Our First Look At The A-2 Title Game

<!-- 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 A-2 state championship game is set! #1 Talihina will square off with #4 Hominy in Edmond on Thursday at noon. For the top-ranked Golden Tigers, Thursday's game is a return to the state championship after finishing as Class A-2's runner up last year. It's also an opportunity to go wire to wire as Class A-2's top team this season. On the other sideline is Hominy and the Bucks have been knocking on the door of contending for the gold ball over the last several years. Led by a special senior class this season, they're looking to kick the door down on Thursday. In this post, we take our first look at both teams prior to their title clash on Thursday afternoon. Be sure to check out our <strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@PrepRedzoneOklahoma">PRZ-Oklahoma YouTube Channel</a></strong> for exclusive (and free) video content, including interviews with both head coaches!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#1 TALIHINA GOLDEN TIGERS (13-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 29th - Beat Summit Christian 67-7<br>Sept. 5th - Beat Porter 34-6<br>Sept. 18th - Beat Broken Bow JV 46-0<br>Sept. 26th - Beat Allen 54-17<br>Oct. 3rd - Beat Gore 61-7<br>Oct. 10th - Beat Central Sallisaw 37-12<br>Oct. 16th - Beat Liberty 62-7<br>Oct. 23rd - Beat Wewoka 48-16<br>Oct. 31st - Beat Regent Prep 40-13<br>Nov. 7th - Beat Mounds 61-0<br>1st Round - Beat Ketchum 51-8<br>Quarterfinals - Beat Healdton 40-7<br>Semifinals - Beat Fairland 47-46 (OT)</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>The Talihina Golden Tigers walked off the field at UCO last year with the A-2 runner up trophy. It was pretty apparent with all the players they had coming back in 2025, that they would have a good shot of making it back to UCO. It hasn't been easy but the Golden Tigers have made it look easy at times. Talihina absolutely torched everyone during the regular season, finishing the year with a perfect 10-0 record, with the closest game being a 25-point win over Central Sallisaw in week six. That kind of domination continued in the playoffs, beating Ketchum and Healdton in the first two rounds with ease. But they had a showdown with Fairland in the semifinals and the game went to overtime and Talihina was pushed to the brink. But they prevailed 47-46 to punch their ticket back to Edmond. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY<br>1-2 Record - 4th Title Game Appearance</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Talihina is playing in the state championship game for the second straight year and the fourth time in program history. But the Golden Tigers are hungry to get their hands on the gold ball after coming up short last year. And it would also end a significant championship drought. Talihina does have one state championship but it came all the way back in 1966. Not only is Talihina looking for their first state championship in nearly six decades, they're also looking to cap off a perfect season and go wire to wire as A-2's top team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION: 49.8 Points Per Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Talihina has one of the best offenses in the state, regardless of class. They are averaging just shy of 50 points per game and they have arguably the most prolific quarterback leading the way on that side of the ball. With QB1 leading the way, the Golden Tigers are going to be in a very good spot on Thursday afternoon. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>DEFENSIVE PRODUCTION: 11.2 Points Per Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Because the offense averages nearly 50 points per game, it's easy to overlook what the defense has been able to accomplish this season. The Golden Tigers have given up 11.2 points per game and when you consider that they just gave up 46 in the semifinals and their average is still that low, that's certainly impressive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#4 HOMINY BUCKS (11-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 4th - Beat Cleveland 41-16<br>Sept. 12th - Lost To Pawhuska 44-27<br>Sept. 19th - Lost To Pawnee 38-34<br>Sept. 26th - Beat Summit Christian 48-12<br>Oct. 3rd - Beat Ketchum 34-14<br>Oct. 10th - Beat Woodland 32-16<br>Oct. 16th - Beat Fairland 36-20<br>Oct. 24th - Beat Porter 15-0 (Forfeit)<br>Oct. 30th - Beat Barnsdall 38-14<br>Nov. 7th - Beat Afton 34-8<br>1st Round - Beat Regent Prep 42-7<br>Quarterfinals - Beat Thomas 38-20<br>Semifinals - Beat Allen 44-21</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>The Hominy Bucks came into this season with high expectations but that's become the norm within this program. But this season in particular, the Bucks had a chance to have a special season considering the players they returned. They played a tough non-district schedule and came out of it 1-2 on the year. They haven't lost a game since. They ran over everyone on their way to a district championship, including defending state champ Woodland and semifinalist Fairland. The Bucks came into the playoffs as district champs and their dominant play continued from there. They've won all three playoff games by at least 18 points and are playing some of their best football right now. Despite losing one of their key players on offense, the Bucks are playing with a lot of confidence right now. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY<br>5-3 Record - 9th Title Game Appearance</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We mentioned earlier how Hominy has been knocking on the door of contending for the state championship. The Bucks are back in the state championship game for the ninth time in school history and they are looking to add their sixth gold ball to the trophy case in northern Oklahoma. They are 5-3 all time in state championship games, with the last title coming in 2016, when Zaven Collins was terrorizing small school opponents. Hominy started 0-3 in title games but they've won the last five championship appearances. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION: 34.6 Points Per Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hominy is playing some of their best football on offense during this playoff run. The Bucks come into this week averaging 34.6 points per game but that average has gone up with their three wins in the playoffs. They're averaging a touchdown more per game in the playoffs. Led by a strong senior core, the Bucks are playing good football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>DEFENSIVE PRODUCTION: 17.5 Points Per Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hominy's defense will also need to continue their solid play to try and slow down Talihina's offensive attack. The Bucks have given up 17.5 points per game this season but they've also seen a few teams that have explosive offenses. Thursday afternoon's game will be no different and Hominy will be ready for the challenge. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->