Oklahoma high school football Top 25 rankings (11/29/2023)

Ranking the final 24 teams still playing this week

This week’s SBLive Oklahoma football rankings is Top 24 rather than Top 25, since there are just 24 teams left in action left with something to play for. 

With 11-man classes 3A through 6AI down to their final two and playing for a gold ball this week, we had to make way for the 8-man schools in Classes B and C, as well as remaining programs in Classes A and 2A that have reached the state semifinals which were not previously ranked. 

Jenks made the largest jump in the list, from 20th to No. 6, after rallying from a 21-0 deficit to earn a 33-27 win over Tulsa Union and add another chapter to the legacy of the Backyard Bowl rivalry.

The Trojans earned another bid to play for another state title, and how fitting it will be for them to face off against Bixby, which is also playing for a state title. The two teams have 26 state championships combined (Jenks with 18; Bixby with eight).

Oklahoma high school football playoff brackets updated for all classes 

Since 6A split into two divisions in 2014, Jenks won the first two state titles of 6AI (2014, 2015) and has another pair from 2020 and 2021.

Bixby, on the other hand, took 6AII by storm, winning seven of eight championships from 2014-21, before moving up to 6AI last year and winning the 2022 title, making it eight-of-nine. The only year it did not win was in 2017, when it lost the 6AII final to Tulsa Booker T. Washington. 

Here is the ranking of the 24 teams still playing this week. 

1. Bixby (12-0 in Class 6AI)

Previous Game: Beat Owasso, 56-14, in the Class 6AI state semifinals

Ranking Last Week: No. 1

If you didn’t see the game, don’t let the score fool you. It was more competitive than it looked, for a while anyway, than recent Bixby-Owasso matchups.

The Spartans took a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but were challenged by the Rams in the second quarter and halfway through the third, as Owasso played aggressively on defensive and got a pair of passing touchdowns to tie the game at 14-all.

But a light switch went off and Bixby immediately turned the game into a rout.

Jett Turner responded with a 55-yard run. Then after a fumble recovery that followed a long Owasso run, Carson Kirby scored from 66 yards, and Cooper Parker took an interception back 30 yards to the house.

Within a span of less than two minutes, the score was 35-14.

Bixby continued to dominate with three more TDs in the fourth quarter. It finished with five forced turnovers.

Now, Bixby gets another meeting with Jenks, the only team that has played the Spartans close since they moved up from 6AII to 6AI last year.

The Spartans beat the Trojans, 31-14, on Nov. 3 in both teams’ final regular-season game in Jenks, and 28-14 in last year’s state semifinals in Broken Arrow. The Trojans beat the Spartans in Bixby when both teams met in the final week of the 2022 regular season in a game that was televised by ESPN2.

Bixby is seeking its second state championship in Class 6AI, a state title for the sixth straight year, and a ninth gold ball in 10 years.

Next Game: vs. Jenks (8-4), Class 6AI state final, 7 p.m. Friday at UCO in Edmond

2. Midwest City Carl Albert (13-0 in Class 5A)

Previous Game: Beat OKC Bishop McGuinness, 51-28, in the Class 5A state semifinals

Ranking Last Week: No. 2

Senior and OU commit Xavier Robinson ran for 192 yards on 26 carries, with one TD rushing, one TD receiving, and even one TD passing, as the Titans won their semifinal contest.

The Titans were faced with a deficit early against the Irish. Robinson was relied upon to pass and he threw to junior tight end Marcus James for his throwing TD to put CA on top for the first time.

Junior quarterback Kevin Sperry, also an OU commit, threw for 214 yards and four TDs, with Trynae Washington catching two passes for 129 yards and two TDs.

The Titans will get Mid-Del rival Del City this week in the 5A state championship. Could it be a physical game like it was between their basketball teams when they played for the title in that sport last March?

It should be interesting.

Next Game: vs. Del City (13-0), Class 5A state final, 1 p.m. Saturday at UCO in Edmond

3. Wagoner (13-0 in Class 4A)

Previous Game: Beat Ada, 42-7, in the Class 4A state semifinals

Ranking Last Week: No. 3

Kale Charboneau ran for two TDs and passed for another, completing 9-of-15 attempts and for 177 yards. He also made one interception for 39 yards that set up another score.

Witt Edwards caught five passes for 112 yards and one TD, plus one fumble recovery on defense.

Trenton Edwards also scored twice for the Bulldogs.

Wagoner endured a scoreless first quarter before putting points on the board in the second, going up 21-0 at halftime. It was up 35-0 before yielding a TD to the Cougars.

The Bulldogs get their opportunity to defend their title and repeat when they meet Blanchard, who knocked off previously unbeaten Poteau last week.

Next Game: vs. Blanchard (12-1), Class 4A state final, 7 p.m. Thursday at UCO in Edmond

4. Washington (13-0 in Class 2A)

Previous Game: Beat Vian, 47-14, in the Class 2A state quarterfinals

Ranking Last Week: No. 4

The Warriors beat Vian a second time this season after beating the Wolverines in their season opener.

Major Cantrell connected with Nate Roberts in the end zone twice in the second quarter to lift Washington to a 27-0 lead at halftime.

Kade Norman added a rushing TD and Cantrell hit Mason Singletary for a passing score and it was 40-7 in the third quarter.

Next Game: vs. Jones (11-2), Class 2A state semifinal, 7 p.m. Friday at Yukon

5. OKC Heritage Hall (13-0 in Class 3A)

Previous Game: Beat Marlow, 31-29, in the Class 3A state semifinals

Ranking Last Week: No. 5

Cal Welker kicked a game-winning 38-yard field goal to lift the Chargers to a 31-29 win over Marlow (9-4) in their 3A state semifinal game last Friday afternoon.

Heritage Hall was dealt its most challenging game of the year since its 35-28 win over the same Marlow team in its regular season finale in week 10.

The Outlaws jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first half before Chargers’ QB Andy Bass scored on a 1-yard run before halftime, then added three more in the second half.

Bass, an OU walk-on commit, rushed for 244 yards and four TDs while completing 12 passes for 157 yards through the air.

The Chargers will get a big test Saturday night in the 3A final from Lincoln Christian, who is solid on both sides of the football. It is also unbeaten.

Next Game: vs. Tulsa Lincoln Christian (13-0), Class 3A state final, 7 p.m. Saturday at UCO in Edmond

6. Jenks (8-4 in Class 6AI)

Previous Game: Beat Tulsa Union, 33-27, in the Class 6AI state semifinal

Ranking Last Week: No. 20

The Trojans take the biggest jump up the poll by 14 spots after winning another Jenks-Union classic.

Kaydin Jones scored TD runs of 59 and 27 in the last quarter, the latter coming with 35 seconds remaining, to give the Trojans a victory.

Jones, a sophomore, finished with three TDs while running for 158 yards on 22 handoffs.

His first TD was from 2 yards, getting Jenks on the board after Union (10-2) built up a 21-0 lead in the first half.

Down 21-10 at the break, Semaj Stanford took the second-half kickoff back to the Union 1-yard line, where Owen Jones got in on a QB sneak on the next play. The Trojans made the two-point conversion, making 21-18, continuing their comeback.

One defense, Connor Thompson sacked Union quarterback Shaker Reisig twice on a drive that prevented the Redhawks from taking a 10-point lead, and forcing them to settle for a 42-yard field goal attempt instead. The field goal was made, but not before the stadium lights temporarily flickered out with 1:12 left in the third quarter.

The Trojans also forced three turnovers in the second quarter, stopping Union from making it a bigger deficit.

Jenks now gets Bixby in the Class 6AI final this week. It has shown they are not afraid of the Spartans, having been the only team to play them close since moving up from 6AII to 6AI last year.

The Trojans are seeking a third state championship in four years and 19th in school history. Winning state would also tie Jenks with Ada for most state championships in Oklahoma high school football.

Next Game: vs. Bixby (13-0), Class 6AI state final, 7 p.m., Friday at UCO in Edmond

7. Tulsa Lincoln Christian (13-0 in Class 3A)

Previous Game: Beat Perkins-Tryon, 17-10, in the Class 3A state semifinals

Ranking Last Week: No. 10

Quarterback Luke Milligan passed for two TDs in the second half, one to Kylan Schultheis and the latter to Malakai Dillard, the game-winner that broke a 10-10 tie.

Senior running back/linebacker Sawyer Brooks also had a combination of 17 carries and catches for 169 yards and forced eight tackles in the Bulldogs’ seven-point win over the Demons in their 3A state semifinal.

Lincoln Christian will face its biggest test of the year when it takes on OKC Heritage Hall in a battle of unbeatens for the 3A championship.

Next Game: vs. OKC Heritage Hall (13-0), Class 3A state final, 7 p.m. Saturday at UCO in Edmond

8. Stillwater (10-2 in Class 6AI)

Previous Game: Beat Choctaw, 33-29, in the Class 6AII state semifinals

Ranking Last Week: No. 15

Pioneers’ defensive back Trace Clark stopped running back DeShaen Smith one yard short of the end zone with less than five seconds left, denying the Yellowjackets the go-ahead TD, and advancing Stillwater back to the Class 6AII final. 

Stillwater will meet Muskogee in the title game, the second time this season both teams have met. The Pioneers beat the Roughers, 30-20, on Nov. 3 in Stillwater.

Pioneers’ running back Holden Thompson ran for 146 yards on 33 carries in the game.

Repeating as state champion is the goal for Stillwater, who won a gold ball a year ago after a 26-21 win over Choctaw in the 6AII title game.

Next Game: vs. Muskogee (10-2), Class 6AII state final, 1 p.m., Friday at UCO in Edmond

9. OKC Millwood (11-1 in Class 2A)

Previous Game: Beat Idabel, 34-7, in the Class 2A state quarterfinals

Ranking Last Week: No. 11

Millwood’s stout defense shut down an Idabel squad that had put 27 points or more in previous games this year.

The Falcons did not let the Warriors score until the fourth quarter and yielded just 144 yards.

Lemar Davis ran for 97 yards on 17 carries, as Millwood is one step away from returning to the Class 2A final.

Next Game: vs. Kiefer (13-1), Class 2A state semifinals, 7 p.m., Friday, at Bristow

10. Fairview (13-0 in Class A)

Previous Game: Beat Stroud, 56-20, in the Class A state quarterfinals

Ranking Last Week: No. 13

Jax Bernard passed for three TDs and ran for two others in the first half of the Yellowjackets' dominating win over the Tigers.

Next Game: vs. Woodland (12-1), Class A state semifinal, 7 p.m., Friday at Harrah

11. Hominy (13-0 in Class A)

Previous Game: Beat Apache, 40-0, in Class A state semifinal

Ranking Last Week: No. 14

Jaxon Woods ran for a 56-yard TD on a keeper to jump-start the Bucks to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter and set the tone for the game. He also threw three TD passes, two to Bryon Marshall, who also had a 43-yard TD.

Hominy led 14-0 through the end of the first quarter, 28-0 at halftime, and 34-0 by the end of the third period.

Next Game: vs. Hooker (11-2), Class A state semifinal, 7 p.m., Friday at Northwestern State University in Alva

12. Muskogee (10-2 in Class 6AII)

Previous Game: Beat Deer Creek, 36-35, in the Class 6AII state semifinals in Ponca City

Ranking Last Week: No. 16

Muskogee reaches the state championship game for the first time since 1986, the last time it won a state title.

Junior quarterback Jamarian Ficklin accounted for 425 yards and five TDs in the Roughers’ high-scoring one-point win against the Antlers.

Muskogee was down 16-13 at halftime and 23-13 in the third quarter before Ficklin and company rallied the troops.

Ficklin scored on a 9-yard TD, then tossed a 32-yard TD to UNLV commit Kaden McGee on fourth-and-17 with 2:44 left in the third quarter to give his team a 27-23 lead.

The Roughers took the lead for good at 34-29 on Ficklin’s 6-yard run with 10:44 to go in the fourth quarter.

With a berth in the final, Muskogee gets another shot at Stillwater, whom it has lost to in the regular season finale both this year and last. The Pioneers beat the Roughers, 38-21, in 2022 in Muskogee, and 30-20 early this month in Stillwater.

Next Game: vs. Stillwater (10-2), Class 6AII state final, 1 p.m., Friday at UCO in Edmond

13. Del City (12-0 in Class 5A)

Previous Game: Beat Claremore, 34-13, in Class 5A state semifinal

Ranking Last Week: No. 17

With their win against Claremore in the state semifinals, the Eagles are playing for a championship for the first time since 1976.

TCU commit LaDainian Fields scored three TDs on 10 catches for 209 yards and River Warren threw for 259 yards on 14-of-21 attempts.

OSU commit Rodney Fields, LaDainian’s cousin, scored on a 19-yard run that put Del City up 19-7 before halftime.

The Eagles limited the Zebras to 195 yards and made four sacks for losses totaling minus 24 yards.

Del City will get Mid-Del rival Carl Albert this week in the 5A state championship. Could it be a physical game like it was between their basketball teams when they played for the title in that sport last March? The Eagles won that game in overtime, by the way.

It should be interesting.

Next Game: vs. MWC Carl Albert, (13-0), Class 5A state final, 1 p.m., Saturday at UCO in Edmond

14. Blanchard (12-1 in Class 4A)

Previous Game: Beat Poteau, 26-14

Ranking Last Week: 21

Carson Cooksey threw two TD passes to Hudsen Periman and the Lion defense forced some turnovers that paced the way for a victory over the previously unbeaten Pirates.

Blanchard will be playing in the Class 4A state championship Thursday. It will hope to stun Wagoner, last year’s 4A state champion.

Next Game: vs. Wagoner (13-0), in Class 4A state final, 7 p.m., Thursday at UCO in Edmond

15. Woodland (12-1 in Class A)

Previous Game: Beat Dibble, 48-6

Ranking Last Week: Unranked

The Cougars were up 26-0 by halftime and 48-0 by the end of the third quarter before allowing the only points by Dibble in the fourth.

Quarterback Trey Bennett threw two TD passes and ran for another.

Running back Dray Long scored three TDs, two receptions from Bennett, and one on the ground.

They must get by Fairview, last year’s state champion in Class A, in the state semifinals to make it to the ultimate stage, the final next week.

Next Game: vs. Fairview (13-0), in Class A semifinal, 7 p.m., Friday at Harrah

16. Seiling (13-0 in Class B)

Previous Game: Beat Weleetka, 52-6

Ranking Last Week: Unranked

The Wildcats are one step closer to conquering their dreams for a state title after a rout of the Outlaws of Weleetka.

Next Game: vs. Regent Prep (11-1), in Class B state quarterfinal, 7 p.m., Saturday at Western Heights in Oklahoma City

17. Regent Prep (11-1 in Class B)

Previous Game: Beat Oklahoma Bible, 70-50, in the Class B quarterfinals

Ranking Last Week: Unranked

Junior quarterback JohnMark Roller rushed for 144 yards and six TDs and passed for two TDs in the Rams’ victory over Oklahoma Bible.

Next Game: vs. Weleetka (13-0), in the Class B state semifinal, 7 p.m., Saturday at Western Heights in Oklahoma City

18. Kiefer (13-0 in Class 2A)

Previous Game: Beat Alva, 34-14, in the Class 2A quarterfinals

Ranking Last Week: Unranked

Senior linebacker/running back Jentry Pendergraft had 16 tackles and one rushing TD in the Trojans' victory over the Goldbugs.

Next Game: vs. OKC Millwood (12-1), in Class 2A state semifinal, 7 p.m., Friday at Bristow

19. Tipton (13-0 in Class C)

Previous Game: Beat Waynoka, 54-0, in the Class C state semifinals

Ranking Last Week: Unranked

The defending Class C champions are seeking to repeat after dismantling Waynoka in the semis last week.

Next up for the Tigers are the Cowboys of Ryan.

Both teams played in Week 5m with Tipton winning 40-32.

Next Game: vs. Ryan (12-1), in the Class C state final, 7 p.m., Friday at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany

20. Velma-Alma (12-1 in Class B)

Previous Game: Beat Drumright, 50-30, in the Class B state quarterfinals

Ranking Last Week: Unranked

The Comets’ Slade Strickland passed for three TDs and ran for another, and Langston Walker scored a TD on the ground added two more receiving in V-A’s 20-point win over the Tornadoes.

Next Game: vs. Okeene (10-3), in the Class B state semifinal, 1 p.m., Saturday at Western Heights in Oklahoma City

21. Jones (11-2 in Class 2A)

Previous Game: Beat Tulsa Victory Christian, 56-36, in the Class 2A state quarterfinals

Ranking Last Week: Unranked

Looking for their first state championship in 20 years, the Longhorns were led by the efforts of quarterback Clayton Creasey and running back Isaiah Sawyer with 536 yards of total offense in their victory against the Conquerors.

Creasey completed 79 percent of his TDs for 379 yards, with five TDs, four which were passing. Sawyer rushed for 85 yards on 14 carries with three TDs on the night.

The task to make the title game will be tough with Washington, last year’s state champions, next for Jones.

Next Game: vs. Washington (13-0), in the Class 2A state semifinal, 7 p.m., Friday at Yukon

22. Hooker (11-2 in Class A)

Previous Game: Beat Central Sallisaw, 41-0, in the Class A state quarterfinals

Ranking Last Week: Unranked

The Bulldogs advanced to the round of four after giving Central Sallisaw their first loss of the season, bringing it to an end. They now have the daunting task of meeting Hominy, who is back in the semifinals after making it there last year.

Next Game: vs. Hominy (13-0), in the Class A state semifinal, 7 p.m., Friday at Northwestern State in Alva

23. Ryan (12-1 in Class C)

Previous Game: Beat Timberlake, 48-40, in the Class C state quarterfinals

Ranking Last Week: Unranked

The Cowboys spoiled the dreams of Timberlake, who won the C title in 2021 and hoped for a second championship in three seasons.

Now they play the Tigers of Tipton, who is seeking a repeat after winning it all in 2022.

Next Game: vs. Tipton (13-0), in the Class C state final, 7 p.m., Friday at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany

24. Okeene (12-1 in Class B)

Previous Game: Beat Yale, 40-30, in the Class B state quarterfinals

Ranking Last Week: Unranked

Okeene was victorious in high-scoring battle over Yale. They meet the Comets of Velma-Alma, who can also score points, next.

Next Game: vs. Velma-Alma (12-1), in the Class B semifinal, 1 p.m., Saturday at Western Heights in Oklahoma City

Dropped out after being eliminated

Tulsa Union (10-2, Class 6AI), Poteau (12-1, Class 4A), Owasso (9-3, Class 6AI), Choctaw (8-2 in Class 6AII), Claremore (11-2 in Class 5A), Deer Creek (9-3 in District 6AII-2), Ada (10-2 in Class 4A), Idabel (12-1 in Class 2A), Perkins-Tryon (11-2 in Class 3A), OKC Bishop McGuinness (8-4 in Class 5A), Marlow (9-4 in Class 3A)

Photo of Washington's Major Cantrell by Michael Kinney

-- Mike Moguin | @SBLiveOK