Class 5A Top Games to Watch: Round 2

Originally Published: Nov 17, 2010 11:4 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY – The first round of the 5A playoffs mostly went according to plan, but the second round promises to be much more difficult to predict.

The second round will feature the first showdown between two of Oklahoma Sports’s Top 5 teams in the class, and the last four schools to win the 5A championship are all still alive.

Oklahoma Sports brings you its top three games of the second round in Class 5A.

1) East Central (10-1, 7-0) vs. Carl Albert (9-2, 6-1)

These two teams battled through similar seasons, and both are ranked among Oklahoma Sports’s Top 5 teams in the 5A playoffs. The Cardinals and Titans are the only two 5A teams to give Booker T. Washington a run for its money this season, with East Central losing 27-24 and Carl Albert losing 12-10. The Cardinals managed to pull out close wins in three games this year, while Carl Albert rode an explosive offense to generally dominant wins. In many other years, two teams with this much talent would not meet until the semifinals.

2) MacArthur (9-2, 7-0) vs. McAlester (10-1, 6-1)

Both of these teams obliterated the majority of their district competition, but MacArthur made the biggest statement in the first round of the playoffs with a 35-0 thrashing of Ada. The Highlanders’ only district game all season that was even remotely close was a 10-point win over Duncan, while the Buffaloes’ closest win was by 14 points against Skiatook. McAlester’s only blemish on its record all season was loss to district champion Booker T. Washington. This matchup has all the makings of a shootout that could come down to which team makes the fewest mistakes.

3) Guthrie (10-1, 7-0) vs. Coweta (9-2, 6-1)

Like many of the remaining teams in 5A, Guthrie coasted through much of district play. The Blue Jays were rarely even threatened, and notched another blowout in the first round with a 35-6 win over Durant. Coweta is on the opposite end of the spectrum, having won four games this season by seven points or less. Both teams possess skill on both sides of the ball, and Guthrie has perhaps the state’s best player in Kentrell Brothers. But Coweta has the experience necessary to pull out a win in close games, which could come in handy this week.