Top 25 Oklahoma high school football rankings (9/6/2023): Midwest City Carl Albert climbs to No. 3

Bixby and Tulsa Union remained at the top in this week’s SBLive Oklahoma Top 25 football rankings. 

Moving up are Midwest City Carl Albert, Heritage Hall, Guthrie, Poteau, Lincoln Christian, Collinsville, Owasso, Hominy, Cushing and McAlester.

Teams that slipped were Jenks, Stillwater and Oklahoma City Millwood. Falling out are Colcord and Edmond Deer Creek, and entering the pack are Bishop McGuinness and Metro Christian.

Here is this week's SBLive Oklahoma Top 25 entering Week 2:

1. Bixby (2-0)

Previous Game: Beat Springdale (Ark.) Har-Ber, 75-18 

Ranking Last Week: No. 1

It is no longer a surprise to hear about the Spartans scoring a high number of points.

For the second consecutive week, Bixby did not yield any points until it got all its own.

In its home opener, the Spartans were up 68-0 at halftime and 75-0 in the third quarter before the Wildcats got their three TDs, all with failed two-point conversion attempts.

Carson Kirby threw three TDs passes and ran for another. Cord Nolan caught TD passes and ran one interception back for a TD, and Kordell Gouldsby scored one rushing TD and another on a punt return.

Next game: At Sand Springs (1-0), Friday

2. Tulsa Union (2-0)

Previous Game: Beat Broken Arrow, 27-17

Ranking Last Week: No. 2

Junior quarterback Shaker Reisig threw four TD passes and 313 yards on 27 out of 35 attempts in the Redhawks' 10-point victory against the rival Tigers. Jino Boyd caught two of those TDs, with Brendon McQueen and Jordan Schelling each catching one.

Union trailed 17-14 at halftime, but while Reisig and the offense added two more TDs in the second half, the defense shut BA out. Tucker Koch led in tackles with 8.5 stops.

McQueen led all receivers with seven catches for 99 yards.

Reisig and Schelling are two former Jenks players who return to Allan Trimble Stadium when the Redhawks play the Trojans in the annual Backyard Bowl rivalry game this week.

Reisig led the Trojans to the 2021 Class 6AI title game victory over Union, out of all people, as a freshman, before transferring to his current school last season. Schelling came to Union after being a force at Jenks last year.

Next Game: At Jenks (0-2), Friday

3. MWC Carl Albert (2-0)

Previous Game: Beat Midwest City, 40-13

Ranking Last Week: No. 4

OU commits Xavier Robinson and Kevin Sperry did their jobs as the Titans rocked and rolled over the Bombers, one of their Mid-Del rivals.

Robinson ran for four TDs and Sperry threw for one TD.

A big test awaits the Titans as they travel east to meet No. 7 Muskogee, a top contender from Class 6AII and the last team to beat CA a year ago. The Titans have since won 13 straight games, including a Class 5A state championship. They move up one notch to No. 3 this week.

Next Game: at Muskogee (2-0), Friday

4. Jenks (0-2)

Previous Game: Lost at Owasso, 34-28

Ranking Last Week: No. 3

The Trojans will be hungry as they look to avoid going 0-3 when arch-rival Union comes to town for the annual Backyard Bowl rival game this week. As mentioned previously, they will welcome back former Trojans Shaker Reisig and Jordan Schelling, and perhaps a few others to Allan Trimble Stadium for the first time since they left.

Jenks fell behind again last week, but the deficit was larger this time in a road loss to Owasso. Facing a 27-0 deficit in the third quarter, Kaden Jones got the Trojans on the board with an 18-yard run.

The Rams would score again and it was 34-7 as the third quarter closed.

Jenks tried to rally in the fourth quarter but would come up short with just 21 points. Ayden Christianson scored on a 64-yard run through a double reverse, and then Owen Jones threw TD passes for 82 and 62 yards, respectively, to Conor Thompson and Christianson, bringing the game to the final score.

Due to its comeback attempt and its remaining strength as championship powerhouse, the Trojans only drop one spot.

Next Game: at Owasso (0-1), Friday.

5. Wagoner (1-0)

Previous Game: Beat Coweta, 24-7

Ranking Last Week: No. 5

A 66-yard punt return by Mattson Swanson jump-started the Class 4A state champion in its season-opening win over its county rival.

It was an unusual punt return as Swanson picked up a fumble made by a teammate on the play before racing the distance to the goal line, putting Wagoner on top, 10-7, early in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs then added rushing TDs in the third quarter by Kale Charboneau and Trenton Edwards.

Next Game: at Tahlequah (0-1), Friday

6. Washington (2-0)

Previous Game: Beat Sulphur, 35-10

Ranking Last Week: No. 6

Led by running back Hudson Howard, the Warriors got out to a quick 14-0 lead on their way to their rout of the Bulldogs.

Next Game: vs. Jones (1-1), Friday

7. Muskogee (2-0)

Previous Game: Beat Putnam City, 57-0

Ranking Last Week: No. 7

The offensive machine of Jamarian Ficklin, LaTavian Johnson, Ondraye Beasley and Kayden McGee put up 620 yards of offense in the Roughers' dominance in shutting out the Pirates.

A big test at home against the top team in Class 5A - Carl Albert - is next.

Next Game: vs. MWC Carl Albert (2-0), Friday

8. Choctaw (0-1)

Previous Game: Did Not Play

Ranking Last Week: No. 8

The Yellowjackets return to action for the first time since their Aug. 25 game against Del City was cut short by a tragic shooting.

Their originally scheduled game last week at Edmond Santa Fe was canceled.

Next game: at Westmoore (1-1), Thursday

9. OKC Heritage Hall (1-0)

Previous Game: Beat OKC Millwood, 47-24, Thursday

Ranking Last Week: No. 10

Led by OU commit Andy Bass, the Chargers move up a spot this week after an impressive win over Millwood last Thursday night. Bass was involved in six TDs for Heritage Hall.

Next Game: at Clinton (1-1), Friday

10. Stillwater (0-1)

Previous Game: Did Not Play

Ranking Last Week: No. 9

Despite having an off week, the Pioneers still drop down one. They hope to rebound this week with a road trip to Garth Brooks’ hometown.

Next Game: at Yukon (0-1), Friday

11. Guthrie (2-0)

Previous Game: Beat Woodward, 69-0

Ranking Last Week: 12

The Blue Jays have pitched a shutout in their first two games with huge routs. They have now outscored their opponents 109-0. They beat Ponca City, 40-0, on Week Zero, before wrecking the Boomers last week.

Guthrie scored by taking advantage of favorable field position and Woodward turnovers and led 48-0 at halftime.

Are they emerging as a threat in Class 5A for 2023?

Next Game: at Duncan (0-1), Friday

12. Poteau (1-0)

Previous Game: Did Not Play

Ranking Last Week: 13

The Pirates had a bye week. They travel to Tulsa this week to play Metro Christian, who was a 3A finalist in 2022, but lost some key players to graduation. But the Patriots appear they may have found some rhythm after a 22-point win over Tulsa NOAH.

Next Game: at Tulsa Metro Christian (1-0), Friday

13. Tulsa Lincoln Christian (2-0)

Previous Game: Beat Jones, 56-34

Ranking Last Week: 14

Led by running backs Moses Fullingim and Sawyer Brooks, and quarterback Luke Milligan, the Bulldogs piled up 598 yards in a high-scoring battle against the Longhorns.

Fullingim accounted for 272 total yards of offense with three TDs, including an 80-yard catch-and-run. Brooks had four TDs, two rushing and two receiving, and Milligan tossed for 292 yards.

Lincoln Christian never punted.

Next Game: vs. Vian (1-1), Friday

14. Collinsville (1-0)

Previous Game: Beat Oologah, 49-21

Ranking Last Week: 15

The Cardinals had no problem in their opener as they dispensed with rival Oologah by 28 points.

Wide receiver Hudson Henslick had six receptions for 100 yards with two TDs in the game, and had 10 tackles at full safety on defense.

Next Game: at Skiatook (0-1), Friday

15. Owasso (1-1)

Previous Game: Beat Jenks, 34-28

Ranking Last Week: 16

After back-to-back blowout defeats to Bixby, both the 2022 Class 6AI final and the season opener last week at the University of Tulsa campus, the Rams stormed out to a big lead before holding off a rally in a six-point win against Jenks.

Quarterback Knox Dyson had a big game with five TDs in his first win as a starter. He finished with 300 yards on 17-of-22 attempts.

Deuce Chalk led the Rams in receiving with 192 yards on five receptions and three TDs. J'Kharri Thomas caught the other two TDs, had 11 catches and 120 all-purpose yards, and recovered an onside kick that sealed the game for Owasso.

Next up is Broken Arrow in the Patriot Bowl.

Next Game: vs. Broken Arrow (0-2), Friday

16. OKC Millwood (0-1)

Previous Game: Lost to OKC Heritage Hall, 47-24

Ranking Last Week: No. 11

The Falcons didn't start off well in their loss at Heritage Hall, finding themselves down 40-8. But they eventually picked up momentum, outscoring the 3A champion 16-7 the rest of the game.

The 23-point defeat puts Millwood down by five notches.

Next Game: vs. OKC Douglass (0-1), Saturday

17. Norman North (1-0)

Previous Game: Beat Norman, 21-0, Thursday

Ranking Last Week: 17

Owen Eschelman scored two TDs and a stingy defense highlighted the Timberwolves’ shutout of their crosstown rival on the field at Gaylord-Memorial Stadium on the University of Oklahoma campus.

Norman North tied with Jenks last year for first place in District 6AI-1.

Next Game: at Edmond Santa Fe (1-0), Friday

18. Mustang (1-0)

Previous Game: Beat Southmoore, 44-13

Ranking Last Week: 18

Mustang overcame an early 6-0 hole as Trajan Williamson threw a pair of TD passes to ignite the rout.

It was the start the Broncos needed after last year’s 8-3 finish, which ended with a tough playoff loss to Jenks.

Next Game: at Edmond Deer Creek (1-1), Friday

19. Fairview (2-0)

Previous Game: Beat Chisholm, 42-0

Ranking Last Week: 19

The Yellowjackets cruised in their shutout win over the Longhorns.

Next Game: at Alva (1-1), Friday

20. Hominy (1-0)

Previous Game: Beat Cleveland, 41-12

Ranking Last Week: 21

The Bucks grabbed the bull by the horns and took care of the Tigers in a rivalry game, getting a jumpstart they hoped for en route to another in the Class A playoffs.

Next Game: vs. Pawhuska (2-0), Friday

21. Del City (2-0)

Previous Game: Beat Tulsa Booker T. Washington, 48-0

Ranking Last Week: 22

In a game that was moved back to last Thursday, due to each team having their game cut short as a result of a firearm incident the previous week, Del City was dominant in their one-sided victory against the Hornets.

Next Game: vs. Midwest City (0-1), Friday

22. Cushing (1-0)

Previous Game: Beat Bristow, 34-21

Ranking Last Week: 24

Last year’s Class 4A runner-up won its opener, taking a 13-point road decision over the Pirates.

Next Game: vs. Perkins-Tryon (1-0), Friday

23. McAlester (2-0)

Previous Game: Beat Prescott (Ark.), 17-13

Ranking Last Week: 25

The Buffs had to bat down a pass in the end zone on the final play of the game to hang on for victory against Prescott, a powerhouse in Arkansas high school football.

Next Game: at Ada (2-0), Friday

24. OKC Bishop McGuinness (2-0)

Previous Game: Beat Clinton, 28-0

Ranking Last Week: Unranked

The Fighting Irish of McGuinness make their way to the Top 25 for the first time in 2023 after shutting out Clinton last week.

A Class 5A semifinalist last year, they’re off to a good start. They will travel up northeast to Tulsa this week to meet Bishop Kelley, a rivalry known as the Battle of the Bishops.

Next Game: at Tulsa Bishop Kelley (0-2), Friday

25. Tulsa Metro Christian (1-0)

Previous Game: Beat Tulsa NOAH, 35-13

Ranking Last Week: Unranked

The Class 3A runner-up from a year ago fell behind 13-0 to NOAH in the first quarter, then put up 21 in the second and never looked back.

Jaxson Grimes took over at quarterback from the departed Kirk Francis, now at the University of Tulsa, and threw for four TDs and 398 yards on 30-of-54 passes.

The Patriots have a big challenge this week in their home opener against 4A power Poteau.

Next Game: vs. Poteau (1-0), Friday.

Dropped Out: Colcord, Edmond Deer Creek

Photo of Midwest City Carl Albert's Xavier Robinson (21) by Christian Potts