6A-1 State: Bixby Players To Watch
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The Class 6A-1 state championship game is set! #1 Bixby will square off with #5 Jenks in Edmond on Friday at 7PM. The Spartans have been atop the 6A-1 rankings all season and are looking to defend their 6A-1 crown and bring home their sixth consecutive state championship. Jenks had a rocky regular season but have been playing their best football at the right time and will get another crack at putting a stop to the Bixby dynasty. In this post, we’re putting the spotlight on the Spartans with ten players to watch from Bixby and even more names to know! Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma each day for more state championship preview content in each class!
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BIXBY’S TEN PLAYERS TO WATCH
We kick off this spotlight with Bixby junior Blake Hogshooter Blake Hogshooter 6’4″ | 190 lbs | WR Bixby | 2025 State OK at the wide receiver position. The Spartans have a few weapons at wide receiver but none had more success against Jenks back in week ten than Hogshooter. On the season, the junior has eight touchdown receptions but three came in the win over the Trojans. In fact, that week ten win was the season-high for Hogshooter in yards with nearly 100 on the night and touchdowns. As Bixby looks to knock off the Trojans for the second time in the last month, don’t be surprised if they go back to the Bixby big man.
Highlights
We’ve written about Bixby senior offensive lineman Brody Duffel Brody Duffel 6’6″ | 270 lbs | OL Bixby | 2024 State OK quite a bit over the last three seasons. Because as a sophomore, he already had earned high praise from head coach Loren Montgomery and this is a coach that has plenty of experience developing top-notch offensive linemen, both at Bixby and at Jenks prior. When you look at the state’s 2024 class, you can make the argument that Duffel is the top available prospect. He is a massive key to what Bixby does offensively. He anchors an offensive line that is incredibly talented and dominant on the line of scrimmage.
Coming into this season, Bixby’s coaches were adamant that they had three different quarterbacks that would play. They proved that on the very first series of the season against Owasso. But it became very clear that sophomore Carson Kirby Carson Kirby 5’11” | 185 lbs | QB Bixby | 2026 State OK was the best “traditional” quarterback. While others brought more to the run game, Kirby has been an outstanding passer all season. He’s thrown for over 2,100 yards while completing well over 70 percent of his passes. Coming into this week, he has 34 touchdowns with only five interceptions but Friday’s stage is the biggest he’s been on.
Last season, it didn’t take long to notice that the Spartans had a freshman making plays on the defensive side of the ball. This season, sophomore Cord Nolan Cord Nolan 6’1″ | 185 lbs | TE Bixby | 2026 State OK has emerged as an absolute playmaker on offense and defense. On offense, Nolan has become Bixby’s leading receiver. He leads the team in yards and touchdowns and has become a reliable target from the tight end position. And considering the Spartans were replacing an All American at tight end in Luke Hasz, that’s saying something. Most of his production has been on offense but he can help the defense at linebacker.
Highlights
When you write about players, it’s easy to throw out hyperbole but this is not one of those cases. Bixby senior linebacker Hank Puckett Hank Puckett 5’11” | LB Bixby | 2024 State OK is one of the best in the state at what he does and he does not get enough credit statewide. Puckett leads the Spartans in tackling with well over 100 on the season. He can absolutely take over a game on the defensive side of the ball, which is incredibly hard to do. But Puckett has an engine that simply does not quit. He began this season with a dominant performance against Owasso in week zero and will look to finish this season with another one.
You can make the argument that Bixby senior Jett Turner Jett Turner 6’1″ | LB Bixby | 2024 State OK is playing with the most confidence right now considering how well he has been playing over the last five games. Turner has 14 touchdowns on the season and nine of them have come in the last five games. That includes a semifinal win over Owasso, where Turner ran for a season-high 141 yards and three touchdowns as the Spartans punched their ticket to Friday’s championship game. And as if that wasn’t enough, Turner is also a productive part of the defense at linebacker. He’s third on the team in sacks with six this season.
Bixby senior defensive lineman Justin Kirk Justin Kirk 6’0″ | DL Bixby | 2024 State OK has reached a new level this season with the Spartans. Last year, Kirk contributed but he wasn’t dominating the line of scrimmage like he is this season. We knew coming into this season that Bixby’s front seven was going to be the strength of the team and it has certainly played out like that. Kirk is a valuable part of an experienced and productive defensive line. The Bixby senior also leads the team in sacks with nearly ten on the season. Kirk and the Bixby front will look to slow down the Jenks rushing attack as they go after another state title.
Bixby has been the best team in the state all year. They have some really good football players. Senior Kordell Gouldsby Kordell Gouldsby 5’11” | WR Bixby | 2024 State OK is the best of the bunch. Whether it’s offense, defense or special teams, Gouldsby has been one of the best players in the state when he’s been on the field this season. On offense, he’s another weapon that can help Bixby in the pass or run game. On defense, he turns into a ball hawk. And in special teams, well, we’re still not quite sure why teams still punt to Gouldsby. He’s one of the more electric players in the state when he has the ball in the open field.
Bixby senior Sam McCormick Sam McCormick 6’4″ | 190 lbs | ATH Bixby | 2024 State OK is another example of a Bixby player that has grown up in this system and has made the most of his opportunities on the field. He had a terrific junior season last year and provides the Spartans with more depth with his ability to play on both sides of the ball. Earlier this year, McCormick started picking up interest to play at the next level and he eventually landed on committing to Princeton. McCormick is also another great example of just how deep the talent is at Bixby. On most teams, McComick would rack up some serious numbers but on Bixby, he’s part of this unstoppable machine.
MORE NAMES TO KNOW
PLAYER | CLASS | POSITION |
Clay Peters Clay Peters 6'0" | ATH Bixby | 2024 State OK | 2024 | Quarterback |
Colton Kaiser Colton Kaiser 5'10" | DB Bixby | 2024 OK | 2024 | Defensive Back |
Cooper Parker Cooper Parker 5'11" | 205 lbs | LB Bixby | 2025 State OK | 2025 | Quarterback/Linebacker |
Evan McClure Evan McClure 6'5" | 270 lbs | OL Bixby | 2024 State OK | 2024 | Offensive Lineman |
Garrett Vaughn Garrett Vaughn 5'8" | 165 lbs | WR Bixby | 2024 State OK | 2024 | Wide Receiver |
Kason Hatley Kason Hatley 6'0" | DL Bixby | 2024 State OK | 2024 | Defensive Lineman |
Payton Hawkins Payton Hawkins 6'2" | DL Bixby | 2024 State OK | 2024 | Defensive Lineman |
Tyler Wright Tyler Wright 6'0" | DB Bixby | 2026 OK | 2026 | Defensive Back |