Class 6A-2 Quarterfinal Preview

Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!   It's time for the quarterfinal round in Class 6A-2 this week. The top four teams in our Class 6A-2 rankings will all host on Friday night with spots in the semifinals on the line. The top four teams are heavy favorites to move on in Class 6A-2 but we've certainly seen upsets happen in 6A-2 before. In our quarterfinal preview, we'll take a look at each match-up with breakdowns on each team. We'll also take a look at some of the players to watch from each team. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma throughout the week for more playoff preview content!   #10 PUTNAM CITY (5-6) AT #1 STILLWATER (8-2)   #10 Putnam City got their playoff journey started last week when the Pirates beat Tahlequah 41-21. The win was a monumental one as it snapped a five game losing streak in the playoffs. The 20-point victory was Putnam City's first playoff win since 2007. Under first year head coach Willis Alexander, the Pirates suffered a slow start but would bounce back in a major way in the final six weeks to finish fourth in the district. After the Pirates began the season 1-4, they would go 4-2 down the stretch. Up next is defending champion Stillwater. The Pioneers also had a slow start but it wouldn't take long for the champs to get back into a groove. After starting 0-2, the Pioneers would win eight straight games to clinch the district championship in a week ten showdown with Muskogee. The Pioneers have one of the best running games in the state and they are once again the team to beat in 6A-2.   PLAYERS TO WATCH   That Stillwater running game is headlined by senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='215207' first='Holden' last='Thompson'] and he's run for nearly 1,700 yards and 19 touchdowns on the season. Thompson's redemption season has been lights out after missing last year with a knee injury. And Stillwater senior [player_tooltip player_id='1086230' first='Trey' last='Tuck'] has been outstanding on both sides of the ball. He's one of Stillwater's leading receivers on offense and leads the team in interceptions on the defensive side of the ball.   Putnam City senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='392007' first='Judson' last='Keefer'] has been one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in 6A-2 this season. After last week's win over Tahlequah, Keefer now has 2,100 yards passing and 23 touchdowns. He also leads the team in rushing with nearly 700 yards and eight touchdowns. On defense, junior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1078310' first='Brayden' last='Knox'] will look to lead the Pirate defense in shutting down the Stillwater rushing attack. Knox is a junior to know moving forward.   #5 SAND SPRINGS (8-3) AT #4 CHOCTAW (7-1)   For the second straight year, Choctaw will host Sand Springs in the quarterfinal round. After these two teams were district opponents in 2020 and 2021, Choctaw moved to the west side district in 6A-2 last season. They still would meet up in 2022 as the Sandites fell to Choctaw 48-29 in last year's quarterfinals. These two teams have already met this year, kind of. They faced off in a two-quarter mini game back in August. The Sandites come into this week with some momentum, having won five straight, including a dominant win over Lawton in the first round a week ago. The Yellowjackets had last week off after finishing second in their district. The lone loss on the record came to Deer Creek back in week six. Choctaw is looking to end Sand Springs' season for the second straight year and make another run back to Edmond and compete for the Class 6A-2 state championship.   PLAYERS TO WATCH   Choctaw junior [player_tooltip player_id='211559' first='JuJu' last='Smith'] has become one of the best overall playmakers in 6A-2. Which comes as no surprise to us after watching Smith closely in the last two years. He is a natural playmaker with the ball in his hands. And on the defensive side of the ball, we're looking at senior [player_tooltip player_id='598412' first='Easton' last='Costa'] at the linebacker spot. Costa stood out to us when these two teams played in their mini game back in August. Plus, Choctaw's front seven will be important against Sand Springs' run game.   The Sand Springs rushing attack will be a big key but we're looking at sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='449993' first='Easton' last='Webb'] here. He's gaining more and more confidence during this five-game winning streak and will look to keep raising his play on Friday night. Just like Costa shined for Choctaw in that mini game, Sand Springs linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='806175' first='Owen' last='Floyd'] did as well. And Floyd is coming into this game feeling good after coming up with a pick six in their first round win over Lawton last week.   #6 BARTLESVILLE (5-6) AT #3 DEER CREEK (8-2)   #3 Deer Creek has been playing great football as they open up their playoff journey after locking up the district championship back in week six with a win over Choctaw. The Antlers began the year at 1-2 after back to back losses by a field goal. They've won seven straight and were dominant in district play. They'll host #6 Bartlesville in Friday's quarterfinal and the Antlers are looking for their third consecutive trip to the semifinals. They made it to the 2021 state title game and they pushed eventual champ Stillwater in the semifinals last year. For Bartlesville, the Bruins lost three straight district games to Stillwater, Sand Springs and Muskogee by a combined ten points. They are knocking on the door of becoming one of the better teams in Class 6A-2. They can make a loud statement to the rest of the class by going to Edmond and upsetting the Antlers on Friday night.   PLAYERS TO WATCH   Bartlesville is headlined by junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='515901' first='PJ' last='Wallace'] and just in case you don't know, he's one of the best running backs in the state. Wallace is an absolute game changer with the ball in his hands and he's not the only junior that's capable of making plays. Fellow junior [player_tooltip player_id='898115' first='Damien' last='Niko'] is going to be an interesting athlete to watch moving forward. We mentioned that Niko was primed for a breakout season this fall and he's experiencing that so far this season, specifically as a wide receiver.   Deer Creek has some standout juniors of their own. The team is led by quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='242231' first='Grady' last='Adamson'] and he's part of that terrific 2025 quarterback class in Oklahoma. Adamson has impressed this season with his arm and his legs when he's needed to use them. The Antlers have some talented juniors as well and helping set the tone on the line of scrimmage is [player_tooltip player_id='310131' first='Jenkins' last='Wells'] on the offensive line. Wells absolutely terrorizes opponents and there are some games this season where he simply mauls defenders.   #7 PONCA CITY (6-5) AT #2 MUSKOGEE (8-2)   It's deja vu all over again for #7 Ponca City this week. Last year, the Wildcats would start the year with four straight losses, then win five in a row before falling to Choctaw in week ten. After winning their first round playoff game, Ponca City would square off with Muskogee in the quarterfinals. That's exactly what has happened this season. Ponca began 0-4, won five straight, lost to Choctaw and now face Muskogee in the quarterfinals. They beat PC West 27-21 in the first round last week. For Muskogee, the Roughers are looking to bounce back after a week ten loss to Stillwater and punch their ticket to the semifinals for the second straight season. Last year, the Roughers took care of Ponca City with an 18-0 victory in the quarterfinals. They'll look to end Ponca's season for the second straight year and move on in the 6A-2 playoffs but they want to go all the way to Edmond.   PLAYERS TO WATCH   Whenever you talk about the Muskogee players to watch, it's hard not to put the spotlight on arguably the best QB-WR duo in the state. Junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='211556' first='Jamarian' last='Ficklin'] and senior wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='129399' first='Kayden' last='McGee'] have been at the top of 6A-2 since the start of last season. Ficklin has firmly established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the state, regardless of class. McGee has also become one of the biggest offensive playmakers in the state.   For Ponca City, the defense will be important to slowing down Muskogee's high-powered offense. Leading the way will be senior [player_tooltip player_id='759187' first='Hudson' last='Haas'] along the defensive line. Haas will set the tone for the Wildcats up front as they look to limit the Roughers. Fellow senior tight end [player_tooltip player_id='299735' first='Kooper' last='Rich'] is another name to follow this week as the Wildcats look to pull off the upset. Rich is a talented big man that is incredibly physical. He's a complete player at the tight end position.

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