Oklahoma high school football Top 25 rankings (11/8/2023)

Top two squads Bixby, Midwest City Carl Albert survive upset bids in regular-season finales

It’s high school football playoff time in Oklahoma. 

Here are the SBLive Oklahoma Top 25 rankings as the 2023 regular season came to a close last week and the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association playoffs begin this week for all classes.

The first eight teams in the Week 11 SBLive Oklahoma Top 25 football rankings remain intact with No. 1 Bixby, No. 2 Midwest City Carl Albert and No. 7 Oklahoma City Heritage Hall surviving upset bids.

But losses by Muskogee, Jenks and Collinsville in big games causes those teams to take big drops, while Stillwater - the defending Class 6AII champion - made a huge jump. Other teams moved up from one to two notches.

Oklahoma high school football playoff brackets released for all classes 

No one dropped out, which means no newcomers.

In the coming weeks, once a team loses and is eliminated from the playoffs, they will fall out of the rankings until the final 25 for the season is released when the season is completed late next month. This will pave the way for teams who remain in the postseason but have not been in the top 25 this year to be in the rankings.

1. Bixby (10-0 overall, 7-0 in District 6AI-1) 

Previous Game: Beat Jenks, 31-14

Ranking Last Week: No. 1

The Spartans got another challenge from the Trojans, finding themselves in a struggle in the first half and trailing 14-7 at halftime.

But with a suffocating defense and Blake Hogshooter catching three touchdown passes totaling 92 yards from Carson Kirby, Bixby outscored Jenks, 24-0, in the second half to clinch the win and the district championship.

Now, the Spartans get this week off before continuing their quest to repeat as the Class 6AI champions and win a ninth state title in the span of one decade.

Next Game: vs. Broken Arrow-Norman winner, Nov. 17

2. Midwest City Carl Albert (10-0, 6-0 in District 5A-2)

Previous Game: Beat Piedmont, 38-24

Ranking Last Week: No. 2

The Titans had to rally from a two-TD deficit with four scores to pull away from the Wildcats of Piedmont.

Kevin Sperry Jr. scored on a 2-yard TD to tie it; then the go-ahead score came on a Sperry pass to Trystan Haynes for 52 yards, making it 31-24. A Titan pick-six with a minute left sealed the deal.

Carl Albert now moves on to the next phase toward its goal of repeating as a state champ in Class 5A.

Next Game: vs. El Reno (6-4, 5-2), Friday

3. Wagoner (10-0, 7-0 in District 4A-3)

Previous Game: Beat Miami, 48-14

Ranking Last Week: No. 3

The Bulldogs continue their traditional winning ways, finishing the regular season unbeaten for the sixth time in 11 years after routing the Wardogs.

Shaun Atkins had both an interception and a fumble recovery on defense that set up Wagoner TDs.

Quarterback Kale Charboneau threw two TD passes and ran for one, and Witt Edwards caught one of those TD passes and ran for two others. Alex Shieldnight also caught the other TD pass, and others scoring for the Bulldogs on the rush were Bryce Steele and Tashawn Williams.

Charboneau also completed 16-of-22 passes for 285 yards and produced 11 tackles from his linebacker spot on defense.

Wagoner now moves onto its journey for a repeat of the 4A championship.

Next Game: vs. Broken Bow (3-6, 3-4), Friday

4. Washington (9-0, 6-0 in District 2A-3)

Previous Game: Beat Little Axe, 42-0

Ranking Last Week: No. 4

The Warriors closed the regular season with a convincing shutout win against Little Axe. Now, they move on to the playoffs in hopes of taking another Class 2A title with their talented Division I caliber players.

Next Game: vs. Lexington (5-5, 4-3), Friday

5. OKC Heritage Hall (10-0, 4-3 in District 3A-2)

Previous Game: Beat Marlow, 35-28

Ranking Last Week: No. 5

OU walk-on commit Andy Bass scored four TD runs for the Chargers while they got their biggest challenge of the year from the Outlaws, having been taken to the the wire.

Heritage Hall now moves on to the playoff where it commences its march to win another 3A state championship.

Next Game: vs. North Rock Creek (5-5, 4-3), Friday

6. Guthrie (9-1, 5-1 in District 5A-2)

Previous Game: Beat Shawnee, 50-0

Ranking Last Week: 6

The Bluejays pitched their seventh shutout of the season while hanging half-a-hundred on the Wolves. They finish the regular season outscoring opponents, 439-33.

The Guthrie defense will be worth something to watch in the playoffs.

Next Game: vs. Lawton MacArthur (8-2, 5-2), Friday

7. Tulsa Union (9-1, 7-0 in District 6AI-2)

Previous Game: Beat Edmond North, 50-14

Ranking Last Week: No. 7

Senior Trey Barnes took an interception 9 yards for a TD and reserve running back Tayveon Parry-Speight scored three TDs in the Redhawks’ romp over the Huskies.

Parry-Speight led Union in rushing with 74 yards, scoring TDs on runs of 41, 12 and 1 yard.

Freshman quarterback Kason Delgado, filling in for the injured Shaker Reisig, also tossed a 36-yard scoring strike to Brendon McQueen. Delgado finished with 144 yards on 12-of-15 attempts.

Next Game: vs. Mustang-Westmoore winner, Nov. 17

8. Poteau (10-0, 7-0 in District 4A-4)

Previous Game: Beat Stilwell, 61-20

Ranking Last Week: No. 8

The unbeaten Pirates stormed out of the gates fast with a 27-0 lead through the end of the first quarter in last week's season finale.

By the time the final period started, it was 55-13.

It will be interesting to see how deep they go into the postseason unblemished.

Next Game: vs. Miami (6-4, 4-3), Friday

9. Owasso (8-2, 6-1 in District 6AI-2)

Previous Game: Beat Norman, 49-18

Ranking Last Week: No. 10

After being down 18-13 at halftime, the Rams came out fired up and rocked the Tigers in the second half, shutting them out 36-0 for a 31-point victory.

The Owasso rushing attack totaled 312 yards, with the running back tandem of Jayson Moll and Jayden Hall combining for 248 of them and six TDs.

Knox Dyson threw for 240 yards and one TD as well.

Owasso was in trouble early, falling behind 12-0 in the first quarter, but took the lead, 13-12, in the second as Moll scored on a 4-yard run, then on a 73-yard reception from Dyson. Moll then scored the go-ahead TD on a 43-yard run to start the second-half scoring barrage for the Rams, then ran in the two-point conversion to make it 21-18.

Owasso gets a bye this week before returning to action, where it will host a Class 6AI quarterfinal game.

Next Game: vs. Norman North-Edmond North winner, Nov. 17

10. Tulsa Lincoln Christian (10-0, 6-0 in District 3A-3)

Previous Game: Beat Locust Grove, 55-16

Ranking Last Week: No. 11

The Bulldogs wrapped up another unbeaten regular season with a rout of Locust Grove. They will try to return to the Class 3A final after coming up short last year in a semifinal loss to Metro Christian, another Tulsa private school program.

Prior to last season, Lincoln Christian won state in 2019 and was runner-up in 2020 and 2021.

Next Game: vs. Bristow (5-5, 4-3), Friday

11. OKC Millwood (9-1, 7-0 in District 2A-1)

Previous Game: Beat Blackwell, 48-0

Ranking Last Week: No. 13

The Falcons concluded the regular season with a nine-game winning streak after losing their opener. They will work to continue their success in the playoffs with plans to return to the Class 2A final with hopes to winning it all after losing last season to Washington.

Next Game: vs. Crossings Christian (7-3, 4-3), Friday

12. Choctaw (7-2, 6-1 in District 6AII-2)

Previous Game: Beat Ponca City, 48-13

Ranking Last Week: No. 14

The Yellowjackets wrapped up their regular season with a rout of Ponca City. The 6AII-2 runner-up gets a week off as they await either Lawton or Sand Springs to meet for a playoff game at home.

Next game: vs. Lawton-Sand Springs winner, Nov. 17

13. Fairview (10-0, 7-0 in District A-1)

Previous Game: Beat Merritt, 54-14

Ranking Last Week: No. 15

The defending Class A champion appears to be on track to play for another title. They have won each game by no less than 20 points this season.

Of course, like anyone else, the challenges will get tough as the postseason progresses.

Next Game: vs. Hobart (6-4, 4-2), Friday

14. Hominy (10-0, 7-0 in A-5)

Previous Game: Beat Chouteau, 28-12

Ranking Last Week: No. 16

The scores of the Bucks' recent games may indicate close struggling battles, but also show resiliency as they have remained unbeaten while being crowned district champions. They hope to make the Class A state title game after going as far as the semis in 2022, and they are eager to overcome the challenges that stand in their way.

Next Game: vs. Allen (6-4, 4-3), Friday

15. Stillwater (8-2, 7-0 in District 6AII-1)

Previous Game: Beat Muskogee, 30-20

Ranking Last Week: No. 24

The defending Class 6AII state champion has roared back in the poll. They fell out after an 0-2 start early this season, but have since won eight straight to close the regular season.

In their Week 10 matchup with Muskogee, which decided the championship in their district, the Pioneers were successful in their task as they beat the Roughers for the title for a second straight year and move up nine spots.

Muskogee, who had been the No. 1 team in 6AII most of the season, did score first for a 7-0 lead. But the Pioneers took control and led 21-7 at halftime on the account of two rushing TDs via the wildcat from Talon Kendrick (18 and 24 yards) and a 9-yard TD pass from Chance Acord to OSU commit Josh Ford.

Acord added a TD from 5 yards to make it 28-14 in the fourth quarter.

Kendrick rushed for 108 yards on eight carries and made one pick on defense.

The Pioneers get the same route they did in 2022, a week off before hosting a quarterfinal game in the 6AII bracket.

Next Game: vs. Tahlequah-Putnam City winner, Nov. 17

16. Muskogee (8-2, 6-1 in District 6AII-1)

Previous Game: Lost to Stillwater, 30-20

Ranking Last Week: No. 9

While their district rival made a big climb up, the Roughers fell seven spots after losing to the Pioneers for the second season in a row in the last week of the regular season.

Quarterback Jemarian Ficklin scored two TDs on the ground and threw another to GerVon Washington.

Muskogee has this week off to regroup before playing a quarterfinal playoff game at home.

Next Game: vs. Ponca City-Putnam City West winner, Nov. 17

17. Del City (9-0, 7-0 in 5A-3)

Previous Game: Beat Durant, 43-10

Ranking Last Week: No. 17

The Eagles concluded an undefeated regular season campaign with a clawing of the Lions. They look forward to the challenges of the postseason.

Next Game: vs. Pryor (5-5, 4-3 in District 5A-4), Friday

18. Elgin (10-0, 7-0, in District 5A-1)

Previous Game: Beat Midwest City, 13-3

Ranking Last Week: 20

The Owls move up two spots in the poll after completing their first unbeaten season in school history, concluding it with a hard-fought 10-point win against the Bombers. Elgin also wins its first district championship since 1986.

Junior edge pass rusher Shay Spencer returned an interception back 40 yards for a TD.

Despite having a struggling night on offense for Elgin, running back Matt Lund ran for a season-high 26 carries for 165 yards.

He finishes the regular season with 130 carries for 1,561 yards and 17 TDs. He also caught 12 passes for 252 yards and six TDs.

Next Game: vs. Piedmont (7-3, 3-3 in District 5A-2), Friday

19. Claremore (9-1, 6-1 in District 5A-4)

Previous Game: Beat Collinsville, 21-14

Ranking Last Week: No. 19

Braxton Etheridge’s tie-breaking 2-yard TD run lifted the Zebras to victory, allowing them to win the battle for second place in their district.

Both teams traded TDs in the first and second quarters, with Claremore scoring first each time.

Etheridge scored his first TD in the first quarter on a 16-yard run.

In the second quarter, Tyson Grimmet scored on a 3-yard TD to put the Zebras up, 14-7, with 32 seconds left before halftime. But the Cardinals quickly scored on a 40-yard reverse before time expired.

Next Game: vs. Sapulpa (7-3, 5-2 in District 5A-3), Friday

20. Jenks (6-4, 5-2 in District 6AI-1)

Previous Game: Lost to Bixby, 31-14

Ranking Last Week: No. 12

The Trojans take the biggest drop by eight after losing to Bixby.

They started off well handling top-ranked Bixby, forcing turnovers and taking a 14-7 lead at halftime.

Jenks got TDs with Owen Jones throwing a 31-yard TD pass to Khyier Beaty that gave the Trojans a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. A 36-yard TD run from Kaydin Jones made it a seven-point game in the second.

Unlike last year's game, the Trojans could not hang on for an upset win.

Next Game: vs. Enid-Edmond Santa Fe winner, Nov. 17

21. Blanchard (9-1, 7-0 in District 4A-2)

Previous Game: Beat Tecumseh, 42-0

Ranking Last Week: 21

The Lions applied the rout and shut out the Savages and will now host Cache in a first-round playoff game this week.

Next Game: vs. Cache (6-4, 4-2 in DIstrict 4A-1), Friday

22. Edmond Deer Creek (8-2, 7-0 in District 6AII-2)

Previous Game: Beat Putnam City North, 45-13

Ranking Last Week: 22

The Antlers had no problem with dispensing with the Panthers in their regular-season finale. They hope to go far in the postseason after going as far as the 6AII seminfinals last year.

They get this week off with a bye.

Next Game: vs. Putnam City North-Bartlesville winner, Nov. 17

23. Tulsa Bishop Kelley (8-2, 7-0 in District 5A-4)

Previous Game: Beat Grove, 38-27

Ranking Last Week: No. 23

The Comets continue to roll after a win against Grove, allowing them to win the district title.

A big challenge is next as Kelley meets McAlester - the 5A runner-up from both 2021 and 2022 - this Friday night at home.

Next Game: vs. McAlester (6-4, 4-3 in DIstrict 5A-3), Friday

24. Collinsville (8-2, 5-2 in District 5A-4)

Previous Game: Lost to Claremore, 21-14

Ranking Last Week: No. 18

The Cardinals gave up a late third-quarter TD and could not answer from there on out. The loss causes Collinsville to place third in their district and having to take a road trip for a first-round playoff game.

Scott Rigby scored on a 52-yard run, and Skyler Moorman hit Hudson Henslick for a 40-yard TD on a reverse pass late in the second half to tie it at 14-all.

Next Game: at Coweta (7-3, 6-1 in District 5A-3), Friday

25. Ada (9-1, 8-1 in District 4A-4)

Previous Game: Beat Broken Bow, 28-27

Ranking Last Week: No. 25

The Cougars edged the Savages to finish their regular season. The longtime tradition-rich program moves on to their next venture in the postseason.

Next Game: vs. Oologah (5-5, 4-3 in District 4A-3), Friday

Teams Outside SBLiveOK Top 25 to Watch

Prague, Minco, Perkins-Tryon, Kiefer

Photo of Bixby's Brody Duffel (77) by Michael Kinney 

-- Mike Moguin | @SBLiveOK