Week 2 of the 5A Playoff's

Everything seemed to go as plan in 5A football for the first week of the playoffs. Guthrie was the only team to go on the road and win.

As expected we have some great match-ups in the second round this week.

McAlester at El Reno
El Reno (11-0) host McAlester (10-1) after both teams won by multiple touchdowns in their first round game. This will be an interesting game, but have to give the edge to the Indians. Their defense is too strong and they have the experience from a year ago to give them the win this week. McAlester was not very sufficient last week with sloppy offensive play.

Although, McAlester could have success throwing the ball with Tony Kiefer.

Watch out though, McAlester is young and many will not want to see them on their schedule next season. A McAlester win over El Reno would surprise me, but not shocked at all.

Carl Albert at Bishop Kelley
A titanic of a match-up in Tulsa this week as the Carl Albert Titans visits undefeated Bishop Kelley. Carl Albert (9-2) are playing their best right now and that should come to no surprise because it is November. JT Realmuto and Tre Porter will be challenged by that Comet defense, but I see the Titans winning and moving on to the semi's.

If this game was played earlier this year then perhaps I would have gone with Kelley (11-0) as they were playing their best at that time when their schedule was the toughest. Kelley won their first round game for the first time in five tries under Coach Tappana.

I picked the Titans to win Class 5A so no need in stopping now.

Bixby at Shawnee
This is a very intriguing game between two schools that are familiar with each other when you go back to their days of being in 5A-3 together.

The Wolves (11-0) offense continued to put points on the board against Altus, but Bixby has one of the top defense's each year in 5A. Outside of Jenks and Glenpool, Bixby (7-4) has allowed 20-points or more in two of their last nine games.

Kevin Lamb appears to be almost completely healthy and should help Pat McGrew's offense with Dewitt Jennings, but Shawnee outscores the Bixby offense. The Wolves may take a quarter to get used to the Spartan defense, but figures it out and gets the win.

Guthrie at East Central

Guthrie has had the advantage in the playoffs in the last two meetings with a second round game in Tulsa back in 2002 and then again in 2007 on a neutral field in the state semi's.

East Central (10-1) has a very talented and balance running game with the powerful running of Jaimon Gilstrap and the speedy Chakeal Armstrong. Not to be out done, the Cardinals defense has allowed just 19-points in the last three weeks.

Guthrie (7-4) continues to hang their hat on their defense and particularly stopping the run. East Central may give the Jays their toughest challenge in stopping Gilstrap and Armstrong.

The Cardinals have seen the Eric Bennett's and Demarco Cobb's and will not be star struck when Guthrie comes rolling in, but Guthrie may present East Central with their biggest test as far as having to prepare for a balance and multi-look that the Jays present.