What were the top 25 Oklahoma football games from the 2022 season?
By Josh Jennings
Owasso photo by David C. Fisher
With the high school football season recently completed in Oklahoma, there were plenty of thrilling games, from regular season matchups to the championship contests.
Here at SBLive Oklahoma, we are offering our personal list of the top 25 games from 2022, as compiled by our staff.
1. Owasso defeats Tulsa Union (50-47) in six overtimes in 6AI semifinal
Owasso won the marathon contest as Rams' quarterback Mason Willingham scored the game winning touchdown from a yard out. This touchdown was one of four scores for him.
This loss handed the Redhawks their lone loss of the season, and the game lasted three hours and 41 minutes. In regulation, it was a defensive showdown as the game was tied at 13 going into overtime.
2. Wagoner defeats Cushing (24-21) in 4A state championship
Wagoner won on a walk-off field goal made by Ethan Muehlenweg.
Cushing was massive favorites to win Class 4A and defeated Wagoner, 42-0, in the regular season. But the state championship was a different story.
The Bulldogs held a Cushing team which was averaging more than 60 points per game to 21. The Tigers also were held scoreless in the second half, which could be the biggest defensive performance by a team in a half all season.
3. Jenks defeats Bixby (38-35) in regular season
In a nationally televised game on ESPN, this one lived up to the hype. Jenks ended Bixby’s 58-game win streak, which was the longest current streak in the country, and won the game in the regular season finale for both teams.
Bixby made a huge comeback and nearly recovered the onside kick with less than a minute to play. Once recovered, Jenks took the victory formation and ended its rival's winning streak.
4. Noble defeats Ardmore (60-56) in regular season
A total of 116 points were scored in this game, which is the third-most points scored in a Class 5A football game.
Going into the fourth quarter, Noble was ahead, 40-35, and the fourth quarter was all offense. Noble was ahead by four points when the game came down to the final play.
Ardmore marched down the field, but on the last play, Ardmore’s quarterback Cale Swanson dove for the end zone, but just missed the pylon and was kept out by several Bears.
5. Lawton McArthur defeats Noble (59-54) in regular season
In a game which decided who goes to the playoffs, this game was a thriller.
The first half was all Lawton Mac, as they led 31-7 at halftime. However, Noble scored 27 points in the fourth quarter and wide receiver Brandon Harper scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. He also recovered an onside kick.
However, Lawton Mac made just enough plays to win the game and advanced to the playoffs.
6. McAlester defeats Del City (34-33) in overtime in regular season
In overtime, Oklahoma signee Erik McCarty scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown and the Buffaloes went for two. McCarty delivered on the two-point conversion and played a massive role for a huge district win.
Del City had a 10-point lead with less than two minutes to play, but McCarty caught two touchdown passes to take the 26-23 lead. Del City tied the game at 26 when Stanley Johnson kicked a field goal late in regulation.
7. El Reno defeats Noble (41-40) in overtime in regular season
This game was the week after the Noble-Ardmore game in which Noble won, 60-56. But in this contest, it was El Reno which picked up its first win of the season.
After Noble scored a touchdown in overtime, Noble decided to win the game on the last play by going for two. Quarterback Colin Fisher dropped back to pass. He scrambled and threw it to the end zone, but El Reno linebacker Diante Palmer broke up the pass in the end zone.
8. Stillwater defeats Choctaw (26-21) in 6AII state championship
This game went down to the wire and Choctaw scored a late touchdown, but the Pioneers held on to win, preserving their undefeated season.
Stillwater quarterback Gage Gundy threw two touchdowns and Zac Tyson scored a rushing touchdown, which eventually would be enough to put the game away. This was the second football state championship for the Pioneers, the first one since 1967.
9. Jenks defeats Broken Arrow (35-34) in overtime in regular season
Ashton Cunningham was the hero for Jenks as he blocked an extra point which would have sent the game into double overtime.
Jenks trailed, 28-14, in the third quarter and came back to tie it at 28. Ike Owens then scored a touchdown for Jenks on a quarterback sneak, making it 35-28. Kaydin Jones scored the touchdown for Broken Arrow in overtime.
10. Fairview defeats Gore (32-28) in Class A state championship
Fairview won its third state championship in school history with this win in a battle of unbeatens.
The Yellowjackets converted four fourth downs throughout the game for the win. The game featured several lead changes, but running back Blake Perez picked up one final fourth down deep in Gore territory to win the game.
11. Duncan defeats Noble (39-38) in double overtime in regular season
Duncan picked up its first win of the season in a game which came down to the last play in double overtime when Noble tried to win.
Quarterback Colin Fisher scored a touchdown, but was stopped short on the two-point conversion. In regulation, Duncan tied the game with a run by quarterback Chris Kouts, followed by the PAT from Duncan kicker Jose Gonzalez.
Before the dramatic finish, Duncan made a huge comeback and trailed 32-17 at one point.
12. Norman North defeats Broken Arrow (57-50) in overtime in regular season
In a high-scoring affair, it was Norman North’s defense who got the final stop of the game.
Norman North was ahead, 22-7, at halftime and the second half is where both offenses exploded.
The Timberwolves scored four touchdowns and Broken Arrow scored three touchdowns in the third quarter. Broken Arrow shut out Norman North in the fourth quarter and scored three touchdowns to tie it at 50.
13. Cache defeats John Marshall (37-36) in overtime in regular season
John Marshall scored first in overtime, but got greedy and went for two. The Cache defense did not allow John Marshall to score the conversion.
Cache then scored a touchdown on its possession, and kicker Shane Feedback won the game with his PAT.
In regulation, Cache was ahead 13-0 at halftime, but John Marshall came alive in the second half. The game went back and forth, but with 40 seconds left, Cache wide receiver Brayden Castro caught a touchdown and scored a two-point conversion to tie it at 30.
14. Washington defeats OKC Millwood (17-14) in 2A state championship
The third time is a charm and Washington won its first state championship since 1996. The Warriors were runners-up the last two seasons.
Millwood was ahead, 14-7, going into the fourth quarter, but Mason Thomas made a field goal early in the fourth quarter. With time running out, Washington took the lead when Major Cantrell found Nate Roberts open for the touchdown.
15. Poteau defeats Clinton (35-28) in triple overtime in 4A quarterfinals
This was a defensive battle, until it went into overtime and ended in triple overtime, with the Pirates winning.
Jackson Sommers from Poteau scored the final rushing touchdown, and the Pirates' defense stopped the Red Tornadoes on the final possession. On the final play, Clinton attempted a trick play, but the Pirates' defense were not fooled.
16. Coweta defeats Del City (18-17) in regular season
Defense was the main story in this contest, and Coweta secured the 5A-3 district championship.
It was tied at 10 when Eagles' kicker Stanley Johnson tied it with less than two minute to play. In overtime, the Eagles scored first, but Coweta scored as well.
With a district title on the line and on the road, Coweta went for two. It paid off when LoLo Bell scored the conversion, handing the Eagles their second loss on a two-point conversion of the season.
17. Jenks defeats Mustang (34-31) in 6AI quarterfinals
Jenks was ahead, 34-31, and it came down to the final play. Hudson Ball from Jenks blocked the game-tying field goal, making it 17 straight trips to the semifinals for the Trojans.
Mustang built a 24-9 lead at halftime and never trailed until late in the game. Jenks quarterback Ike Owens found Ty Walls open for a touchdown to tie the game at 31.
Jenks kicker Andrew Pursell gave his team the lead with a minute and a half to play. Mustang marched down the field with two heroic catches by Oklahoma signee Jacobe Johnson before the attempted game-tying field goal.
18. Bishop McGuinness defeats Guthrie (30-27) in regular season
This game was close the entire way, but McGuinness won on a walk-off field goal made by Will Kilgallon.
But it was the second attempt, as the first one was missed. He got another try because of a penalty on Guthrie.
McGuinness tailback Mike Taffe scored a long touchdown in the fourth quarter, making it 27-20 after a bobbled snap. Jaylen Harper from Guthrie caught a touchdown with 40 seconds to play to tie it at 27.
19. Stillwater defeats Edmond Deer Creek (33-28) in 6AII semifinals
A tale of two halves was the story for this contest. Stillwater controlled the first half and Deer Creek controlled the second.
Stillwater’s offense was rolling, and quarterback Gage Gundy threw three touchdown passes in the first quarter. The Pioneers were ahead, 30-0, at halftime.
Deer Creek quarterback Jordan Addison scored two rushing touchdowns, one of them in the fourth quarter, to make the score a one-possession game. Stillwater intercepted a Hail Mary attempt at the end of the game.
20. Midwest City defeats Elgin (23-21) in regular season
With a district title on the line, this game came down to the final seconds. With 11 seconds to play, Elgin was ahead, 21-17.
This changed when Midwest City quarterback DeAngelo Irvin Jr. found wide receiver William Broiles in the end zone. The Bombers were ahead late, but Elgin did score with less than a minute and half to play with a touchdown run by Matt Lund.
21. Kingfisher defeats Lone Grove (28-27) in first round of 3A playoffs
Kingfisher was ahead, 28-14, with two and a half minutes to play. But Lone Grove scored two touchdowns to make it tight at the end.
After the first touchdown, Kingfisher recovered the onside kick, but Lone Grove got the ball back with 1:25 left in the game. The Longhorns went 74 yards and scored on a quarterback sneak.
Lone Grove went for the win, but did not get the conversion. Kingfisher recovered the onside kick with four seconds to play.
22. Clinton defeats Bethany (34-27) in overtime in first round of 4A playoffs
Clinton was in control most of the game, but Bethany quarterback Taylor Heim put the team on his back in the fourth quarter, trailing 27-13 midway through the fourth quarter.
He scored two touchdowns, one passing and one throwing, sending it to overtime.
Clinton scored and on the final play, Heim was tackled short of the end zone.
23. Midwest City Carl Albert defeats Bishop McGuinness (31-24) in regular season
McGuinness was ahead, 24-23, late in the fourth quarter. On fourth down, McGuinness went for it, but turned it over on downs at the Carl Albert 30-yard line.
The Titans went 70 yards and Xavier Robinson scored a rushing touchdown. The Titans then got the two-point conversion and one final stop late in the game to win it.
24. Owasso defeats Norman North (41-34) in 6AI quarterfinals
The Rams scored three unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter. The Timberwolves' offense found success and scored on a tip drill touchdown, caught by wide receiver Brayden Dorney.
With 16 seconds to play, Norman North got within one score again on a fourth-and-goal play, when Cole Warren high pointed the football into the end zone. However, Owasso recovered the onside kick and won the game.
25. Eufaula defeats Idabel (24-21) in regular season
The Ironheads defeated Idabel in a back-and-forth game to win their fifth straight district championship.
Eufaula trailed, 13-7, midway through the third quarter. Idabel was ahead by four, 21-17, early in the fourth quarter.
But the Ironheads got the winning touchdown when Kaden Rice caught a touchdown with one minute to play on fourth-and-goal.
