Quarterfinal Roundup: Washington, Tuttle at Home as Dibble, Newcastle Hit the Road

Washington and Tuttle are the only local teams still playing in front of home crowds this week, while Dibble and Newcastle head into hostile territory for the quarterfinal round. Two of the four games – Washington/Kiefer and Newcastle/Pryor – are rematches from last year, with state semifinal berths on the line across Classes 2A, 4A and 5A.


Class 2A-II – Dibble at Vian

Dibble heads east at 9–2 after a wild 57–41 shootout win at Hennessey in the first round, their fourth straight victory. The Demons have leaned on an explosive offense down the stretch, topping 55 points multiple times during their late-season run.

Vian counters at 10–1 with a 60–14 blowout of Keys in the opener and the look of a top seed. The Wolverines have paired big scoring nights with a physical defense that’s been stingy most of the year, especially at home.

For Dibble, the formula is clear: stay clean, finish drives, and avoid turning this into a field-position slog. If the Demons can turn it into another track meet, they’ve got upset potential. If not, Vian’s depth and defense make the Wolverines the favorite.

Bracket note: Winner advances to the Class 2A state semifinals to face the Davis/Salina winner.


Class 2A-I – Kiefer at Washington

Washington comes in at 10–1 after a dominant 46–6 win over Chisholm to open the playoffs. The Warriors have been rolling for weeks, with a defense that hasn’t allowed more than two touchdowns in a game during the back half of the season.

Kiefer (9–2) survived a 20–15 grinder against Chandler last week but spent much of the year lighting up scoreboards, including multiple 50-plus outings in district play. Offensively, the Trojans have enough firepower to stress anyone when they’re in rhythm.

This is also a rematch of last year’s playoff meeting, where Washington handled Kiefer 48–14. The Warriors will look to lean on their defensive front and balance on offense to control the tempo again. Kiefer’s best shot is to hit explosives early, avoid long-yardage situations, and force Washington into a four-quarter shootout instead of a methodical grind.

Bracket note: Winner advances to the Class 2A state semifinals to face the Metro Christian/OCS winner.


Class 4A – Grove at Tuttle

Tuttle has looked every bit like an unbeaten contender at 11–0, ripping through 4A-2 and hammering Clinton 51–6 in the first round. The Tigers have stacked up lopsided wins all fall, combining quick-strike offense with a defense that has smothered most opponents before halftime.

Grove arrives at 10–1 after a 35–14 win over Sallisaw, continuing a strong season of their own. The Ridgerunners have put up big numbers at times and shown they can win both shootouts and more controlled games.

The key matchup sits in the trenches: if Grove’s front can hold up against Tuttle’s pressure and keep their quarterback upright, this has the makings of a four-quarter heavyweight fight. If Tuttle’s defensive line takes over early, the Tigers’ depth and home crowd could tilt this quickly their way.

Bracket note: Winner advances to the Class 4A state semifinals to face the Broken Bow/Weatherford winner.


Class 5A – Newcastle at Pryor

Newcastle heads to Pryor at 8–3 after a 49–14 first-round win over Altus. The Racers finished 5–1 in 5A-1, with their lone district loss coming at Bishop McGuinness, and have stacked several double-digit wins down the stretch.

Pryor stands unbeaten at 11–0 as the 5A-4 champion, with a résumé full of convincing wins over quality opponents and an offense that’s lived in the 40s and 50s most weeks. The Tigers have been comfortable in both shootouts and physical grind-it-out games.

It’s also a rematch of last year’s thriller, when Newcastle slipped past Pryor 38–37. To flip the script again on the road, the Racers will need long, clock-chewing drives and timely stops to keep Pryor’s offense on the sideline. The Tigers’ path is the opposite: push the tempo early, turn it into a track meet, and lean on their home field to finally finish what they started a year ago.

Bracket note: Winner advances to the Class 5A state semifinals to face Carl Albert or McAlester.


With Washington and Tuttle trying to protect home turf and Dibble and Newcastle chasing statement wins on the road, this quarterfinal slate sets up as one of the most intriguing weeks of the postseason – and for all four, the next stop is the state semifinals.


Comments

Leave a comment