Ranking the top 10 prep football games for Week 4
District play has arrived. Week 4 of the Oklahoma high school football season is here, which means the chase for the playoffs officially begins now.
Here are The Oklahoman’s top 10 games of Week 4:
1. 4A No. 1 Tuttle (3-0) at No. 2 Cushing (3-0): A matchup between the state’s top two teams in Class 4A to begin district play could provide fireworks. Cushing is an up-and-coming challenger with a dynamic offense behind quarterback Blaze Berlowitz and receiver Camden Crooks leading the way, but Tuttle’s defense is stout and will provide a stiff challenge.
2. 6A-I No. 1 Owasso (3-0) at No. 3 Tulsa Union (2-1): In what could be an early matchup to decide the winner of a district title, Owasso and quarterback Austin Havens will hit the road trying to knock off Tulsa Union and defensive standout Jayden Rowe.
3. 6A-II No. 4 Tulsa Washington (3-0) at No. 2 Choctaw (2-1): The eastern district in 6A-II is loaded, and this is the first of many matchups that will be pivotal for playoff seeding. Tulsa Booker T. Washington has stars all over the field and is looking to get back on top, but Choctaw is looking to prove it belongs as one of the state’s best.
4. 4A No. 3 Poteau (2-1) at No. 6 Hilldale (3-0): Poteau captured this matchup last season, which ended up deciding the district title, so Hilldale will be looking to build off its strong start and beat Poteau for the first time since 2017.
5. 6A-II No. 3 Stillwater (2-1) at No. 9 Deer Creek (3-0): Deer Creek is off to its best start since 2012 but will face its stiffest test yet. It will be a matchup of strong quarterbacks between Stillwater’s Gage Gundy and Deer Creek’s Brett Pense.
6. 3A No. 6 Stigler (4-0) at No. 9 Seminole (4-0), Thursday: Legendary Seminole coach Mike Snyder is one win away from No. 375 in his career, but Stigler is looking to spoil the potential milestone and start off district play with a big win.
7. 6A-I No. 10 Mustang (1-2) at No. 6 Norman North (3-0): In 2016, the last time Norman North went undefeated in district play, it ended up in the state championship game. Yet Mustang is looking to pull off an early upset, as both its losses have come by four points each.
8. A Watonga (4-0) at No. 1 Cashion (3-1): Watonga scored 40 points in the second half to come from behind and beat Minco in Week 3, but this week faces its toughest test yet in the defending state champions. Cashion has rolled since dropping its season opener.
9. 2A Prague (3-0) at No. 9 Millwood (1-1): District 2A-2 is loaded with talent, and Prague and Millwood have an early matchup that will likely be pivotal for playoff seeding later this season. The winner could have an advantage in hosting a first-round playoff game.
10. Oklahoma Christian Academy (3-0) at Hinton (4-0): OCA and Hinton each won only one game last season, but both have grown tremendously in the offseason and are off to excellent starts. A win would likely be a strong early statement at making a playoff push.