Friday Night Highlights: How Oklahoma State commits fared in Week 8

We’ve got two new players to add to the list on the defensive side of the ball. Check out how Sawyer Goram-Welch and Tyren Irby faired in their games last week as well as a down night for Shane Illingworth and more of the same from Brennan Presley.

Shane Illingworth, Quarterback

Most of Norco’s games this season have been lopsided in favor of the Cougars. That wasn’t the case in week eight as Norco came out on the wrong side of a 61-23 smackdown at the hands of Corona Centennial.

Illingworth was held to 145 yards through the air and no touchdowns in the loss. Centennial has dominated the league over the last decade. The Huskies haven’t lost a Big VIII league game since 2009, increasing its league winning streak to 52 games with the win against Norco.

(Side note: Illingworth played his high school ball in a league called the “Big 8” per an article from Devin Ugland in the Los Angeles Times, where I found Illingworth’s stats for that game... how cool is that?)

The loss drops Norco to 6-2 and 2-1 in league play. The Cougars will likely lock up the second playoff spot in the league behind Centennial after the loss.

One thing is for sure: Illingworth can throw a pretty ball.

Brennan Presley, Athlete

Ahhh shoot, here we go again...

Another game, another big performance for Presley and Bixby’s seventh blowout win in seven games. The Spartans have won every game this season by at least 31 points after their 61-14 win at Bartlesville in week eight.

Presley had another outstanding night. He made quick work of the Bartlesville defense, catching six balls for 143 yards and three scores. He added one carry for 25 yards as well. Also of note, Cowboy commit Jordan Reagan had two tackles for Bixby.

Unfortunately for the state of Oklahoma, Bixby plays in Class 6A Division II. They’ll likely face Gunnar Gundy and Stillwater in the state finals. While Stillwater is a worthy opponent, the idea of Bixby facing Owasso, who plays in 6A Division I, is tantalizing. It would be a true test of who is the best in Oklahoma. While Bixby has blown past every team it has faced this season, Owasso is ranked No. 24 in the nation according to the USA Today Super 25.

Matt Polk, Wide Receiver

Saguaro continued its winning ways with a 56-0 win against Marcos de Niza to move to 7-1 on the season.

I couldn’t find any stats for Polk for this game, but he did have this nice touchdown grab.

Saguaro will round out its regular season with home games against Seton Catholic and Mesquite before playoffs begin.

Other Notes

• Newest commit Sawyer Goram-Welch recorded seven tackles in Longview’s 49-13 win over Rockwall Heath. Goram-Welch won the Class 6A Division II state championship in Texas last season and the Lobos are favorites to return to state again this season.
• Top-ranked Waco Connally (TX) picked up a big 35-12 win against Mexia this week to stay perfect this season. Following that game, OL Trent Pullen and CB Korie Black made the trip up to Stillwater for America’s Greatest Homecoming.
• OL Eli Russ helped Plainview (OK) to a 24-22 win against Sulphur.
• TE Quinton Stewart and Salina Central (KS) fell to Maize 26-8.
• OL Cade Bennett and Notre Dame Prep (AZ) lost a double overtime thriller to Horizon, 35-34.
• CB Jabbar Muhammad and DeSoto (TX) rolled against Grand Prairie 54-7.
• LB Cole Thompson and Norman (OK) beat Enid 55-7.
• LB Jeff Roberson and Choctaw (OK) took down Putnam City West 74-14.
• DT Grant Mahon and Denton Guyer (TX) rolled against my alma mater, Keller, 42-10.
• S Zach Middleton and Bishop Kelley beat Glenpool 40-12.
• Junior College DE Tyren Irby, another recent commit, helped Northwest Mississippi CC to a 41-17 win against Northeast. Two weeks ago, Irby led Northwest Mississippi to a 56-36 win against East Mississippi CC, who was the subject of Netflix’s “Last Chance U” for two seasons. Irby has recorded 27 tackles and 9.5 tackles-for-loss this season.