Class 5A Semifinal Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong><em><strong>Get 50% off your subscription by entering BlackFriday2023 in the coupon code area for our special Black Friday Deal. Enjoy!</strong></em></strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's officially Thanksgiving week and we're down to the final four teams in Classes 6A-1, 6A-2, 5A, 4A and 3A. We're taking an in-depth look at every single semifinal match-up and the teams that are preparing for them. In this post, we're taking a look at Class 5A. It looks like we might be on a collision course for a Mid-Del state championship game but don't count out the underdogs this week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#2 DEL CITY (11-0) VS #6 CLAREMORE (11-1)<br>Friday - 1PM - Noble HS. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>THE MATCH-UP</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the start of the 2023 football season, the Del City Eagles expected to be practicing on Thanksgiving and be in the position they are in now. The Eagles have been #2 in our Class 5A rankings all season and they are a serious contender to Carl Albert's throne. Del City has shown no weaknesses this season. They've won every game by at least two touchdowns. They have an offense that is among the best in the class and a defense that doesn't get enough credit. They've only given up more than 20 points on one occasion and they've shut out five opponents on the year. For Claremore, it was a different path to reach the semifinals. The Zebras were unranked in our preseason rankings but they were a team that we had circled as a squad to keep an eye on. And for good reason. They began the year with a 7-0 record and lost a heartbreaker on the road to Bishop Kelley to cost them the district title. And that made the playoff path much more difficult and it's played out that way. They opened the playoffs with a 48-47 win over Sapulpa. Then the quarterfinal clash was the exact opposite. They beat undefeated Elgin 7-6 on the road. They've been in fights in each of the last three weeks and they're ready for one more Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>CLAREMORE PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["584313"],"_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":"We've mentioned this a few times this season, but it deserves repeating here. Claremore senior wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='584313' first='Gage' last='Deckard'] has been one of the absolute best wide receivers in the state. Deckard has put up some monster numbers throughout the year but we also got a chance to see the impact he can have on the game in person earlier this year. Deckard is a 2024 prospect that should definitely garner some attention in the next two months from colleges because he can play at a high level. Seeing Deckard go up against a very talented and athletic Del City secondary will be something to watch on Friday.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1093621"],"_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":"We mentioned earlier in the preview that Claremore has been in some fights over the last month of the season. Part of the adversity they faced this year was losing their starting running back in October. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1093621' first='Tyson' last='Grimett'] stepped into that role and while the Claremore passing game has led the offense, Grimett's impact as a short yard specialist can't be overlooked. In the second half of the regular season, Grimett was a touchdown machine near the goal line. The Zebras will need to find a balance against Del City's defense and Grimett and the Claremore rushing attack will try to put a dent in the Eagle defense.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655d31b8d4b87"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>DEL CITY PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["598829"],"_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":"We mentioned Deckard as one of the players to watch for Claremore. That makes the Del City secondary an interesting part of Friday afternoon's game. Del City has some legit star power with players on both sides that are going to play power five football. But one of the more underrated players is junior [player_tooltip player_id='598829' first='D'Marion' last='Turner'] at the defensive back position. We don't know if Turner is going to be the cornerback that gets matched up with Deckard on Friday, but wherever he is on the field, he's going to be able to make an impact. The Eagles have quite a few players to keep an eye on in that secondary.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["393974"],"_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":"Del City senior running back and Oklahoma State commit [player_tooltip player_id='393974' first='Rodney' last='Fields'] has been one of the best players in the state from the first game of the year. We wrote about Fields quite a bit this offseason as he dominated in every 7v7 tournament and camp that we saw him. This fall, there hasn't been a defense that has been able to contain Fields. The OSU commit has been lights out throughout the season and he's going to be fun at the next level. But before he heads to Stillwater, he's looking to finish off this season with a state title. He's one part of the three-headed monster within the Del City offense.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655d31b8d4c2e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>HISTORY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It appears that Friday afternoon's meeting between Claremore and Del City will be the first time these two teams have met on a football field. All records that we've found did not indicate that these two teams have played. But both teams will be familiar with whoever comes out of the other semifinal. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>EXPERIENCE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Claremore:</strong> As we mentioned earlier, not many outside of Rogers County would have thought that Claremore would be a semifinal team this season. And for the first time since 1987, the Zebras are just that. This is just the sixth time in school history that Claremore has made it to the semifinal round. And while getting over the quarterfinal hump was a difficult one, this wall is even taller. The Zebras are 0-5 all time in the semifinal round but if they beat the Eagles, they'll play for the state championship for the first time ever. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Del City:</strong> The Eagles didn't have as long of a drought as Claremore to punch their ticket to the semifinal round but they are making just their third appearance in the semifinals in school history. They are 1-1 all time. The first appearance came all the way back in 1976 and the Eagles would go on to win the state championship that season. The last time was in 2019 when the Eagles were still up in Class 6A-2. Current Carl Albert head coach Mike Dunn led the Eagles to the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Bixby in that round. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#1 CARL ALBERT (12-0) VS #9 BISHOP McGUINNESS (8-3)<br>Friday - 7PM - Noble HS. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>THE MATCH-UP</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top-ranked Carl Albert is looking to go wire to wire as the top team in Class 5A. They captured their 17th state championship in school history a season ago but they are determined to get one step closer to the state record for most state titles. From the moment they left UCO last year, the Titans were the favorite to win the gold ball in 2023. Carl Albert has left no doubt throughout the season that they are the team to beat in Class 5A. They went on the road and took down Muskogee in non-district play. They would also go on the road and beat Guthrie in a game that became an instant classic. Now, they face a familiar foe in district rival Bishop McGuinness. For the Irish, they did not have the bright lights on them early in the season. Between graduation and key players transferring away, the Irish were flying under the radar coming into this season. But the Irish found a way to rebuild and reload for another run to the semifinals. And last week, the Irish beat rival Bishop Kelley after losing to the Comets in the regular season. Now, they get another opportunity to beat a rival that handed them a loss in the regular season. The Irish fell to Carl Albert 49-7 back in week seven but that feels like ages ago at this point of the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>BISHOP McGUINNESS PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["595762"],"_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":"We mentioned Bishop McGuinness losing some of their best players in the offseason. One of them was a two-year starter at quarterback. That put junior signal caller [player_tooltip player_id='922869' first='Damon' last='Cochran II'] into that position this season and he has exceeded all expectations from the preseason. We got a chance to see him briefly back in the spring and you could tell he was a good athlete. He's also a terrific baseball prospect and is already committed to Missouri. But on Friday night, it's all football. He already has one standout performance in the playoffs. On Friday night, he'll look for another and to send the Irish to the state title game.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1088229"],"_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":"Bishop McGuinness senior running back was highlighted last week as a player to watch for the Irish as they looked to take down rival Bishop Kelley. Spanier was just that as he would run for nearly 150 yards and was a key performer as the Irish knocked off the Comets after losing to Bishop Kelley in the regular season. Spanier is definitely a player to watch this week and he's had a good season overall. He's had several noteworthy performances, similar to what we saw from him last week against Bishop Kelley. Spanier and Cochran will combine to keep the ball away from Carl Albert and their offensive playmakers.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655d31b8d4cd4"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>CARL ALBERT PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["598824"],"_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":"You can certainly make the argument that junior [player_tooltip player_id='598824' first='Trystan' last='Haynes'] has been Carl Albert's best overall football player this year. He's their leading receiver on the offensive side of the ball. He's taken a pair of interceptions back for touchdowns on defense. And then Haynes is also a threat in the special teams department. He's taken three kicks back and a punt back for a touchdown. On a team full of stars, Haynes might be the best of the bunch. And when it comes to a very loaded 2025 recruiting class in the state of Oklahoma, you can also start making the argument that Haynes might need to be at the top there.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["360239"],"_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":"We saw first hand last year that the playoffs can become [player_tooltip player_id='360239' first='Xavier' last='Robinson'] season in the blink of an eye. The senior running back and OU commit carried the Titans to a gold ball a year ago and would earn PRZ-Oklahoma Player Of The Year honors. He hasn't had to carry the Titans at any point this season because he has plenty of help around him. But Robinson has still put up some monster numbers. He has over 30 touchdowns on the ground this season and is hungry for more. In the last two meetings with McGuinness, Robinson has run for over 350 yards and five touchdowns against the Irish defense.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655d31b8d4d5e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>HISTORY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You can make the argument that from 2016-2020, the Bishop McGuinness-Carl Albert rivalry was one of the best in the state. These two were district rivals and then met in the state championship game four times in five seasons. Unfortunately for the Irish, this has been a one-sided rivalry. The Titans got the best of McGuinness in all four of those state title meetings. The Titans have won eleven straight games in this match-up dating back to the 2016 state championship game. They've met five times all time in the playoffs and the Titans are 5-0 win only one of those wins coming in the semifinal round. The Titans beat the Irish 49-7 back in week seven this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>EXPERIENCE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bishop McGuinness:</strong>&nbsp;Bishop McGuinness is playing in their 16th semifinal in school history on Friday evening. They hold a 7-8 record all time in semifinal games. Before last season, the Irish had won four consecutive semifinal appearances. They tripped up in the semifinal round last year to McAlester. A win on Friday night would send McGuinness to the title game for the fifth time in the last eight seasons. But as we mentioned when it comes to this match-up, they face an uphill battle against a tough Carl Albert squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carl Albert:</strong>&nbsp;Prior to the 2021 season, Carl Albert had one of our absolute favorite stats and this is the week we would throw it out there. Before losing to Collinsville in the 2021 semifinals, Carl Albert was 17-0 all time in the semifinal round. If the Titans made it to the final four, they were about as automatic as it got to make it to the championship game. The Titans are now 18-1 all time in semifinal games. With a win on Friday night, the Titans will look to defend that title and win their seventh title in the last eight years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->