RANKINGS

Quarterbacks 1. Durell Parker, Wagoner (5-11, 205, sr.) (4A) - Parker's speed is what impresses teams, but his power running is what hurts teams. He had 2,600 total yards and 36 touchdowns a year ago as quarterback after switching from running back the previous season. He is a big reason the Bulldogs have advanced to at least the semifinals the previous two seasons. 2. Nathan Stanley, Seq. Tahlequah (6-5, 175, sr.) (2A) -- Colleges are lining up for this strong armed slinger. He is ranked No. 19 in Rivals.com among the best passing quarterbacks in the country. He threw for 2,300 yards and 17 touchdowns a year ago. 3. Landon Greve, Oklahoma Christian (2A) - He can spread the ball all over the field and find the open receiver. He led Class 2A in passing and was second in the state with 3,072 yards and 25 touchdowns. 4. Mitchell Gale, Alva (2A) - The strong-armed quarterback is a key component on a team loaded with offensive weapons, Gale should improve on his numbers of 1,988 yards passing and 24 touchdowns last year. 5. Tyler Hancock, Washington (6-2, 170, sr.) (A) - A great athlete. He had 1,923 yards passing and 19 touchdowns to combine with 673 rushing and 13 touchdowns. One of the best defensive backs in the state as well. 6. Maverick Lang, Pocola- Only a junior, Lang passed for 2,100 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. He's a pure passer with a tremendous arm. 7. J.P Grasmick, Bethany (5-10, 190) (2A) - The leader of one of the best teams in Class 2A, he collected 2,000 total yards offense and 23 touchdowns a year ago. 8. Dakota Harris, Prague - A danger on defenses as a dual threat with a good arm and speedy legs. He had 1,866 yards passing and 15 touchdowns while rushing for nearly 1,000 yards with 17 touchdowns. 9. Teague Burkes, Timberlake (5-10, 150, sr.) (B) - He collects plenty of yards and touchdowns when he has the ball. The senior had 3,400 total yards offense and 44 touchdowns a year ago. 10. Ryan Donaldson, Covington-Douglas (5-8, 145, sr.) (C) - Donaldson is an accurate passer. He had 1,861 passing and 23 touchdowns to just four interceptions a year ago. Others to watch: Kenny Davis, Adair; ; J.J. Whitais, Berryhill; Jace Johnson, Bethel; Cayden Cochran, Cashion; Jack Gray, Chandler; Cody Bond, Garber; Bobby Bear, Henryetta; Jordan Barrett, Oologah; Brandon Allen, Plainview; Sterling Koons, Tuttle; Billy Carter, Vinita. Running backs 1. Cody Phipps, McLoud (6-1, 195, jr.) (4A) - A one man rushing attack, combining speed and power. He had 1,622 rushing and 19 touchdowns last year and helped the team to the playoffs after a two-win season two years ago. 2. Ricky Holba, Morrison (6-1, 180, sr.) (B)-- The senior is tough to stop when he's on the field. He is the most dominant player in Class B with his strength and speed. He had over 2,000 yards rushing and 34 touchdowns while collecting five touchdowns as a receiver. 3. Colton Gehrke (6-2, 195, sr.) (4A) - He's been a rushing machine since he was a sophomore. You can count on him to record numbers similar to last year's --- 1,456 yards and 21 touchdowns. 4. Dustin McClenny, Rush Springs (A) - He's hard to bring down on offense with his power and speed. McClenny, who is also a standout on defense, rushed for 1,621 yards and 22 touchdowns a year ago. 5. Kris Parham, Bishop McGuinness (5-7, 165, sr.) (4A) - He's elusive and he's really fast. That's a good combination. Teams will be seeing more of Parham, who had nearly 900 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on a nine yard per carry average. 6. Josh Birmingham, Luther (5-9, 170, sr.) (A) - Another Birmingham is a standout at Luther. This time, it's Josh, who uses his speed to run away from defenders. He had 1,675 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns a season ago. 7. Antonio Huddlin, Clinton (5-8, 140, jr.) (3A) - A small, but fast and shifty runner who excels in Clinton's sweep running plays. He rushed for over 1,110 yards and had a 10 yard per rush average last year. 8. Jonathan Barber, Victory Christian (5-11, 190, sr.) (4A) - Very well balanced running back. His ability to make people miss and his speed makes Barber stand out. He is the half-brother of Tiki and Ronde Barber. 9. Corey Park, Sequoyah Claremore (6-3, 220, sr.) (3A) - Park is a load to bring down, a tough runner who plays the position like a linebacker. He had 1,077 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns last year. 10. Shelby Hill, Crescent (A) - A tough, powerful runner who is nearly unstoppable near the goal line. He scored 24 touchdowns while rushing for 1,429 yards. Others to watch: David Frakes, Caney Valley; Cameron Gladd, Clinton; Trevor Welch, Eufaula; Eran Ranallo, Haileyville; Patrick Peck, Kingfisher; George Thomas, Northeast; Brett Swindell, Oologah; Josh Moss, Panama; Stanley Brown, Purcell; Jared Rhodes, Skiatook; Matt Mitchell, Stilwell, Miguel Pratt, Vian. Wide receivers 1. Jermaine Sherman, Wagoner (6-3, 175, sr.) (4A) -- He is one of the best receivers in the state. Sherman is quick and can jump. In 2006, he racked up 613 yards and six touchdowns. 2. Kyle Ebert, Tuttle (6-3, 175, sr.) (3A) - He can line up anywhere and hurt teams. He had 31 catches for 610 yards and 10 touchdowns as a wide receiver while also rushing the ball for nearly 900 yards. 3. David Fitter, Tulsa Metro Christian (6-2, 185, sr.) (3A) - He's a tough matchup for defensive backs and he takes advantage of it. Despite garnering a lot of attention from opposing defenses, he had 57 catches for 1031 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. 4. Nick Cash, Timberlake (5-11, 160, sr.) (B) - Cash has a good last name to play football. That's because every time he gets open, he's "money" to catch the ball and do something good with it. He led the state in catches with 98 for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns. 5. Trent Lanie, Alva (2A) - Lanie has a good quarterback throwing to him so he gets the ball every time he gets open. And he's really good at that. He had 52 catches for 816 yards and 12 touchdowns a year ago. 6. Billy Compau, McLoud (6-2, 195, sr.) (4A) - One of several offensive talents on McLoud. He supplies the offense in the passing game, collecting 38 catches for 623 yards and 10 touchdowns at tight-end a year ago. 7. Tucker Holland, Oklahoma Christian (2A) - He helps form one of the most explosive and dynamic offenses in the state, especially passing the ball. He gets open often and catches the ball often. He had 54 catches for 893 yards and a touchdown last season. 8. Beau Brannon, Muldrow (6-0, 170, sr.) (3A) —A big play wide receiver who averages 20 yards a catch. And he knows what to do when he does catch it as well. He had 735 yards receiving and eight touchdowns last year. 9. Justin Blackmon, Plainview (6-2, 160, sr.) (3A) - Blackmon keeps improving after having a breakout season a year ago with 45 catches for 700 yards and seven touchdowns. He is tough to guard with his height. 10. Rico Guinn, Nowata (6-0, 155, jr.) (2A) -Almost impossible to control when he gets going, Guinn has the break away speed that is so deadly at the position. Others to watch: Jared Peper, Adair; Skyler Smith, Bethel; Price Pinkerton, Cascia Hall; Josh Bailey, Cashion; Bryce Lamer, Garber; Anthony Crawford, Hominy; Luke Sylvester, Lexington; Taylor King, Metro Christian; Nick Hanson, Miami; Sergio Lopez, Santa Fe South; Everett Shaver, Wagoner; James Winchester, Washington Defenses 1. Bishop McGuinness (4A) - The Fighting Irish allowed just 79 points in winning their first Class 4A state championship a year ago. They return seven starters off of the team that went 14-0 and was carried by their defense. 2. Velma-Alma (A) - The Class A powerhouse returns plenty of talent from a team that recorded eight shutouts and allowed less than six points a game to finish runner-up last year. They will be led by one of the best defensive players in the class in Kyle Tilley, who had 173 tackles last season. 3. Tuttle (3A)-- Hard to believe that the Tigers had no returning defensive starters last year from their 2005 Class 3A state championship team. All the new kids did was hold opponents to less than eight points a game. The Tigers have a strong rushing defense, which allowed just 74 yards a game on the ground. 4. Wagoner (4A) -Big and fast is the best way to describe the Bulldog defense. It starts in the secondary with big, physical defensive backs who will hit and a good core of talented linebackers. 5. Henryetta (2A) -The Knights only lost one starter from the 2006 defense that allowed less than 11 points a game. A veteran squad on defense should take some pressure off the offense. 6. Chandler (2A) - The Lions will count on some of their young players to continue their defensive prowess. Chandler collected five shutouts a year ago while advancing to the playoffs and returns standouts Jack Gray and Brandon Cummings, who had 61 tackles each and combined for seven sacks. 7. Clinton - Clinton wins championships with defense and the running game. The Red Tornadoes will field a stout defense that held opponents to less than 11 points and 100 yards rushing a game. The standouts are Braydon Lockhart and Cameron Gladd. 8. Washington - The Warriors are known for fielding a stingy defense and this year is no different. Although they lost their best defensive player to graduation (Tyler Simmons), the Warriors return standout defensive back Tyler Hancock (9 int's) and linebacker Jeff Tompkins (108 tackles). They form a defense that allowed eight points and less than 100 yards rushing a game last year. 9. Morrison - The Class B powerhouse always fields a strong running game and one of the best defenses in the state. It doesn't change this year. Morrison should be better than last year when the team allowed just 78 points in the regular season. 10. Cascia Hall - The defense revolves around a strong group of linebackers who will try to continue the team's stellar play after allowing less than 50 points in the regular season. Other top defenses: Cashion; Commerce; Claremore Sequoyah; Davis; Glenpool; Grove; Kingfisher; Mannford; McLoud; Okeene; Pawnee; Purcell; Rush Springs; Ryan; Tonkawa. Home Cooking 1.Clinton - You know it's an intimidating place to play when the stadium has its own nickname - the Tornado Bowl. Players have to walk through a packed stadium of fans to go down to the bowl shaped field. The stands are packed and it feels like they are right on top of you. 2. Davis - There are way more people than seats that fill the stadium. The entire town and plenty of people from surrounding areas pack the Wolves' den. The atmosphere is only heightened for the traditional powers when a train can be heard and seen during the game coming nearby one of the endzone's. 3. Tuttle - The Tigers go into each game expecting to win at home, and they usually do. The stands are always packed and there is a lot of winning tradition made up in the stadium. 4. Seminole - On the outside stadium wall, you see the great players and coaches' names painted on the wall. That shows team's coming in that they are playing a team with great tradition. The green color of Seminole is all around. 5. Wagoner-The welcoming committee greets teams as they enter town. After you zig zag through a couple of neighborhoods to find the football teams quickly realize they've entered Bulldog country. 6. Millwood -- Bethany coach Chad Broughton said it best about Millwood's home field advantage. "It's a different dynamic, a different atmosphere than most teams are used to," he said. The band plays loud and the fans are knowledgeable. And it doesn't hurt that the Falcons usually have some of the best athletes in the state. 7. Alva - The Goldbugs' home field advantage starts before the teams even take the field. It starts when the opposing team has to get on the bus to travel quite a long way to get to Alva. Then, they meet up with a rabid crowd and a fresh team. 8. Cascia Hall-Set in the heart of Tulsa, Cascia Hall is a surprisingly difficult place to play and win. The team really gets up for home games and the crowds are amazing. 9. Tonkawa - There is orange and black everywhere when teams step into the Buccaneers home field. The fans and colors are intimidating enough, so is the tradition of winning championships at Tonkawa. 10. Oologah- Getting used to the grass is the first thing and there's something about that lake air that makes it just a little more humid than normal. Other tough places to play: Broken Bow; Berryhill; Commerce; Davenport; Elk City; Locust Grove; Newcastle; Okeene; Pawnee; Purcell; Shattuck; Washington, Weatherford.