The Buzz- Thursday football flap and more playoff clinchers

By Sean Mossman First, I have a few random thoughts before we get to another overview of the high school football playoff picture. To everyone concerned over this move of one game

Tuesday, October 24th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

By Sean Mossman

First, I have a few random thoughts before we get to another overview of the high school football playoff picture.

To everyone concerned over this move of one game a week to Thursday evening, count your blessings. Your kids could live in New York where every sporting event lasts until one in the morning.

The Thursday game is good for the sport because it is a true showcase of Tulsa talent. Everyone watches our kids play on Thursday, but few people see the Oklahoma City kids on Friday night television. Most fans are out at their local games on Fridays.

For years, basketball players have been arriving back home at all hours of the night after playing Tuesday evening road games. Itâ€™s no different with the Thursday night football game.

Looking for a real â€˜MVPâ€™

Look no further than Bishop Kelley.

Comets coach Greg Nation is one of the only skippers who rarely has to fret over a missed extra point. He has the rare advantage of having a tremendously consistent kicker.

David Carlton has converted all 23 of his extra point attempts and is six of twelve on field goals. The six misses are a bit deceiving because four of them have come from 50+ yards.

His long this year is 42 yards, but he has hit from longer than 50 yards in his career. In fact I saw him kick a 62-yarder against Claremore that had plenty of distance, but floated left of the mark.

Check your Saturday paper this week and see how many teams lose by three points or less because they couldnâ€™t hit extra points. Thatâ€™s why Carlton, Ross Novak of Bartlesville and Brad DeVault of Sapulpa are such valuable players. They donâ€™t miss routine kicks.

Oh by the way, Carlton has also hauled in four touchdown receptions for the Comets.

Whoâ€™s in, Whoâ€™s out

The playoff picture came into focus a bit more after week eight games.

We know which four teams will make the playoffs in districts B-3, A-7 and 5A-4.

We also know that everybody in districts A-5 and 3A-4 are still in contention for a playoff spot.

Quicklyâ€¦ hereâ€™s whoâ€™s in, whoâ€™s out and whoâ€™s still in the hunt in every green country district.

6A-3- In- Union, Stillwater and Enidâ€¦ Out- Sapulpa and Ponca Cityâ€¦ In The Hunt- Edmond Memorial 3-2, Choctaw 2-3 and Sand Springs 1-4

6A-4 In- Jenks, Tahlequah and Owassoâ€¦ Out- Broken Arrow, Memorial and Rogersâ€¦ In The Hunt- Muskogee 3-2 and Bartlesville 2-3

5A-3 In- Ada and East Centralâ€¦ Out- John Marshall and Edisonâ€¦ In The Hunt- Shawnee 3-2, McAlester 3-2, Catoosa 2-3 and Central 1-4

5A-4 In- Booker T. Washington, Claremore, Bishop Kelley and Bixbyâ€¦ Out- Coweta, Hale, McLain and Durant

4A-2 In- Tecumsehâ€¦ Out- McLoud and Websterâ€¦ In The Hunt- Mannford 4-1, Blackwell 3-2, Cushing 3-2, Glenpool 3-2 and Cleveland 1-4

4A-3 In- Skiatook and Collinsvilleâ€¦ Out- Grove, Pryor and Oologahâ€¦ In The Hunt- Stillwell 4-1, Jay 3-2 and Miami 2-3

4A-4 In- Sallisaw and Poteauâ€¦ Out- Idabelâ€¦ In The Hunt- Ft. Gibson 3-2, Okmulgee 2-3, Broken Bow 2-3, Hugo 2-3, Wagoner 1-4

3A-3 In- Vinitaâ€¦ Out- Dewey, Inola and Locust Groveâ€¦ In The Hunt- Claremore Sequoyah 4-1, Berryhill 3-2, Bristow 3-2 and Sperry 3-2

3A-4 In- Roland and Seminoleâ€¦ Out- Noneâ€¦ In The Hunt- Morris 3-2, Stigler 2-3, Meeker 2-3, Muldrow 2-3, Checotah 1-4 and Hilldale 1-4

2A-5 In- Perryâ€¦ Out- Mounds, Kellyville and Wellstonâ€¦ In The Hunt- Pawhuska 4-1, Perkins 4-1, Pawnee 3-2 and Newkirk 3-2

2A-6 In- Metro Christianâ€¦ Out- Caney Valley, Adair and Chouteauâ€¦ In The Hunt- Salina 4-1, Colcord 3-2, Chelsea 3-2 and Nowata 3-2

2A-7 In- Eufaula, Warner and Cascia Hallâ€¦ Out- Vian and Tahlequah Sequoyahâ€¦ In The Hunt- Victory Christian 2-3, Haskell 2-3 and Westville 2-3

A-5 In- Panama, Gore and Verdigrisâ€¦ Out- Noneâ€¦ In The Hunt- Keota 2-3, Porter 2-3, Kiefer 1-4, Hulbert 1-4 and Liberty 1-4

A-7 In- Luther, Hominy, Tonkawa and Woodlandâ€¦ Out- Davenport, Drumright, Barnsdall and Crescent

A-8 In- Picher-Cardin and Kansasâ€¦ Out- Oklahoma Union, Quapaw and Ketchumâ€¦ In The Hunt- Wyandotte 4-1, Fairland 4-3, Afton 3-3 and Commerce 3-3

B-3 In- Foyil, Morrison, Prue and Yaleâ€¦ Out- Copan, Depew and Shidler

B-4 In- Weleetka and Oaksâ€¦ Out- Porum and Cave Springsâ€¦ In The Hunt- Haileyville 4-1, Central Sallisaw 3-2, Bowlegs 2-3 and Okay 1-4

C-4 In- Midway and Welchâ€¦ Out- So. Coffeyville, Kinta and White Oak â€¦ In The Hunt- Gans 3-3, Watts 3-2 and Webbers Falls 2-3

Power Poll

1. Jenks (8-0)- Currently ranked in the top five in all national high school polls. Showed their muscle against previous number three Owasso.

2. Union (7-1)- Rolled over Sand Springs, 41-14. Will face two likely playoff teams in final two weeks, Enid and Edmond Memorial. Theyâ€™re good tests heading into playoffs.

3. Ada (7-1)- Faced a tough opponent and beat Catoosa to clinch a playoff spot. Now they host East Central for the district title.

4. Sallisaw (8-0)- Still considered as one of the only real 4A contenders from the eastern half of the state. A win over 1-7 Wagoner clinches the district title for the Black Diamonds.

5. Roland (8-0)- Beat Seminole 21-7 to essentially wrap-up the district championship. A win over Checotah this week locks it up for real.

6. East Central (7-1)- After fumbling nine times in the season-opening loss to Hale, this has been one of the three best 5A teams in the state. Beating Ada and winning district this weekend would be a huge accomplishment.

7. Booker T. Washington (7-1)- Their only loss came to 6A power Owasso in week one. Currently ranked number two in the state.

8. Eufaula (8-0)- Buy a ticket to Fridayâ€™s game at Cascia Hall. The two best players in 2A will be there. Avery Shine is a terrific running back for Eufaula. Heath Evans is an equally talented quarterback for Cascia.

9. Metro Christian (8-0)- Still plugging along at undefeated. One win in their last two games gets them a district crown.

10. Stillwater (7-1)- The power poll was top heavy with 6A teams for much of the year, but recent weeks have seen those teams knock each other off. This is still the third best team in the largest class.