County teams push for playoff spots

Talihina has pretty much qualified for the playoffs in football.

The other county schools are still in the running, but most cannot afford a loss and need to win out.

That stretch begins Friday as Okmulgee visits Heavener; Poteau travels to Sallisaw; Spiro hosts Atoka; Panama goes to Haskell; Hartshorne is at Pocola in what is probably the biggest game of the week; Talihina goes to Wewoka in a rematch of an epic playoff game from several years ago; and Arkoma makes the lengthy trip to Bartlesville Wesleyan.

District after week 7

Heavener is 4-3 overall and 2-2 in district play. To qualify for the playoffs for the second straight year for the first time in 2003-2004, the Wolves must win two of their three remaining games to finish fourth.

After Friday’s game, Heavener travels to Kiefer next week before closing out the regular season at home against Bethel. Okmulgee is 0-7 and 0-4. It is believed to be the first time Heavener and Okmulgee have played in football. Heavener did play Okmulgee Dunbar back when the schools were still segregated in 1958, but that is the only meeting.

Poteau’s playoff hopes are probably the most difficult as the Pirates play three difficult games in-a-row to close out the regular season. Depending on the outcome, Poteau could finish anywhere from first to actually not making the playoffs for the first time in many years.

The Pirates begin that tough stretch Friday at an improved Sallisaw team. Poteau comes home next week to host Hilldale and finished the regular season at district leading Broken Bow.

The Pirates are 5-2 and 3-1 while Sallisaw is 6-1 and also 3-1 in district play. The lone loss came against Broken Bow.

Spiro has won two straight, including a blowout over Morris last week to make its push for another playoff appearance. The Bulldogs are 2-5 and 2-2. The Wampus Cats are also 2-5 and 2-2 and have the best nickname among Oklahoma high schools.

Vian, Valliant and Henryetta look like they are locks for the playoffs. The fourth spot will be Atoka, Antlers or Spiro.

Pocola and Hartshorne meet in a game that could determine second place if the winning team finishes up 3-0. Both teams’ only district loss was to Rejoice Christian. Pocola lost 47-40 on the road while the Miners’ undefeated season ended last week with a 48-9 loss to Rejoice.

Pocola is 5-2 and 3-1 and tied for second place in the district with Hartshorne, now 6-1 and 3-1 also.

Another big game Friday has Panama visiting Haskell as the two teams are tied for fourth place along with Warner in the district with the winning team grabbing a big advantage in the district by head-to-head results.

Panama is 4-3 and 2-2 and has lost its last two games to Rejoice and Warner. Haskell is 3-4 and also 2-2.

The Razorbacks’ closing two games have Panama hosting Pocola next week before visiting Hartshorne in Week 10. Haskell also has a difficult schedule to close out the season with games at Hartshorne and Pocola.

Warner plays Chouteau next week before finishing up with Rejoice Christian.

Talihina is 7-0 and 4-0 in the district going into the Wewoka game. The Golden Tigers have clinched a playoff spot as Gore and Liberty are tied for fourth and Talihina defeated both of them. Wewoka is 1-6 and 1-3.

The Golden Tigers can clinch the district at home next week against Regent Prep before Talihina visits Mounds in Week 10.

Arkoma is in the midst of several teams fighting for the final playoff spot going into Friday’s contest at Bartlesville Wesleyan.

The Mustangs are 4-2 and 1-1 while Wesleyan is 0-6 and 0-2.

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