Three and out: How Oklahoma high school football's top Week 14 games were won
The Oklahoman sports team delivers the key players, moments and more from the area's top high school football games in Week 14.
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Lincoln Christian 48, Heritage Hall 28
Three key takeaways from No. 2 Lincoln Christian’s 48-28 win over top-ranked Heritage Hall in the Class 3A state championship game on Saturday night.
Player of the game: Moses Fullingim. The Bulldogs senior running back finished with 35 carries for 228 yards and three touchdowns. Fullingim had an electric season for Lincoln Christian, rushing for 1,416 yards and 20 touchdowns as the Bulldogs won their first state title since 2019.
Key moment: As Lincoln Christian led by 13 early in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs looked to swiftly put a cap on the depleted Chargers. Fullingim broke loose past Heritage Hall defenders in the Bulldogs’ territory on second down to score a 58-yard touchdown. The score proved to be the dagger — serving as the game's final score from either team before time expired.
Read option: In the loss, Heritage Hall star quarterback and OU commit Andy Bass suffered an apparent knee injury in the third quarter and did not return. Bass’ devastating injury came after accumulating 288 yards of offense and all four touchdowns for the Chargers. Heritage Hall’s offense struggled immensely following Bass’ departure — only amassing 61 yards in the second half.
—Jordan Davis, Staff writer
Carl Albert 35, Del City 14
Three key takeaways from No. 1 Carl Albert’s 35-14 win over second-ranked Del City in the Class 5A state championship game on Saturday afternoon.
Key moment: As the Titans looked to put Del City away for good, Xavier Robinson took matters into his own hands. The senior running back broke loose from Eagles defenders in his territory for a 65-yard touchdown run — extending the Titans lead to 21 at the start of the fourth quarter. Robinson’s score secured Carl Albert’s state championship hopes early in the final quarter en route to the win.
Player of the game: Kevin Sperry Jr. The OU commit had himself a day for the Titans in his first state title with the program. He completed nine of his 12 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns while rushing 15 times for 103 yards and a touchdown in the win.
Read option: Despite the loss, Del City’s LaDainian Fields immensely impacted the Eagles in his final high school game. The TCU commit had an electric showing on both sides of the ball out wide at receiver and in the Eagles' secondary. Fields caught six passes for 101 yards while also intercepting two passes at defensive back.
—Jordan Davis, Staff writer
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Bixby 49, Jenks 21
Here are three takeaways from top-ranked Bixby’s 49-21 Class 6A-I state title victory against No. 4 Jenks:
Player of the game: Kordell Gouldsby. With five touchdowns, the senior receiver showed everyone at Chad Richison Stadium the various ways he can score. He rushed for two scores, caught two touchdown passes and returned a kickoff for a 96-yard touchdown.
Top moment: In the second quarter, Jenks threatened to deflate Bixby’s momentum with Sam Stone’s 80-yard pick six. But Gouldsby immediately responded with his kickoff return. He bolted across midfield, made a crafty spin move and darted 96 yards into the end zone, increasing Bixby’s lead to 28-7.
Read option: The Spartans continue their reign as the kings of Oklahoma high school football. Bixby has won six consecutive state titles, including two since its move up to Class 6A-I.
—Hallie Hart, Staff writer
Washington 35, Jones 34
Three takeaways from Washington’s 35-34 victory over Jones in a Class 2A prep football playoff semifinal game.
Read option: The two teams also met in last year’s 2A playoff semifinal and the Warriors routed the Longhorns by five touchdowns. In fact, this was the sixth meeting between the schools over the past four seasons – including playoff matchups in each of the past four years – and Washington has won all six.
Key moment: With Washington clinging to a 35-34 lead and facing fourth down and one yard to go at the Jones 46-yard line with 1:11 left in the game, Warriors’ Coach Brad Beller elected to try for the first down instead of pinning the Longhorns deep in their own territory with a punt. Washington senior quarterback Major Cantrell – an Iowa State commit – fielded a high snap, ran around the right end and cut back inside for a seven-yard gain to ice the contest and deliver the Warriors to the 2A finals for the fourth year in a row.
Player of the game: Hudson Howard. The Washington junior tailback carried the ball 26 times for 179 yards and two touchdowns, including a 48-yard sprint for a score late in the first quarter with the Warriors trailing, 18-0. The touchdown seemed to settle the 2A defending state champions, which scored 28 unanswered to claim the lead for good.
—Douglas Miles, For The Oklahoman
More: Oklahoma high school football scoreboard: OSSAA Week 14 schedule, scores & highlights
Millwood 34, Kiefer 29
Three key takeaways from second-ranked Millwood’s 34-29 win over fourth-ranked Kiefer in Friday's Class 2A football playoffs semifinal round.
Key moment: After a 4-yard touchdown pass from Kiefer quarterback Jaxon Worley to Alston Carr gave the Trojans a 29-28 lead with 12 seconds left, Millwood receiver Jaden Nickens went to the endzone to await a kick return. On the ensuing play, Nickens returned the ball from the 23-yard line, split two defenders and shot up the Falcons sideline to return the kick 77 yards to score as time expired. The game-winning kick return touchdown sent Millwood to its second consecutive Class 2A state championship game.
Player of the game: Jaden Nickens. The OU commit caught three passes for 47 yards and two touchdowns to help lift the Falcons over the Trojans to the Class 2A state championship. Nickens had a stellar performance on special teams as he returned three kicks past the 50-yard line to put Millwood in scoring position — including his game-winning 77-yard kick return for a touchdown as time expired.
Read option: Despite the loss, Kiefer quarterback Jaxon Worley immensely impacted the Trojans in his final high school game. The senior had an electric showing on the ground, rushing 16 times for 131 yards and two touchdowns. He also had an interception in the first half while playing safety and completed six 14 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.
—Jordan Davis, Staff writer
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Tipton 42, Ryan 6
Three takeaways from Class C top-ranked Tipton’s 42-6 win over No. 3 Ryan in the championship game Friday night at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany.
Player of the game: Johnny Fernandez. The Tipton junior running back had 24 carries for 208 yards and a touchdown before he was carted off the field with an injury with 1:45 left in the third quarter. Tipton (14-0) was well ahead at that point, holding a 34-6 lead over the Cowboys (12-2).
Top moment: Tipton freshman quarterback Kadence Sheffield connected with senior Cameron Ramirez on a 56-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. It was the Tigers’ longest play of the game, and they took a 28-0 lead after a successful 2-point attempt.
Back to back: With the victory, Tipton completed its second straight undefeated season. The Tigers have now won 28 consecutive games.
-Nick Sardis, Staff writer
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Muskogee 28, Stillwater 26
Three takeaways from Class 6A-II fourth-ranked Muskogee's 28-26 win over No. 1 Stillwater in the championship game Friday afternoon at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Chad Richison Stadium in Edmond.
Player of the game: Jamarian Ficklin. The junior quarterback accounted for all four of Muskogee’s touchdowns. He completed 10 of 11 pass attempts for 149 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. Ficklin also rushed for 86 yards and three touchdowns on 21 attempts.
Top moment: With 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Stillwater needed a two-point conversion to force overtime. Muskogee defenders Deyonn Bowler and Kaleb Huston refused to let it happen. They stopped Oklahoma State commit Talon Kendrick – who had three touchdowns – just short of the goal line, preserving the Roughers’ 28-26 lead.Read option: Although Stillwater is known for its disruptive defense, Muskogee handled the challenge well. The Roughers turned over the ball only once, when Trace Clark recovered a fumble for the Pioneers in the fourth quarter.
—Hallie Hart, Staff writer
More: Stillwater QB Chance Acord takes 'wild ride' from 8-man football to Class 6A-II finals
Blanchard 19, Wagoner 14
Three takeaways from Class 4A third-ranked Blanchard’s 19-14 victory against No. 1 Wagoner in the championship game Thursday night at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Chad Richison Stadium in Edmond.
Player of the game: Carson Cooksey. The Blanchard senior quarterback finished 18-of-35 passing for 200 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Cooksey ran for a 10-yard score with 25 seconds left in the third quarter as Blanchard took a 19-7 lead, and the Lions held on from there.
Top moment: Wagoner had the ball on Blanchard’s 36-yard line on third down before junior quarterback Kale Charboneau dropped back to pass and was hit by sophomore linebacker Cole Watkins as he was throwing. The ball flung into the air, and Blanchard senior lineman Jake Carter came down with it before getting tackled with 1:50 left in the game.
Witt Edwards shines for Wagoner: The Vanderbilt commit had a great game for the Bulldogs. Edwards, a senior receiver and linebacker, had a highlight-reel interception along the sideline with five minutes left in the third quarter and finished with nine receptions for 143 yards and a touchdown.
—Nick Sardis, Staff writer
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma high school football: How top OSSAA Week 14 games were won
