Tulsa World: Playoff picture taking shape

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Playoff picture taking shape

By BARRY LEWIS World Sports Writer
Published: 10/4/2009 2:36 AM
Last Modified: 10/4/2009 5:33 AM

Go to Barry Lewis' Blog

High school football's regular season reached the halfway point this weekend. Although no teams have clinched district titles or been eliminated from playoff contention, there were several games played on Friday that could significantly shape the postseason picture in November.

Below is a look at Week 5 developments in the three largest classifications:

Class 6A: Bartlesville's 45-14 win at Sand Springs puts the 5-0 Bruins in prime position not only to make the playoffs, but to finish at least as high as third in District 6A-3. That's huge because the third-place finisher avoids a probable first-round matchup at Union. Bartlesville, with its passing combination of Kirby Schoenthaler and Mike Thompson, showed it has the potential to upset district favorites Jenks and Broken Arrow. Sand Springs and Claremore appear to be the teams that will battle for 6A-3's final playoff slot.

Top-ranked Jenks' 62-27 victory at Sapulpa made a statement that it's going to be business as usual on the field for the Trojans despite head coach Allan Trimble's suspension for the rest of the season. Jenks' Sawyer Kollmorgen is one of 6A's best three quarterbacks along with Schoenthaler and Union's Chase Boyce.

Class 5A: Bishop Kelley is in the driver's seat for its first district title since 1985 after a 21-17 win at Bixby. In some ways, that win was just as impressive as Kelley's 28-14 win over defending champion and then-No. 1 Booker T. Washington the previous week.

Kelley responded as a champion would on the road against a Bixby team that outscored the Comets 54-3 over the previous two years. With all the hoopla and attention that resulted from the stunning win over Booker T. Washington, the Comets showed incredible discipline by staying focused on beating Bixby. The Comets showed they are a legitimate state title contender and not a one-week wonder. Kelley has one of 5A's best offensive lines plus an outstanding trio of quarterback Jack Cameron, tailback Stephen Sherwood and wideout Joe Dowdell, who are clutch playmakers.

Who would have ever thought a month ago that the three teams tied for first place in District 5A-3 would be Kelley, Hale and Pryor at 2-0 while Booker T. Washington and Bixby were tied for fourth at 1-1? Hale and Pryor were a combined 4-16 last year.

Seventh-ranked Central, coming off a heartbreaking loss to East Central, showed its maturity with a 48-31 win at Tahlequah. Central, in a similar situation last year, blew a playoff berth when it stumbled against Tahlequah.

The 5A picture across the state became even wilder with No. 10 Shawnee's 34-31 win over No. 3 Midwest City Carl Albert. Shawnee scored the winning TD after foiling Carl Albert's fourth-down gamble on its own 12 with just over three minutes left.

Class 4A: One of the best district races in the state is in 4A-3. Grove, after a 35-13 win over Vinita, is the 4A-3 favorite at 2-0 in district, but co-leaders Oologah and Jay could come away with a district title as could Collinsville, which is 3-2 overall with both its losses by 7-6 scores.

In 4A-4, Wagoner and Sallisaw appear headed for a Week 9 showdown on Oct. 30 for the district title.

Glenpool, however, after a 62-18 win over Cleveland, appears to be the big favorite to repeat as state champion with a strong ground attack led by Marco Nelson and Drew Molencupp. By BARRY LEWIS World Sports Writer

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delo30, (10/5/2009 10:41:01 AM)

Mr. Lewis does everyone below 4A not rate in the play-offs!

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