(I'm still having problems posting the AA bracket)
Playoffs – 6th grade
First Round A
Jenks Silver hosts Bixby Blue – Like everyone else, I am struggling with this one. (Not seeing film on either one hurts my ability to make an informed pick.) Considering these two teams play less than 10 miles apart, I don’t feel like home field advantage means much here. They have identical records (on the field), nearly identical defenses but Blue has the offensive edge. Blue was the stronger team early in the season but the controversies and the loss to SS has to be in their heads. Silver, despite the loss to the defending champs, has been trending up. Don’t ask me why, but after all that I just said, my pick is still coming down to a hunch which says Silver in a close one.
Sand Springs hosts Westmoore – I wish I could watch this game in person. It will be a classic “high octane offense” vs “tough, smash-mouth defense” kind of game (perhaps like Big 12 vs SEC). I haven’t seen SS play this year but I have been “watching” them for the past several years so I would never underestimate their defense and their playoff experience. Westmoore entered the league last year with a pretty good team and has vastly improved this year with some key additions and some excellent coaching. It’s funny when people detract from what Westmoore has done this year because they got beat by Edmond. Edmond has the top offense in the entire league and I would rank their defense in the top 3 or 4. Not only did Westmoore put up the first score all year on Edmond, they were the first team to finish with positive yardage. If Westmoore shows up, their defense should have no problem holding the SS offense and I think their offense might find a crack or two in that SS defense. I’m going with Westmoore in a low scoring game.
Choctaw Gold hosts Owasso Red – Owasso Red has been considered a top 10/15 team for the entire time I’ve been involved with this grade/league. With that being said, I know that this year’s Choctaw Gold team is the real deal. They are big, fast and aggressive. If Edmond had not come ready to play, that game could have had a different outcome. I really think that Gold wins this one at home.
Union Silver hosts Owasso White – Owasso White has a good offense with a key player who may or may not be playing in this game. I know I tease Raider all the time, but his “Hot Boys” are certainly the real deal this year as well. They are well coached and have considerable talent and playoff experience. Even if White is at full strength, I don’t see them walking into Union-Tuttle Stadium and taking the win. I think Silver will win by 2 or more scores.
1st round AA
Lincoln Christian hosts Union Red – Since Lincoln Christian is one of only 4 remaining undefeated teams this year, I think they take this one in a cake walk.
Berryhill hosts Cascia Hall – These teams have had similar seasons but Cascia lost their last two games. That, along with the fact that Berryhill took the first meeting of these two teams in the season opener, has me giving this one to Berryhill in a close game at home.
Verdigris hosts BA Platinum – After a hot start, Platinum dropped three in a row but finished the season with a two-score win over Pryor. On the other hand, Verdigris has won seven in a row so they get my pick in this game.
Bartlesville hosts Collinsville – Collinsville beat Bartlesville pretty good in the season opener but have had a bit of a mixed bag of wins and losses since then. Bartlesville is riding a five-game winning streak as they head into the playoffs so they get my pick to revenge their earlier loss.