The fall football season is heating up, and several local teams are set for pivotal matchups this Friday night. From teams on the hunt for their first win to those defending unbeaten records, Week 7 promises intense action.

— Okmulgee vs. Hugo

The Okmulgee Bulldogs will face the Hugo Buffaloes at 7p.m. on Friday, and these teams come into the game on vastly different streaks. Okmulgee has struggled for over a year now, suffering 15 consecutive losses, but they hope to turn things around after showing some offensive life in last week’s 42-16 loss to Kingston.

Despite the loss, Okmulgee put up their highest point total of the season, suggesting that their offense is beginning to find its rhythm. Still, the Bulldogs remain ranked 252nd in the MaxPreps’ Oklahoma rankings, compared to Kingston’s ranking of 87th.

On the other hand, Hugo is riding high with a four-game winning streak. The Buffaloes rolled past Bethel last week, 38-24, with a commanding performance. Cecil Smith and Logan Allen led the defensive effort, each forcing a fumble, and Smith also posted a season-high six tackles.

Okmulgee (0-5) will need to bring their best game to challenge Hugo (4-1), who look to keep their momentum going.

— Morris vs. Antlers

The Morris Eagles and Antlers Bearcats find themselves in similar predicaments heading into Friday’s matchup. Both teams have endured difficult seasons, with five straight losses each.

Morris is looking to rebound after a tough 35-6 defeat against Atoka, where they struggled in every quarter. However, they’re out to prove that last week’s result was just a minor bump in the road.

Meanwhile, Antlers was blanked by Vian last Friday, suffering a 48-0 defeat. While the scoreline was lopsided, the Bearcats faced a significant challenge, given Vian’s ranking of 49th in Oklahoma compared to their own rank of 226th.

With both teams hungry for their first win, this game offers a chance for one to finally break their losing streak. Morris enters with a 0-5 record, and Antlers is at 0-4.

— Beggs vs. Holdenville

The Beggs Golden Demons will hit the road to face the undefeated Holdenville Wolverines on Friday at 7 p.m. After suffering their first home loss of the season to Davis (28-22), Beggs is looking to get back on track.

Beggs had been riding a four-game winning streak before last week, and they’ll face a tall task in stopping Holdenville’s dominant ground game. The Wolverines cruised to a 46-0 victory over Tishomingo last Friday and remain undefeated at 5-0. Underclassman Abe Gomez was a key contributor, rushing for 58 yards and a touchdown while also passing for another score.

Holdenville’s offense has been on fire all season, racking up at least 217 rushing yards in 16 consecutive games dating back to last year. Their defense also forced three fumbles against Tishomingo, with Jordan Harjo, Rowdy Elkins, and Xavier Randall each recovering one.

Beggs, now 4-1, will need a strong all-around performance to stop Holdenville’s roll.

— Henryetta vs. Valliant

The Henryetta Knights will host the Valliant Bulldogs on Friday night, coming into the game with momentum from back-to-back victories. Henryetta’s offense has been lighting up the scoreboard, averaging 42.4 points per game this season.

In last week’s 25-12 win over Wilburton, Jason Powders was the standout, rushing for 218 yards and a touchdown, including a remarkable 75-yard run. Nathan White also added 43 yards and two touchdowns as part of Henryetta’s dominant ground game, which tallied 295 rushing yards. Henryetta, now 4-1, has rushed for at least 204 yards in five consecutive games, making their offense one of the most potent in the district.

Valliant (2-3) is coming off a high-scoring win of their own, defeating Spiro 62-14 last week. The Bulldogs will look to carry that momentum into their matchup with the Knights.

— Dewar vs. Savanna

The Dewar Dragons will travel to face the Savanna Bulldogs on Friday night in a key Class B-I District 4 clash. Dewar enters the game with a 4-1 record and is ranked second in the district, while Savanna stands at 3-2.

Both teams are looking to secure important district wins as they push for playoff positioning. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

— Wilson vs. Webbers Falls

The Wilson Tigers squared off against the Webbers Falls Warriors in their Homecoming game last night. After a strong start to the season, Wilson was handed its first loss of the year by Weleetka last week, 64-26, ending their three-game winning streak. Webbers Falls, coming off a close 14-8 loss to Savanna, looked to bounce back as well.

Check next week’s edition for full game results and analysis.

– Stay tuned for game recaps and player highlights following this week’s action.