Class 6A-2 Title First Look

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong><em><strong><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></strong></em></strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 6A-2 state championship game is set! #1 Stillwater will look to defend their 2022 state championship when they square off with #2 Muskogee in Edmond on Friday at 1PM. The Roughers were the top-ranked team in Class 6A-2 for the majority of the 2023 season. That was until they tripped up in the final week of the regular season to Stillwater. The Pioneers now look to go back to back as 6A-2 champion and Muskogee is looking for their first title in nearly four decades. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma for more championship first looks. And on Monday, we'll dive deep into the match-up with our official championship preview, as well as all the players to watch for both teams!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#1 STILLWATER PIONEERS (10-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 25 - Lost To Greenwood, AR. 49-21<br>Sept. 8 - Lost To Yukon 37-34<br>Sept. 15 - Beat Norman 28-6<br>Sept. 21 - Beat U.S. Grant 76-6<br>Sept. 29 - Beat Booker T Washington 48-13<br>Oct. 5 - Beat Sand Springs 35-18<br>Oct. 12 - Beat Bartlesville 14-10<br>Oct. 19 - Beat Putnam City West 59-0<br>Oct. 26 - Beat Tahlequah 55-14<br>Nov. 3 - Beat Muskogee 30-20<br>Quarterfinals - Beat Putnam City 56-7<br>Semifinals - Beat Choctaw 33-29</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY<br>2-5 All Time - 8th Title Appearance</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top-ranked Pioneers return to the state championship game for the eighth time in school history and it's the fourth time in the last six seasons. But this year, they are back in Edmond as the defending champion after a perfect 2022 season that saw them capture their first state championship since 1967. The Pioneers have without a doubt been one of the best teams in Class 6A-2 over the last six years. Stillwater made back to back championship game appearances but fell to the Bixby dynasty both times. Now the Spartans are in 6A-1 and Stillwater looks to begin their own dynasty with a second straight title on Friday afternoon. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION: 40.8 Points Per Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stillwater's offense came into this season looking to rebuild an offense that lost a lot of production off last year's team. Having the Thompson twins returning certainly gave them a boost. This season, they've averaged a little over 40 points per game. And the Pioneers have been playing great football over the last month of the season on that side of the ball. During this ten-game winning streak, Stillwater has scored at least 30 points in eight games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>DEFENSIVE PRODUCTION: 17.4 Points Per Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As talented as the offense has been, you can make the argument that the defensive side of the ball has reached new heights this season. They aren't the lockdown unit from a year ago that saw the Pioneers force well over 40 turnovers. But they have been stout. After giving up 86 points in their first two games, the Pioneers have been lights out. That scoring average has gone down significantly. And they've only given up 20 points or more twice. </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":["215207"],"_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":"Stillwater senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='215207' first='Holden' last='Thompson'] is one of the best stories of the 2023 season. After missing all of last season with a leg injury, Thompson has made up for lost time and wanted to provide an impact to a state championship team. He's knocking on the door of 2,000 yards on the ground and has been a workhorse when he's needed to be. He's no stranger to carrying the ball over 30 times in a game, including in their semifinal win over Choctaw. Thompson had a fantastic performance in the week ten victory over Muskogee that locked up the district title for Stillwater.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65621b51e87ce"} /--> <!-- 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 MUSKOGEE ROUGHERS (10-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 25 - Beat Enid 49-27<br>Sept. 1 - Beat Putnam City 57-0<br>Sept. 8 - Lost To Carl Albert 43-20<br>Sept. 22 - Beat Sand Springs 51-13<br>Sept. 29 - Beat Putnam City West 69-0<br>Oct. 6 - Beat U.S. Grant 72-0<br>Oct. 13 - Beat Tahlequah 67-0<br>Oct. 19 - Beat Booker T Washington 63-20<br>Oct. 27 - Beat Bartlesville 30-27<br>Nov. 3 - Lost To Stillwater 30-20<br>Quarterfinals - Beat Ponca City 34-10<br>Semifinals - Beat Deer Creek 36-35</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY<br>3-1 All Time - 5th Title Appearance</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the first time since winning it all in 1986, the Muskogee Roughers are playing for the state championship. Friday afternoon's game will be the fifth time that Muskogee has played for the state championship. At least, that's what we're going with under OSSAA records. When Muskogee Central high school was the main school in town in the first half of the 20th century, the Roughers, or "Rough Riders" were state champions multiple times. With the semifinal win over Deer Creek, Muskogee also ended a six-game losing streak in the semifinal round. Now, the Roughers shift their focus to a championship date with Stillwater on Friday afternoon. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION: 47.3 Points Per Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Muskogee offense is one of the best in the state and you can make the argument that they are the best unit in Class 6A-2. They have one of the better offensive line units and a QB-WR duo that might be the best duo in the state. With all this firepower, the Roughers have averaged nearly 50 points per game this season. The Roughers had six games this season where they scored north of 50 points. They'll lean on that explosive offense this week in the title game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>DEFENSIVE PRODUCTION: 17.1 Points Per Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Muskogee defense came into this season with high expectations as well with the majority of their starters returning from last year's team. The Roughers have given up just over 17 points per game this season. They've faced some explosive offenses and they've bent but that they've rarely broken. This unit has four shutouts on the season as they took care of business in the district games where they could dominate. They have multiple players who will play in college.</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_0_evaluation":"Leading Muskogee's explosive offense is junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='211556' first='Jamarian' last='Ficklin']. The Muskogee signal caller came into this season as one of the best quarterbacks in the state and it's hard to argue that anyone is above him at this point. He's led the Roughers to the state title game and has been a monster week in and week out. Ficklin's ability to beat defenses on the ground has made him even more dangerous this season. He has right around 3,000 yards passing and nearly 1,000 yards rushing. He was a touchdown machine on the ground in their semifinal win over Deer Creek.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65621b51e884e"} /-->