on their way to a perfect season. Junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='379243' first='Jax' last='Bernard'] is off to a great start this season but Friday's game against Hooker will certainly be his toughest test of the young season. Hooker has a quarterback that has put up some monster numbers as well with [player_tooltip player_id='572028' first='Kleat' last='Martens'] beating teams with his arm and his legs. Class A will have a lot of attention on it this weekend and this match-up is definitely in the mix.   #6 MOORE (3-0) AT #9 WESTMOORE (1-2)   It's the annual "Moore War" as the Lions and Jaguars will square off on Friday night. #9 Westmoore is hungry for a win after starting the year with a 1-2 mark after non-district losses to Union and Choctaw at home. On the other side of the match-up, you have a Moore team that has looked really good and they are off to a 3-0 start this season. But the Lions aren't satisfied with a 3-0 start. The Lions started 3-0 in 2021 and 2022 but missed out on the playoffs in both years. Both teams are led by dynamic athletes at the quarterback position and they should both shine on Friday. Westmoore signal caller and Houston commit [player_tooltip player_id='393973' first='Micheal' last='Graham'] is incredibly dangerous in the running game. Moore junior [player_tooltip player_id='211565' first='Malikai' last='Miller'] took over the Lions QB job just a few months ago and has played great through the first few games.   #3 NORMAN NORTH (3-0) AT #1 BIXBY (3-0)   Based on the rankings, this might be the best match-up of week four in Oklahoma. But despite being #3 in the most recent 6A-1 rankings, Norman North is a heavy underdog as they hit the road to face top-ranked Bixby. The Timberwolves have looked good so far this season as they have a star in the making in sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='284117' first='Mason' last='James'] on the offensive side of the ball. But they are going to be tested in a big way as they go up against the Spartans. Bixby has been simply dominant so far this season and despite playing three quarterbacks, the Spartans don't appear to have any weaknesses. The defense is stout behind senior [player_tooltip player_id='519610' first='Hank' last='Puckett'] at linebacker. The Spartans had week three off after three dominant wins to start the season. Bixby might be a heavy favorite but we have seen Norman North stun a few Tulsa area schools in the past.   #2 OWASSO (2-1) AT #5 UNION (2-1)   In our opinion, this is the game of the week in Class 6A-1 and it might be the top match-up in the state. #5 Union will host #2 Owasso. Both teams had last week off to prepare for the district opener this week. Union is coming off a rivalry loss to Jenks in week two while the Rams have won two in a row after a season-opening setback to Bixby. When we look at this district, this is a match-up that could very well decide the district title. The winner will certainly control their own destiny. Union quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='188014' first='Shaker' last='Reisig'] has been flawless so far this season. He's been arguably the most efficient quarterback in the state and looks to continue that this season. On the other side, you have Owasso quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='110745' first='Knox' last='Dyson'] who has looked great in the last two games and he has been incredibly efficient as well. Both offenses have a lot of potential.   #9 PAULS VALLEY (3-0) AT #3 MARLOW (3-0)   For the second straight week, the Marlow Outlaws find themselves in the top match-up in Class 3A. After going on the road and winning a top five battle with Perkins-Tryon, the Outlaws don't get much rest as they play host to #9 Pauls Valley on Friday night. The Outlaws were able to beat Pauls Valley last season in a 29-14 victory and have won three straight in the series. But the Panthers are being led by a dual-threat quarterback in [player_tooltip player_id='1005608' first='Tanner' last='Perry'] that has put up some strong numbers already this season. This is a good quarterback match-up as Perry is a star for the Panthers and the Outlaws will counter with [player_tooltip player_id='897727' first='Cade' last='Gilbert'] at the signal caller position. The winner here is going to stay alive in the district hunt. And this is arguably the best district in Class 3A. It also features defending champion and top-ranked Heritage Hall.   #9 PAWNEE (3-0) AT #1 HOMINY (3-0)   And the final marquee Class A game this week features two more ranked teams and it involves top-ranked Hominy and the Bucks are about to be tested by rival and #9 Pawnee. Both teams are off to 3-0 starts and they've looked impressive so far. Hominy is being led by their superstar senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='386581' first='Jaxon' last='Woods'] but they are also being smart and not forcing him to do everything. Plus, they had week three off with a bye week so he'll come into this week with more rest. On the other side of the match-up, you have a Pawnee team that has been lighting up the scoreboard. They survived a high-scoring affair with Meeker last week but they've scored 60+ points on two occasions already this season. Pawnee has won three out of the last four against Hominy but they were shut out 34-0 in last season's meeting.   #5 SAND SPRINGS (2-1) AT #1 MUSKOGEE (2-1)   The marquee match-up this week in 6A-2 features #1 Muskogee hosting #5 Sand Springs on Friday night. Both teams come into this week with one loss on the record and coincidentally, it came to top-ranked teams. Sand Springs lost to 6A-1's #1 Bixby while Muskogee lost the highly anticipated 1 VS 1 match-up against 5A's top-ranked Carl Albert. The Sandites bring a dominant rushing attack into Friday's game while the Roughers feature one of the best quarterbacks in the state. Sand Springs will lean on their running back duo of [player_tooltip player_id='992746' first='Ali' last='McCoy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='382992' first='Kenneth' last='Page'] while the Roughers will look for their junior signal caller [player_tooltip player_id='211556' first='Jamarian' last='Ficklin'] to torch the Sandites for the second straight year. Ficklin was outstanding in last season's meeting with the Sandites as they got off to a hot start and finished strong in the win.   FIVE BONUS GAMES   DURANT (2-1) AT #6 SAPULPA (2-1)   This 5A district is going to be very competitive throughout the season and we kick it off with #6 Sapulpa hosting a 2-1 Durant team that is on the rise. The Lions have struggled mightily over the last several seasons but they are starting to put things together and will be knocking on the door of jumping into the 5A rankings with a win on the road. Sapulpa had week three off after starting the year 2-1.   EDMOND MEMORIAL (2-2) AT #7 EDMOND SANTA FE (1-1)   It's a battle for Edmond to open district play in 6A-1 as #7 Edmond Santa Fe hosts Edmond Memorial. This game also features two of the better juniors in the state as the Bulldogs have been led by quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='209872' first='David' last='McComb'] airing it out all over the field. Santa Fe will counter with running back [player_tooltip player_id='188013' first='Demarius' last='Robinson'] and he's off to a strong start. Both are already on our Player Of The Year Watchlist and rightfully so.   #4 ELGIN (3-0) AT EL RENO (1-2)   In another 5A battle, we'll see El Reno hosting #4 Elgin, who's looking to remain undefeated on the season. Both teams have excellent running games with Elgin being headlined by their two-headed monster of [player_tooltip player_id='449039' first='Matt' last='Lund'] and [player_tooltip player_id='472321' first='Ritson' last='Meyer'] while El Reno will counter with [player_tooltip player_id='917639' first='Malachi' last='Nicholson'] on the other side. Elgin has blugeoned opponents while El Reno is hungry for a win after two close losses in their last two outings.   HARRAH (3-0) AT #3 BLANCHARD (2-1)   4A-2 might be the most competitive district in the state and here's a perfect example of that. Four teams from that district are in the top ten and Harrah is on the outside looking in and they are 3-0 for the first time in over a decade. How serious are the Panthers? We're about to find out as they go on the road and face #3 Blanchard. The Lions open up district play at home after a non-district schedule featuring only 5A competition.   #4 RYAN (3-0) AT #2 MOUNTAIN VIEW-GOTEBO (3-0)   Down in Class C, we have a top five match-up featuring unbeaten teams to kick off district play. #2 Mountain View-Gotebo will host #4 Ryan. The Cowboys jumped into the top ten over the weekend and now that district play is opening up, we should get a clearer picture of Class C as a whole. Both of these teams expect to be in the picture when November and December rolls around and they go head to head here.

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