Tulsa Union-Mustang showdown highlights this week's top 10 Oklahoma games, many being played Thursday

Redhawks, Broncos square off with the District 6AI-2 lead on the line

By Christian Potts | Photo by Michael Kinney 

The annual Fall Break week for most Oklahoma schools has arrived, meaning a large number of teams move their games from Friday to Thursday. 

The shorter preparation week brings some competitive matchups for this week's SBLive Oklahoma Top 10 games list, as teams start to make the stretch drive toward the postseason. 

1. Tulsa Union (6-0, 3-0 District 6AI-2) at Mustang (5-1, 3-0) (Thursday)

This collision of top-five squads in the SBLive Oklahoma weekly rankings has been building all season. And it's always a big deal for the Oklahoma City area's top teams to get a shot at the powerhouses from the Tulsa area.

Mustang comes into its opportunity on a nice recent run, shutting out Edmond Santa Fe, 19-0, a week after a solid 27-17 win against another of those Tulsa-area schools in Owasso.

The Redhawks have rolled week after week, the latest coming in a 42-28 victory last week in Norman.

They'll make a return trip down the Turner Turnpike this week with good history against Mustang, having won nine of 10 meetings since the teams first played in the 2005 6A state championship game, a 33-7 Union victory. Union has won convincingly the previous two years in district contests against the Broncos.

2. MWC Carl Albert (5-2, 3-0 District 5A-2) at OKC Bishop McGuinness (6-0, 3-0) (Friday)

A pair of early-season losses took the Titans off the radar of some, but coaches in Class 5A know to never forget about them. And Carl Albert can thrust itself right back up the list of contenders this week in its trip over to face a Bishop McGuinness squad that won on a final-play field goal last week against Guthrie.

The winner here, particularly if it is McGuinness, would go a long way to locking up the top seed out of District 5A-2. Carl Albert still has dates this month with Guthrie and Piedmont, but nobody knows more about winning big games this time of year than this program.

3. Muldrow (6-1, 2-1 District 3A-3) at Stigler (6-0, 2-0) (Thursday)

One of two huge contests in eastern Oklahoma this week, the Bulldogs and Panthers will square off in a contest with big district title implications and prolific offenses.

Muldrow has a star at running back in Trenden Collins, who already has rushed for 1,428 yards and 18 touchdowns. Stigler has outscored opponents 272-48, led by junior McKade Peery, who has passed for 1,301 yards and 18 scores and also rushed for 391 yards and four scores.

4. Vinita (6-0, 3-0 District 2A-8) at Rejoice Christian (6-0, 3-0) (Thursday)

The Hornets have gone about their business somewhat quietly in northeastern Oklahoma, but they can make a giant move in this road trip to face the unbeaten Eagles.

Vinita has impressed against all comers, winning comfortably every week. Its closest game was a 40-16 triumph against a heralded Pawhuska squad.

Rejoice has a dominant offense, averaging 54.7 points per game behind its senior quarterback Chance Wilson, who is nearing 2,000 passing yards on the season.

5. Chickasha (5-1, 3-0 District 4A-1) at Elk City (5-1, 2-0) (Thursday)

The Chicks have a star at running back in Ma'lek Murphy, who has rushed for 926 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. He'll need to be at his best against the Elks, who followed up a huge rivalry win against Clinton in Week 5 with a 36-21 victory against Cache.

The winner of this game takes a giant step toward a district championship.

6. Poteau (5-1, 3-0 District 4A-4) at Broken Bow (5-1, 3-0) (Thursday)

The Pirates are one of those teams that seems to get better as the weather gets colder, winning big games in October and November. And they started that direction this month in Week 6 with a 30-7 win against Hilldale.

Now they can take a stranglehold in the district standings, although the Savages will have something to say about that. Broken Bow has rolled to five straight victories since an opening-night defeat to 5A power McAlester.

7. Laverne (5-1, 1-0 District B-1) at Shattuck (4-1, 0-1) (Thursday)

It's a big game any time two of the biggest traditional powerhouses in 8-man football get together.

And this year's stakes for the defending Class B state champion Tigers and Indians include the District B-1 chase, with Shattuck already in a hole after suffering its first loss of the season to title contender Balko-Forgan last week but otherwise looking strong this season.

Laverne has dominated its last three starts since a 40-38 loss to Seiling on Sept. 9.

8. Midwest City (4-2, 3-0 District 5A-1) at Lawton MacArthur (5-1, 3-0) (Thursday)

Two of three unbeaten squads in the District 5A-1 standings, the Bombers and Highlanders will seek to keep their positive momentum going after some struggles in their non-district slates.

This may come down to which defense can make a stop or two, with the Bombers averaging 42 points a game and the Highlanders 43.7 since the start of district competition.

9. Crossings Christian (4-2, 1-2 District 2A-2) at Chandler (5-1, 3-0) (Thursday)

Two of the better 2A squads in central Oklahoma are fighting for playoff position and will play an important game for that cause.

Crossings has experience and high hopes after a big run to the 2A quarterfinals in 2021, but is in a hole after two district defeats. Chandler's only loss was to 4A power Poteau and the Lions are averaging 45 points a game during district play.

10. Washington (6-0, 3-0 District 2A-3) at Lindsay (5-1, 3-0) (Thursday)

The defending 2A state runner-up faces maybe its biggest test in a push for a district championship in a road trip to face the Leopards, whose defense has shined, allowing just 20 total points in a five-game winning streak.

Washington also has dominated defensively in recent outings, holding its last three opponents to just 14 points.

More games to keep an eye on this week include: Broken Arrow at Bixby (Friday); Tulsa Cascia Hall at Verdigris (Thursday); Morrison at Tonkawa (Thursday); Tahlequah at Muskogee (Thursday); Jenks at Moore (Friday); Wilson at Wesleyan Christian (Thursday).