The last time Shattuck and Thackerville played on the football field, the result was an offensive showcase to the tune of a 68-44 Indian win in Mustang.
That game was for the Class C state championship.
This year, the teams face off again in the playoffs, but a few rounds short of the final week.
Shattuck is its usual 10-0 with an 8-man national record 92-game winning streak in tow. Thackerville started out pretty well at 5-1 and ranked as high as third, but dropped its last four games.
The result is a nearly 300-mile trip for Thackerville to play a team it hoped to be facing in December again.
Injuries have played some role in Thackerville’s late season swoon with quarterback Jonathon Buckaloo and running back Stephen Mose missing parts or all of some games. Both are expected to play in round one.
At the same time, Shattuck hasn’t been injury free this year. The Indians lost their quarterback Kade Young during the preseason.
But the Indians remain very talented on both sides of the ball. Aaron McCandless and Brent Starbuck are big threats on offense and the Indians defense has shut down some good teams.
Some of the top challengers to Shattuck in Class C will also have their talent on display in the first round as second-ranked Timberlake hosts Claremore Christian and No. 4 Seiling welcomes Sasakwa.
The remaining matchups involving C-1 have Forgan hosting Victory Life, which travels nearly 400 miles to make its first-ever playoff appearance, Waynoka going to Temple and Boise City making the jaunt to Tipton.
In Class B, the Laverne Tigers will try and duplicate last season’s effort. The Tigers started the playoffs 6-4 and wound up facing Garber in the state finals.
This year’s trek starts well over 300 miles from home as the Tigers travel to face Caddo.
nerup from the Durant area.
Also in Class B, Canton is home for round one against Alex and Garber opens up against Allen at home.
The fourth place B-1 team, Pond Creek-Hunter, plays at undefeated Ryan.
In Class A, one of the premiere first round games comes in Blaine County where the Watonga Eagles host a dangerous Okeene club. Both teams are 8-2.
Watonga’s only district loss was to unbeaten Cashion while Okeene dropped games to unbeaten Hennessey and Oklahoma Bible Academy.
Okeene isn’t quite as good offensively this year, but the Whippets are stout on defense and they know how to win in the playoffs - the last four years have gone semifinals, state champion, state champion, state runnerup.
This is the first time, however, they’ve had to start their journey on the road.
Texhoma gets its shot at undefeated Cashion. The Red Devils are 7-3 and can be a dangerous opponent.
