Week Eight 6A-II rankings and predictions; a look at this weekend's games

No. 1 Booker T. Washington Hornets (Last Week No. 1) vs. No. 7 Sand Springs Sandites (7)* District 2

The Hornets (6-1, 3-0) are coming off a bye week after a dominant 42-21 win against Muskogee (3-4, 2-2). Thomas Grayson rushed for 192 yards and four touchdowns while Philip Wheatley was 10-19-226 passing. They picked off two passes and held the Roughers to 295 yards, forcing seven punts. Still battling the refs, they ended the night with 9 penalties for 98 yards. 

Sand Springs (4-3, 2-1) saw their four-straight streak come to a close in a back-and-forth 40-34 Homecoming loss to Muskogee. The Sandites jumped out to a 13-0 lead, the Roughers scored thirty-straight, then the Sandites scored 21 more to reclaim the lead. A 96-yard kick return and field goal gave Muskogee the final points of the game and the Sandites ran out of time in the Rougher red zone. 

The Sandites forced two fumbles, recovered four, posted six tackles-for-loss, and picked off one interception. Payton Scott was 34-199 rushing with two touchdowns while Caden Pennington had his breakout night passing 9-21-151-0 with three touchdowns.

The pick: BTW 42 CPHS 24.

No. 2 Midwest City Bombers (2) vs. No. 8 Putnam City Pirates (8)* District 1

Midwest City (6-1, 4-0) remains undefeated in District 1 after a 61-25 win over Putnam City West (1-6, 0-4). The Bombers have dominated most of their foes this season, winning by an average score of 40-18. 

Putnam City (6-1, 3-1) won their second straight, doubling down on Deer Creek (3-4, 1-3) 48-24. The Pirates held only a 28-21 lead at halftime, but won the second half 20-3 behind A.J. Newsome's powerful passing abilities. The quarterback was 19-28-435-0 with six touchdowns but their run game was held to 69 yards on 25 carries. They gave up one fumble, offset by an interception. 

The pick: MWC 42 Putnam 23.

No. 3 Bixby Spartans (3) vs. No. 13 Bartlesville Bruins (13)* District 2

The three-time defending State Champions (4-3, 3-0) remained undefeated in districts with their biggest win of the season, 68-7 over Ponca City (1-6, 1-3). Tucker Pawley returned to the trenches for eight carries and 65 yards after missing three weeks with a knee injury. 

Bartlesville (1-5, 1-2) picked up their first win of the season, 9-2 against Sapulpa (0-7, 0-4). Noah Sunday was 12-23-81-0 passing while Deandre Young led the ground assault with fourteen carries for 111 yards and the lone touchdown. 

The pick: Bixby 65 Bartlesville 10.

No. 4 Lawton Wolverines (4) vs. No. 9 Choctaw Yellowjackets (9)* District 1

Lawton (5-2, 3-1) has rattled off three straight victories since their loss to Midwest City, most recently 54-28 at Enid (3-4, 1-3). They were held to a close 20-14 lead going into halftime before rapidly outpacing their hosts in the second half. Miles Davis ran 17-184 with three touchdowns.

Choctaw (4-5, 1-3) played a close game against Stillwater (6-1, 3-1), trailing only 28-24 in the fourth quarter before the Pioneers added one last touchdown for a final score of 35-24. 

The pick: Lawton 35 Choctaw 24.

No. 5 Stillwater Pioneers (5) vs. No. 11 Enid Plainsmen (11)* District 1

Stillwater (6-1, 3-1) fended off Choctaw 35-24 last week behind an ample run game. Tyler Disidore ran eleven times for 32 yards and three touchdowns while Qwontrell Walker amassed 193 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries. 

Enid (3-4, 1-3) kept up with Lawton till halftime but was ultimately swept away 54-28. Telin Phillips and Khalid Lee combined for 148 rushing yards and two touchdowns while Mason Skrimager passed 19-36-182-2 with two touchdowns.

The pick: Stillwater 38 Enid 23.

No. 6 Muskogee Roughers (6)* District 2

Muskogee (3-4, 2-2) won a key 40-34 district shootout in Sand Springs (4-3, 2-1) and shouldn't have any further obstacles in reaching the playoffs. The Roughers gave up four fumbles, an interception, and a pair of turnovers on downs and still managed to trump the Sandites. Jacob Medrano was 18-24-381-1 with all four Rougher touchdowns. They will have a week off to adjust and work out their miscues before taking on Sapulpa (0-7, 0-4). 

No. 10 Deer Creek Antlers (10) vs. No. 12 Putnam City West Patriots (12)* District 1

Deer Creek (3-4, 1-3) had a rough night last week, falling 48-24 to Putnam City (6-1, 3-1). They kept to the ground most of the night, running 44 times for 221 yards, and passed 14-27-131-1. They won the turnover battle 2-1 and gave up only 35 yards in penalties but couldn't handle the lethal Wolverine offense.

Putnam West (1-6, 0-4) took a heavy 61-25 hit against Midwest City (6-1, 4-0) for their sixth-straight loss. The won their season opener 16-15 against 5A Duncan (3-4) and nearly defeated Enid in week four before blowing a 42-point lead. 

The pick: DC 27 PCW 23.

No. 14 Ponca City Wildcats (14)* vs. No. 15 Sapulpa (15)* District 2

Ponca City (1-6, 1-3) suffered their worst loss of the season, 68-7 at Bixby (4-3, 3-0) and will hope to get back in action with winless Sapulpa (0-7, 0-4). Justin Andrews was 13-32-174-0 passing and the Wildcats were held to 39 yards on 28 carries. 

Sapulpa took on previously winless Bartlesville (1-5, 1-2) and were defeated 9-2. Their lone points came on a safety after a bad snap sent an intended punt into the Bruin end zone. 

The pick: Ponca 18 Sapulpa 13. 

Scott Emigh
Editor-in-Chief
Overall: 47-16 (.746)
Last Week: 6-1 (.857)
Last Year: 48-21 (.695)

Virgil Noah
Staff Writer
Overall: 37-14* (.725)
Last Week: 7-0 (1.00)
Last Year: 43-26 (.623)

*Virgil missed the first week of picks.