4A Midseason Report

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second half of the regular season kicks off this week and the hunt for district championships, favorable playoff seeding and a spot in the playoffs in general really heat up. This week, we're taking a look at each class with a breakdown on the midseason MVP, favorites to win it all and much more! We continue this evening with Class 4A Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma for more midseason reports on each class!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE FAVORITES</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ardmore Tigers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ardmore came into this season as a top five team and they've climbed the ranks to number two in the latest 4A rankings. Simply put, the Tigers have smashed everyone on their schedule and it looks like there is a showdown looming with top-ranked Tuttle in the regular season finale. Ardmore brought back nearly everyone from last year's team and they look like one of the deepest teams in this class. Despite running a very run-heavy offense, the Tigers have proven to be a quick strike team that can score in a variety of ways.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Broken Bow Savages</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Broken Bow is still one of the favorites despite dropping the district opener to Sallisaw in week four. The Savages were our top-ranked team heading into the season and despite the loss, they are still a team that you need to take very seriously moving forward. Last season, they dropped a game to Sallisaw and rallied (with a little help from two Sallisaw losses) to win the district championship. Even if they don't capture the district title, this is not a team to take lightly in the postseason. On paper, they look like they have the best roster from top to bottom.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sallisaw Black Diamonds</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If Broken Bow looks like they have the best roster, you have to consider Sallisaw one of the 4A favorites after the Black Diamonds beat them in week four. But like we mentioned, the Black Diamonds beat Broken Bow last season but didn't finish the job and win the district title. That will certainly be on their minds as they enter the second half of the regular season and inevitably in the playoffs. The Black Diamonds are led by one of the better coaches in the state in Brandon Tyler and this could be one of their better teams in recent memory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tuttle Tigers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The list of favorites was done alphabetically, otherwise Tuttle would be at the top for a few reasons. First off, they are the defending champs and they've shown us nothing in the first half of the season to suggest they've taken a major step back and won't be in contention again. They also go into the second half of the season as the number one team in the class. Like we mentioned with Ardmore, there is a showdown coming between these two teams. But Tuttle has made back to back trips to the state title game and they're hungry for a third.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE DARK HORSE</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Weatherford Eagles</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It seems a bit crazy to say that Weatherford is the dark horse in Class 4A considering they have the best record in the class. They've played every week since the season kicked off and are the only team in 4A football with a 6-0 record. PRZ-Oklahoma mentioned this last week as they faced Clinton in their annual rivalry game. But that was their first real test against another top 4A program and the Eagles definitely passed that test. It's time to start taking this western Oklahoma team more seriously because they are flying under the radar right now and they are continuing to open some eyes.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">MIDSEASON MVP</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1678735' first='Kase' last='Adams'] - 2027 Quarterback - Sallisaw</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one was tough but the edge on MVP goes to Sallisaw senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1678735' first='Kase' last='Adams']. Because he has the head to head win over Broken Bow. Adams is no slouch either and has been putting up some big numbers through the air and as a runner. He's a three-year starter and has Sallisaw in a position to seriously contend for the state championship this season. Last season saw Adams continue to progress as a passer and now, he's one of the better quarterbacks in Class 4A. This offense has been going through Adams and he has the Black Diamonds playing perfect football.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">MIDSEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1525562' first='Greydon' last='Howell'] - 2027 Quarterback - Broken Bow</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one was a no brainer as Broken Bow senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1525562' first='Greydon' last='Howell'] continues to be the most electric football player in the state. If the Savages were still unbeaten, he'd be in the MVP slot but we have him right here for now. Howell has picked up right where he left off last season and has even added some new things to his game. The Savages have him returning kicks and when games have been decided, he's even moved over to wide receiver and has produced there as well. As an Oklahoma commit, that's where Howell will play in the future and he's just as electric at that new position.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">MIDSEASON&nbsp;DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1171160' first='Kade' last='Pratt'] - 2027 Linebacker - Broken Bow</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Staying at Broken Bow for the defensive side of the ball with senior [player_tooltip player_id='1171160' first='Kade' last='Pratt'] at the linebacker position. Pratt is one of the hardest hitting linebackers in the state and he's one of the top tacklers, regardless of class. He's been doing this with Broken Bow for a season and a half at this point and it's still crazy to us that more schools haven't taken a chance and tried to land Pratt. He has been so incredibly productive, whether it's been during his time with Broken Bow or before that with Idabel. There's no question that he's one of the best defensive players in the state and he's even added some offensive responsibilities this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">GAME TO CIRCLE</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ardmore AT Tuttle - Week Ten</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both of these teams as serious contenders to the gold ball. They currently sit at #1 and #2, talking about games in the next month to circle, this one needs to be high on the list, regardless of class. There's two questions about this game before we get to the first Friday in November. Will these two teams still be #1 and #2? And could this be the first of two meetings we see? With the second coming in Edmond with a state championship on the line.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->