In an ideal world, high school football playoff matchups are decided by on-the-field play. But sometimes, in reality, they are decided by a midnight coin toss in a parking lot in front of Catfish Roundup.
Three Oklahoma high school football teams – Liberty, Gore and Central Sallisaw – were all tied for third place in Class A-2, District 3. However, there were only four playoff spots, so only two of the teams could advance.
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The problem? The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association’s (OSSAA) tiebreakers didn’t break any ties. The three teams had identical district records, split their head-to-head games and had the exact same point differential.
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An Oklahoma Sooners football and helmet sit in the end zone before a game against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., on Sept. 2, 2023. Oklahoma won 73-0. (Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
So, the next best option? A midnight coin toss in the Catfish Roundup parking lot.
Central Sallisaw head coach Jeremy Thompson was in disbelief.
“Coin toss, is that really going to happen? I called Mr. Johnson and he confirmed it,” Thompson said, according to 2News Oklahoma. “Yes, that’s how it’s going to go.”
The coins were flipped, and Liberty and Central Sallisaw both flipped tails, ensuring they would move on to the playoffs.
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An aerial view shows the track and football field at Nathan Shapell Memorial Stadium at Yorba Linda High School in Yorba Linda, Calif., on May 10, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
“I can’t tell you I’ve ever flipped a point and been that nervous. It’s a tough way to do it, but that’s the way it is,” Thompson said. “We’re excited it went our way.”
For Gore, there was no love in Oklahoma, as the coin did not flip their way. Gore head coach Nathan McCurley was gutted for his seniors.
“You just hate to see it for the seniors, especially how we’ve rallied these last four weeks to put ourselves in this position,” McCurley said, according to 2News Oklahoma. “To have it go away on a coin flip, I’m not upset over that. It’s just, I hate it for the kids more than anything.”
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The goalposts, stadium lights and home team stands at Gov. Mifflin High School during a high school football game between the Wilson Bulldogs and the Gov. Mifflin Mustangs in Shillington, Pa., on Sept. 3, 2021. (MediaNews Group via Getty Images)
For Liberty, on the other hand, the coin flipping the right way was a big deal for the school.
“You never know what’s going to happen when you get in a situation like this, so it’s a big deal for us, our school history,” Liberty head coach Nate Green said, according to 2News Oklahoma. “We don’t have a lot of trips to the playoffs.”
Well, thanks to the coin, Liberty has an opportunity to play again and add to their school’s history.