Week 1 High School Football Locker Room

It's the first week of the high school football season and News 9 and the News On 6 are committed to bringing you the best coverage of high school football in the state. With plenty of big opening week showdowns, we'll be bringing plenty of highlights from the best games around the state, both on the air and online.

As in the past, we need your help to gather the scores from all the games across the state each week. There are plenty of ways to do that, so help us out and send us the score from whichever game you're at each week.

This year, we'll be previewing some of the biggest games of the week. Here are this week's games to watch.

Clinton vs. Lawton MacArthur

The first week of the high school football season boasts a lot of terrific matchups, but one of the best inter-class battles will be in Lawton, when defending 4A champ Clinton travels to take on Lawton MacArthur.

Last season, the Highlanders went on the road to knock off the Red Tornadoes, 28-14. However, the loss did nothing to derail Clinton's season. Clinton went on to win every other game except for a mid-season loss to Anadarko to claim the 4A crown.

MacArthur struggled to a 2-2 start before ripping off six straight wins to close the regular season. The Highlanders fell to Guthrie in the first round of the playoffs.

Both teams have several key returning players, starting with Clinton's Marquiz Simpkins. Simpkins rushed for over 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns last year as a sophomore. The Red Tornadoes are expecting big things out of him and a veteran offensive line.

For MacArthur, head coach Brett Manning expects a lot of wide receiver Gary McKnight, who will be counted on to produce big numbers for the offense. The defense is led by linebacker Mitch Fritts.

Edmond North vs. Edmond Memorial

Edmond North and Edmond Memorial renew their rivalry Friday night at Wantland Stadium at 7:00 p.m.

The Huskies eliminated the Bulldogs in last season's playoffs, putting together a 34-7 beatdown back on Nov. 8.  North didn't advance any farther, falling to powerhouse Jenks 34-12 just one week later. 

As lopsided as that playoff meeting was, it was much closer than their season-opening matchup, which North took by a 44-0 score. 

Despite finishing just 4-7 overall last season, Memorial went 4-3 in District -4 play and won four of its final six games to finish the season strong. 

North finished the 2012 campaign 10-2, with its only regular-season loss coming at fellow District-3 power Norman North. 

Owasso vs. Broken Arrow

It's Week 1, and powerhouses Tulsa Union and Jenks are off playing Texas schools. That leaves Broken Arrow-Owasso to command the 6A spotlight.

The Tigers edged the Rams 19-17 in last season's opener. But Broken Arrow would miss a potential rematch in the state semis by losing to Norman North 24-16 in the quarterfinals. Owasso would also fall to North, 49-42.

Don't be skeptical about the Tigers 8-4 record a year ago. Broken Arrow's losses were to Arkansas powerhouse Bentonville, Union, Jenks and then 6A runner-up Norman North. Coach Steve Spavital returns plenty of talent too, with pre-season all-staters Gyasi Akem at linebacker and Devon Thomas at running back. Both are Oklahoma State commits.

Owasso had as impressive a season as recent memory can recall, posting a 10-3 record, including a road win at Union, a year ago. The Rams might have the toughest schedule in 6A this season. Facing Broken Arrow, Jenks and Union in a four-week span is not an easy way to start your season, but coach Bill Patterson should again be able to conjure another high powered offense that will give Owasso a chance against anybody.

Here's a list of all the games we'll be covering this week. This list will likely grow in the next few days as plans become clearer.

Thursday, September 5

Norman 38, Norman North 31

Midwest City 3,  Edmond Santa Fe 0

Southmoore 37, Carl Albert 14

Heritage Hall 30, Casady 22

John Marshall 41, NW Classen 12

Cleveland 34, Hominy 13

Claremore 17, Oolagah 14

Millwood 54, Star Spencer 0

Friday, September 6

News On 6 Game of the Week- Broken Arrow 37, Owasso 16

News 9 Game of the Week- Westmoore 37, Moore 6

Wagoner 21, Coweta 2

Cascia Hall 33, Holland Hall 32

Sand Springs 39, Muskogee 14

Stilwell 29, Verdigris 21

Pryor 24, Catoosa 0

Bixby 32, Garden City, KS 27

Glenpool 44, Berryhill 19

Collinsville 34, Skiatook 32

Del City 52, East Central 27

Edmond Memorial 13, Edmond North 0

Metro Christian 14, Oklahoma Christian 13

Yukon 16, Mustang 13 (OT)

Deer Creek 35, Piedmont3

Putnam City 34, Putnam City North 6