2024 5A Playoff Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 regular season has come to an end and now the road to UCO really heats up as the playoffs begin. Prep Redzone Oklahoma will be your home for the absolute best playoff coverage in the state. Every single day, we'll have new content up on the site to get you ready for what's ahead. We continue our playoff preview coverage with an in-depth look at Class 5A. We'll also take a look at the 5A playoff players to watch plus more playoff preview coverage continues later this week!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>PLAYOFF BRACKET</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1555660,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/11/5A-Bracket-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1555660" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>DEFENDING CHAMPION/TEAM TO BEAT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CARL ALBERT TITANS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carl Albert has been on top of the Class 5A mountain top for a long time now and they come into the playoffs looking to capture a third consecutive state championship and 19th state title in school history. That would also tie Ada for the most state championships in state history. The Titans look like they are better than ever after going through the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record, shutting out seven opponents and giving up just 26 points on the season. The Titans have just reloaded for another state championship run. When we look at all the classes, Carl Albert feels like the most overwhelming favorite compared to the other favorites. It would be a stunner if Carl Albert didn't raise another gold ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>OTHER CONTENDERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BOOKER T WASHINGTON HORNETS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simply put, it's one of the best turnaround stories of the 2024 football season. Booker T Washington went 2-8 last season and that's not something we're used to seeing. The Hornets dropped down to Class 5A and we knew that would help them get back to competing but they would go from 2-8 in 2023 to 8-2 in 2024 and district champions heading into the playoffs. First year head coach Dan Bitson has led a remarkable turnaround but it hasn't been a smooth one. The Hornets took some bumps early on in the year, losing to Muskogee and Del City but they haven't lost since. They bring an eight game winning streak into the postseason and they are playing with as much momentum as anybody. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DEL CITY EAGLES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Del City Eagles are right back in a position to make a run at the state championship. After finishing as the 5A runner up a year ago, the Eagles had to reload after losing a pretty special senior class but that's exactly what they've done. Del City has been very impressive this season. They tripped up against Edmond Memorial in week zero but they haven't lose since the opener. They dominated their way through district play and bring a ton of momentum after winning their last nine games by at least 20 points. The biggest hurdle for Del City is the bracket placement. They are on the same side as Carl Albert and there could be a semifinal showdown coming up if the Eagles take care of business. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NEWCASTLE RACERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming into this season, we knew that Newcastle's non-district schedule was going to be a brutal one. The Racers played three of the top five teams in Class 4A and went 0-3 against them. Because of that, they started 1-3 and might have flown under the radar throughout October. They aren't under the radar anymore after finishing the season at 7-3 and capturing the district championship. And this is a Newcastle team that wasn't even supposed to be in Class 5A this season. They were slotted for Class 4A until the emergency redistricting shuffle in April bumped them up. They responded by coming out and capturing the district title. And when you look at the potential path, it's there for Newcastle to make it to Edmond. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>DARK HORSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COLLINSVILLE CARDINALS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Collinsville Cardinals are the perfect definition of a "dark horse" coming into the playoffs. After going 4-3 in district play, they come into the postseason as one of the better four seeds in recent memory. The Cardinals had injury issues in late September and into October and they lost back to back district games by a combined two points, putting them in the four seed spot. But when this team is healthy, they are one of the very best in Class 5A. So this is a team that shouldn't be overlooked as we enter the postseason but because they are a four seed, the path is a tough one. They have to go on the road to face Booker T Washington in the first round. But don't be surprised to see the Cardinals win a game or two. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>TOP STORYLINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CARL ALBERT OR THE FIELD</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This feels like just picking up where we left off when talking about Carl Albert as the team to beat but when it comes to Class 5A, there is not another storyline more overwhelming than this one. Carl Albert hasn't lost a game since September of 2022 and show no signs of slowing down as the playoffs start. But can one of those other contenders stun the Titans and keep them from capturing that next state championship? Or is the Carl Albert title reign inevitable as the playoffs are set to kick off this week? One interesting part of Carl Albert's path is a potential semifinal showdown with rival Del City in a possible state championship rematch. We think those two are the top two teams in 5A but would square off in the semifinal round as opposed to the state championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>MUST WATCH 1ST ROUND GAME</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LAWTON MACARTHUR AT GUTHRIE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This first round match-up features two teams that came into this season expecting to be considered contenders in the 5A playoffs. So after Friday, one team will be headed to basketball and wrestling season. Lawton MacArthur travels to "The Rock" to face Guthrie and the Highlanders are looking to pick up some momentum. Lawton Mac finished the regular season by losing two out of their last three games and that put them on the road in the first round. Guthrie has taken care of business with the exception of a shutout loss to district rival Carl Albert. The Blue Jays will lean on a stout defense and a dynamic quarterback while the Highlanders will lean on their playmakers to strike fast and strike often. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->