Bixby isn’t just any opponent.
The Spartans have won three of the four Class 6A-II state championships since the 6A split in 2014, and they are a favorite to win another this year.
After all, Bixby (9-1) sports one of the best offenses in the class.
The Spartans, led by quarterback Mason Williams, averaged 42.9 points per game during the regular season, second only to Stillwater (43.8). Williams threw for 2,621 yards and 30 touchdowns to only four interceptions, completing about 68 percent of his passes in the process.
“The quarterback (Staton King) who beat us three-straight years and won three-straight titles is gone,” LHS coach Ryan Breeze said. “Now they’re playing a sophomore (Williams) who still throws it well. He’s not as big as the other kid — he’s 5-8 — but he throws it well. If you get them 3rd-and-long, they’re going to run a route 1 yard past the sticks, and he’s going to put it on the money. We’re going to have to defend that and stop the run early.”
Brennan Presley, Cade Cavender and Clayton Barbour make a bulk of the catches, combining for 2,009 yards receiving and 23 touchdowns on 113 receptions.
Presley has also made an impact on the ground, rushing for 622 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging about 8.8 yards per carry
“Defensively, we need to tackle and know where No. 8 (Presley) is at all times,” Breeze said. “They move him around a lot and play him some at running back and some at slot. They want to get him the ball. He’s a really good football player, and he’s their best player.”
Stopping the Spartans is easier said than done, though.
Against ranked teams with similar offensive firepower (Altus, Midwest City, Stillwater and Del City), the Wolverines have surrendered about 507.3 yards per game and an average of about 45 points.
That’s not even counting the 570 yards LHS gave up to Choctaw, a team that finished 4-6 and missed the playoffs, in a 54-44 shootout on Oct. 18.
In all, LHS has the worst defense — statistically — of the remaining eight teams, allowing 31.3 points per game. That doesn’t bode well for the hopeful Wolverines.
Breeze said he believes Bixby will focus on solidifying its run game on Friday night. The five opponents mentioned above racked up 334.8 yards rushing per game on LHS.
“When it gets down to it, they’re going to get in double tight and run it right at you,” Breeze said. “When things gets hairy, that’s what they like to revert back to. We have to clog it up inside and not allow them to assault us between the tackles. When we get a linebacker there, we need to make the tackle. We did a lot better job of that last week, and I know Putnam City’s record isn’t great and their offensive line isn’t as good as Bixby’s, but it’s something to build on.
“We’re going to have to tackle better, and that’s been a point of emphasis at practice for two-straight weeks now. That’s going to be the big deal — whether or not we can make stops. We have to match the physicality up front.”
The Wolverines will need to limit the big plays while scoring on nearly every possession to have a chance to win.
The offense is capable of scoring in bulk, averaging 39.7 points per game, but the Spartans have the best defense LHS has seen this season.
Since surrounding a total of 61 points to Jenks and Mansfield Timberview (Texas) in the first two weeks, Bixby has allowed a mere 47 points in the eight weeks since — about 5.9 points per game.
That includes holding playoff teams Booker T Washington and Muskogee, which collectively average 30.2 points per game, to seven points apiece.
In other words, the Spartans don’t mess around.
“They’re not giving up a lot of points, so that’s a good matchup there,” Breeze said. “We have to protect the ball offensively and protect up front. We need to give Miles (Davis) some tunnels to run through and take what’s there. I imagine the coverage will be pretty soft on us.”
It’s going to take a herculean effort to get the job done this time around. It all depends on which LHS team shows up to Spartan Stadium on Friday night at 7 p.m.
Will it be the Wolverines who had No. 1 Stillwater on the ropes if not for an untimed down, or will it be the ones who gave up 55 points to No. 5 Del City in a 27-point loss at home.
It could mean the difference between advancing or going home and preparing for the next sport.
“You don’t want it to end, you don’t want to be checking in equipment next week,” Breeze said. “You’re not ready for it to end, especially when you work as hard as we do year-round.”