(NOTE: This is a new column on West Metro Sports. Unlike most of the articles you find on this site, there will be some opinion mixed in. With this column taking the “West Metro Weekly” name, the weekly schedule is now called “West Metro Schedule.” – Joel)

Coaches are quick to say that they focus on the season one game-at-a-time, never looking ahead to upcoming opponents.

It’s a sound strategy, especially during football playoff time because one loss ends your season.

In 6A-II, Putnam City (6-4) hosts a playoff game for the second straight season with the Bartlesville Bruins (3-7) coming to Warr Acres this Friday (Nov. 15).

Putnam City North (7-3) is also at home for the first round, hosting Southmoore (4-6).

Rightfully so, coaches Willis Alexander and Derek Lane and their teams are focused on those opponents and not looking further ahead.

I have no remaining high school athletic eligibility, so I can safely look ahead.

If the fifth-ranked Pirates win Friday, they would meet top-ranked Muskogee (10-0) next week. The Roughers looked impressive in only one half against North last Thursday (Nov. 7) before storms and lightning in the area ended the game at halftime for a 36-0 win.

Muskogee rolled up 266 yards in one half. Like most elite teams, they take advantage their opponent’s mistakes.

If the Panthers win Friday, they would meet third-ranked Stillwater (8-2) next week. The Pioneers are still a top program in 6A-II but they have looked vulnerable at times. Putnam City had them tied up 7-7 at halftime, before losing 28-7 (Oct. 25).

Since that game, Stillwater outscored Piedmont and Southmoore by a combined score of 107-14 in the their final two regular season games. The Pioneers’ two losses came to 5A defending champ Carl Albert (who might be elite in 6A-I) and Choctaw, who avenged two straight losses to Stillwater. Stillwater also owns an overtime win over 6A-I power Union. Even though the Redhawks have looked human at times, that’s still a big win.

Both Muskogee and Stillwater have first-round byes, which can be helpful to get players healthy but can also stifle momentum if a team is playing well.

If you want to look at the other side of the bracket, the aforementioned Yellowjackets and Sand Springs have byes and are the favorites. Choctaw had a decisive win against the Pirates and the Sandites beat North.

If I were to ask Bethany’s Jon Arthur about the other teams he might face in 4A if the Bronchos beat Weatherford Friday, he’d likely decline.

That makes sense because beating the Eagles on the road will be tough task. But, it’s doable.

If the seventh-ranked Bronchos win, they would play the winner of Ada and Cushing next week. Ada would be the likely opponent based who each team has played.

Down the road, a rematch with third-ranked Tuttle would probably loom in the semifinals. Of the teams, I’ve seen in 6A through 4A, the Tigers might be the most impressive group.

All of this is doesn’t mean much. All three squads have to take care of business this Friday to look ahead.

ORIGINAL-PIEDMONT MATCHUP A FIRST

Putnam City’s loss to Piedmont Friday marked the first time either team had played each other in football – ever.

The Wildcats made their 6A-II debut this season. The school was a Class 4A school in 2013 and was in Class 3A as recently as 2003. When I was playing at Bethany in the early-to-mid-1990s, Piedmont was a 2A school and was usually the season opener for both teams.

While Putnam City was dominant in the early to mid-1970s, Piedmont didn’t have a football program. The Wildcats discontinued it in 1930.

In 1977, Jerry Potter and the Pirates won their title state title. A year later, Putnam City North opened and the small farming community of Piedmont brought back football after a 48-year hiatus. The Wildcats competed in Class B until moving up to Class A in 1980.

Some observers have remarked about the parallels between the growth at Piedmont and neighboring Deer Creek in comparison to the Pirates’ glorys days (with state championships) in the 70s, West’s lone state title (1981) and rise to prominence in the 70s and 80s as well as North’s one state title (1991) and becoming a contender in the 90s.

Of course, Piedmont isn’t at the level of Potters’ Pirates when the school was bursting at the seams. And, Piedmont lost to Putnam City North in 2021 in a non-district game when it was a 5A school.

It’s just an interesting observation about the changing landscape of this part of the Oklahoma City metro as the suburban sprawl continues.