All games are at 7 p.m. Friday unless noted
1. 3A-3: No. 4 Holland Hall at No. 1 Lincoln Christian
Records: Holland Hall 4-0, 1-0; Lincoln Christian 4-0, 1-0
The outlook: These teams have combined to win five 3A state titles in the past six years. Could be a preview of the teams meeting in the state final for the third time since 2020.
QB matchup: Both senior QBs are playing at a very high level. Holland Hall’s Trey Burleson has completed 42-of-61 passes for 691 yards and 10 TDs without an interception. He was knocked out early in last year’s game against Lincoln with a concussion. Lincoln Christian’s Carter Ricke is 51-of-68 for 699 yards and eight TDs. He also has rushed for 189 yards and four TDs.
Other key players: Holland Hall — Kainan Gibson has 15 catches for 275 yards and two TDs. Linebacker Bryce Kueser, who missed most of last year with a broken arm, has a team-high 24 tackles. Lincoln — Braeden Baker has 410 rushing-receiving yards with 11 TDs. He also has 14 tackles. Brett Kaste has 13 catches for 318 yards and three TDs.
Notable: Lincoln has winning streaks of 32 overall, 44 in the district and 53 at home.
Series history: Lincoln leads 10-5 despite losing to Holland Hall in the 2020 and ‘21 finals. Lincoln has outscored Holland Hall 144-7 in their last three meetings since the ’21 title game, including 55-0 last year.
Quotable: Holland Hall coach Brian Thompson, “Lincoln is Bixby in 3A. Lincoln has athletes across the board. I can’t think of any weaknesses they’ve had over the last 10 years and play unbelievably hard. We can’t afford penalties or mistakes against them.”
Lincoln coach Jerry Ricke, “We’re off to a good start. Holland Hall has a quarterback who throws a real good deep ball and they have some big-time playmakers. We’ve got a pretty good rivalry with them now and it should be a fun game. We’re looking forward to it.”
2. 6AI-1: No. 2 Jenks at No. 4 Norman
Records: Jenks 3-1, 0-1; Norman 4-0, 1-0
The outlook: This will determine whether there’s going to be another wild three-team battle for the district title as occurred last year. The Trojans will be the toughest opponent so far this season for Norman, which went 10-2 last year for its first winning record since 2019. Jenks is looking to bounce back from a loss to No. 1 Bixby, which lost to Norman in the 2024 regular-season finale.
Key players: Jenks — KD Jones has 579 rushing yards and 12 TDs. Jones had 26 carries for 122 yards and two TDs in last year’s 31-12 win over Norman. Landon Kizzar has passed for 1,037 yards and 12 TDs. Kailib Dillard has 23 catches for 434 yards and six TDs. Norman — Crew Noles has 450 receiving-rushing yards and 13 TDs overall — he has scored as a rusher, receiver, kick returner and defensive back. Anthony Johnson has rushed for 350 yards and five TDs.
Series history: Except for a hiatus in 2022-23, the teams have been district rivals since 2014 with Jenks winning all nine meetings by an average score of 48-12.
3. 6AI-2: No. 7 Union at No. 3 Owasso
Records: Union 1-3, 1-0; Owasso 2-2, 1-0
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
The outlook: Union’s Antonio Graham faces the team he led to the state title game last year. It will be his first matchup as a head coach against Bill Blankenship, who was Graham’s head coach as a player and longtime assistant.
QB matchup: Owasso’s Drew Frankenfield has completed 58-of-107 passes for 719 yards and six TDs. He tossed for three TDs in a 48-14 win over Union last year. Union’s Skyler Moorman is 25-of-41 for 397 yards and four TDs. He also has rushed for 149 yards and two TDs.
Other key players: Owasso — Jayden Hall has rushed for 657 yards and five TDs. Tae Bethel has 21 catches for 238 yards and two TDs. Union — Stone Turner has 22 receptions for 198 yards and five TDs. A key for Union is to get its running game going. Tay Parry, a 1,000-yard rusher last year, has been limited to 257 yards this season.
Series history: Union has won nine of the past 14 meetings, but Owasso has won five of the last nine, starting with a 21-14 victory in the 2017 state final. Earlier in ’17, Union prevailed 44-41 in double overtime in Week 4. A more recent classic was Owasso’s 50-47 win in six overtimes in a 2022 semifinal.
4. 4A-3: No. 8 Grove at No. 6 Cushing
Records: Grove 4-0, 1-0; Cushing 3-1, 1-0
The outlook: Look for a similar type game as Grove’s 28-21 victory over Cushing last year.
Key matchup: Cushing’s Roman Tucker against Grove’s Gavin Wyatt. Both quarterbacks also are stalwarts on defense. Tucker has accounted for 1,267 yards and 14 TDs. He also has 14 tackles. Wyatt leads an offense that averages 42 points and a defense that has allowed only two TDs this season.
5. 6AI-1: Moore at No. 1 Bixby
Records: Moore 2-2, 0-1; Bixby 4-0, 1-0
The outlook: If facing Bixby wasn’t going to be tough enough, Moore has the extra challenge of trying to recover from a 36-35 loss against No. 6 Mustang last week.
QB matchup: Bixby’s Carson Kirby is 67-of-86 for 922 yards and 14 touchdowns. Moore’s Maverick Gardner has completed 47-of-80 passes for 568 yards and five TDs, and also has rushed for 364 yards and three touchdowns.
RB matchup: Moore’s Ozias Adams has rushed for 558 yards and two TDs. Bixby’s Jayson Moll, coming off the most productive game of his career, has 495 rushing yards and six TDs.
Series history: Bixby defeated Moore 49-7 last year after victories of 68-5 in 2023 and 64-7 in 2022.
Best of the rest
6AI-1: No. 5 Broken Arrow (2-2, 0-1) at No. 10 Yukon (3-1, 1-0): Octavian Roberson rushed for 154 yards and two TDs in BA’s 42-28 comeback win over Yukon last year.
5A-3: Bishop Kelley (2-2, 1-0) at No. 9 Coweta (4-0, 1-0): Fifteen of their last 17 meetings have been decided by two TDs or less, including Kelley’s 20-8 win last year.
5A-3: No. 3 B.T. Washington (3-1, 1-0) at Shawnee (2-2, 1-0): The Hornets have allowed only three TDs in their three wins.
5A-4: Hale (3-1, 1-0) at No. 7 Claremore (4-0, 1-0): A good measuring stick for the improving Rangers, who lost 47-21 against Claremore last season.
5A-4: Tahlequah (2-2, 0-1) at No. 8 Pryor (4-0, 1-0) at Tahlequah (2-2, 0-1): Michael Torkelson’s last-second field goal gave Tahlequah a 31-30 win over Pryor last year.
3A-2: Mannford (4-0, 1-0) at Perkins-Tryon (2-2, 0-1): Mannford is one of this season’s biggest surprises after going 4-26 the previous three seasons.
2AII-2: No. 4 Beggs (3-1, 1-0) at No. 8 Davis (2-2, 0-1): Defending state champion Davis has split overtime games the past two weeks, losing to Dibble last Friday.
AI-3: No. 5 Pawnee (3-1, 1-0) at No. 2 Pawhuska (5-0, 2-0): The Huskies look to avenge last year’s 64-16 loss at Pawnee.
AI-4: No. 1 Rejoice Christian (3-1, 1-0) at Pocola (3-1, 1-0): Rejoice edged Pocola 47-40 last year.
barry.lewis@tulsaworld.com
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Barry Lewis
Tulsa World Sports Editor
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