Week 9 Games to Watch

And down the stretch they come. Two more weeks of the high school football season remain before the playoffs start. Every game is important with regards to seeding and which teams are going to make the playoffs. Here are the top 5 games to watch for Week 9 of the football season: 1. Norman North (6-2) at Edmond Santa Fe (7-1) on Thursday Norman North got back on track a week ago to end a two-game losing streak after being ranked No. 1 most of the early part of the season. The Timberwolves will still have a battle on their hands to make the playoffs, having to win at least one of their last two games to make the playoffs in District 6A-1. Edmond Santa Fe on the other hand is in second place in the district and has won four games in a row. Its lone loss is to Mustang in overtime. Since then, the Wolves have won by an average of 34 points. This game features among two of the best running backs in the state in Norman North's Beau Blankenship and Snata Fe's Randy Ponder. 2. Pauls Valley (5-3) at Purcell (7-1) Purcell is one of the hottest teams in Class 3A while Pauls Valley is one of the biggest surprises. The two clash on Friday. Purcell has won seven games in a row after openning the season with a loss and can essentially wrapup the district title with a win. Pauls Valley can jumble up the standings with a win and stay in contention to grab the district title. Purcell is 5-0 while Pauls Valley is 4-1 in District 3A-2. Both teams feature strong running games. Purcell has the tandem of J.R. Madden and Stanley Brown while Pauls Valley has Tyler Harding and Sammy Lopez. 3. Southmoore (2-6) vs. Moore (0-8) This game doesn't have any playoff implications because neither team is headed to the playoffs this season. But this is for bragging rights, especially for Southmoore. The Bobcats have a chance to win the city championship with a win over Moore. They beat Westmoore in Week 2 of the season. It would be a huge boost and surprise considering Southmoore is in its first ever season. It would be a huge accomplishment for the short history of Southmoore football. 4. Deer Creek (6-2) at Altus (5-3) This is a huge game for seeding and playoff implications in District 5A-1. Both teams are tied for first place in the district with El Reno at 4-1 while Lawton MacArthur and Duncan are just a game back in a very competitive district. The winner will still most likely wrapup a playoff spot and still have a chance to win the district while the loser will still have to battle to prevent from being eliminated from the playoffs in the final week of the season. 5. Newcastle (6-2) at Blanchard (3-5) Both teams are tied for fourth place in District 3A-1. The winner has a good shot at making the playoffs while the loser of this game will have to win next week and get some help to get in. Newcastle was one of the biggest surprise teams in 3A after starting the season with six wins in a row. But the Racers have lost two games in a row and face a pesky Blanchard team that has won three of its last five. Blanchard has been playing well of late after struggling early in the season.