Oologah Head Coach Brandon Craig, Players Preview State Championship Game vs. Wagoner

Friday will mark another chapter in the storied Oologah vs. Wagoner rivalry.

The Mustangs will try for the third straight year to knock off the Bulldogs for the 4A state title, but they haven't beaten Wagoner since 2014.

This matchup will be the teams sixth meeting in the last three years.

"We don't like them; they don't like us,” said Oologah defensive end Brock Martin. “Honestly I kind of hate them."

The Mustangs don't pull any punches.

"You're always looking for ways to create little advantages,” said Head Coach Brandon Craig. “But at the end of the day, you're both going to do what you do, and it's going to come down to us playing perfect football."

This year's regular season meeting went the Bulldogs' way, winning 17-7 back in October. But the Mustangs are confident they've grown.

"The first game, we were a little bit over-hyped and weren't ready to play the game,” Craig explained.

Martin added, "Can't go in too excited. We know to go in there relaxed and just play football. It's just another game."

One thing the Mustangs do have in their corner is experience.

They have guys that have been here before, that know what to expect when the bright lights come on. Nowhere is that more important than under center.

"Experience is something that's very important,” Craig stated.

Casey Base will start his second state title game and won't be surprised by the atmosphere.

"It's going to be loud,” said Base. “It's going to be exciting, going to be a good game. It's hard to keep your cool, but at the end of the day, whoever does it the best is going to win."