Haskell

22 Muskogee Phoenix Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022

Pigskin Preview Haskell drops to Class A but packs a roster punch

MIKE KAYS/Phoenix

By Eric Shannon Phoenix Correspondent

Situated in Class 2A for as long as the current Haymakers have been living, the football gods smiled on Haskell in the last realignment.

While the enrollment dropped Haskell to Class A, football numbers have gone the other way. In 2021, Haskell had 21 on the roster in a 4-6 season. Entering 2022, they have more than 40, and second-year head coach Phil McWilliams can hardly hold back his enthusiasm.

“We are a little more suited for the Class A,” said McWilliams. “We had some growing pains last year, finishing 4-6 and missing the playoffs but we competed and got a lot of kids a lot playing time, and many had to grow up fast.

“That experience is what is going to help us this season. We have some veterans, but we also have a lot of young inexperienced kids and freshman that we’re going to need to step up.”

Senior 6-foot-5 quarterback Brannon Westmoreland had over 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns but will be looked upon to lead with both air and ground, having rushed for four touchdowns a year ago.

“We learned a lot last season and I think that we have really grown, and I am excited to see who steps up for us,” said Westmoreland. “We have some talent, we have some younger kids in spots

but they’re working hard so far this summer, I just have to get the ball to them.” Primary targets are 6-2 senior (202 yards in 2021) Lane Mann and junior Lucas King (317 yards). “I think that we’re going to turn a lot of McWilliams heads,” said Mann. “We have a lot of kids buying into what we’re doing. The whole town is excit-

Faul Westmoreland Mann Graber

(See next page)

HASKELL HAYMAKERS

Last season: 4-6.

Head coach: Phil McWilliams, 2nd year.

Staff: Isaac McWilliams, defensive coordinator; Mike Jones, defensive line; Paul McCrary, wide receivers; Tony Springer, defensive backs.

Returning starters (7 offense, 7 defense, 2 specialists): Brannon Westmoreland, Sr., QB/K/P, 6-5, 195; Lane Mann, Sr., WR/DB, 6-2, 170; Junior Faul, Sr., OL/DE, 6-2, 220; Lucas King, Jr., WR/CB, 5-8, 145; Briar Payne, Jr., OL/NG, 6-3, 270; Briley Love, Jr., WR/ DB/RET, 6-1, 150; Colby Collins, So., OL, 5-10, 190; Logan Jones, Jr., LB, 5-8, 140; Hunter Powell, Jr., LB, 6-1, 150.

Emerging: Tomas Graber, Sr., LB/RB, 5-11, 200; Dylan Ozinga, Jr., WR/S, 6-2, 150; Ryker Porter, Fr., OL/DL, 6-3, 267; Pedro Diaz, So., WR/CB, 5-9, 135.

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SPORTS EDITOR MIKE KAYS’ ASSOCIATED PRESS PRESEASON RANKINGS

CLASS 6AI

1. Bixby 2 Jenks 3. Union 4. Owasso 5. Broken Arrow

CLASS 6AII

1. Stillwater 2. Choctaw 3. Deer Creek 4. Booker T 5. Muskogee

CLASS 5A

1. McAlester 2. Carl Albert 3. Coweta 4. Collinsville 5. Guthrie 6. Midwest City 7. Del City 8. Ardmore 9. Piedmont 10. Sapulpa

CLASS 4A

1. Cushing 2. Poteau 3. Tuttle 4. Clinton 5. Wagoner 6. Blanchard 7. Broken Bow 8. Hilldale 9. Bethany 10. Ada

CLASS 3A

1. Lincoln Chrisitan 2. Heritage Hall 3. Holland Hall 4. Verdigris 5. Plainview 6. Perkins 7. Berryhill 8. Marlow 9. Cascia Hall 10. Kingfisher

CLASS 2A

1. Washington 2. Beggs 3. Rejoice 4. Victory 5. Millwood 6. Pawhuska 7. OCS 8. Crossings Christian 9. Vian 10. Eufaula

CLASS A

1. Ringling 2. Cashion 3. Hominy 4. Fairview 5. Tonkawa 6. Hinton 7. Gore 8, Mangum 9. Colcord 10. Woodland

CLASS B

1. Laverne 2. Dewar 3. Seiling 4. Balko 5. Shattuck

CLASS C

1. Timberlake 3. Tipton 3. Waynoka 4. Tyrone 5. Maud

Eufaula

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Friday night lights,” the senior signal caller said.

The receiving corp will undergo some changes with the departure of All-Phoenix MVP receiver Khelil Deere to NEO. On the plus side though is the return of senior Brett Pippenger who was limited to a defensive role last year due to a broken wrist and the emergence of sophomore Dresden Chiles.

“Dresden is probably our most athletic player overall,” said Newton. “He can run backwards as fast as most of kids can run forwards and he’s pretty strong for a 145-pound kid. He can bench press 200 pounds and squat 300 pounds.”

Running back duties will fall to senior Kaden Bumgarner, a converted receiver, with Ontario Ellen serving as a backup.

“Kayden’s proven himself over the summer by being there everyday and working his tail off,” said Newton.

The line will also undergo some changes this year with the loss of standout performers Ty Dodd and Johnny Burton, but there are two solid returners in juniors Rashon Watts and Draven Gragg.

“We graduated a good line, but we’ve got a lot of talent and a lot of big guys to put together and I think we’ve got the talent to be better than in previous years and set us up for the future,” said Gragg.

The heart of the Ironhead defense will be anchored by Pippenger at safety, who had 145 tackles last year, Ellen, a defensive end with 85 tackles, and Bumgarner at outside linebacker who had 78 stops with Gragg and Watts working in the trenches.

Schedule wise, Eufaula looks forward to a couple of early games against perennial power Vian who they haven’t beaten since the series started in 2018 and then the McIntosh County showdown with Checotah before moving on to compete in District 2A-6 with a 27-game district winning streak on the line.

As Adcock begins his final season of football, he looked back and ahead on his career as an Ironhead.

“I’d like to pass for 25 touchdowns and 2,500 yards this year and be a strong senior leader,” he said. “And while I would like to be remembered as a good athlete here, I’d also like people to remember that there’s more to life than sports and that I was a good guy, a good Christian, and set good examples for others to follow.”

Haskell

ed for this season.”

Senbior Tomas Graber will shoulder the run game load behind linemen Junior Faul, Briar Payne, Colby Collins and freshman Ryker Porter. Paul is the lone senior, Payne is a junior and Collins a sophomore.

The elder Faul will be looked upon as a two-way leader in the trenches. He had 56 tackles and four sacks last season.

“We don’t have the biggest kids and we don’t have a lot of experience on the offensive and defensive lines, so it will be up to us to coach up the younger kids and get them ready.” Faul said. “We have experience here and there but we need to get everyone ready to play.”

Junior Logan Jones will lead a talented linebacker corps alongside Graber and junior Hunter Powell. Jones recoreded 74 tackles last season with two interceptions.

Mann, King and Junior Briley Love will solidify the backend for the Haymakers.

“Defense is going to be our strong point. We forced 28 turnovers last year and we want be that type of unit this year,” said McWilliams. “We’re going to be aggressive on defense and fly to the ball and make plays.”