Despite bringing a 3-7 record to Friday’s playoff game at Ponca City, the Tahlequah Tigers aren’t likely to be an easy mark for the Wildcats.

The two teams are scheduled to play in the first round of the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association Class 6AII playoffs. Tahlequah finished sixth in District 6AII-1 and the Wildcats were third in District 6AII-2.

Among Tahequah’s seven defeats were losses to premier teams like Stillwater (55-0), Booker T. Washington (47-0) and Muskogee (48-13). They also lost to Wagoner (43-3), one of Class 4A’s best outfits. Losses to Sapulpa (3935), Sand Springs (25-21) and Bartlesville (28-16) were relatively close. The three wins were over Sallisaw, Putnam City West and U. S. Grant.

Ponca City Coach Scott Harmon assesses the Tigers as being a team that will challenge the Wildcats.

“They are big and physical” he said. “They have a quarterback that likes to pull it down and run. We will have to play good defense like we have been. Offensively we will have to do a good job picking up their edge blitzes.”

Ponca City lost its first four games, and then came on to win five of the next six contests. One of its losses was the third game of the season to Sand Springs, the only common opponent with Tahlequah. Sand Springs defeated the Wildcats 48-25.

The Tahlequah quarterback is junior Brody Younger, who has passed for 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns during the season. The leading ball carriers are Josh Munoz who has carried the ball 100 times for 437 yards and Darryn Sparh, who has 74 carries for 338 yards. The top receivers for Younger’s passes have been Beckett Robinson, who has caught 45 passes for 669 yards and Brayden Northington, who has caught 13 passes for 400 yards. The top defensive players include linebackers Jayden Moore and Robinson.

Tahlequah is relatively young, with most of the skill players being underclassmen.

Ponca City has had to adapt its game plan due to injuries. In the last game against Choctaw, members of the defensive unit, Grant Harmon and Jace Schneeberger rotated at a running back position after an injury to starting back Brody Wicker. Harmon and has coaching staff have been able to improvise when needed this season.

Friday’s game is a big one for the Wildcats, who qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2005. A win would give them a playoff win for the first time in a longer time as the 2005 team lost the first round game. Compiling a 5-5 record they tied for the best record in Harmon’s five-year tenure at the helm. His 2019 team was also 5-5, but failed to qualify for the postseason.

Friday’s game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. at Sullins Stadium.