SBLive Oklahoma Top 25 football rankings: Consider these teams that just missed making the list

Several statewide teams make their claim to being included in the Top 25

By Christian Potts 

What about us? 

It's a common question for those reading rankings of any sort, especially when they've seen their team succeed at a high level. The quality of football at all levels throughout Oklahoma high school football can be so high, and as such has produced many deserving teams.

Yet, there is only room for so many. And it's tough when so many of the top teams are winning.

For example, out of last week's SBLive Oklahoma Top 25, 23 of them scored victories, with the two who lost falling to other teams in the rankings.

Put simply, it's a tough list to move into, even though there are more than 25 teams that perhaps are deserving of having their names called.

So before this week's list, here are a few of those teams that have been pushing the edge of the rankings, causing us to keep asking, "How can we leave them out?"

Kiefer (8-0, 5-0 District 2A-7)

The Trojans took down Beggs, 28-14, to take control in a competitive District 2A-7. The star of the show was Brayden Barber, who had three touchdown catches and an interception return for a touchdown.

Kiefer hasn't dominated every time out, winning four times by 14 points or less, but they've found a way to celebrate victory each week.

Prague (8-0, 5-0 District 2A-5)

The Red Devils have rolled against all comers to the tune of a 44-8 average margin of victory per game so far, led by longtime Guthrie coach Rafe Watkins, who helped build the Blue Jays into a power, and who later coached at Muskogee and at Warner.

The Red Devils face their biggest test of the season this week, though, in a road trip east to face traditional powerhouse Vian.

Elk City (7-1, 4-0 District 4A-1)

The Elks made a big run in last year's Class 4A playoffs, and they seem to be rounding into good form again.

They're a big favorite to win their final two games of the season to wrap up a district championship and make two teams head west for the first two rounds of the 4A postseason. They've bounced back well the last four ballgames since their only blemish, a 45-2 loss to Midwest City Carl Albert.

Broken Arrow (3-5, 3-2 District 6AI-1)

Is there a better 3-5 team anywhere in high school football than the Tigers? Their schedule has been fierce, including the likes of four teams within the SBLive Oklahoma rankings, as well as a tough Bentonville (Ark.) squad to start the season.

They've now won two straight for the first time this year heading into a huge rivalry game with Jenks this week.

Hominy/Fairview/Crescent/Colcord (Each is 8-0 overall and unbeaten in its respective districts)

The Class A playoffs figure to be a tremendously competitive test. These teams all stayed perfect in Week Eight, joining Gore and Ringling among the ranks of undefeated teams just in this class.

But even several one-loss teams like Tonkawa, Stratford and Walters all could be part of the Class A championship chase.

Ada/Broken Bow/Hilldale/Poteau (Each 6-2 overall, 4-1 District 4A-4)

There may be no more wild district in Oklahoma than 4A-4. These four teams are all beating each other and locking up in great battles week after week as they, along with 3-2 Stilwell, jockey for the four playoff positions.

All of these squads have a good argument. Others, in our view, have done a little more.

The beauty of Oklahoma high school football, though, is that if you go take care of business on the football field, rankings don't matter. Survive and advance and prove the doubters wrong.

That being said, here is this week's Top 25:

1. Bixby (8-0, 5-0 District 6AI-1)

No surprise here, as the Spartans continued their dominant ways with a 73-6 victory against Westmoore, extending the nation's longest winning streak to 57 games.

The high-flying Spartans, who are averaging an astonishing 74 points a game in district play, will be a problem for a Moore squad that has allowed 36.3 per night this season.

2. Tulsa Union (8-0, 5-0 District 6AI-2)

The Redhawks keep matching serve with Bixby, rolling to another solid district victory, 62-21, against a surprisingly winless Edmond Santa Fe squad.

Union is two wins away from wrapping up the other district title in 6AI, with Edmond Memorial coming to Tulsa for a Week 9 contest.

3. Coweta (8-0, 5-0 District 5A-3)

It's a huge week for the Tigers, who can wrap up the district championship with a win. But standing in their way is a hungry Del City squad that has been rolling since a tough overtime loss to McAlester in Week 5.

Coweta dominated Tulsa East Central last week, 62-6, in yet another strong defensive showing.

4. Choctaw (7-1, 5-0 District 6AII-2)

A possible trap game turned into anything but that, as the Yellowjackets sailed past Lawton, 49-12, for a seventh straight win. Since their close season-opening loss to Del City, Choctaw has looked like the best of a good group at the top of Class 6AII.

They'll finish with Putnam City this week and an improving Ponca City squad currently on a four-game winning streak in the season finale.

5. Stillwater (8-0, 5-0 District 6AII-1)

If Choctaw isn't the best in the class, this Stillwater team might make the claim to be. The Pioneers continued their dominant ways in Week 8, taking down Putnam City West, 49-7.

They'll face off with Tahlequah this week, with thoughts perhaps a little down the road to next week's showdown with Muskogee that should decide the district championship.

6. Cushing (8-0, 5-0 District 4A-3)

The Tigers found little resistance in a 70-7 blowout of Cleveland for their eighth consecutive win.

They'll face a traditional power in Oologah this week in a game that is especially big for playoff positioning for Oologah, which is 5-3 and 4-1 after a hard-fought 22-18 victory against Miami last week.

7. Edmond Deer Creek (7-1, 4-1 District 6AII-2)

The Antlers steamrolled to their seventh win in their last outing, taking down OKC Northwest Classen, 64-0. They'll again be a huge favorite at OKC Capitol Hill this week before finishing up with another likely win against 2-6 Putnam City North.

They're likely headed for a second-place finish in the district, though, after their Week 6 loss to No. 4 Choctaw, meaning perhaps a tougher road to try to return to the 6AII championship game for a second year in a row.

8. Mustang (6-2, 4-1 District 6AI-2)

Norman has given some teams trouble at times this year, but the Broncos controlled in all phases in their Week 8 meeting, sailing to a 49-10 victory.

Two more wins should give Mustang second place in District 6AI-2 and a first-round bye in the playoffs. They'll start that final stretch run with a winnable game against Edmond North this Friday.

9. McAlester (7-1, 4-1 District 5A-3)

The Buffaloes found little resistance from nearby rival Durant, cruising to a 56-20 victory.

They still have hopes for a three-way tie for the district title if Del City can defeat Coweta this week and they can win out, which continues this week with a trip to the Tulsa area to take on a solid Sapulpa squad.

10. OKC Bishop McGuinness (7-1, 4-1 DIstrict 5A-2)

The Irish bounced back from their first loss with a solid performance, taking down OKC Southeast, 56-28, behind four touchdowns before the first quarter was even complete.

McGuinness can clinch at least a second-place district finish this week with a victory against a hot Piedmont squad, which has won six of its last seven contests.

11. Del City (7-1, 4-1 District 5A-3)

The Eagles have been on a mission that's involved destroying district opponents the last few weeks. Since the aforementioned loss to McAlester, Del City is 3-0 and has outscored those opponents, 191-28, most recently tearing apart Glenpool, 72-0.

They'll have the house rocking for the biggest home game of the year this week against undefeated No. 3 Coweta.

12. Lincoln Christian (7-1, 4-0 District 3A-3)

The Bulldogs faced one of their toughest tests of the season and passed it with flying colors, rolling past Stigler, 49-0. Luke Milligan threw four touchdown passes in the first quarter to set the tone as Lincoln took a big step in the district race.

Their final big hurdle toward a district title comes this week in a showdown game with an 8-1 Muldrow squad that is loaded with team speed and talent.

13. Muskogee (8-0, 5-0 District 6AII-1)

The Roughers passed a critical challenge, turning up the defensive pressure to set the tone in a 30-6 triumph at Tulsa Booker T. Washington. Deyonn Bowler led the way with two interceptions, and the Roughers shut the Hornets out entirely until the closing minutes of the game.

This week the Roughers host Bartlesville, with a massive Week 10 contest upcoming against unbeaten Stillwater that will be the biggest ever played inside the Roughers' newly opened stadium.

14. Rejoice Christian (8-0, 5-0 District 2A-8)

The Eagles were far too much for Nowata in Week 8, rolling to a 59-0 victory. Backup quarterback Cale Marley again shined with four touchdown passes, a touchdown run and a kickoff return for a score, subbing for injured starter Chance Wilson.

There still is no official word on Wilson's status as Rejoice heads into its final home game of the regular season this week, with Caney Valley coming to town.

15. Jenks (6-2, 4-1 District 6AI-2)

The sometimes maligned Trojan offense kicked things into a seriously high gear in a whopping 90-9 victory against Southmoore.

Now comes their toughest stretch of the season, finishing up with Broken Arrow, which is finding momentum after a rough first half of the season, then a nationally-televised contest Nov. 3 against No. 1 Bixby to close the regular season.

16. Grove (8-0, 5-0 District 5A-4)

The Ridgerunners are for real. Emmanuel Crawford ran wild, to the tune of 345 yards and four touchdowns, and Grove took the driver's seat in the district race by racing past defending state champion Collinsville, 49-21.

Now, Grove has games against Pryor and Tulsa Bishop Kelley that would close out a perfect regular season and give them a district title in the Ridgerunners' first year moving up from Class 4A.

17. MWC Carl Albert (7-2, 5-0 District 5A-2)

The Titans all but wrapped up the district championship with a surprisingly lopsided 41-7 triumph against Guthrie.

After early losses to Coweta and Muskogee, the Titans now seem to be hitting on all cylinders. They'll actually have Week 9 off on a late-season bye week before closing out at Piedmont in the regular season finale.

18. Washington (8-0, 5-0 District 2A-3)

The Warriors still haven't lost, continuing their run with a 40-7 beatdown of neighboring rival Purcell in Week 8. Their final two opponents, Comanche and Little Axe, have just a 2-12 combined record, so it's likely Washington will head into the postseason unbeaten.

The Warriors, Kiefer, Prague and Rejoice Christian are the only squads remaining unbeaten in Class 2A.

19. Owasso (4-4, 3-2 District 6AI-2)

The Rams dispatched of an improving Edmond Memorial squad in Week 8, 37-14, behind quarterback Mason Willingham, who rushed for three scores and passed for a fourth.

After a brutal schedule in the first half of the season, the Rams now have won three in a row and look to continue their build to the postseason with a road trip this week at Edmond Santa Fe.

20. Collinsville (7-1, 4-1 District 5A-4)

The Cardinals saw their 21-game winning streak snapped in Week 8's showdown game with Grove, 49-21.

Big things still can be ahead for this squad, though, and they'll try to right the ship the next two weeks before the playoffs begin with contests against a pair of 4-4 squads, Tulsa Edison and Claremore, to close out the regular season.

21. Norman North (6-2, 4-1 District 6AI-1)

Kamden Sixkiller continues to put up terrific numbers for the Timberwolves. The quarterback rushed for 99 yards and a score, and four of his nine completed passes went for touchdowns as he passed for 243 yards while playing just three quarters in a 72-29 rout against Moore.

His Timberwolves remain in line for a first-round bye in the 6AI playoffs heading into this week's matchup with Westmoore.

22. Tulsa Metro Christian (8-0, 5-0 District 3A-1)

The Patriots are simply dominating their district, sailing to another lopsided win by a 55-6 count against visiting Mannford in Week 8.

There might be questions about the overall strength of District 3A-1, but there's no question the Patriots have one of the most potent passing offenses in Class 3A, lighting up scoreboards to the tune of 46 points per game behind quarterback Kirk Francis and a stable of pass-catchers.

23. Gore (8-0, 4-0 District A-8)

Panama came into its Week 8 game contest with Gore having not lost in more than a month. But the Pirates imposed their will from the start, tallying seven first-half touchdowns in a dominating 62-0 victory to stay perfect on the season.

Only Haskell and Porter stand between the Pirates and a 10-0 season, and they'll be strong favorites in both of those games.

24. OKC Heritage Hall (7-1, 5-0 District 3A-2)

It was all Chargers in a showdown game against Plainview - a 50-14 victory - that lands Heritage Hall in great shape for a district championship.

That means at least two home games to start the playoffs, a big boost in what is a talented field of teams in Class 3A. The last two weeks won't be easy though, as Sulphur and defending 2A champion Marlow finish up the Chargers' regular season slate.

25. Ringling (8-0, 5-0 District A-4)

The Blue Devils came up with a critical district win, 41-18, against a solid Wynnewood squad, This one wasn't easy, but Ringling's defense came up big, shutting out Wynnewood after halftime after the Savages led much of the first half.

The district title likely hinges on Ringling's Week 10 contest in two weeks, when 7-1 Stratford comes to town.