Oklahoma Class A state championship preview: Fairview going for back-to-back crowns; Hooker eyes first title

District A-1 rivals square off in Edmond with gold ball at stake

Two teams in the same district (Class A, District 1) will play for the 2023 Class A gold ball Saturday afternoon, between Fairview and Hooker.

The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Chad Richison Stadium, located on the University of Central Oklahoma campus in Edmond.

Fairview (14-0), ranked fifth in the latest SBLive Oklahoma poll, is coached by Robert Bernard in his ninth year as the head coach. Hooker (12-2) is ranked 12th and is coached by Trevor Powers, who is in his seventh season as the head coach.

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These teams know one another quite well, as they are district foes who both compete for the district title year in and year out.

Fairview has not lost a football game since the year 2021, when the Yellowjackets fell to Tonkawa in the playoffs. Should Fairview win Saturday, it will win its fourth state championship.

Last season for the Class A title, the Yellowjackets defeated Gore, 32-28.

“This is a surreal feeling,” Bernard said. “Winning last year was amazing and to get back has been great. You always dream about weeks and games like this, but being able to do it is a great feeling.

"We are playing our best football, which is the time to do it. We have prepared all season and summer for this game. I hope it all pays off in the end.”

Hooker is playing in its first state championship game in school history. In 2017, Hooker lost in the semifinals to Crescent; then in 2018, Hooker lost in the quarterfinals to Crossings Christian.

Powers has a coaching record of 68-20.

“We have a great community and this week has been really fun,” Powers said. “We have had lots of success and have had great kids.”

For Fairview, the Yellowjackets have dominated nearly every game. Their closest game was in the second round of the playoffs against Crescent, but Fairview won the game, 19-7.

Quarterback Jax Bernard, the son of Robert Bernard, has thrown for 3,348 yards and 45 touchdown passes. Wide receivers Isiah Burris has caught 20 touchdown passes and Reed Martens has caught 17 touchdown passes.

On defense, Fairview only allows 12 points per game. Tegan Gilchrist led the team in tackles with 140 and Broden Miller has made 121 tackles. Coach Bernard said those two do a great job filling the gaps at linebacker.

He added how his team is peaking at the right time, but how they must play well, because Hooker has improved since that meeting in September.

“We feel we are playing great football at the right time of the year,” coach Bernard said. “Hooker does a lot of the same stuff. They are a young team and are playing some unbelievable football.

"Their running backs are really good, along with their quarterback (Kleat Martens). They are balanced, so we must be disciplined in our assignments. We cannot have our safeties get looked off and our eyes have to be disciplined.”

For Hooker, its road to the state championship has been more difficult. The Bulldogs have not lost since the Fairview game and has rallied off 10 wins in a row, including a 21-20 win at Minco and a 27-24 victory over Hominy in the semifinals.

Their district schedule presented some challenges, too, and Hooker beat Thomas-Fay-Custer, 21-7, to secure a home playoff game in the final week of district play.

“When I came here seven years ago, you have to bring it every week,” Powers said. “Bob Ward at Thomas and Jake Allen at Mooreland do great jobs preparing their teams.

"You have to be tough in this district and there are no easy games in our district. But it has helped us play better and the competition in that district prepared us for our run in the playoff.”

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Martens leads Hooker every week and has thrown 16 touchdown passes. Freshman running back Justin Palacios has scored 22 touchdowns and has rushed for more than 1,600 yards.

Up front, it is Rhett Nullely, Alfonzo Otries, Kale Metcalf, Gunnar Martins and Adrain Aboras. Powers noted because of how well the o-line blocks, Hooker has more than 3,200 yards because of those guys up front.

"Kleat has been great for us and he is a great leader,” Powers said. “He has so many weapons to throw to.

"We have leaned on Justin and he has been huge for us in big moments. Also, credit to all the guys up front blocking well.”

Powers added the key to winning a state title is knowing where Jax Bernard is at all times, along with Fairview's wide receivers.

“Jax is a really talented player and is the best quarterback in Class A,” Powers said. “We cannot afford to make mistakes against them. Fairview does everything well and their receiver (Burris) is dangerous. We must know where those two are at.

"We are excited for this opportunity and we are four quarters away from a gold ball.”

Photo of Fairview quarterback Jax Bernard (15) by Michael Kinney

-- Josh Jennings | @SBLiveOK