By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief
Photo by: Morgan Miller
Week 3 was heavily disrupted by severe weather systems across the state that lead to more cancellations than actual games.
#1 Charles Page (2-0, 0-0) District 1
The Sandites were one of few teams to actually start a game Friday night, but it was cancelled shortly before halftime and will thus not count towards their record or stats. However, their performance on the field still plays into my rankings. They lead 5A unranked Guthrie 18-7 with 6 minutes in the half, and QB Hunter Greathouse was 4-5-129 in that short amount of time. Guthrie may not be the team they've been in recent memory, but they're far from pushovers.
#5 Bartlesville (3-0, 0-0) District 1
The Bruins were far enough North that they had plenty of time to put a 42-20 beat down on Enid before the weather reached them. Enid is an 0-3 pushover this year and the 20 points they scored on Bartlesville is the most they've mustered all season. I expect Bartlesville to come hot at the Sandites with their offense, but be unable to put up any stops of their own against double-threat Hunter Greathouse. I'm expecting a shootout with the Sandites coming on top by a pair of touchdowns, minus a few blocked/missed PATs.
The Pick: CPHS 46, Bartlesville 35.
#2 Bixby (2-1, 0-0) District 1
Despite nearly 700 yards of total offense, the Spartans didn't put up nearly the points I expected them to against Springdale, AR (0-3). It looks like the defending State Champions have their offense in good order between QB Tanner Griffin and RB Nic Roller but are going to need to whip their defense in shape quickly if they want to hold up against BTW and CPHS. The Spartans won 57-38, which is more points than they allowed anyone but Jenks to score last season.
#10 Claremore (2-1, 0-0) District 1
The Red Zebras held up to a 10 point loss to Siloam Springs, 22-12, only 3 points worse than I expected. Their passing game was abysmal and they won't stand much of a chance rushing against Bixby. If they manage to score at all it will be due more to Bixby's slacking defense than Claremore's capabilities.
The Pick: Bixby 52, Claremore 3
#3 Booker T Washington (2-0, 0-0) District 1
The Hornets game against East Central was cancelled Friday, though it's safe to say it would have been a slaughter considering the 62-6 they put on Tulsa Central in week 2.
#9 Ponca City (1-1, 0-0) District 1
The Wildcats' game against Shawnee was also cancelled, but not before they were outscored 10-6 in the first quarter. It's hard to judge a team off less than a quarter so I didn't drop them in my rankings, but I had expected Ponca to easily defeat the unranked 5A team.
The Pick: BTW 42, Ponca City 13.
#4 Midwest City (2-1, 0-0) District 2
The Bombers pulled off a big upset over the top ranked 5A Del City, 37-14, and are my favorite to win the District 2 title. They lost to BTW in the season opener, but when it comes to Eisenhower, they're going to bring the thunder.
#14 Eisenhower (0-3, 0-0) District 2
Lawton Ike scored a lot more against 5A #2 MacArthur than anybody expected them to, but were still handed a solid 57-34 beat down.
The Pick: MWC 28, Ike 6
#6 Choctaw (2-1, 0-0) District 2
Choctaw suffered their first loss of the season in a close 25-23 to Putnam North.
#12 Enid (0-3, 0-0) District 2
The Plainsmen have been getting their butts handed to them left and right this year, and I don't expect things to change in district play.
The Pick: Choctaw 38, Enid 12.
#7 Muskogee (0-3, 0-0) District 1
The Roughers have definitely not lived up to expectation these past two season under new Head Coach Rafe Watkins, but in their defense, they've only played really solid teams thus far. 33-22 to 5A #5 McAlester, 34-25 to 6A #5 Owasso, and 56-21 to undefeated #3 Fayetteville, AR. If they were in District 2 I could see them making a run at the district title, but in the talent-crowded Tulsa district I see them winning 3 games at most.
#13 Sapulpa (1-1, 0-0) District 1
Lawton may not be the team they were last year, but the Chieftains got off lucky that their game was cancelled. Unfortunately for them, there's no rain in the forecast for this Friday.
The Pick: Muskogee 35, Sapulpa 12.
#8 Putnam City West (1-2, 0-0) District 2
I was so impressed with PCW after their 5 point loss to Del City and their 29-6 win over PCN, then they had to go and blow it, getting slaughtered 49-17 by PC.
#11 Lawton (1-1, 0-0) District 2
I'm a lot less confident in PCW for this matchup than I was last week, and it's really anybody's game in my book.
The Pick: PCW 31, Lawton 28
#15 Stillwater (0-3, 0-0) District 2
Stillwater lost 26-14 to Edmond North Friday, and is the only team not starting District play this upcoming weekend. As District 2 is only 7 teams, the Pioneers will be battling with U.S. Grant as both teams look for their first win of the season.
The Pick: Stillwater 29, Grant 14.
My Record
- Week 1: 10-2 83%
- Week 2: 12-2 85%
- Week 3: 6-3 66%
- Overall: 28-7 80%
