Oklahoman All-State football teams: A look at the 5s

The roster did, however, contain the “best high school center ever turned out in the state” in Leo Wallace of Oklahoma City, The Oklahoman claimed.

Fullback “Skinny” Davis of Norman “stands in a class by himself” while All-State quarterback Thomas Mitcher of Oklahoma City was “not so speedy as some, but he is good at advancing the ball, runs good interference, can kick, is great at tackling and above all he is a good strategist,” the newspaper reported.

Setting it Straight, 87 years later

Headlining the 1925 All-State roster was Jack Carmen of Bristow, an end, and Harvey Sark of Bartlesville, a tackle. The Oklahoman's headline proclaimed that the two players “Rate With Best Highschool Stars Ever Turned Out In Oklahoma.”

Unfortunately, the headline misspelled Sark's name as Lark.

1945 team was big, fast and tall

The Oklahoman reported that the 44 players on the 1945 All-State football team were “bigger and faster and taller” than ever.

The group was led by Muskogee's Joe Crowder, “the fastest pass receiver in District 6A and a defensive demon,” The Oklahoman reported.

Seminole's Richard Simmons was “a 6-8 giant who weighs 269 pounds” while Henryetta's Clifford Van Meter was “the most sought after high school back in the state,” according to the newspaper.

1955 All-State team had a glaring omission

The 1955 All-State team might be remember more for who didn't make the team. The Oklahoman's Ray Soldan reported there was “a brilliant fullback” from Oklahoma City Douglass who deserved to be on the team: Prentice Gautt.

The man who would become the University of Oklahoma's first black player was not eligible for the All-State team because Douglass was not a member of the Oklahoma High School Athletic Association, a requirement of the Oklahoma Coaches Association, co-sponsors of the All-State team.

However, after All-State practices began, several players got hurt and Gautt was asked to play, becoming the first black player in the All-State game. He was named the most valuable player in the game.

1965: Owens didn't have to share the Heisman at least

The 1965 All-State football team had a future Heisman Trophy winner: Steve Owens.

“Owens did everything for Miami and has for three seasons,” The Oklahoman reported.