One month from now, Friday Night Lights will be back on your schedule and it will officially feel like fall.
There are several intriguing games on each week’s slate this fall, but here are the top 15 battles — in order of most exciting to least — that caught our eye and ones you’ll want to see in person.
To wet your appetite, we’ll give you a quick hitter, detailing what each matchup brings to the table and why it stands out followed by a prediction.
1. Tipton vs. Shattuck, Aug. 24
Quick Hitter: Two state champions opening up the season against each other, what more could you ask for?
Tipton took Laverne, Class B champion in 2016, to the wire in last season’s opener, before Laverne prevailed in a thrilling back-and-forth battle. Could this year’s season opener be just as gripping of a tale?
On paper, yes, this clash between last year’s Class C champion, Tipton, and last year’s Class B champion, Shattuck, has the makings of an all-time classic.
Shattuck is said to be even more talented than last year, and returns a host of talent, including do-it-all quarterback Gatlin Goodson. Tipton lost a chunk of talented seniors at the skill positions, but returns SemaJ McBride and several other playmakers that should make this a high-scoring affair.
Get your popcorn ready, the kings of 8-man football are about to put on a show.
Prediction: Tipton 40, Shattuck 38
2. Lawton High at Midwest City, Sept. 21
Quick Hitter: LHS and MWC always seem to provide a blockbuster matchup, splitting the last eight meetings, with the last five being decided by seven points or less. The battle between the Wolverines’ star running back Miles Davis and the Bomber defense will likely decide the winner of this 6AII-I contest.
Prediction: Midwest City 41, LHS 28
3. Apache vs. Hobart, Sept. 7
Quick Hitter: If last year’s meeting — which was won by Hobart, 21-20 — is any indication, this Week 2 game will be just as tight.
Special teams play made the difference last year, but this year it could come down to which talented quarterback has the ball last. Alec Meinert has one of the tallest and most talented wideouts around in Luke Hollister, but the always-reliable Landon McCracken has plenty of flashy wide receivers and backs at his disposal to help Apache prevail.
With Hobart moving down to Class A, this will be an excellent early test to prove if the Bearcats will be a title contender come November.
Prediction: Apache 26, Hobart 24
4. Lawton High vs. Stillwater, Oct. 12
Quick Hitter: This could be a battle of two top three teams when Stillwater comes to town. The Pioneers were young during last year’s 43-29 loss to LHS, but with QB Gunnar Gundy (Jr.) and RB Qwontrel Walker (So.) a year older, the Wolverines will have their hands full.
Gundy completed 15 of 32 passes for 244 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions against LHS, and Walker rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.
Prediction: LHS 43, Stillwater 40
5. Carnegie vs. Shattuck, Sept. 28 (played @SWOSU)
Quick Hitter: It’s a rematch of last year’s playoff game that was defined by hard hits and plenty of scoring, with 101 combined points put on the scoreboard. Carnegie hosted last year’s playoff game, but this Week 5 matchup will be played at a neutral site, at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.
With one of the most potent 8-man passers around in quarterback Xavier Neshakula, Carnegie can put up points as well as anybody. But keeping pace with Shattuck is easier said than done. Matching Shattuck’s bruising brand of physicality will also be critical in order for Carnegie to have a chance.
Prediction: Shattuck 63, Carnegie 48
6. MacArthur vs. Noble, Oct. 18
Quick Hitter: The district newcomer Noble will be out to prove itself against a perennial power in MacArthur. The Bears are riding a new high after reaching the semifinals last season, while the Highlanders are looking to improve from a 6-5 campaign in 2017.
Prediction: Mac 35, Noble 28
7. Anadarko vs. Cache, Sept. 21
Quick Hitter: The outcome of this game could very well determine the fourth and final playoff spot out of District 4A-1, or, if both teams make the playoffs, seeding in the top four.
What may decide this game is Anadarko’s run defense trying to stop Cache running back Hayden Nunley. Turnovers, ‘Darko’s downfall in the playoffs last year, will also play a significant role. Expect a tight, low-scoring affair between two top-notch defenses.
Prediction: Anadarko 16, Cache 10
8. Lawton High vs. Del City, Oct. 25
Quick Hitter: LHS and Del City will have plenty of athleticism and speed between them. However, the Wolverines’ execution of the fundamentals will ultimately trounce the Eagles, who will see penalties stall some key drives.
DC’s QBWR duo of Quinlan Ganther and Jeff Foreman against LHS’s star defensive back DeMarcus Andrews will be a key matchup.
Prediction: LHS 42, Del City 27
9. Elgin vs. Cache, Oct. 26
Quick Hitter: This year’s Battle of the Wichitas takes place on the second to last weekend of the regular season, which should spice up the annual rivalry game which Cache dominated last fall, before watching Elgin snag the fourth and final playoff spot away from the Bulldogs in the final week of the season.
Replacing star running back Lewis Shepherd is a tall task for Elgin, but by the time this rivalry date rolls around at the end of October, the Owls should have enough offensive firepower to give Cache a run for its money.
Cache’s offensive line paved the way for a bruising rushing attack in last year’s meeting. Expect the Bulldogs to bulldoze ahead on the ground again en route to another Battle of the Wichitas victory, and possibly lock up a playoff spot.
Prediction: Cache 31, Elgin 20
10. Lawton High vs. MacArthur, Sept. 7
Quick Hitter: The city championship has come down to this game for much of the decade. LHS blitzed Mac, 50-20, last season, but with 10-year coach Brett Manning at the helm, don’t expect the Highlanders to be down for too long.
Prediction: LHS 34, Mac 28
11. Cyril vs. Carnegie, Oct. 12
Quick Hitter: Carnegie stormed into Cyril in the final week of the regular season last year to shock previously unbeaten Cyril and win the B-3 district title.
Cyril has more holes to fill entering this season, but if running back Albert Suarez and wide receiver Cason McLemore can get cooking again, the Pirates will contend for a district title. Carnegie will be the district favorite, but will have plenty to prove when visiting the Pirates, who will be looking to even the score.
Prediction: Carnegie 36, Cyril 30
12. MacArthur at Clinton, Sept. 14
Quick Hitter: This Week 3 contest features two teams that didn’t quite meet expectations last season. Mac had its worst season since 2001, and Clinton missed the playoffs for the first time in 28 years after finishing 3-7.
Both will be improved in 2018, but the Highlanders will prove to be the better squad.
Prediction: Mac 35, Clinton 20
13. Snyder vs. Tipton, Sept. 14
Quick Hitter: Snyder is out to prove it’s an 8-man contender and this early date with Tipton in Week 3 should provide a great test.
Last year Tipton blanked Snyder, 46-0, but these Cyclones — who progressed as the season went on and made the second round of the Class B playoffs — are lightyears ahead of where they were at for last season’s meeting.
Expect Trevor Evans, who scored 8 touchdowns in a single game last season, should put on a show and prevent Snyder from being shut out again.
Prediction: Tipton 48, Snyder 26
14. Lawton High vs. Altus, Aug. 30
Quick Hitter: There’s something special getting a traditional matchup back on the schedule. Altus and Lawton High haven’t met since 2013, which should provide plenty of excitement for the season opener at Cameron Stadium. In the last four meetings (2010-13), LHS has outscored Altus, 166-7.
In his first ever start, this game will be a tough task for Altus quarterback Kobi Gomez, who is going up against a seasoned Wolverines defense, which returns six starters.
The stingy Altus defense returns eight starters, including all four in the secondary who can limit the big plays. Containing LHS running back Davis is easier said than done, though, and it’s only a matter of time in each game until he flashes his big-play capability.
Prediction: LHS 34, Altus 13
15. MacArthur at Ardmore, Sept. 21
Quick Hitter: Either Mac or Ardmore have claimed the 5A-1 title since 2014, and it could play out that way again. The Highlanders whacked the Tigers, 36-7, in Week 10 last season, but the Tigers had already locked up the district title and home-field advantage for the playoffs.
It is the district opener this time around, though, so expect a closer game with much higher stakes.
Prediction: Mac 28, Ardmore 27