Sallisaw home game; old rivals Paris, Mansfield collide and a rematch of wild Evangel-Captain Shreve game highlights this week’s slate

Sallisaw photo courtesy of the Sallisaw Football Booster Club Facebook page

By Buck Ringgold

It’s playoff time in the 4States region.

Each of the four states in the coverage area (Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas) will kick off its respective playoff brackets this week, with some schools playing on Thursday night and the rest on Friday.

This week’s 4States area high school football playoff schedule

Of the numerous postseason games in the area, what will be the 10 games to really focus on this week? Here’s a list.

Grove (8-2) at Sallisaw (8-2) – First round of the Oklahoma 4A playoffs

When: 7 p.m. Friday

The Stakes: Last Thursday, the Black Diamonds were defeated by Ada in a game that decided the District 4A-4 title. But the following night, they received great news with Poteau’s win at Broken Bow, which gave Sallisaw the No. 2 seed and a first-round home playoff. Sallisaw quarterback Jackson Harris, who has thrown for 682 yards and six TDs, also leads the team in rushing with 916 yards on 124 carries, reaching the end zone nine times. Grove received the No. 3 seed from 4A-3, with its only two losses coming against district champion Wagoner and a 31-28 defeat to Miami.

Did You Know: Sallisaw is playing its first postseason home game since 2019 – coincidentally against Grove, which was won by the Black Diamonds, 9-7.

Poteau (6-4) at Wagoner (10-0) – First round of the Oklahoma 4A playoffs

When: 7 p.m. Friday

The Stakes: Odds were stacked against Poteau entering the regular-season finale, with the Pirates dropping back-to-back games and facing a road trip to Broken Bow. But the Pirates revived their season with a resounding 31-0 win, allowing them to keep their season going. Wagoner, which won the 2022 4A championship and lost last season in the 4A championship game, is considered a prime contender to get back to Edmond and play for another gold ball. The Bulldogs are led by quarterback Kale Charboneau, who was part of that 2022 title squad. In Wagoner’s regular season finale, Charboneau passed for 199 yards and a TD, rushed for three more TDs and even had a fumble return for another TD in a 40-13 win at Oologah.

Did You Know: Poteau defeated Wagoner, 7-3, in the 2019 4A semifinals, during the Pirates’ run to the state championship.

Tonkawa (6-3) at Pocola (8-2) – First round of the Oklahoma A-I playoffs

When: 7 p.m. Friday

The Stakes: The Indians and their high-flying offense, which is averaging nearly 45 points per game, will get to show out in front of the home folks at least one more time this season. During their current five-game winning streak, the Indians have averaged 49.6 points. One of their offensive standouts, tailback AJ Lyons-Jerrell, just exceeded the 4,000-yard barrier in his career. Pocola starts its postseason run taking on one of the traditional Class A powers in the state, Tonkawa. The Buccaneers finished with the No. 3 seed in A-I-3 and come into the playoffs having averaged just 8.7 points over their last three regular-season games, though Tonkawa won two of those.

Did You Know: Tonkawa has won seven state championships, four of those since 2000. The Bucs’ last title was claimed in 2018.

Melbourne (8-2) at Charleston (6-4) – First round of the Arkansas Class 3A playoffs

When: 7 p.m. Friday

The Stakes: Though the record may not reflect it, Charleston could have easily entered the playoffs with a perfect regular-season record. The Tigers’ four losses came by a combined total of 10 points, including three-point defeats to Mansfield and Booneville, the two teams that finished ahead of Charleston in 3A-Region 1. Another thing in Charleston’s favor this week has been the Tigers’ play on their home field. In five home games, winning four of those, Charleston averaged 43.4 points per contest. But Melbourne has accounted itself fairly well on the road, averaging 36.4 points away from its home field.

Did You Know: This will be the third meeting between the two teams in recent years. Charleston won in 2018, 37-14, but Melbourne turned the tables the following year, winning 28-24.

Paris (4-6) at Mansfield (8-2) – First round of the Arkansas Class 3A playoffs

When: 7 p.m. Friday

The Stakes: A pair of familiar rivals battle it out in the postseason opener. Paris qualified for the postseason last week with a 42-0 win at home against Two Rivers, which snapped a four-game losing streak. The Eagles now face a tall task in taking down a Tiger team that ran the table in 3A-1 and averaged just more than 40 points in the regular season. Mansfield, which lost its two games by a combined total of five points, also went a perfect 5-0 at home in the regular season, averaging exactly 41 points. In the Tigers’ last home game, a win against West Fork last week, Daniel Burton rushed for 253 yards on just seven carries and scored three TDs.

Did You Know: Mansfield has won four straight games against the Eagles in the current series, most recently a 47-9 win in 2023. Prior to that, Paris won seven straight games against the Tigers from 2011-17.

West Monroe (5-5) at Parkway (8-2) – First round of the Louisiana Division I non-select playoffs

When: 7 p.m. Friday

The Stakes: Parkway enters the postseason seeded No. 12 in the bracket. The Panthers won their first five games before a loss to city rival Airline. They might have been a Top 10 seed in the playoffs if not for a tough 45-43 loss to Evangel in last week’s regular-season finale. West Monroe, one of the more successful high school programs in Louisiana history, enters the playoffs with an uncharacteristic 5-5 record, finishing 2-3 in District 5A-2. But the No. 21 seeded Rebels have played a very tough schedule. Three of those losses came to Alexandria (the No. 2 seed in the Division I select bracket), Neville (the top seed in Division I non-select) and Ruston (the No. 3 seed in Division I non-select). Their other two losses came to Arkansas power Pulaski Academy and Catholic-Baton Rouge, which won the Division I select championship last season.

Did You Know: This will be the first game between Parkway and West Monroe in exactly 20 years. The Rebels claimed a 38-7 win against the Panthers in 2004.

Evangel Christian (5-5) at Captain Shreve (6-4) – First round of the Louisiana Division I select playoffs

When: 7 p.m. Thursday at Lee Hedges Stadium in Shreveport

The Stakes: Perhaps the most anticipated first-round playoff game in Louisiana comes a day early. The last time Evangel and Captain Shreve met, on Oct. 10 in the very same venue, the Gators outlasted the Eagles in overtime, 77-76. This despite Evangel quarterback Peyton Houston setting a national high school record by throwing for 817 yards and accounting for 10 total TDs. Not to be outdone, Captain Shreve QB Brodie Savage passed for 462 yards and five TDs in the wild win. Both quarterbacks got ready for the rematch with strong performances last week. Houston threw for 432 yards and three TDs while rushing for another in Evangel’s 45-43 win against Parkway, while Savage threw for 205 yards, including an 80-yard TD pass, as the Gators got past arch-rival C.E. Byrd, 42-34. Evangel has won four straight games since that loss to Captain Shreve. The winner of Thursday’s playoff game between the No. 18 seeded Eagles and No. 15 seeded Gators travels to face No. 2 seed Alexandria next week.

Did You Know: Captain Shreve’s overtime win in October broke a four-game skid to Evangel, with the Eagles beating the Gators each season from 2015-18, scoring at least 52 points in each of the first three games.

Pine Tree (9-1) vs. Bridge City (8-2) – Bi-district round of the Texas 4A Division I playoffs

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Longview’s Pirate Stadium

The Stakes: Pine Tree has been one of the more surprising teams in Northeast Texas all season, going from a 6-5 record in 2023 to a sterling 9-1 regular season, featuring wins against defending 4A Division II state champion Gilmer and defending 4A Division I runner-up Tyler Chapel Hill. The Pirates capped regular season play with a 35-7 win against Palestine, as running backs Ja’karius Timmons and Roger Attaway each rushed for 86 yards and two TDs. The Pirates will get to play at home in their postseason opener, taking on Bridge City. The Cardinals started off 7-0 before dropping two of their last three games, including a 26-18 loss to Hargrave in the regular season finale. Quarterback Hutch Bearden has thrown for 1,359 yards and 15 TDs while adding 12 TDs on the ground. Running back Ashton Sumrall has added 1,258 yards and 11 scores.

Did You Know: After not recording a single winning season during the entire decade of the 2010s, Pine Tree now has three winning seasons since 2020 (2020, 2023 and now 2024).

Malakoff (10-0) vs. Tatum (6-4) – Bi-district round of the Texas 3A Division I playoffs

When: 7 p.m. Thursday at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium in Tyler

The Stakes: It will be a tough assignment for Tatum from the get-go, as the Eagles face defending 3A Division I champion Malakoff. The Tigers haven’t missed a beat, going into the playoffs with a perfect record. Malakoff is also averaging nearly 49 points per game while holding opponents to 10.2 points. Senior quarterback Mike Jones is one of the top signal-callers in the state, having thrown for 1,016 yards and 15 TDs while also scoring three rushing TDs. Tatum has recorded impressive wins against Daingerfield and Gladewater and nearly knocked off undefeated Jefferson last week before falling, 18-13.

Did You Know: One of Tatum’s most notable alums is Larry Centers, who played running back in the NFL for 14 seasons, most notably with the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, but was known more for his pass catching abilities. In fact, he finished his career with the Cardinals as the team’s all-time leading receiver, a mark which has since been eclipsed. Centers was also part of the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl-winning squad in 2003.

Waskom (8-2) vs. Paul Pewitt (5-5) – Bi-district round of the Texas 2A Division I playoffs

When: 7 p.m. Thursday at Marshall

The Stakes: Waskom enters postseason play riding a ton of momentum, as the Wildcats finished with a perfect 7-0 record in District 10-2A-I play. Their two losses were by a combined total of seven points. Waskom has scored 53 points or more in half of its 10 regular-season games, including 62 in a decisive win against Hawkins last week. One player to watch for Waskom is Kelton Williams, a 5-foot-8, 165-pound senior running back/cornerback who can also play slot receiver and return kicks. So far this season, Williams has rushed for 1,029 yards – averaging 16.5 yards per carry – along with scoring 18 TDs. Paul Pewitt enters postseason play coming off a 42-18 defeat to eventual 9-2A-I champion Honey Grove, a week after rolling past Alba-Golden, 45-13.

Did You Know: Waskom won back-to-back 3A Division II state titles in 2014-15. The Wildcats have also had three double-digit winning seasons since then, including a 13-2 ledger in 2021.

Buck Ringgold | @Bucks_Ballpark | realarklahomasports@gmail.com