Week Two'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 as we head into week two this week. 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. And week two is absolutely loaded with great match-ups. We have ten great games and have also added five bonus games and it honestly could have been more considering how outstanding the schedule is this week.   Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma throughout the week for more preview content of this week's top games. This week, we'll also feature practice reports on Union and Washington on Tuesday, an in-depth preview of the massive Carl Albert-Muskogee match-up on Wednesday and finally, a spotlight on this week's players to watch on Thursday. And be sure to check back every Monday for another breakdown on the week's top games across Oklahoma!   4A #3 BLANCHARD (1-0) AT 5A #5 PIEDMONT (2-0)   We're looking forward to this clash of styles as 4A's #3 Blanchard travels to 5A's #5 Piedmont on Friday night. The Lions will bring their high-scoring offense, led by quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='363852' first='Carson' last='Cooksey'], who torched Noble in week one with 350 yards passing. They'll be met by a Piedmont squad that runs the flexbone offense and plays stingy defense, evidenced by their low-scoring 14-6 win over a very talented El Reno squad. The Wildcats are led by two-way star [player_tooltip player_id='215197' first='Cannon' last='Wood'] at running back and linebacker and they have other talent around him. Cooksey isn't alone either and both of these teams expect to contend in their respective classes.   5A-1 #1 CARL ALBERT (2-0) AT 6A-2 #1 MUSKOGEE (2-0)   There is no doubt in our mind that this game is this week's "Game Of The Week" in Oklahoma. Whenever you get top-ranked teams facing off against one another, that's a special occurrence. Then throw in the fact that both state title contenders have some of the better players in the state and this match-up has the potential to have quite a few fireworks. Carl Albert is led by their star running back and OU commit [player_tooltip player_id='360239' first='Xavier' last='Robinson'] and he's off to a great start. Muskogee counters with their star in junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='211556' first='Jamarian' last='Ficklin'] and this match-up is big as Carl Albert also has junior QB [player_tooltip player_id='432374' first='Kevin' last='Sperry'] who is an OU commit. Stars will be everywhere. We'll have much more on this game later in the week with our "Scene Setter"   6A-2 #2 CHOCTAW (0-0) AT 6A-1 #8 WESTMOORE (1-1) (THURS.)   This game would be on this list no matter what based on the talent that will be on the field. But it also feels a little more important as well. This will be Choctaw's first game since the shooting ended their week zero game with Del City. Sports has a way of uniting and rallying people around each other and we see that being a possibility here. As far as the football goes, this is also one of the marquee match-ups as both teams have some players that can go. Westmoore bounced back from a week zero loss to Union with an impressive win on the road last week. The Yellowjackets will be hungry to get back on the field as well.   2A #3 JONES (1-1) AT 2A #1 WASHINGTON (2-0)   It's a top four match-up in Class 2A as top-ranked Washington hosts #3 Jones in a rematch of last year's semifinal round. Washington has played a gauntlet non-district schedule and the same goes for the Longhorns as this is the second straight week they've played a team ranked ahead of them. They faced 3A's #2 Lincoln Christian last week and struggled to slow down their juggernaut offense. Washington will look to keep it rolling as the champs have been clicking from the start behind [player_tooltip player_id='215208' first='Major' last='Cantrell'] at quarterback. The Longhorns will counter with UCO commit [player_tooltip player_id='215199' first='Clayton' last='Creasey'] and despite the loss to Lincoln, he had a good showing.   B #1 LAVERNE (2-0) AT SEILING (1-0)   It's one of the top 8-man match-ups in the state as Class B's top-ranked Laverne hits the road and faces off with Seiling in a rematch of last year's state championship game. It's a rematch of last year's regular season match-up as well which was a game won by Seiling. But everyone remembers Laverne and their star [player_tooltip player_id='294264' first='Felix' last='Teal'] stealing the show and capturing a second consecutive state championship at the expense of Seiling in the title game. Both games were very competitive and we anticipate this one being competitive as well. The Wildcats are led by their star quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='930749' first='Kaden' last='Manuel'] and we could see some big plays in this one considering some of the outstanding players that are suiting up for both teams in this one.   4A #2 POTEAU (1-0) AT 3A #6 METRO CHRISTIAN (1-0)   Similar to the Blanchard-Piedmont match-up, it's a clash of styles here as 3A's #6 Metro Christian hosts 4A's #2 Poteau. Metro makes no secret about what they are going to do and that's air it out. New quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='192621' first='Jaxson' last='Grimes'] threw for nearly 400 yards in his first start last week against NOAH. Poteau counters with a stout defense that brings back almost everyone and a hard-nosed rushing attack. These two teams played an absolute classic last year in southeastern Oklahoma. Metro Christian stunned the Pirates in the final seconds and we know that Poteau hasn't forgotten that. We know that they'll be looking to return the favor this year, led by their star and Tulsa commit [player_tooltip player_id='215196' first='Dax' last='Collins'] at the running back position and safety on defense.   2A #10 REJOICE CHRISTIAN (1-1) AT 2A #9 BEGGS (1-0)   We've had this game circled for a while considering how the 2022 meetings went. In the regular season, Rejoice Christian just absolutely blasted Beggs in one of the more stunning results in Class 2A last season. But they would meet again in the playoffs and the Demons got the last laugh as they blew out Rejoice Christian in a rare first round match-up where the four-seed beat the district champion. Rejoice looks to bounce back following their loss to Cascia Hall last week and it's going to be a tough ask against star running back [player_tooltip player_id='110739' first='Red' last='Martel'] and the rest of the Demons. Martel shined in last week's season-opening win over Hugo   5A #6 SAPULPA (1-1) AT 6A-2 #6 BARTLESVILLE (0-1)   Both teams are coming off games in week one where the game-winning touchdown was scored in the final minute. For Sapulpa, they rallied from a 28-12 halftime deficit to stun Tahlequah on a [player_tooltip player_id='360245' first='Marco' last='Smith'] touchdown run with less than a minute to play. On the other side, Bartlesville is looking to bounce back after Claremore scored with less than a minute to beat them 28-27. This is a great running back match-up as the Chieftains have Smith and the Bruins have junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='515901' first='PJ' last='Wallace']. We could see this game turning into a high-scoring affair with all of the talent each side has on the offensive side of the ball.   A #9 STROUD (0-1) AT A #3 COLCORD (0-1)   A few weeks ago, this was one of the top match-ups in Class A when we were looking at the non-district schedule. But Colcord and Stroud both suffered losses in their season openers last week and it has let some (not all) air out of the sails. Colcord was stunned by Kansas on a last second touchdown while Stroud lost to Chandler. Despite the losses to 2A opponents, both teams expect to be in the state title hunt this year in Class A. Colcord got the best of Stroud last season and we're looking forward to this year's match-up. Both teams are going to be hungry to bounce back after last week's losses.   6A-1 #2 UNION (2-0) AT 6A-1 #5 JENKS (0-2)   Last, but certainly not least, is the annual Backyard Bowl between Jenks and Union. The #5 Trojans will host the #2 Redhawks on Friday night in a renewal of what has been the greatest high school football rivalry in the state over the last 25 years. All eyes will be on Union junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='188014' first='Shaker' last='Reisig'] as he returns to Jenks for the first time since starting there as a freshman. The Trojans will be focused on bouncing back after back to back losses to Edmond Santa Fe and Owasso. The Trojans have lost two heartbreakers to start the year and nothing would get them right quicker than a win over their rivals.   FIVE BONUS GAMES!   6A-2 #8 LAWTON (1-0) AT 5A #8 LAWTON MACARTHUR (2-0)   Lawton MacArthur will look to lock up the city championship when they face off with Lawton on Friday night. The Highlanders are coming off a hard-fought win over Lawton Eisenhower while the Wolverines opened up their 2023 season last week with a win over Duncan. The Highlanders have been lights out on defense so far through two games and Lawton will need to take care of the ball if they want to get a win here.   5A #7 McALESTER (2-0) AT 4A #7 ADA (2-0)   Another 5A/4A match-up that has our attention heading into week two features 4A's #7 Ada hosting 5A's #7 McAlester. The Buffaloes survived a scare from Prescott, Arkansas in week one but they improved to 2-0 on the season with the win. Ada on the other hand had no problems with beating up on their rival Ardmore to also improve to 2-0. Both teams are physical and feature young talent that have our attention.   6A-1 #9 MUSTANG (1-0) AT 6A-2 #3 DEER CREEK (1-1)   Deer Creek lost a heartbreaker at home to Edmond Memorial on Friday night and they look to bounce back against another ranked team from 6A-1 when they host Mustang. The Broncos looked good in their season opener against Southmoore but Deer Creek will certainly provide a more difficult challenge this week. The Antlers knocked off the Broncos last season and we know Mustang hasn't forgotten.   6A-1 #7 NORMAN NORTH (1-0) AT 6A-1 #3 EDMOND SANTA FE (1-0)   Every year when we talk about 6A-1, the question comes up about who the top team from the west side will be. This match-up could provide some insight in that answer. Edmond Santa Fe had one of the best wins in week zero when they went on the road and beat Jenks. Norman North opened their season last week with a shutout win over rival Norman. Both teams have excellent talent on both sides of the ball.   3A #7 PLAINVIEW (1-0) AT 4A #5 NEWCASTLE (1-0)   4A's #5 Newcastle is back in action after having week one off. They beat another top ten team in week zero to start their season off with a bang. Plainview took care of business against Pilot Point, Texas and looked good in their season opener on Friday. Newcastle's offense has the potential to be one of the better units in Class 4A but Plainview's tough defense is going to give them a big test this week.

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