Storylines for final week of high school football
BY BARRY LEWIS World Sports Writer
Friday, November 02, 2012
11/02/12 at 5:20 AM
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high school football stories.Original Print Headline: Last-Minute Drama
The final night of high school football's regular season always features some drama as many contending teams try to earn playoff berths or improve their playoff seeding.
For other contenders, they use Week 10 as a final tuneup for the playoffs. And for other teams, a season that began in August will end on November's first Friday and this is a chance to carry momentum into 2013.
This year seems to include more drama than usual. Here are five storylines going into the regular-season finales.
1. Can Broken Arrow salvage a first-round home playoff game?
Broken Arrow (6-3) entered this season rated as the 6A-2 favorite over Jenks by the district's coaches. Many media members tabbed Broken Arrow as the favorite to win its first state title after losing a heartbreaker to Union in last year's championship game. The Tigers, however, have never really clicked on all cylinders this year and need a win over Westmoore (6-3) to salvage second place and a first-round home playoff game against Sand Springs. A loss will send Broken Arrow to Union for a playoff opener.
2. Booker T. Washington visits Bartlesville in a winner-take-all game.
Perennial power Booker T. Washington has not missed the playoffs in this century except for 2009, when it was knocked out for using ineligible players. The Hornets, however, have lost three in a row to fall in jeopardy of missing the postseason. Bartlesville hosts the Hornets with the winner advancing to visit Jenks in a 6A playoff opener while the loser won't play its next game until next September.
3. Will home finally be sweet for Coweta?
It was hard to imagine in Week 2 that Coweta would be fighting to get into the playoffs when November arrived after it opened the season with road victories at powerhouses Wagoner and Midwest City Carl Albert. It also is hard to imagine a team that is 5-0 on the road missing the playoffs. But that's what will happen if the Tigers lose to visiting Central in a winner-take-all game for a 5A playoff berth. Coweta is 0-4 at home this season.
4. Will Memorial's Cinderella season include a home playoff game?
Memorial is going to the playoffs for the first time since 1989. But the Chargers need a win at McAlester on Friday night to open the playoffs at home. Memorial also will be looking to regain some momentum for the playoffs after suffering its first loss of the season last week, 25-0, at Bishop Kelley.
5. Several teams need perfection for a district title.
There are 27 teams that are trying this week to finish off an undefeated regular season. Several of those teams need to win to ensure capturing a district title. Area teams in that situation include Cascia Hall, which hosts Broken Bow; Berryhill. which hosts Metro Christian; Victory Christian, which visits Morris; Kiefer, which hosts Morrison; and Wetumka, which visits Keota.
Associated Images:
Cameron Wrenn and Broken Arrow hope to host a first-round playoff game. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
Playoff hopes are on the line Friday for Booker T. Washington and running back Deonte Owens. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
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