Pigskin Preview • September 3, 2021 • Page 2
John Marshall ready to make some noise in Class 4A By Jason Jewell Sports Editor
last year,” the coach said. “I’m looking forward to With a complete offseason, us having a great including spring practice, year.” summer conditioning and John Marshall fall workouts, the John comes off a 4-6 Marshall football team is record last season ready to make some noise in to finish sixth in its second year in Class 4A. District 4A-2 and “Last year was a rollerlost to Newcastle in coaster ride,” coach Jeff the first round of Horrocks said. “We were the state playoffs. Coach Jeff Horrocks never in school and couldn’t It will be a tale get a consistent groove. We of two units as the also got hurt by a lack of depth.” Bears return just three offensive This season, however, the Bears starters compared to nine defensive feel in a much better spot than in starters. early 2020. They travel to Bethany Perhaps one of the most critical this Friday at 7 p.m. to open their returning offensive players is quarseason. terback Kane Donovan. The senior “I really feel better about where threw for 1,641 yards and 15 touchwe are at this point than we were downs in his first full season as the
Middleton and Je’Sean Jackson starting QB. District 4A-2 “This is my come back to serve as third year Donovan’s primary targets. Pre-Season Rankings Both receivers caught more coaching Kane, 1. Tuttle than 200 yards and combined so I’m really 2. Cushing for five touchdowns last seaimpressed with 3. Blanchard son. how far he has 4. Ada come,” Leading the way for the nine 5. John Marshall returning defensive starters is Horrocks said. 6. Harrah linebacker Charles Carter. The “He’s develop7. Tecumseh ing into a colsenior collected 56 ½ tackles 8. Classen SAS and recovered a fumble last lege-level quarSource: VYPE Pigskin Preview season. Senior Shayne Richard terback. joins Carter in the middle of Tailback the Bears’ defense after Devin Jones joins Donovan in the offensive back- accounting for 60 tackles, four of them for loss, and picked up three field, after averaging nearly 5 ½ fumble recoveries. yards per carry in limited action last Seniors Tango McCauley and year. Since he was transferring from Anthony Reyes anchor the defensive another district, Jones only got cleared to play in the last third of the line. The pair combined for nearly 50 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, a sack and season, Horrocks said. two fumble recoveries. Senior wide receivers Dorien
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Crossings Christian hopes to rebound from difficult year By Jason Jewell Sports Editor
upswing for the Knights ahead of the 2021 season, as Bitten hard by the injury they return seven bug and nearly half their starters on both games by COVID-19 conoffense and cerns, the Crossings Christian defense in their football team is ready to second season in rebound from a difficult 2020 Class 2A. season. “We expect to After opening the year win a lot more against Community Christian games,” Keathly in Week 0, the Knights enjoy said of his team a bye week before returning that went just 1-8 Coach Jonathan Keathly for a home game Sept. 10 last year. “There against OCS. were three games that we gave away “It was not what we expected our in the fourth quarter because of a lot season to look like,” said coach of mistakes.” Jonathan Keathly. “We had several Senior Drew Wood returns to lead key injuries which forced us to play a the Crossings Christian offense as the lot of younger players. The season starting quarterback. Wood threw for was hard but I think we’ll be better 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns in his for it.” junior season and coaches expect him Things look much more on the to have an even better senior year.
“Drew has played juniors Preston Mahen District 2A-2 a lot off and on but he and Cole Crawford – to has really taken protect Wood and open Pre-Season Rankings charge of the team,” holes for the running 1. Jones Keathly said. game. 2. Millwood A trio of experiOn defense, junor 3. Chandler enced receivers surBlake Meek led the 4. Prague round Wood in the team with 86 tackles 5. Kellyville offensive backfield last season form his 6. Meeker and skill positions. middle linebacker spot. 7. Crossings Chr. Mason Snyder figThis year, he may try 8. Star Spencer ures to be the go-to his hand on offense as target for Wood, with a tight end or halfback. Source: VYPE Pigskin Preview his speed and catchMahen and Crawford ing abilities. The senswitch over to play on ior scored just three touchdowns last the defensive line, while sophomore season before a broken foot ended Nate Rouse patrols the defensive sechis season after four games. ondary. Mahen accounted for 24 tackTwo other seniors in Logan les, a sack and forced a fumble, and McGowan and Drew Taylor provide Rouse collected an interception and viable receiving options. McGowan broke up three passes. caught 33 passes for 305 yards in 2020. Matthew Jolliff also returns for his The Knights also bring back a pair senior season as the Knights’ punter of experienced offensive lineman – and place kicker.
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McGuinness continues to be a perennial title contender By Jason Jewell Sports Editor
5A-2 title. can’t compare to. Senior running Senior Paul Tarman and junior back Mike Taffe Tyrell Bruner have demonstrated Thanks to reaching the provides much their abilities to make plays from the state championship game in needed experience wide receiver position. four of the last five years, the in the offensive A big hole to fill on the offense is McGuinness football team backfield. at quarterback to replace Luke continues to be among the “Mike is one of Tarman, who graduated in 2020. favorites each year to hold a the top running Sophomore River Warren got the gold ball at the end of the backs in the start in the 2021 season. state,” Irish Irish’s Week 0 District 5A-2 After opening with a Week coach Bryan opener against 0 loss to Coweta, the Irish Pierce said. Coweta. Pre-Season Rankings next play Sept. 10 against Charged McGuinness Coach Bryan Pierce 1. Carl Albert Tulsa-Bishop Kelley. Kickoff with creatalso has a few 2. McGuinness is set for 7 p.m. at Pribil Stadium. ing holes for Taffe in the runmore shoes to 3. Guthrie McGuinness returns seven offenning game, the offensive line fill on defense, 4. Woodward sive and just five defensive starters boasts the most experienced as only five 5. L. Eisenhower from a team that went 11-3 in 2020 unit with three returning starters return. 6. Piedmont and lost 33-21 to district rival Carl starters. “We’re 7. Guymon Albert in the Class 5A state champiSenior Key’Arus Randle, excited to take 8. Western Heights onship game at UCO in Edmond. along with juniors Brandt the field with Source: VYPE Pigskin Preview The Irish are also picked to finish Haag and Harrison Right, new talent in second to the Titans for the District bring size that a lot of teams our defensive
Class 5A Top 10 1. Carl Albert 2. McAlester 3. Collinsville 4. McGuinness 5. Coweta
6. Tulsa Kelley 7. Sapulpa 8. Tahlequah 9. Ardmore 10. Guthrie
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lineup,” Pierce said. Senior Brody Houser anchors the defensive line from his end position, while junior Kellen Fraile claims a spot in the defensive backfield. Three returning linebackers, senior Will Watts, along with juniors Chris Clark and Zane Shadid help clog the middle of the field. Junior Drew Chansolme joins Houser on the defensive line and is projected to get a lot of attention.
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PC North poised to make deep run in Class 6A-II playoffs By Jason Jewell Sports Editor
The Panthers return seven Buoyed by one of the most offensive experienced lineups over the starters last few years, the PC North including football team expects to make quarterback, a deep run in the Class 6A, running Division II playoffs. back, four “We have a lot of experioffensive ence and a good number of linemen and guys who know how to go a receiver and win football games,” said from a team Panthers coach Ryan Laverty. that finished Coach Ryan Laverty “We’ve been building up over 2020 with an the last three or four years 8-3 overall and feel like we’re ready to make a record and fell to eventual state runrun at a district title and be in the ner-up Choctaw in the quarterfinals. upper tier of Class 6A-II.” Junior quarterback Carson Laverty Picked fourth in District 6A-II-1, leads the PC North offense, after PC North hosts intra-district rival throwing for 1,500 yards and 14 Putnam City this Friday in its season touchdowns in his sophomore season. opener. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at “A typical coaches kid, Carson is Panther Stadium. a locker room rat and hung around
every coaches in Tre Busher, Jalen Allen, District 6A-II-1 room I’ve ever Grant Donnellon and TeShane been in,” Edwards. coach Laverty On defense, the Panthers Pre-Season Rankings said of his sigonly return five starters, 1. Midwest City nal-caller who including standout lineman 2. Stillwater also happens Jaleel Johnson, from a unit that 3. Del City to be his son. allowed just 13 points per 4. PC North “He’s like a game last season. 5. Lawton second coach Johnson, a senior, collected 6. Deer Creek on the field.” 80 tackles, six sacks and 10 7. U.S. Grant Tailback tackles for loss from his end 8. NW Classen Amaurion position. He had 15 Division I Source: VYPE Pigskin Preview Norment college offers and recently serves the committed to Oklahoma State. focal point of A 3-year starter, Hadyn the running game. The senior rushed Thornton returns to lead the linefor 760 yards and 15 touchdowns in backer corps. The senior racked up a 2020. team-best 115 tackles and four interJunior Trell Churchwell and Cam ceptions. Scott are the only two returning Defensive back Dazjuan Matthews receivers with game experience. anchors the secondary where he had Along the offensive line, PC 40 tackles, four interceptions and North boasts four returning seniors five pass breakups.
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Young Casady team gaining valuable playing experience By Jason Jewell Sports Editor
expecting a much more “normal” Like a lot of schools, the season with a Casady football team got hit full 10-game hard by COVID as it had to and conferpiece together a disjointed ence schedschedule after the Southwest ule. Preparatory Conference (SPC) Following canceled its 2020 season. the opener The Cyclones were able to against schedule six games but along Carnegie in the way lost four starters. Week 0, “Last season was a mess at Casady hosts Coach Koby Scoville the beginning,” said Cyclone Apache at 7 coach Koby Scoville. “We p.m. this weren’t able to have any scrimmages Friday at Hoot Gibson Field. and limited practice time. Losing “We’re going to be a lot like we four starters, which really represents were last year,” Scoville said. “We eight positions on the field, we had miss the seniors but have a good to rely on a lot of younger players looking freshman class with a lot of that we’d prefer to get another junpotential.” ior-varsity (JV) season.” For the Cyclones to be successful This year, the Cyclones are on offense, starting quarterback
Conner Richards Casady’s least experienced SW Preparatory “needs to play well,” position groups. Conference Scoville said. The On defense, senior junior threw for 360 Tucker Jacobsen, sophoyards and a pair of more Ethan Nedio and Class 3A touchdowns last seaNaifeh bring experience Austin Saints son. and depth to the line. Casady “He got thrown Jacobsen notched seven Country Day into the fire last year tackles and two sacks in Cistercian after we hoped he’d his junior year, while John Cooper get another JV season Nedio had 20 tackles and Oakridge under his belt,” the three sacks. Trinity Valley coach added. “He Senior Kyler Scoville Source: www.spcsports.org needs to make good boasts the most experience decisions with the in the defensive backfield, football.” where he contributed 21 tackles a Junior Cole Phillips and sophoyear ago. Foster also moves to the more Jack Foster are projected to be secondary after making 22 tackles Richards’ primary receiving targets. and two interceptions in his freshPhillips caught 10 passes for 87 man campaign. yards last season. Sophomore Connor Phelps looks Senior Bo Naifeh anchors the to lead a group of linebackers in the offensive line and is expected to help middle of the Cyclones’ 3-3-5 defenlead younger players in one of sive scheme.
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Optimism running high in Mount St. Mary program By Jason Jewell Sports Editor
Mary has been forced to rely on younger players. In year 4 of his rebuild“I think it’s ing project, Mount St. Mary been good for football coach Willis them to be thrown Alexander is beginning to into the fire. see some improvement and There’s no substioptimism runs high around tute for experithe Rocket program as the ence,” the coach 2021 season kicks off this said. Friday night. After starting 4The Rockets visit Capitol 0 in 2020, the Hill in the 2nd Annual Rockets dropped Coach Willis Alexander “Showdown at Shartel.” four straight to Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at end the season to C.B. Speegle Stadium. finish with a 4-4 record. “I really like where we are going,” This time around, Mount St. Mary Alexander told FRIDAY. “We have enjoyed full spring practice, summer some better numbers so that’s a sign conditioning program and fall pracof more enthusiasm for the protice and expects to play all 10 games gram.” this season. With smaller senior classes over Taking over the Rocket offense the last couple seasons, Mount St. this season is sophomore Joseph
Krug who is Niccolas Bennett and District 3A-1 projected to Spencer Wells. start at quarterSenior Jaxon Brooks and Pre-Season Rankings back for the junior Jaxson Daniels lead 1. Heritage Hall first time. the receiving corps. Brooks, 2. Anadarko Tailback a 3-year starter, averaged 12 3. Kingfisher Jadyn Ward yards per catch last year. 4. Perkins-Tryon provides some Mount St. Mary also 5. McLoud much needed boasts an experienced 6. Bridge Creek experience in defense as eight starters 7. Douglass the offensive return. Jackson Conroe 8. Mount St. Mary backfield as he leads the way as a 4-year Source: VYPE Pigskin Preview returns for his starter at linebacker. The senior season junior collected a team-high at running 59 tackles and six sacks. back. Ward ran for 716 yards and Senior Jaxyn Ward is another 4four touchdowns in 2020. Senior year starter in the defensive backfield Salvador Jackson joins Ward in the and recorded one interception along backfield to provide what Alexander with nine pass breakups as a junior. hopes is a two-headed monster in C.J. Johnson and Jackson join Ward in the running game. the secondary. The Rockets also return several Wells jumps across the defensive experienced offensive linemen in line, as he collected 20 tackles and seniors Chris Hood, Jesse Hamilton, four sacks.
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Deer Creek working toward first berth in 6A-II playoffs By Jason Jewell Sports Editor
sive linemen in against Southmoore, as he threw for the state and 292 yards and two touchdowns, earned offers from while also rushing for 41 yards and Entering its seventh seatop college proanother touchdown in a 30-24 win son in Class 6A, Division II, grams culminatfor the Antlers. the Deer Creek football ing in a commitTwo other seniors Gavin Smith team eyes its first-ever berth ment to Oklahoma and Jevion Jones project to be in the state quarterfinals. over the summer. Pense’s primary receiving targets in The Antlers return eight Joining Sexton the Antlers’ spread offensive offensive and eight defenin the expescheme. sive starters from a team rienced unit Deer District 6AII-1 that went 4-6 overall and are seniors Creek’s lost to Sand Springs in a Matthew defense Pre-Season Rankings Coach Wade Standley postseason play-in game. Wade, brings back 1. Midwest City “We have a great group Payton eight 2. Stillwater of returning starters on offense and Hawkes and Keegon Cochran. starters, 3. Del City are excited to see what we can do,” Senior Brett Pense returns including a 4. PC North coach Wade Standley said. as the starting quarterback pair of sen5. Lawton Leading the way on offense is after throwing for 1,500 yards iors Cyrus 6. Deer Creek lineman Jake Sexton. and 15 touchdowns in the Scheiging 7. U.S. Grant The senior, with his ability to 2020 season. and Denver 8. NW Classen secure blocks with his size and Pense’s best game of 2020 Hanna along Source: VYPE Pigskin Preview speed, ranks among the top offencame in the season-opener the defen-
sive line. Patrolling the middle of the field from their linebacker spots are senior Eli Dunn and junior Andre Bruner. Jones flips over to defense from his wide receiver spot to help anchor the defensive secondary and is joined by another experienced player in junior Bryson Rouse. The Antlers are picked to finish sixth in District 6A-II-1 this season.
Class 6A-II Top 10 1. Bixby 2. Choctaw 3. T. Washington 4. Midwest City 5. Stillwater
6. Del City 7. PC North 8. Sand Springs 9. Lawton 10. Muskogee
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Fridaylanders earn spots on state college rosters By Jason Jewell Sports Editor A former standout at John Marshall and three others from McGuinness highlight a list of more than two dozen Fridayland athletes listed on state college football rosters for the 2021 season. Justin Broiles, who played for the Bears, is an up and coming defensive star at the University of Oklahoma. Linebacker Brynden Walker, also from McGuinness, saw playing time in his freshman campaign, collecting six tackles and a half sack. Zach Schmit, a former punter and placekicker for McGuinness, played in two games and was able to redshirt last season. Former PC North player Kayhon Russell made the OU roster as a freshman tight end. OU is scheduled to open its season Sept. 4 at Tulane. Another former McGuinness star, Dominic Richardson, heads a trio of Fridaylanders listed on the roster at Oklahoma State University. Richardson, a sophomore running back, played in seven games for the Cowboys in 2020, rushing for 223 yards on 44 caries. C.J. Tate, a PC North graduate, is listed as a redshirt-senior wide receiver, while Former Deer Creek standout Logan Ward is a freshman kicker.
Fridaylanders on Campus Oklahoma Justin Broiles, John Marshall Kayhon Russell, PC North Zach Schmit, McGuinness Brynden Walker, McGuinness Oklahoma State Dominic Richardson, McGuinness C.J. Tate, PC North Logan Ward, Deer Creek Central Oklahoma Kishaun Denton, PC North Oklahoma Baptist Trey Marion III, Heritage Hall Seth Meacham, Heritage Hall Omari Smith, Heritage Hall Ethan Watson, PC North Southwestern Oklahoma State Trip Dlugonski, Crossings Christian Tucker Dlugonski, Crossings Christian Aaron Jeffreys, Mount St. Mary Kaden Romero, PC North Southern Nazarene Sam Bass, McGuinness
To open their 2021 season, the Cowboys host Missouri State on Sept. 4 at Boone Pickens Stadium. Four Fridayland athletes, two from Crossings Christian, made the roster at Southwestern Oklahoma State in Weatherford. Trip Dlugonski, a sophomore offensive lineman, is joined by his brother Tucker Dlugonski as a red-
shirt freshman offensive lineman. Rounding out the quartet are Aaron Jeffreys, a sophomore tight end from Mount St. Mary, and Kaden Romero, a redshirt freshman linebacker from PC North. Southwestern hosted Henderson State on Sept. 2 to kickoff its season. It’s a meeting of Heritage Hall teammates at Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee. Three former Chargers on the Bison’s 2021 roster include Trey Marion III, a senior offensive lineman, Seth Meacham, a redshirt junior defensive lineman, and Omari Smith, a freshman tight end. Former PC North standout Ethan Watson is listed as a redshirt senior tight end. Oklahoma Baptist opened its season Sept. 2 at Ouachita Baptist. In addition, two other local players made the rosters at both Central Oklahoma and Southern Nazarene. Kishaun Denton, a standout at PC North is listed as a freshman defensive back at UCO, while McGuinness’ Sam Bass is a freshman linebacker at SNU. The Bronchos hosted Missouri Western on Sept. 2 at Wantland Stadium to open their season, and the Crimson Storm visited Ark.Monticello.
2021 OU Schedule Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Nov. 27
@ Tulane vs. West. Carolina vs. Nebraska vs. West Virginia @ Kansas State vs. Texas (at Dallas) vs. TCU @ Kansas vs. Texas Tech @ Baylor vs. Iowa State @ Oklahoma State
2021 OSU Schedule Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Nov. 27
vs. Missouri State vs. Tulsa @ Boise State vs. Kansas State vs. Baylor @ Texas @ Iowa State vs. Kansas @ West Virginia vs. TCU @ Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma
2021 State College Football Schedules Central Oklahoma Sept. 2 vs. Missouri Western Sept. 11 @ Emporia State Sept. 18 vs. Missouri Southern Sept. 25 @ NW Missouri Oct. 2 vs. Lincoln Oct. 7 @ Northeastern Oct. 16 @ Fort Hays State Oct. 23 vs. Washburn Oct. 30 @ Pittsburg State Nov. 6 vs. Neb. Kearney Nov. 13 @ Central Missouri
Oklahoma Baptist Sept. 2 @ Ouachita Baptist Sept. 11 vs. Ark.-Monticello Sept. 18 vs. Northwestern OSU Sept. 25 @ Southwestern OSU Oct. 2 vs. Harding Oct. 9 @ Arkansas Tech Oct. 16 @ East Central Oct. 23 vs. Southeastern OSU Oct. 30 @ Southern Arkansas Nov. 6 vs. Henderson State Nov. 13 @ Southern Nazarene
Southern Nazarene Sept. 2 @ Ark.-Monticello Sept. 11 vs. Ouachita Baptist Sept. 18 @ East Central Sept. 25 vs. Southeastern OSU Oct. 2 vs. Arkansas Tech Oct. 9 @ Harding Oct. 14 vs. Southwestern OSU Oct. 23 @ Northwestern OSU Oct. 30 @ Henderson State Nov. 6 vs. Southern Arkansas Nov. 13 vs. Oklahoma Baptist
Southwestern OSU Sept. 2 vs. Henderson State Sept. 11 @ Southern Arkansas Sept. 18 @ Southeastern OSU Sept. 25 vs. Oklahoma Baptist Oct. 2 @ Ark.-Monticello Oct. 9 vs. Ouachita Bapitst Oct. 14 @ Southern Nazarene Oct. 23 vs. East Central Oct. 30 vs. Arkansas Tech Nov. 6 @ Harding Nov. 13 @ Northwestern OSU
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Heritage Hall keeps eye on the prize of a state championship By Jason Jewell Sports Editor
skill positions projected to be District 3A-1 and overall the Chargers’ pridefensive mary ball carrier Pre-Season Rankings Keyed by a strong group speed,” coach after rushing for 1. Heritage Hall of returning starters, the Brett Bogert nearly 400 yards 2. Anadarko Heritage Hall football team said. and seven touch3. Kingfisher expects to return to the top Senior Will downs in 2020. 4. Perkins-Tryon of Class 3A with another Pague gets the Up front, senstate championship. nod as the iors Gavin 5. McLoud The Chargers came close Chargers startWilson and 6. Bridge Creek last season, posting an 11-2 ing quarterback Mason Georgia 7. Douglass overall record and losing to in 2021. anchor a young 8. Mount St. Mary eventual state runner-up Receiver offensive line, Source: VYPE Pigskin Preview Lincoln Christian in the Gavin Freeman which will likely Coach Brett Bogert semifinals. returns for his start three sophoThey cruised through senior season as mores, according to Bogert. District 3A-1 at 7-0 with their only Pague’s primary target and punt “We’re awfully young on the regular season loss to Fridayland returner. Freeman, a coach’s son, offensive line,” the coach said. “One rival John Marshall. caught a season-best 150 yards and of our keys this season is how much Heritage Hall opens the season five touchdowns in Heritage Hall’s improvement we get in the O-line this Friday with a home game first-round playoff win against and developing depth with our against 2A power Millwood. Kickoff Plainview. Junior Orie Walker joins younger players.” set for 7 p.m. at Pop Murray Field. Freeman as another experienced Heritage Hall returns six starters “I feel like our strengths of our player in the receiving corps. from last year’s defensive unit, led team this year are at the offensive Junior tailback River Faulkner is by linebacker Brigham Evans.
Evans, a senior, tallied 86 tackles and two forced fumbles in 2020 and garnered a lot of attention from college recruiters, including an offer from the University of Chicago. Other key players in the middle of the defense are junior K.J. Evans and Faulkner. The experienced duo combined for 95 tackles last season. Lineman Georgia and Wilson switch over to the other side of the ball as leaders in the defensive line, while senior Nick Keith leads the way in the defensive secondary.
Class 3A Poll 1. Holland Hall 2. Heritage Hall 3. Lincoln Chr. 4. Checotah 5. Stigler
6. Anadarko 7. Kingfisher 8. Perkins 9. Plainview 10. Vinita
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