Oklahoma high school football Top 25 rankings (12/7/2023)

Bixby, Midwest City Carl Albert solidify top two spots after winning state championships

It’s the last week of the high school football season in Oklahoma as three classes – 2A, A and B – have their state championship games this week.

In this week’s SBLive Oklahoma Top 25 football poll, in the first 12 spots, is comprised of teams who either went home with the gold ball or a berth in the state final of their respective class, while teams ranked 13th through 25th either finished, settled for the silver ball, or their season came to an end in the semifinals. That includes the 6A teams in both divisions who went down on Black Friday, one 4A team, and one quarterfinalist in 5A.

By winning state in Class 6AI and 5A, Bixby and Midwest City Carl Albert remained in the top two spots. Everybody else moved around.

Oklahoma has final three 2023 state title football games set for this weekend

The largest climb within the poll was Hooker of Class A, who moved up 10 spots from No. 22 to 12th after its upset of Hominy. The biggest drop was Stillwater, who dropped 12 notches down from eighth to 20th after losing the 6AII final, despite it being a close game.

1. Bixby (14-0 in Class 6AI)

Previous Game: Beat Jenks, 49-21, in the Class 6AI state final

Ranking Last Week: No. 1

The Spartans showed they now own 6AI after dominating the Trojans, who had been the top class in Oklahoma for over 25 years.

They also completed a decade of dominance with nine state championships in 10 years and a second straight in 6AI since moving up from 6AII last year, when they eventually beat Owasso in a 63-point rout of the 2022 final.

Against Jenks in this year’s final this past Friday, senior Kordell Gouldsby scored five touchdowns; two receiving, two rushing, and a 96-yard kickoff return. He finished with 305 all-purpose yards. His rushing TDs covered 2 and 20 yards, while the receiving scores, which were passes caught from Clay Peters, covered 44 and 7 yards, respectively.

Fellow senior running back Jett Turner, who won his fourth 6AI state title, second with Bixby after being a member of Jenks his freshman and sophomore seasons, rushed for 235 yards on 35 carries.

The Bixby defense, led by the “sack kings,” Justin Kirk, Brandon Hobbs, Kason Hatley, Sam Puckett, Cody Crull, and Cooper Parker, were instrumental in pressuring Jenks quarterback Owen Jones often and sacked him five times.

Parker intercepted Jones deep twice, stopping the Trojans’ first drives before the Bixby offense took off with 21-0 lead that carried over into the second quarter.

Next Game: Season Complete/2023 Class 6AI State Champions

2. Midwest City Carl Albert (14-0 in Class 5A)

Previous Game: Beat Del City, 35-14, in the Class 5A state final

Ranking Last Week: No. 2

The Titans continued their latest dynasty with their 18th state championship in school history.

They are now tied with Jenks for second most gold balls in state championship history.

Junior QB and OU commit Kevin Sperry threw two TDs – one for 39 yards to Xavier Robinson and the second to Marcus James for 26. He then ran for another score for 7 yards.

And, of course, there is Robinson, the senior running back and Sooner commit. He scored both TDs in the second half from 3 and 65 yards.

Robinson rushed for 133 yards on 22 carries. Sperry ran for 103 yards on 15 rushes while throwing for 103 yards on 9-of-12 attempts and overcoming two interceptions and one sack.

Next Game: Season Complete/2023 Class 5A State Champions

3. Washington (14-0 in Class 2A)

Previous Game: Beat Jones, 35-34, in the Class 2A state semifinals

Ranking Last Week: No. 4

The Warriors will get a rematch with Millwood, whom Washington beat, 17-14, in the 2A state final last year.

They know how tough and challenging it will be to beat the same team for a second straight year for the championship. Especially after being tested this past week when Washington had to overcome an 18-0 deficit before rallying past Jones for a one-point win in the semifinals.

The Warriors answered with 28 straight points before having to hold the Longhorns off.

The rally began with tailback Hudson Howard making 48-yard sprint down the left sideline to the end zone with 1:41 left in the first quarter.

After a defensive stop and a second Washington TD by Kade Norman, senior defensive back Max Wilson took an interception back 49 yards for a TD and the Warriors took the lead for good, 21-18.

Next Game: vs. OKC Millwood (13-1), Class 2A state final, 7 p.m., Saturday at UCO in Edmond

4. Tulsa Lincoln Christian (14-0 in Class 3A)

Previous Game: Beat OKC Heritage Hall, 48-28, in the Class 3A state final

Ranking Last Week: No. 7

A 41-point explosion boosted the Bulldogs to their third state championship in school history.

Lincoln Christian fell behind the 2022 3A champion, 28-7, with 4:46 left in the second quarter, before getting two TDs late in the second quarter to draw within one score at halftime.

They got the ball first and tied it on a 60-yard run by Sawyer Brooks.

Brooks added the go-ahead TD on a 6-yard run in the first four seconds of the final period and it was 35-28 in favor of Lincoln Christian.

The Bulldogs added two more scores, including a 58-yard run by Moses Fullingim, his third TD in addition to 228 yards on 35 carries.

Brooks totaled 167 yards on 19 carries.

The LC defense also forced three interceptions for 49 yards.

Next Game: Season Complete/2023 Class 3A State Champions

5. Fairview (14-0 in Class A)

Previous Game: Beat Woodland, 27-6, in the Class A state semifinals

Ranking Last Week: No. 10

The defending Class A champions are back in the championship game in which they will defend their title with hopes of a repeat after a 21-point win against the Cougars of Woodland.

Fairview is back in the title game for a second straight year and will meet district rival Hooker, whom the Yellowjackets beat, 56-22, in Week 4.

The Bulldogs will be entering the game after a 27-24 upset of Hominy in the other A semifinal game.

Against Woodland, Jax Bernard passed for three TDs and ran for one. Isaiah Burris had more than 100 yards receiving and three TDs.

The Yellowjackets also forced four turnovers and ran its current win streak to 29 games.

Next Game: vs. Hooker (12-2), in the Class A state final, 1 p.m., Saturday at UCO in Edmond

6. OKC Millwood (13-1 in Class 2A)

Previous Game: Beat Kiefer, 34-29, in the Class 2A state semifinals

Ranking Last Week: No. 9

A wild fourth quarter, capped by an 80-yard kickoff return by Jaden Nickens on the final play of the game, sent the Falcons back to the Class 2A state final for a rematch against Washington, whom they lost to 17-14 in last year’s title game.

No doubt Millwood looks forward to the opportunity.

The Falcons trailed the Trojans most of the game. They were down 14-6 early, 14-12 at halftime, through a scoreless third quarter, and 22-12 in the fourth before they rallied for a 28-22 advantage on TD runs of 5 and 1, respectively by Cameron Canerter and Josiah Woods.

Kiefer then got a late TD, appearing as if they were going to win before Nickens’ miraculous kickoff return.

Nickens also caught two TD passes from quarterback C.J. Turnbull, for 25 and 15 yards, respectively.

Next Game: vs. Washington (14-0), Class 2A state final, 7 p.m., Saturday, at UCO in Edmond

7. Muskogee (11-2 in Class 6AII)

Previous Game: Beat Stillwater, 28-26, in the Class 6AII state final

Ranking Last Week: No. 12

After losing district championship battles to Stillwater both this season and last, the Roughers got the Pioneers on the stage that matters most, the state title game.

Now they have their first gold ball in 37 years and 10th in school history.

Quarterback Jamarian Ficklin accounted for all four TDs and 235 yards.

Ficklin ran for three TDs and 86 yards on 21 carries. His scores covered 1, 19 and 2 yards. His passing TD was a 25-yarder to Ondraye Beasley that gave the Roughers a 14-7 lead with 1:38 to go in the second quarter.

The score was tied, 14-14, at halftime.

Ficklin’s first TD gave Muskogee a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. His second rushing TD put the Roughers up for good, 21-14, in the third quarter.

Stillwater scored a TD each time after Muskogee scored, but the Pioneers missed the extra point attempts on their last two scores.

Beasley (42 yards) and UNLV commit Kayden McGee (63 yards) each caught three receptions.

Next Game: Season Complete/2023 Class 6AII State Champions

8. Blanchard (13-1 in Class 4A)

Previous Game: Beat Wagoner, 19-14, in the Class 4A state final

Ranking Last Week: 9

After a two-hour and 20-minute lightning delay, the new 4A champion upset the 2022 champion by forcing six turnovers, four of which were interceptions.

The Lions drove 94 yards in eight plays on the opening series to score on a 19-yard run from Brayson Carter.

Quarterback Carson Cooksey threw an 8-yard TD to Coric Pierce to make it 13-0.

Wagoner got on the board with a kickoff return, trimming it to 13-7, where it would stand at halftime.

Cooksey added a 10-yard TD run with 25 seconds left in the third quarter and it was 19-7.

On the last play of the game, Blanchard secured its win as it applied defensive pressure on Bulldog quarterback Kale Charboneau, forcing him to throw an incomplete pass in the end zone.

Cooksey passed for 200 yards on 18-of-35 attempts and one pick.

Next Game: Season Complete/2023 Class 4A State Champions

9. Seiling (14-0 in Class B)

Previous Game: Beat Tulsa Regent Prep, 42-40, in the Class B state semifinals

Ranking Last Week: 16

The Wildcats were led by quarterback Kaden Manuel, who ran for three TDs, passed for one, and ran in a pair of two-point conversions.

Seiling aims for the title after losing, 36-28, to Laverne in last year’s title game.

Next Game: vs. Velma-Alma (13-1), in the Class B state final, 7 p.m., Friday at SNU in Bethany

10. Tipton (14-0 in Class C)

Previous Game: Beat Ryan, 42-6, in the Class C state final

Ranking Last Week: 19

The Tigers won their ninth state championship while rolling up 562 yards of offense, 455 on the ground.

Junior running back Johnny Fernandez rushed for 208 yards on 24 carries. Freshman quarterback Kadence Sheffield and senior Cameron Ramirez connected on TD passes of 15 and 56 yards, and seniors Ryken Shallenburger and Arlen Taplin scored respectively on runs of 20 and 27 yards, to make the score 28-0 at intermission.

Next Game: Season Complete/2023 Class C State Champions

11. Velma-Alma (13-1 in Class B)

Previous Game: Beat Okeene 66-48, in the Class B state semifinals

Ranking Last Week: 20

Kaiden Lyle got the first two TDs and the game-clinching TD to usher the Comets to victory against the Whippets and a berth in their first state championship game in 17 years.

Next Game: vs. Seiling (13-0), in the Class B state final, 7 p.m., Friday at SNU in Bethany

12. Hooker (12-2 in Class A)

Previous Game: Beat Hominy, 27-24, in the Class A state semifinals

Ranking Last Week: 22

Justin Palacios rushed for 163 yards and scored a 79-yard TD to help the Bulldogs upset the Bucks and earning a trip to the Class A state title game.

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

13. Wagoner (13-1 in Class 4A)

Previous Game: Lost to Blanchard, 19-14, in the Class 4A state final

Ranking Last Week: 3

The Bulldogs dropped 10 spots in the poll after a heartbreaking loss to Blanchard in the 4A championship game. They were favored to repeat all season with experience back from last year’s team, who won state as an underdog over Cushing, 24-21, by kicking a field goal at the last second.

The Bulldogs outgained Blanchard, 370-290, and had more production from their skill players than the Lions did from theirs. But it was the turnovers that made the difference.

Wagoner threw four interceptions, lost possession on two fumbles, and was 0-for-2 on fourth-down conversions. It only forced one turnover on a pick, while Blanchard was 2-for-4 on fourth-down.

Quarterback Kale Charboneau completed 15-of-29 passes and 198 yards and rushed for 150 yards on 19 carries. Witt Edwards caught nine receptions for 143 yards.

Next Game: Season Completed/Class 4A Runners-up

14. OKC Heritage Hall (13-1 in Class 3A)

Previous Game: Lost to Tulsa Lincoln Christian, 48-28, in the Class 3A state final

Ranking Last Week: 5

The Chargers are another team who expected to repeat as state champions in their class, only to see it fall apart in the final.

Heritage Hall was well on its way with versatile quarterback Andy Bass, an OU walk-on commit, leading the Chargers until he went with an ACL injury early in the third quarter.

Bass accounted for four TDs – three rushing and one passing. When he left the game, he totaled 173 yards on 19 carries on the ground, and threw for 115 yards on 9-of-14 passes in the air.

Bass ran for a 48-yard TD on the first possession of the game, giving his team a 7-0 lead. The Bulldogs countered, tying the game on the following drive.

But Bass led his team with TDs on three of the Chargers’ next four possessions, making it 28-7.

Then came the turnaround, in which Lincoln Christian rolled with 41 unanswered points, coinciding with when Bass was injured.

Next Game: Season Completed/Class 3A Runners-up

15. Jenks (8-5 in Class 6AI Runner-up)

Previous Game: Lost to Bixby, 49-21, in the Class 6AI state final

Ranking Last Week: 6

Trojans’ coach Keith Riggs said in a pregame interview last week that Bixby is good at capitalizing on their opponent’s mistakes and that his team needed to refrain from that to have a chance to win the Class 6AI state championship.

Unfortunately, that’s what happened as they lost by 28 points to the Spartans, unlike previous meetings between both programs, which had been close.

Kaydin Jones rushed for 120 yards on 14 carries and rushed for two TDs, a 6-yard run and a 46-yard pass from quarterback Owen Jones. The Trojans' other TD came on an 80-yard pick-six from junior defensive back Sam Stone.

Next Game: Season Completed/Class 6AI State Runners-up

16. Hominy (13-1 in Class A)

Previous Game: Lost to Hooker, 27-24, in the Class A state semifinal

Ranking Last Week: 11

The Bucks’ hopes of winning state were dashed away in an upset loss to Hooker. It marked the second straight year they were eliminated in the state semifinals.

Next Game: Season Completed/Class A State Semifinalist

17. Del City (12-1, Class 5A Runner-up)

Previous Game: Lost to MWC Carl Albert, 35-14, in the Class 5A state final

Ranking Last Week: 13

The Eagles’ season didn’t end as they hoped as they fell by 21 points to Carl Albert in the state finals. But they kept it competitive as long as they could.

Oklahoma State commit Rodney Fields caught a 25-yard TD from quarterback River Warren to tie the game 7-7 in the first quarter.

Warren threw another TD to Braelon Adamah for 31 yards in the third that brought Del City to within seven, 21-14.

The Titans broke the game open in the fourth quarter to capture this version of the Mid-Del rivalry.

In addition to his two TDs, Warren threw for 204 yards on 13-of-29 passes and two interceptions.

TCU commit LaDainian Fields caught six receptions for 101 yards.

Next Game: Season Completed/Class 5A State Runners-up

18. Tulsa Union (10-2 in Class 6AI)

Previous Game: Lost to Jenks, 33-27, in the Class 6AI state final

Ranking Last Week: Unranked

The District 6AI-2 champion Redhawks were eliminated Nov. 24 by Jenks in the state semifinals. But they are back in the poll for their successful season. Both of their losses came at the hands of the Trojans.

Next Game: Season Completed/Class 6AI State Semifinalist

19. Owasso (9-3 in Class 6AI)

Previous Game: Lost to Bixby, 56-14, in the Class 6AI state semifinal

Ranking Last Week: Unranked

The Rams were eliminated Nov. 24 by eventual state champion Bixby in the semifinals. They also return on the strength of their successful season. Two of their losses came to the Spartans. One big win came early in the season over the eventual runner-up, Jenks.

Next Game: Season Completed/Class 6AI State Semifinalist

20. Stillwater (10-3, Class 6AII Runner-up)

Previous Game: Lost to Muskogee, 28-26, in the Class 6AII state final

Ranking Last Week: 8

The Pioneers had been victorious over Muskogee both this season and last season in the regular season, including a 30-20 decision on Nov. 3 at home in Stillwater.

But that was not the case last Friday in Edmond when they met for the 6AII state championship as the Roughers came out top for the 6AII trophy, denying Stillwater’s bid to repeat.

Running back Holden Thompson rushed for 199 yards on 35 carries.

Talon Kendrick scored the other three TDs, two on the ground (18 and 1 yard) and one receiving, a 13-yard reception from Chance Accord that tied the score, 14-all, with 12 seconds left before halftime.

Next Game: Season Completed/Class 6A State Semifinalist

21. Edmond Deer Creek (9-3, Class 6AII State Semifinalist)

Previous Game: Lost to Muskogee, 36-35, in the Class 6AII state semifinal

Ranking Last Week: Unranked

The Antlers are another team that was ousted in the semifinals but return to the rankings. They were in a high-scoring battle, but fell by one point to the eventual state champion Muskogee.

Deer Creek's biggest win came in Week 6 when it beat Choctaw, the 2022 6AII state runner-up.

Next Game: Season Completed/Class 6AII State Semifinalist

22. Choctaw (8-2, Class 6AII State Semifinalist)

Previous Game: Lost to Stillwater, 33-29, in the Class 6AII state semifinal

Ranking Last Week: Unranked

The Yellowjackets are back after being eliminated in the semifinal round by Stillwater, who also beat them in the 2022 Class 6AII state title game.

Choctaw had to persevere not having an official result applied to their record until their Week 2 game against Westmoore. Their first two games were canceled due to a tragic shooting taking place in their season opener during Week Zero, which cut the game short.

Next Game: Season Completed/Class 6AII State Semifinalist

23. Poteau (12-1, Class 4A State Semifinalist)

Previous Game: Lost to Blanchard, 26-14, in the Class 4A state semifinals

Ranking Last Week: Unranked

The Pirates are back as a result of a phenomenal season. With Tulsa commit Dax Collins as one of their key players, they were unbeaten throughout the season, until falling to eventual state champion Blanchard in the semifinals.

Next Game: Season Completed/Class 6AII State Semifinalist

24. Guthrie (10-2 in Class 5A)

Previous Game: Lost to Blanchard, 26-14, in the Class 4A state semifinals

Ranking Last Week: Unranked

The Bluejays may have not gone as deep in the postseason as all other teams in this poll, but when you have a defense that gives up only 33 points and pitches seven shutouts in the regular season, it can’t be ignored.

Next Game: Season Completed/Class 5A State Quarterfinalist

25. Ryan (12-2 in Class C)

Previous Game: Lost to Tipton, 42-6, in the Class C final.

Ranking Last Week: 23

The Cowboys could only generate 144 yards of offense and never could find the end zone in their loss in the Class C title game.

Their only TD was a 74-yard kickoff return by freshman Noah Torrez.

Next Game: Season Completed/Class 5A State Quarterfinalist

Midwest City Carl Albert photo by Michael Kinney 

-- Mike Moguin | @SBLiveOK