Big games set for county teams

Big games set

Big games set for LeFlore County teams Friday night as it’s do or die time for most of them when it comes to making the playoffs.

Talihina and Pocola are likely in the playoffs, the other county teams are still fighting to extend their bids for football playoff spots. A loss will not eliminate anybody, just make it tougher to make the playoffs and put more emphasis on winning next week.

District standings

So, naturally, there are some huge games this week.

Probably the biggest game involves a pair of LeFlore County teams matching up as Pocola visits Panama in an A-4 game.

Pocola is 6-2 overall, 4-1 in district play and a game back of Rejoice Christian. Panama, which is tied in the district with Hartshorne and Warner, is 5-3 and 3-2.

With a win, Panama could tie Pocola for second place in the district. But the Indians have an easier game next week against Haskell while Panama must travel to Hartshorne. Rejoice Christian is 5-0 in the district and could clinch the district title by defeating Hulbert this week.

Talihina could clinch a district championship only a few years after missing a season in an excellent turnaround for the Golden Tigers. Talihina is 8-0 and 5-0 and hosts Regent Prep (7-1 and 4-1).

If the Golden Tigers win, they are district champions. If Regent Prep can pull off the win, it would leave the district lead in a three-way tie with Talihina, Regent and Central, which defeated Regent, but lost to Talihina earlier in the year.

Heavener has a big game on the road at Kiefer. The Wolves are 5-3 and 3-2 while Kiefer is 5-3 and 4-1. The Wolves could finish anywhere from a tie for second by winning out to missing the playoffs. Heavener must defeat either Kiefer or Bethel next week to make the playoffs for the second straight year for the first time since 2004.

These two teams almost played in the playoffs last year. If Heavener had defeated Sequoyah-Tahlequah, the Wolves would have faced Kiefer, which reached the state semifinals before a kickoff return in the last minute by Oklahoma City Millwood eliminated the Trojans.

Kingston plays Hugo in another big district game. The Redskins have not lost a district game while Hugo lost its first district game to Kiefer a couple of weeks ago. Bethel is 2-3 in district and the only other team that could make the playoffs. Bethel plays winless Okmulgee this week before traveling to Heavener next week.

After losing to Sallisaw last week for the first time since 2016, Poteau (5-3 and 3-2) is in a fight for one of the four playoff spots out of District 4A-4. Five teams are in the running, including Hilldale (4-4 and 3-2), which visits Poteau this week.

Broken Bow, Ada and Sallisaw are 4-1 in the district and are playing the teams in the bottom half of the district. Poteau visits Broken Bow next week, which could be a huge game if the Pirates defeat Hilldale this week.

Spiro has made an unexpected run for the playoffs. After starting off 0-5, the Bulldogs (3-5 and 3-2) visit Henryetta (6-2 and 4-1) this week. Even with a loss to the Knights, Spiro could make the playoffs by defeating Antlers next week in what should be a winnable game.

Arkoma (4-3 and 1-2) is in danger of missing out of the playoffs. The Mustangs host Webbers Falls (4-4 and 1-2) this week before finishing next week at home with undefeated Copan. If Arkoma wins against Webbers Falls Friday, the Mustangs will likely clinch a playoff spot as the district only has six teams and four of those make the playoffs.

A loss to previously winless Bartlesville Wesleyan last week hurt Arkoma’s playoff chances.

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