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EDMOND, OK — Coming into Thursday night, the Wagoner Bulldogs were a perfect 13-0 on the season. 

Led by junior defensive lineman and Oklahoma commit Alexander Shieldnight as well as senior wide receiver and Vanderbilt pledge Witt Edwards, the Bulldogs had outscored their opponents 129-14 in the first three rounds of the state playoffs and were favorites to win their second consecutive state title.

The Blanchard Lions were 12-1 heading into their final contest of the 2023 season, losing only to Piedmont (OK) early in the regular season. Led by senior quarterback Carson Cooksey, senior offensive lineman and Tulsa commit Ross Johnston and a host of talented skill position players, Blanchard pulled off an upset over fellow Tulsa commit Dax Collins and Poteau in the state semifinals.

The 4A title game was a slug fest, with Blanchard scoring on its opening drive then being kept out of the endzone again until the second quarter. After the Lions scored again and seemed close to pulling away, Wagoner senior defensive back Shaun Atkins returned Blanchard's kickoff for a touchdown, bringing the score to 13-7 at halftime. 

Shieldnight caught one pass in the first half, using his strength to run through would-be tacklers to get first-down yardage after catching a short pass. Aside from his lone catch, Shieldnight made a few nice stops in the backfield to close the first half.

Shieldnight was even more active up front in the second half, as he shed blocks and once again dragged ball carriers down at or behind the line of scrimmage. At one point in the third quarter, the 3-star edge rusher slapped an offensive lineman's hands away and then tracked down Cooksey for a huge sack that stalled one of the Lions' offensive drives around midfield.

Even when Shieldnight wasn't able to bring Cooksey down, the Sooners' 2025 pledge got into the backfield and put pressure on the Lions' signal caller, forcing the talented passer to escape the pocket and throw the ball away a handful of times. 

"He's committed to OU, we knew coming in he was a pretty good athlete," Johnston said after the game. "He's a damn good athlete."

Johnston, a senior offensive lineman who is listed at 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds, is committed to Tulsa. 

Even with a heavy knee brace on, Shieldnight had an impressive performance against Blanchard in the state championship game. While the Bulldogs were unable to come away with a victory this season after taking home the trophy in 2022, Shieldnight still has another year at Wagoner to try and win another state championship.

After announcing his pledge in early November, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound edge rusher also indicated that he intents to enroll at OU early to get ready for life as a college football player. 

The 3-star recruit is one of the top 21 edge rushers in the country according to Rivals and chose the Sooners over Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Tennessee, Oklahoma State and others. 

The next Oklahoma commit to make his 2023 state championship game appearance will be 2024 athlete Andy Bass, who has led Heritage Hall (OK) to an unbeaten season thus far and will take on Lincoln Christian (OK) in the 3A finals on Saturday afternoon. 

On Saturday night, Carl Albert (OK) will meet Del City in a highly-anticipated 5A showdown. Led by OU pledges Kevin Sperry, Xavier Robinson, Tryane Washington and Marcus James, the Titans will be tasked with stopping Oklahoma State commit Rodney Fields and TCU pledge LaDainian Fields.

This article first appeared on FanNation All Sooners and was syndicated with permission.

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