Week Nine 6A-II rankings and predictions; a look at this weekend's games

No. 1 Booker T. Washington Hornets (Last Week No. 1) vs. No. 4 Bixby Spartans (3)* District 2

The Hornets (7-1, 4-0) reaffirmed their number one rank with a 40-0 shut out of Sand Springs (4-4, 2-2). They outperformed 450 yards to 155, with a 20-34-196-0 passing performance from Phillip Wheatley and a 24-164 ground game from Thomas Grayson. Dewanye Cooks Jr. recorded a 98-yard kickoff return to set the tone for the night. Defensively they recorded six tackles for loss, five sacks, and two fumble recoveries.

The three-time defending State Champions (5-3, 4-0) came out on top of a surprisingly close 37-21 battle in Bartlesville (1-6, 1-3). The Spartans had their lowest-scoring win since the season-opener against Jenks (4-4) despite recording a safety and two interceptions. 

The pick: BTW 39 Bixby 33.

No. 2 Midwest City Bombers (2) vs. No. 11 Enid Plainsmen (11)* District 1

The District One favorites continued their dominating and undefeated district streak with a 32-14 win at Putnam City (6-2, 3-2). Midwest City (7-1, 5-0) was up 26-0 at halftime and 32-0 in the fourth quarter before allowing the Pirates to score. Preston Colbert was 15-18-329-0 passing and the Bombers added another 167 yards on the ground.

Enid (3-5, 1-4) fell in a 20-0 deficit against Stillwater (7-1, 4-1) before getting on the scoreboard and finishing 53-34. Mason Skrimager passed for 247 yards and ran for 69 yards with a combined four touchdowns. 

The pick: MWC 53 Enid 16.

No. 3 Lawton Wolverines (4) vs. No. 12 Putnam City West Patriots (12)* District 1

Lawton (6-2, 4-1) put a 41-17 hammering on Choctaw (4-4, 1-4) and shouldn't have too much difficulty closing out the season for a second place finish in the district. Next up they'll take on Putnam City West (1-7, 0-5) who fell 34-7 to Deer Creek (4-4, 2-3) on Thursday. 

The pick: Lawton 50 PCW 18.

No. 5 Stillwater Pioneers (5) vs. No. 7 Putnam City Pirates (8)* District 1

Stillwater (7-1, 4-1) is still shooting for a district title after their 53-34 win in Enid (3-5, 1-4). If they can win out their next two games they can force a three-way tie for the title and the spot will be awarded on point differential. First they have to get past Putnam City (6-2, 3-2) who is coming off a 32-14 defeat against Midwest City. 

Gunnar Gundy was 7-12-89 passing while the Pioneer running backs did most of the work, racking up 422 yards in their win. Putnam City was held to 89 yards on 28 carries in their loss, and A.J. Newsome passed 18-40-191-2.

The pick: SHS 39 PHS 26.

No. 6 Muskogee Roughers (6)* vs. No. 15 Sapulpa Chieftains (15)* District 2

Muskogee (3-4, 2-2) took a bye week to recover after their close 40-34 shootout win with Sand Springs (4-4, 2-2) and will next have to get past Sapulpa (1-7, 1-4). In their game with the Sandites the Roughers gave up four fumbles and an interception but still managed to come out on top thanks to an 18-25-381-1 passing performance by Jacob Medrano. They were held to 91 yards on 28 carries. 

After falling 9-2 to previously winless Bartlesville (1-6, 1-3), the Sapulpa Chieftains rebounded with a vengeance in a 42-14 battle with Ponca City (1-7, 1-4). Eli Williams ran eleven times for 126 yards while three running backs combined for 149 yards. 

The pick: MHS 49 SHS 12.

No. 8 Sand Springs Sandites (7) vs. No. 13 Bartlesville Bruins (13)* District 2

Sand Springs (4-4, 2-2) lost their first shutout since 2011, 40-0 at Booker T. Washington (7-1, 4-0). Caden Pennington was 6-10-53-0 and Payton Scott was held to 96 yards on 20 carries. 

Bartlesville (1-6, 1-3) lost a surprisingly close 37-21 bout with Bixby (5-3, 4-0) despite giving up two interceptions and a safety. Noah Sunday was 22-45-236-2, and teams that pass that well have done fairly against Sand Springs well this season. 

The pick: CPHS 35 BHS 26.

No. 9 Choctaw Yellowjackets (9) vs. No. 10 Deer Creek Antlers (10)* District 1

Choctaw (4-4, 1-4) kept up with Lawton (6-2, 4-1) for most of the game, leading 17-14 in the third quarter before the Wolverines pulled ahead for a 41-17 win. Deer Creek (4-4, 2-3) hammered Putnam City West (1-7, 0-5) 34-7, jumping out to a 34-0 lead before letting their foes on the board. 

The pick: CHS 35 DC 28.

No. 14 Ponca City Wildcats (14) vs. Norman Tigers

Ponca City (1-7, 1-4) will play an unusual late season non-district game at 6A-I Norman (0-8) where they'll hope to snap back from a 42-14 upset in Sapulpa (1-7, 1-4). Double-threat Ponca QB Justin Andrews was 15-31-195-0 passing and 23-146 rushing.

Norman is coming off a 59-7 loss to Broken Arrow (4-4) where they were held to 100 rushing yards on 25 carries and a 3-14-25-3 passing performance. 

The pick: PoHi 24 NHS 21.

Scott Emigh
Editor-in-Chief
Overall: 53-17 (.757)
Last Week: 6-1 (.857)
Last Year: 48-21 (.695)

Virgil Noah
Staff Writer
Overall: 42-15* (.737)
Last Week: 6-1 (.857)
Last Year: 43-26 (.623)

*Virgil missed the first week of picks.