Post by jpa on Nov 8, 2021 21:53:59 GMT -6
Coming to Light
At this point, every game is worth watching. So here we go...from the top to the bottom of the bracket.
Prague @ OCS – Is anyone enlightened about – or even noticed - the Saints? Another undefeated regular season (22-1 since 2020), including a quiet shutout of District 2’s champion, and…well, the rest is seemingly in the dark. No illumination necessary for the ground-wired Red Devils, whose offense has been its best defense.
Davis @ Community – A repeat from the 2020 playoffs. The Wolves shined the best version of themselves last week and are coming to Norman with momentum. Davis will need it against the Royals, who generate their own mo via the qb/wr combination.
Keys @ Eufaula – Cougars surprisingly find themselves short circuited for fourth in their district after being 3rd most of the season, and now face the unenviable position of taking on a reloaded, amped-up Ironhead group ready to make another deep run with their own dangerous qb/wr combo.
Metro @ Sperry – Interesting matchup between the schools with the past three state championships between them. Can the Pirates power-up as big home underdogs, especially coming off a large home loss last week? Patriots have been out of the spotlight recently, but have found their spark and are back to playing well. Ignore the two time defending champs at your own risk.
Purcell @ Marlow – These former 3A schools aren’t light years apart geographically, but this is only their 9th meeting in recent memory. Dragons have been on and off, and off and on almost all season. Meanwhile, the Outlaws are burning like the sun and show no immediate likelihood of cooling down.
Perry @ Chandler – Game featuring two lightning fast quarterbacks. Lions played aggressive defense to close the regular season and get the first round home field. Maroons started slow, but found an offensive identity to achieve a fourth straight playoff appearance.
Adair @ Victory – Warriors in the unfamiliar position of bringing up the rear of District 8’s playoff qualifiers, having ended the regular season in a bad light. Conquerors adjusted coming out of non-district play and earned the District 7 championship. Without a doubt, VC should be huge favorites, but can’t take their opponents – and a program that historically knows how to win - lightly.
Hugo @ Cascia – Buffaloes lit a fire under themselves and are rumbling into the post-season as one of the welcome surprises of 2021 (after going 4-6 last year). Meanwhile, the Commandos seem to be one of the more un-heralded threats to the gold ball after finishing a close second in District 5. Too many have too easily forgotten how Cascia and their balanced attack lit up another eventual district champion back in August.
Vian @ Atoka – Wampus Cats found their guiding light and came on strong at the end of the year to reach the post-season. A seemingly more balanced Wolverines squad is back in the saddle with its district crown. But like other district winners, Vian cannot get caught up staring into the lights of round two.
Sequoyah @ Beggs – Eagles equaled their win total from last year, but are still seeking that first big win of 2021. Un(Fortunately?), they don’t get much bigger than the Golden Demons, who can run at lightspeed, and who might be a bit miffed (or possibly still reeling?) after falling short last week.
Alva @ Crossings – The Goldbugs have talent, but have yet to discover lightning. And yet, they still made a mad dash at the end of the season to capture the final playoff spot from District 1. The under-appreciated Knights, underdogs virtually all year, finally conquered the District 2 gauntlet and now stare into the light of, perhaps, one of the least arduous roads in these early playoff rounds.
Bethel @ Lindsay – The Leopards, with solid skill players, achieved the limelight as runner-up in District 4 (although it wasn’t clear until late last Friday), and have been one of the more difficult teams to assess. That should concern – or excite - an experienced Wildcat bunch with a young quarterback looking for their first playoff road victory. Hopefully this game helps shed some light.
Keifer @ Rejoice – Think of the Trojans in a good light, because they deserve credit for finishing a solid 7-3 with a tough non-district schedule and three top 10 teams alongside in District 7. Some might think the bracket did not do them any favors, but Kiefer is comfortable with score-fests. And they probably need to be, facing an Eagles offense that has been electric & trying to give the 2008 OU offense a run for its money. Until slowing down last week to a measley 48 points, RC had clocked in over 60 in five straight games.
Pocola @ Antlers – Indians are a surprising ray of light in 2021 (1-8 last season), and they slammed a huge exclamation point to their regular season schedule last week – solidly finishing third in district 5. That kind of excitement and belief travels, especially when facing a team that’s seemingly limping into the playoffs following disappointing loses the past couple of weeks. Even so, the Bearcats are fully capable - with plenty of experience – to relight that fire and desire to make their own run.
Comanche @ Washington – Coming off a 3-7 2020 season, nobody expected much wattage from the ’21 Indians - except themselves, and they fought to earn that fourth place spot in District 4. The Warriors, not planning to have their buttons pushed in round one, have their sights set on another December trip to Edmond.
Jones @ Luther – A repeat of their week two matchup, where the Longhorns eclipsed the Lions by 38. History says it’s difficult to beat the same team twice, and Luther has the players with the green light to make this rematch interesting. As to the Longhorns - Raise your hand if you picked Jones third in District 2. [[looking….looking….sees no hands]] The ‘horns have been expectantly dominant at times, but notably light-mannered at others.
Playoffs Round 1 - Top 25 (Power On!)
1. Marlow (-) beat Tishomingo 57-18, now vs Purcell
2. Washington (up 1) beat CHA 59-0, now vs Comanche
3. Vian (up 2) beat Heavener 54-0, now vs Atoka
4. Victory (up 2) beat Beggs 27-26, now vs Adair
5. OCS (down 1) beat Blackwell 55-0, now vs Prague
6. Beggs (down 4) lost to Victory 27-26, now vs Sequoyah
7. Crossings (-) beat Millwood 30-14, now vs Alva
8. Rejoice (-) beat Sperry 48-14, now vs Kiefer
9. Eufaula (up 1) beat Antlers 42-8, now vs Keys
10. Chandler (up 1) beat Prague 47-14, now vs Perry
11. Cascia (up 1) beat Keys 42-22, now vs Hugo
12. Metro (up 1) beat Haskell 42-12, now @ Sperry
13. Jones (down 4) beat Meeker 55-30, now @ Luther
14. Community (up 1) beat Lexington 55-6, now vs Davis
15. Prague (down 1) lost to Chandler 47-14, now @ OCS
16. Hugo (up 1) beat Hartshorne 32-20, now @ Cascia
17. Kiefer (up 2) beat Morris 58-6, now @ Rejoice
18. Luther (up 3) beat Hennessey 42-14, now vs Jones
19. Antlers (down 3) lost to Eufaula 42-8, now vs Pocola
20. Sperry (-) lost to Rejoice 48-14, now vs Metro
21. Bethel (-) beat Purcell 34-13, now @ Lindsay
22. Lindsay (UR) beat Comanche 32-15, now vs Bethel
23. Davis (up 2) beat Frederick 34-0, now @ Community
24. Pocola (UR) beat Spiro 55-28, now @ Antlers
25. Keys (down 1) lost to Cascia 42-22, now @ Eufaula
OUT: Adair, Purcell
At this point, every game is worth watching. So here we go...from the top to the bottom of the bracket.
Prague @ OCS – Is anyone enlightened about – or even noticed - the Saints? Another undefeated regular season (22-1 since 2020), including a quiet shutout of District 2’s champion, and…well, the rest is seemingly in the dark. No illumination necessary for the ground-wired Red Devils, whose offense has been its best defense.
Davis @ Community – A repeat from the 2020 playoffs. The Wolves shined the best version of themselves last week and are coming to Norman with momentum. Davis will need it against the Royals, who generate their own mo via the qb/wr combination.
Keys @ Eufaula – Cougars surprisingly find themselves short circuited for fourth in their district after being 3rd most of the season, and now face the unenviable position of taking on a reloaded, amped-up Ironhead group ready to make another deep run with their own dangerous qb/wr combo.
Metro @ Sperry – Interesting matchup between the schools with the past three state championships between them. Can the Pirates power-up as big home underdogs, especially coming off a large home loss last week? Patriots have been out of the spotlight recently, but have found their spark and are back to playing well. Ignore the two time defending champs at your own risk.
Purcell @ Marlow – These former 3A schools aren’t light years apart geographically, but this is only their 9th meeting in recent memory. Dragons have been on and off, and off and on almost all season. Meanwhile, the Outlaws are burning like the sun and show no immediate likelihood of cooling down.
Perry @ Chandler – Game featuring two lightning fast quarterbacks. Lions played aggressive defense to close the regular season and get the first round home field. Maroons started slow, but found an offensive identity to achieve a fourth straight playoff appearance.
Adair @ Victory – Warriors in the unfamiliar position of bringing up the rear of District 8’s playoff qualifiers, having ended the regular season in a bad light. Conquerors adjusted coming out of non-district play and earned the District 7 championship. Without a doubt, VC should be huge favorites, but can’t take their opponents – and a program that historically knows how to win - lightly.
Hugo @ Cascia – Buffaloes lit a fire under themselves and are rumbling into the post-season as one of the welcome surprises of 2021 (after going 4-6 last year). Meanwhile, the Commandos seem to be one of the more un-heralded threats to the gold ball after finishing a close second in District 5. Too many have too easily forgotten how Cascia and their balanced attack lit up another eventual district champion back in August.
Vian @ Atoka – Wampus Cats found their guiding light and came on strong at the end of the year to reach the post-season. A seemingly more balanced Wolverines squad is back in the saddle with its district crown. But like other district winners, Vian cannot get caught up staring into the lights of round two.
Sequoyah @ Beggs – Eagles equaled their win total from last year, but are still seeking that first big win of 2021. Un(Fortunately?), they don’t get much bigger than the Golden Demons, who can run at lightspeed, and who might be a bit miffed (or possibly still reeling?) after falling short last week.
Alva @ Crossings – The Goldbugs have talent, but have yet to discover lightning. And yet, they still made a mad dash at the end of the season to capture the final playoff spot from District 1. The under-appreciated Knights, underdogs virtually all year, finally conquered the District 2 gauntlet and now stare into the light of, perhaps, one of the least arduous roads in these early playoff rounds.
Bethel @ Lindsay – The Leopards, with solid skill players, achieved the limelight as runner-up in District 4 (although it wasn’t clear until late last Friday), and have been one of the more difficult teams to assess. That should concern – or excite - an experienced Wildcat bunch with a young quarterback looking for their first playoff road victory. Hopefully this game helps shed some light.
Keifer @ Rejoice – Think of the Trojans in a good light, because they deserve credit for finishing a solid 7-3 with a tough non-district schedule and three top 10 teams alongside in District 7. Some might think the bracket did not do them any favors, but Kiefer is comfortable with score-fests. And they probably need to be, facing an Eagles offense that has been electric & trying to give the 2008 OU offense a run for its money. Until slowing down last week to a measley 48 points, RC had clocked in over 60 in five straight games.
Pocola @ Antlers – Indians are a surprising ray of light in 2021 (1-8 last season), and they slammed a huge exclamation point to their regular season schedule last week – solidly finishing third in district 5. That kind of excitement and belief travels, especially when facing a team that’s seemingly limping into the playoffs following disappointing loses the past couple of weeks. Even so, the Bearcats are fully capable - with plenty of experience – to relight that fire and desire to make their own run.
Comanche @ Washington – Coming off a 3-7 2020 season, nobody expected much wattage from the ’21 Indians - except themselves, and they fought to earn that fourth place spot in District 4. The Warriors, not planning to have their buttons pushed in round one, have their sights set on another December trip to Edmond.
Jones @ Luther – A repeat of their week two matchup, where the Longhorns eclipsed the Lions by 38. History says it’s difficult to beat the same team twice, and Luther has the players with the green light to make this rematch interesting. As to the Longhorns - Raise your hand if you picked Jones third in District 2. [[looking….looking….sees no hands]] The ‘horns have been expectantly dominant at times, but notably light-mannered at others.
Playoffs Round 1 - Top 25 (Power On!)
1. Marlow (-) beat Tishomingo 57-18, now vs Purcell
2. Washington (up 1) beat CHA 59-0, now vs Comanche
3. Vian (up 2) beat Heavener 54-0, now vs Atoka
4. Victory (up 2) beat Beggs 27-26, now vs Adair
5. OCS (down 1) beat Blackwell 55-0, now vs Prague
6. Beggs (down 4) lost to Victory 27-26, now vs Sequoyah
7. Crossings (-) beat Millwood 30-14, now vs Alva
8. Rejoice (-) beat Sperry 48-14, now vs Kiefer
9. Eufaula (up 1) beat Antlers 42-8, now vs Keys
10. Chandler (up 1) beat Prague 47-14, now vs Perry
11. Cascia (up 1) beat Keys 42-22, now vs Hugo
12. Metro (up 1) beat Haskell 42-12, now @ Sperry
13. Jones (down 4) beat Meeker 55-30, now @ Luther
14. Community (up 1) beat Lexington 55-6, now vs Davis
15. Prague (down 1) lost to Chandler 47-14, now @ OCS
16. Hugo (up 1) beat Hartshorne 32-20, now @ Cascia
17. Kiefer (up 2) beat Morris 58-6, now @ Rejoice
18. Luther (up 3) beat Hennessey 42-14, now vs Jones
19. Antlers (down 3) lost to Eufaula 42-8, now vs Pocola
20. Sperry (-) lost to Rejoice 48-14, now vs Metro
21. Bethel (-) beat Purcell 34-13, now @ Lindsay
22. Lindsay (UR) beat Comanche 32-15, now vs Bethel
23. Davis (up 2) beat Frederick 34-0, now @ Community
24. Pocola (UR) beat Spiro 55-28, now @ Antlers
25. Keys (down 1) lost to Cascia 42-22, now @ Eufaula
OUT: Adair, Purcell
