2024 6A-2 Title Game First Look

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong><em><strong><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></strong></em></strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 6A-2 state championship game is set! #1 Muskogee will square off with #2 Choctaw in Edmond on Saturday at 7PM. The Roughers are defending state champions and have been on top of the 6A-2 rankings all season. They'll attempt to go back to back and finish off the perfect season. For Choctaw, this is a program that has been knocking on the door for several years. This will be their third state championship game appearance in the last five seasons and they'll look to finish the job this time around. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma on Monday when we take a deep dive into the match-up by putting a spotlight on all of the players to watch for both teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#1 MUSKOGEE ROUGHERS (12-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 30th - Beat Booker T Washington 56-21<br>Sept. 6th - Beat Rogers, AR. 33-28<br>Sept. 13th - Beat Bentonville West, AR. 49-48<br>Sept. 27th - Beat Ponca City 59-14<br>Oct. 4th - Beat Putnam City West 51-0<br>Oct. 11th - Beat Bartlesville 55-0<br>Oct. 17th - Beat Capitol Hill 54-0<br>Oct. 25th - Beat Sand Springs 49-33<br>Nov. 1st - Beat Sapulpa 57-7<br>Nov. 8th - Beat Putnam City North 36-0<br>Quarterfinals - Beat Putnam City 14-0<br>Semifinals - Beat Stillwater 35-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>HOW THEY GOT HERE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Muskogee came into this season with the target squarely on them after they captured their first state championship in nearly four decades last year. The Roughers proceeded to pass every test put in front of them this season. And there were several tests early on. Muskogee had to survive not one, but two scares from Arkansas teams in the first few weeks of the season. But after wins over Rogers and Bentonville West, the Roughers would start rolling. They dominated their way through district play, including an impressive road win over Sand Springs in week eight. They finished the regular season unbeaten and would start their playoff journey with a 14-0 win over Putnam City. After getting by the Pirates, they squared off with Stillwater in a rematch of last year's state title game. The result was the same and it was a more decisive one as the Roughers rolled to a 35-14 win. Now, they look to capture a second straight state title. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY</strong><br><strong>4-1 Record - 6th Title Appearance <br>(10 Championships Total - 6 Prior To Official State Playoffs)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the second straight year, Muskogee has an opportunity to win the state championship. Prior to last season, it had been a while for the Roughers. 1986 was the last time Muskogee played for a state title so when they beat Stillwater last season, it was their first gold ball in nearly four decades. Muskogee is a tradition-rich program but a lot of their championship success came prior to the start of the official state playoffs in Oklahoma. Muskogee is one of a handful programs that have captured at least ten state championships but the majority of Muskogee's gold balls came before the playoffs began in Oklahoma in the mid-forties. But that's ancient history at this point. Muskogee climbed the mountain last season and they plan on staying at the top this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION – 45.6 Points Per Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Muskogee's offense has once again been one of the top units in the state this season. Led by arguably the best quarterback in the state of Oklahoma, the Roughers have lit up the scoreboard, week after week. The Roughers are averaging around 45 points per game and have scored at least 50 points in half of their games this season. The Roughers have one of the top quarterbacks in the state but they also have arguably the best backfield in the state with the addition of a standout running back this season. They are incredibly balanced and potent. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>DEFENSIVE PRODUCTION – 13.6 Points Per Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Roughers come into the state championship game with arguably the best defensive unit in Class 6A-2 this season. They are giving up just under 14 points per game and the defense has five shutouts this season, including in their quarterfinal win over Putnam City. They've gone up against explosive offenses and contained them, like the semifinal win over Stillwater where they gave up just 14 points. Muskogee came into this season with the majority of their starters back on that side of the ball and it certainly shows. They've been dominant throughout the 2024 season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>STAR WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["211556"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-674b953a1866e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">You can make a very good argument that Muskogee senior quarterback and Texas State commit [player_tooltip player_id='211556' first='Jamarian' last='Ficklin'] is the best player in Oklahoma. Last season, Ficklin threw for 3,000 yards, ran for 1,000 yards and led the Roughers to their first state title in nearly four decades. This season, his stats aren't what they were last year but anyone who has watched Muskogee this season knows that Ficklin hasn't dropped off. He has more help around him on the offensive side of the ball and that has freed him up to help out the defensive side of the ball as a safety. But one thing is certain as the state title game is upon us and that's Ficklin always raises his game when the lights are the brightest and we expect him to have a great showing on the big stage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#2 CHOCTAW YELLOWJACKETS (10-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 30th - Beat Lubbock Monterey, TX. 40-25<br>Sept. 12th - Lost To Gardner-Edgerton, KS. 66-44<br>Sept. 20th - Lost To Bixby 55-27<br>Sept. 27th - Beat Piedmont 56-40<br>Oct. 4th - Beat Putnam City 54-14<br>Oct. 11th - Beat Southmoore 51-17<br>Oct. 17th - Beat Stillwater 35-28<br>Oct. 25th - Beat U.S. Grant 48-0<br>Nov. 1st - Beat Lawton Eisenhower 59-14<br>Nov. 7th - Beat Northwest Classen 57-0<br>Quarterfinals - Beat Sapulpa 52-0<br>Semifinals - Beat Sand Springs 31-21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>HOW THEY GOT HERE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Choctaw entered the 2024 season as the #3 team in Class 6A-2. After making it to the semifinals a year ago but coming up just short, the Yellowjackets were hungrier than ever to make it back to the state championship game. It wasn't going to be easy for Choctaw as they had a brutal non-district schedule. It featured two games against state defending state champions in the largest classes of Kansas and Oklahoma. After losing to Gardner-Edgerton and Bixby respectively, the Yellowjackets would regroup and enter district play looking to make a statement. Despite the 1-2 start, Choctaw didn't look bad in those losses, so it wasn't surprising that they went on a run when district play began. It all led to a week seven showdown with Stillwater and the Yellowjackets prevailed at home with a 35-28 win. That allowed the Yellowjackets to roll to the district title. They shut out Sapulpa in the quarterfinals and got a scare from Sand Springs. After trailing 21-7, Choctaw outscored the Sandites 24-0 to punch their ticket back to Edmond. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY</strong><br><strong>1-2 Record - 4th Title Appearance</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Choctaw is back into the state championship game and it's been a good start to this decade for the Yellowjackets. Prior to 2020, Choctaw had made just one state championship game and it came all the way back in 1960. In 2020, the Yellowjackets made a surprising run to the state championship game and this is now their third trip to Edmond in the last five years. But in their previous two trips, the Yellowjackets had to settle for the silver ball, coming up short as 6A-2 Runner Ups to Bixby in 2020 and Stillwater in 2022. This season, they are hoping to finally kick the door in that they've been knocking on for the last five years. Choctaw has been very close over the last several years and they are looking to bring a gold ball to a very hungry community. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION – 46.2 Points Per Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Choctaw comes into the state championship game with arguably the top scoring offense in Class 6A-2. The Yellowjackets are averaging just over 46 points per game. This is a team that has lit up the scoreboard throughout the season. They've scored at least 50 points in half of their games this season. Even when Choctaw started 1-2 in non-district play, the Yellowjackets found a way to put up points on the offensive side of the ball. Similar to Muskogee, Choctaw has a very balanced offense, where they can beat opponents with the pass or run game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>DEFENSIVE PRODUCTION – 23.3 Points Per Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Choctaw comes into this week's championship game with a defense that gives up 23.3 points per game but that's not the full story of this unit. We mentioned the brutal non-district schedule and the Yellowjackets gave up an average of 46.5 points per game in their first four games. They went 2-2 during that stretch. When you look at their defense in the last eight games, that defense is giving up just 11.8 points per game. If the Yellowjackets can hold Muskogee to around 20 points on Saturday night, they could find a way to capture that elusive gold ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>STAR WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["211555"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-674b953a186d4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Choctaw has been a dominant team for the majority of this season and it all starts with the quarterback position. Senior QB [player_tooltip player_id='211555' first='Cash' last='Williams'] has been such an underrated playmaker over the last two seasons and he should get more credit across the state. Williams is committed to Tennessee for baseball as one of the best baseball players in the state but make no mistake about it, Williams can get the job done under center. The Yellowjackets have an incredibly balanced offense and Williams is the conductor of that side of the ball. He has a great feel for what Choctaw wants to do offensively and finds ways to be successful. Since his comeback season in 2023, Williams has been one of the best quarterbacks in Class 6A-2. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->