6A:
Jenks vs. Union
University of Tulsa
Friday, October 30
7:30 P.M.

5A:
Bixby vs. Guthrie
University of Oklahoma
Friday, October 30
7:30 P.M.

4A:
Bishop McGuinness vs. Glenpool
University of Oklahoma
Saturday, December 1
1:30 PM

B:
Morrison vs. Dewar
Mustang High School
Friday, October 30
7:30 P.M.

C:
Shattuck vs. Grandfield
Mustang High School
Saturday, December 1
7:30 PM

It's official. Verdigris star and the state's leading scorer Rotnei Clarke told NewsChannel 8 he will attend the University of Arkansas. Clarke sat down with NewsChannel 8's Ruben Diaz during our ten o'clock newscast Wednesday night to announce his decision.

"I really love coach Pelphrey, really love the atmosphere there and it's just a really great place to be."

Clarke says the decision was a very tough one to make -- narrowing it down from nearly 30 schools to three -- Oklahoma State, Oral Roberts and Arkansas. But, he said in the end, he had a peace in his heart with this decision.

Now that the decision is out of the way, Rotnei can get back to work -- in Verdigris -- trying to lead the Cardinals to the state championship.

Clarke averaged 37 points per game for the Cardinals last year and is within striking distance of the all-time career record for points in Oklahoma.

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/1107/474715.html

SEMIFINALS:

6A:

Muskogee vs. Union, 7:30 Friday at NEOSU (Tahlequah)
Jenks vs. Midwest City, 7:30 Saturday at UCO (Edmond)

5A:

East Central vs. Guthrie, 7:30 Friday at Putnam City
Lawton Mac vs. Bixby, 7:30 Saturday at Putnam City

4A:

Broken Bow vs. Glenpool, 7:30 Friday at McAlester
McGuinness vs. Wagoner, 7:30 Saturday at Sapulpa

3A:

Clinton vs. Tuttle, 7:30 Friday at UCO (Edmond)
Kingfisher vs. Plainview, 7:30 Saturday at Choctaw

B:

PC-Hunter vs. Morrison, 7:30 Friday at Ponca City
Dewar vs. Timberlake, 7:30 Saturday at Mustang

C:

Grandfield vs. Ringwood, 7:30 Friday at SWOSU (Weatherford)
Shattuck vs. Medford, 7:30 Saturday at SWOSU (Weatherford)

QUARTERFINALS

2A:

Hennessey at Prague, Friday
Cascia Hall at Davis, Saturday
Heritage Hall at Henryetta, Saturday
Bethany at Chandler, Friday

A:

Woodland at Velma-Alma, Friday
Rush Springs at Hominy, Saturday
Stroud at Washington, Saturday
Okeene at Pawnee, Friday

All of that will be tested at 7:30 Saturday night, when they face top-ranked Tulsa Union (11-0) in the quarterfinals of the Class 6A playoffs.

Watson is where it all begins for PC. The senior has 687 yards rushing and 318 passing. His stats aren't eye popping, and the senior couldn't care less.

"To me, as long as we get the win, I don't care what kind of stats I have,” Watson said. "That's everyone's attitude. They don't care who gets the TD as long as we win games.”

Putnam City coach Mark Little has coached for years, but few teams he's had can match the selflessness of his current group. Watson stands for that style of play as much as anyone on the roster.

"Nico exemplifies our team attitude,” Little said. "He has a quiet confidence and strength. He does whatever it takes for the team, and he's never worried about himself. He's someone that's a leader who other kids want to play with and win with.”

Watson wasn't winning many games last year. The Pirates went 4-6. This season, all of the sweat and early mornings in the weight room last winter, spring and summer were nearly dashed. Watson suffered a sprained ankle in PC's first intra-squad scrimmage. After recovering, he was stricken with mononucleosis, which could have benched him for the season.

"I couldn't even get out of the house,” Watson said. "I lost weight. I was weak and couldn't move. It was terrible.”

Once he recovered, nobody was happier than Little. The coach had seen Watson battle injuries for most of his career, only to recover and then get hurt again.

"To see him go through a season relatively healthy is special,” Little said. "He's been through so much, a lot of people might have given up. He's a tough kid.”

He'll need to be tough against Tulsa Union. The Redskins will be heavy favorites when the Pirates visit Union-Tuttle Stadium on Saturday night. But again, Watson isn't exactly in awe.

"They're a great team and number one for a reason,” he said. "But they don't scare us. We don't get intimidated. We just play our game. They're 17 or 18 years old just like we are.”

http://newsok.com/article/3169256/

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