Good Luck to All Area Sc hools! The Leadersin Team Spor tsmanship Go teams! 720 George Nigh Expwy •McAlester,OK• 918-423-2800 McALESTER,OKLAHOMA SAMSFREEDOMFORD COM Freedon Ford McAlester.com SAM WA MPLER SAVANNA BULLDOGS •McALESTER BUFFALOES •QUINTON SAVAGES HARTSHORNE MINERS •C ANADIAN COUGARS WILBURTON DIGGERS FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2 FALL 2022
Passion paycheck. MCALESTER CAMPUS 301 Kiamichi Drive, McAlester, OK 74501 | (918) 426-0940 | KTC.EDU/McAlester Facebook & Instagram: @KTCMcAlester Kiamichi Technology Center (Kiamichi Tech) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender expression or identity, national origin, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, age, or genetic information with respect to its programs or any aspect of its operations. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries concerning application of Kiamichi Tech’s non-discrimination policies: Jay R. Warren, Title IX Coordinator, 1004 Highway 2 North, Wilburton, OK 74578. (918) 465-2323. Turn Your into a FOOTBALL PREVIEW 3 FALL 2022
Contents 2022 PRODUCED BY PUBLISHERMEDIA REINA OWENS EDITORS IN CHIEF ADRIAN O’HANLON III DEREK HATRIDGE DESIGNED BY DAWNYAL HILL PHOTOGRAPHERS SIERRA ELLIS ADRIAN O’HANLON III DEREK DERRICKHATRIDGEJAMES SENIOREXECUTIVEADVERTISING CONNIE POOLE SALES EXECUTIVES JANA PHYLLISWEDDLEHURLBUTLEXEYLUND SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR SIERRA ELLIS BigSavannaMcAlesterNewbuffsADPlayerstowatchHartshorne12 theMcCartysStatLeadersCanadianQuintonWilburtonOU/OSU6 16 4436302249 4650424026 Schedule 30 Letter from the editor 5 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 4 FALL 2022
and one movie marathon later, we had our an swer – a resounding “YES!” So we began to put a plan in place. I’m talking storyboards, acting out scenes but substituting football things in them, and a whole lot of wearing sunglasses inside.
Derek Hatridge | Sports Editor
Publisher Reina Owens and the advertising team made sure we had the ads for this magazine that not only help create the physical product, but show all of our local teams just how much they mean to our community. This magazine helps shed a lot of light on how spe cial our area is in the way we all come together for our youth.
Next came the movie-inspired logo and design themes, which our designer Dawnyal Hill knocked out of the park. She took my terrible whiteboard drawing and made it a masterpiece, and these pages have turned out even better than I could have imagined. Soon, it was time for our media days – and we went all out. Aviator sunglasses, flight suits, jackets, and a little trip to the beach to recre ate a certain scene from the newest film. I think it was a lot of fun for both players and us here at the McAlester News-Capital.
First, our crew here at the McAlester News-Capital – editor Adrian O’Hanlon III, writer and videographer Derrick James, and the afore mentioned Dawnyal Hill. It truly takes a team to make stuff like this happen with photos, videos, and design, and I couldn’t be more thankful for all of their hard work.
There are so many people to thank for helping create the final product you see before you.
It’s time to fire up the engines and turn up Kenny Loggins, because football season has arrived. In your hands is our 2022 football preview magazine, and I’m so thankful to see it finally be a reality. The path to get here was a wild one, but a whole lot of fun too.
• Contact Derek Hatridge at com.mcalesternews.dhatridge@
A big thank you to Sierra Ellis and her photography skills. I love when we can partner together, and she’s always up for whatever wacky ideas we may come up with for each issue. And her sugges tions and own ideas helped lend itself to some of the more artfully captured images you’re seeing before you. And finally, a huge bit of gratitude to all the coaches and players for working with us on this project. Summer is so busy for us all, and it’s hard to coordinate when there are 50,000 things going at once. But through teamwork and cooperation, we got it done and made a smooth landing. So strap in, pour over these pages, read about our area teams, and get excited for what lies ahead. Good luck to all our area teams. It’s go time, and you’re cleared for takeoff. Happy football season, everybody! Welcome to the Danger Zone.
As you can see, we had the need for speed with our design con cept. Like the rest of America, we were enthralled with returning to the world of Top Gun with the release of the sequel Maverick, and we knew that there was so much opportunity to be had with the theme. As things usually go around here, the early concepts started with morning coffee and a brainstorming session. Okay, it started with lack of coffee and the group of us asking the question: “Can we pull off ‘Top SeveralGun’?”meetings
Letter from the editor
There was also a moment where I had to explain myself to our four new area head coaches. I know I can be a little high energy at times, especially when this idea really started to take a life of its own. But I’m thankful they were on board with the idea, and helped make all of this happen. Of course, we also talked about football. Players and coaches alike discussed their eagerness to get things started, especially when there is so much newness to the area. All our teams are going to look a little different this season, but they’re going to be taking the field with the same fiery intensity that fighter pilots and football players both share – the thrilling anticipation of battle.
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 5 FALL 2022
“Let the hurt burn,” he said. “Let the hurt burn in a lit tle bit, and don’t want it again. It’s not fun to lose, not when you put in the work and time these kids put in.”
The sting from December 4, 2021, hasn’t left the Buffs.McAlester was named as the 2021 Class 5A State Runner-up last season after a 42-35 thriller against Col linsville at Chad Richison Stadium in Edmond. Coach Forrest Mazey said after the game that he was proud of his team, but that they needed to never forget what it felt like walking off that field.
Fast forward to the summer months of 2022, and the Buffs have been hard at work once again. They’re look ing to not only attempt a return to the state champion
Mc A lester re A dy to run
Derek Hatridge | Sports Editor
McAlesterBuffaloes FOOTBALL PREVIEW 6 FALL 2022
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 7 FALL 2022
The trio of backs all return for the Buffs this season, and are the top three returning area rushers from lastOffenseyear. wasn’t the only strong suit for McAlester, as its vaunted Black Death Defense totaled more than 900 tackles in 2021, including 110 tackles for loss. The Buffs defense also recorded 23 sacks, nabbed 15 interceptions, and caused seven fumbles.Topreturners to the defense in clude McCarty with 104 tackles and six tackles for loss, senior Garrett Shumway, who recorded 80 tackles including 15 tackles for loss last sea
it bA ck this se A son ship game, but complete the job this time“We’rearound.not where we want to be yet. You know that gold ball that was so close to the touch – we’ve got to switch that silver ball out for a gold this year,” Erik McCarty said. “If you go back and you look, we’ve taken a step every year – and the last step we can take is win it all.”
The senior running back knows that journey all too well, as he’s been with the Buffs through it all. But to get back to Edmond, it’s going to take that same work ethic that has lent so much success for the Buffs in recent years. Last season, McAlester was an of fensive machine, averaging 434 yards a game and earning a total of more than 6,000 yards. McCarty was a huge force in that, as the Universi ty of Oklahoma commit rushed for more than 2,000 yards and broke his own record for the most rushing touchdowns in a single McAlester season with 38. But he wasn’t alone, as Dakota Moton added 847 yards and eight scores while Ethan Watkins rushed for 689 yards and four touchdowns.
5 S. 5th Street I McAlester, OK l Call/Text (918) 423-3323 tannehillfurniture.com GOOD LUCK ALL AREA TEAMS! Voted Best Furniture Store 2022 LIVING ROOM - BEDROOM - DINING ROOM - MATTRESSES - HOME ACCENTS FOOTBALL PREVIEW 8 FALL 2022
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 9 FALL 2022
McAlesterBuffaloes FOOTBALL PREVIEW 10 FALL 2022
son, and junior Owen Russell with 74 tackles and five tackles for loss. But there will also be new names stepping into many differ ent roles such as quarterback, re ceivers, and on the offensive and defensive lines. After the gradua tion of a large impact senior class and a litany of incoming transfer players, Mazey said it was time for the next man to step up, show out, and fill those positions. “We’re going to have a few bat tles at different positions,” he said. “It’s going to be interesting, but they’re going to have to step up.”
INBREAKFASTBESTTOWN!! (918) 424-2150 610 N. McAlesterMain Open Daily 7AM - 2PM What About Bob’s Bob’s Bob’sWhat About (918)INBESTBREAKFASTTOWN!!424-2150610 N. McAlesterMain Open Daily 7AM - 2PM for voting us #1 THANKYOU!GOOD BUFFS!!LUCK FOOTBALL PREVIEW 11 FALL 2022
The long marathon that is the 2022 season will begin Aug. 26 at Hook Eales Stadium. From there, it’s a gauntlet of competition with home contests against the likes of Broken Bow, Ada, and Glenpool, and will include trips to Sapulpa, Del City, and Coweta, as well as the Indepence Bowl in Shreveport, La. “It’s a big statement game,” Mc Carty said of the out-of-state game. “I’ve been saying for three years now, McAlester’s going to be back on the map, and this is going to be the final stand to do that.” But just like last season, they’re all stepping stones to the end goal. McAlester’s approach to the season is taking things each game at a time, focusing on that week’s opponent, and working on them selves every day. If they can do that, the Buffs can once again assemble and avenge the pain that became their fuel for the“It’sfuture.going to be a different kind of season. It’s going to be a season with emotion behind it,” McCarty said of his senior season. “We went from quarters, semis, and then fi nals runner-up – the only thing left is just to win it.” Contact Derek Hatridge dhatridge@mcalesternews.com.at
•
Local.RFast.eliable.EXPERIENCETHEDOBSONCONNECTIO N . Order online or call today! dobson . net | 8 5 5.5 . D OB SON 100% InternetFiber+Phones Good Luck McAlester Buf faloes on avictorious season! Serving Oklahoma Since 1900 JORDAN BARNETT INSURANCE &BONDS RYAN OWENS- AGENT WWW.JORDANBARNETT.COM 212 E. Cherokee Ave•McAlaster,OK 918-423-4045 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 12 FALL 2022
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 13 FALL 2022
215 South 2nd St.,,McAlester,OK74501 918-426-6111 Sofa $648 6-Piece Power Reclining Sectional Includes table,4 chairs and bench 6-Piece Dining Room Vicars F urniture Home Owned & Family Operated vicars-furniture.com Member FDIC (918) 426-2116 101 S 3RD ST, MCALESTERarvest.comOK Visit arvest.com today! PROUD TO SUPPORT THE BUFFALOES We care about our community and are here to serve the needs of our customers in McAlester. Home ow ner • Health • Life Auto • Bo at • RV Commercial • Business • Property • Bonds Monday–Friday 8:30–5 502 E. Chickasaw • McAlester 918-429-0300 www.sfagenc y.com GOOD LUCK McALESTER &ALL AREA TEAMS! 1904 S. Main -McAlester,OK. 918-423-3306 THANK YOU AGAIN FOR MAKING US YOUR #1RECREATIONAL VEHICLES! FIRST PLACE RECREATIONAL VEHICLES FOOTBALL PREVIEW 14 FALL 2022
• Flood & Water Damage • Carpet & Tile Cleaning • Air Duct Cleaning • Fire & Smoke Damage • Sewage Damage • Electrostatic Disinfecting • Mold Remediation • Dryer Vent Cleaning • Upholstery & Rug Cleaning Certified and Insured 918–429–1911 YEARS YEARS YEARS + FOOTBALL PREVIEW 15 FALL 2022
k eeping up with
McAlesterBuffaloes FOOTBALL PREVIEW 16 FALL 2022
The McAlester standout senior and University of Oklahoma commit has been making a name for himself as he’s caught the attention of people around the state and the country.
Derek Hatridge | Sports Editor
He said that if you’re going to play football, you better be ready to make“He’scontact.eithergoing to knock you down or you’re going to get through him. There’s no way around it, and that’s how I was taught to play football,” Erik Jr. said. “I remember at El Reno (in 2020), their middle linebacker I didn’t like that game. He gave me pain all game.“But I never went around him!” he added with a laugh. “I will say that.”Erik Sr. said his son is a huge competitor and has never been afraid to run right at his opponents. But thanks to his own playing days,
But it’s the bond between football, himself, and the man who gave him his name that has helped forge a path to living out both of their dreams.Thefootball journey for the McCartys began in McAlester, where Erik Sr. played for the Buffs. After high school graduation in 1983, he joined the Sooners football team in Norman as an offensive lineman. But a litany of injuries led to his retirement from the game.
“I would say I got raised the right way in football,” Erik Jr. said. “Be cause it’s line you up in the Oklahoma drill the first three practices and let’s just beat each other.”
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 17 FALL 2022
Erik Sr. even had the opportunity to coach his son for a few years, and said the talent his son showed on the field manifested quickly. “We kind of knew it early on that he was kind of special when it comes to football,” he said. “He took to it real quick, and they play heads up football there.”
Fast forward a couple decades, and the elder Erik introduced his son to the game of football while living and working in West Virginia. And his namesake said he was hooked from the first practice.
But Erik Jr. has never been afraid of a little physicality. And that mentality stayed with him when his family moved back to Oklahoma and he began attending his father’s alma mater.
“I remember I would stand in the middle of a big circle with the rest of the middle linebackers, and he’d blow a whistle. You’d have to turn and find the guys that were coming at you and hit them. And we’d just sit there and do that over and over,” he said. “And we’re in fourth“Theygrade!”werepretty good,” Erik Sr. said of his son’s Pop Warner team. “The last year, their team won the championship and went unde feated. The Bridgeport coach actually gave Erik the trophy and said ‘here, take that back to Oklahoma with you.’”
Erik Jr. said he began the game as a middle linebacker, and re called a drill one of his father’s friends who was now coaching the boys would have the young footballers run to prepare for games.
the Mcc A rtys
he’s made sure Erik Jr. knows it’s a team effort.“The one thing I kind of always put in his head was if he was going to be a run ning back, he better thank his linemen,” he laughed. “Being a lineman myself, I made sure he thanked his offensive line.”
And Erik Jr. said he has a lot to thank his father for as he’s been his biggest supporter and most-inventive coach.
“It’s just chores I had him do around the place here as far as cutting limbs down and that kind of stuff,” Erik Sr. said. “He wanted to use a chainsaw. I told him no, use a saw you’ll build your arms up. You’ll get work done, plus you’ll get a workout.ErikJr.is looking forward to his final season with the Buffaloes, and is hungry to finish out his high school career on the highest of notes. But he said it’s also made him reflective of his career to this point, as he remembers every single milestone all the way to the begin ning.“Istill have the picture on my phone of Durant my freshman year and the first touchdown I scored,” he said. “It was in dozer because Chris Hilton had broke his hand that game, and I came in as the backup and scored. I still have that screenshot on my phone, I still look back toButit.” as soon as high school is over, the work is only beginning. Erik Jr. will be
“He’ll be like ‘go out there and pres sure wash stuff while your arms are up in the air so your shoulders get bigger,’ when I could be going and working out and having fun doing it,” he laughed. “He’s one of them though. He’s always trying to find ways like ‘hey, this will gain muscle in this part of your body.’ And it’s helped out a lot, it really has.”
McAlesterBuffaloes FOOTBALL PREVIEW 18 FALL 2022
“For me, football’s go go go,” Erik Jr. said. “So sometimes I’ve got to take a break and step back a second and real ize I’m doing what I dreamed of doing. Now let’s just finish out the dream and go all the way.”
And when the young star does step onto the field at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, he’ll be continuing a legacy and a dream for two Erik McCartys.
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 19 FALL 2022
• Contact Derek Hatridge at dhatridge@ mcalesternews.com.
trading his black and gold for crimson and cream, graduating early and mov ing to Norman at the start of 2023 where he will train as a safety for the Sooners.“Youknow them receivers in the SEC, they aren’t small and they’re pretty good,” he said. “So I’ve got to make sure I get my work in.”
His father agreed there was still work to be done, but said he was confident the coaching staff in Norman will have the Sooners ready for whatever they’ll face.“With Brent Venables there, man, he’s one hell of a guy,” Erik Sr. said. “I think he’s going to be great for Oklahoma. I have all the confidence in the world to have him coach my son. I think great things are going to be in the future for both the Sooners and Erik.”
Erik Jr. said it hasn’t fully set in yet that he’s going to have his chance to play Di vision I football, especially at a school that has meant so much to him and his family. And his father said the day his son got the call from Venables is one that he will never forget. “Honestly, I shed a tear,” Erik Sr. admit ted with a laugh. “It was a tear of joy. It was something else, I couldn’t quit smil ing for days.”
Open 9:30am-5:30pm M-SAT 1323 S. George Nigh Expwy. McAlester, OK • (918) 423-9222 GOODTEAMS!LUCK KOMAR FACTORY OUTLET NEW ARRIVALS! 401 E. Wyandotte, McAlester 918-426-6181 One Stop School Spirit Shop! GO BUFFS ! McAlester News-Capital VOTEDBEST of the BEST 2022 C FIRST PLACE NURSING HOME Serving McAlester for 30 Years WALNU TGROVE LIVINGCENTER Our services include... 1001 S. GEORGENIGHEXPWY. McALESTER,OKL AHOMA 918.423.7373 WAYNETTABENNETT,ADMINISTRATOR AUBRIE TRAMMELL, RN, BSN-DIRECTOR OF NURSES for voting us #1 Nursing Home Come experience our culturechange where you make the decision about your care! •Skilled Nursing Unit •Occupational Therapy •Physical Therapy •Hospice Services •Whirlpool Baths •Therapeutic Diets •Security Systems f THA NKS AGA IN H A N K AGreat Big GO BUFFS! GO BUFFS! VOTED #1 DAILYSPECIALS! MONDAY Farm Raised Catfish Dinner, Meatloaf Dinner and Pinto Bean Dinner TUESDAY Homemade Chicken &Dressing Dinner,Baked Chicken &Rice, Charlie’sClub WEDNESDAY Homemade Chicken & Dumplings, PotRoast Dinner, Meatloaf Dinner THURSDAY Smoked BBQ Chicken Dinner, Baked Chicken &Rice, Italian Sausage Dinner FRIDAY Farm Raised Catfish Dinner, Pinto Bean Dinner, Meatloaf Dinner SATURDAY Slab of Ribs, 12 pc Chicken Dinner,Chicken Fried Steak or Chicken Fried Chicken FIRST PLACE FRIED CHICKEN CHARLIE’S CHICKEN &BAR-B-QUE DINE-IN, CARRYOUT OR DRIVE THRU 1756 E. Carl Albert Pkwy | McAlester | 918-426-5011 Mon.-Thurs. 11:00am-8:30pm, Fri. 11:00am-9:00pm, Sat. 11:00am-8:00pm, Closed Sunday FOOTBALL PREVIEW 20 FALL 2022
103 Oklahoma Ave., McAlester |918-423-3161 |Established in 1970 First Place Auto Body/Collision Buck Wilson FRAME &BODYSHOP, INC. GOOD LUCK AREA TEAMS!! DRIVE YOUR TEAM TO STATE!! Serving McAlester for Over 50 Years! FOOTBALL PREVIEW 21 FALL 2022
Singleton is a 1991 Idabel graduate that went on to play defensive end and fullback at Southern Nazarene University. He later earned his bachelor’s of education from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2001 and his master’s degree from East Central University in 2015.Hewas also a member of the United States Air Force, serving in the Oklahoma Air National Guard. He said being in the military helped him achieve his edu cation goals and further rocket himself into his educa tion and coaching career after his service.
The McAlester High School athletic director has lived a lot of his life through athletics, and is now us ing that experience at the helm of the athletics de partment.“I’mexcited about the opportunity about getting back in (to athletics), and maybe living vicariously through some coaches,” he said. “And helping them in a supportive role to get them everything they need to stay competitive and keep winning championships.”
Singleton served as the offensive coordinator at Sal lisaw for eight seasons before coaching linebackers and working as special teams coordinator for Musk ogee from 2008 until 2011. He next led the charge at Fort Gibson, where his team made a string of state
| Sports Editor AthleticSingletonDirector FOOTBALL PREVIEW 22 FALL 2022
Derek Hatridge
new Athletic director wA nts
James Singleton knows all about teamwork.
quarter and semifinal appearances. That’s when the black and gold came calling, as Singleton accepted the head coaching job at McAlester in 2015. He re signed from athletics in 2018 to spend the last few years as the district’s Director of Alternative Education at KEY Academy. But a part of Singleton was never truly away from athletics, and soon a proposition from then-athletic director John Ho mer gave the former coach a taste of the sports world yet again.“(Last year), coach Homer approached me about being an activity coordinator at events, and just being around coaches, being around athletes, and making sure things were running right,” he said. “And just like anything else, when you’ve coached for 22 years and you’ve been kind of out of it and you’re around it again, it kind of got the blood flowing again.”
to keep Mc A lester coMpetitive FOOTBALL PREVIEW 23 FALL 2022
So when the AD job opened up, Singleton said it was a no-brainer to apply. “Having two kids graduate from here, they’re Buffaloes, and me starting my ninth year here...we are transplanted Buffa loes,” he Singletonsaid.said he’s got a lot to live up to, as well as help pro pel the department forward in the ever-changing world of athletics.“We’ve got to ride the tidal wave now and keep it going,” he said. “We’ve got some great coaches in our district that are do ing some great things. We just need to make sure we’re still getting them what they need to continue to be successful, as well as our Singletonkids.”described himself as a competitor, and said the key to success in anything athletics or administration is building a team. So he and the Buffs and Lady Buffs coaches held a meeting to forge a path to the future together. “(I want to) create a shared vision on what we need to do to our programs where they need to be where they’re all consis tently on a championship level, and let’s go get it,” he said. “And do whatever we’ve got to do to get it.”
Singleton said Homer and the previous MHS administration laid an excellent foundation for him to build upon. He also ex plained how he gained a trove of knowledge from his past ex periences, and believes that using what he’s learned could help inject ideas for that shared vision for McAlester athletics.
“I’ve been pretty fortunate. I coached in Sallisaw for an ex tended period of time, which is a tradition-rich program, I’ve coached at Muskogee, which is a tradition-rich program, and I was able to take a lot of those things to Ft. Gibson and create a culture there where we had a lot of success,” he said. “So I have that background of being in different cultures, and work ing in different athletic departments with what worked and what didn’t work, and kind of creating our own unique thing here, and put a little spin on what we’ve got going on now because it’s already really, really good. Just try to make it bet ter.”He knows there are both challenges and advantages of tak ing over a department in an increasingly digital age, and said it’s pivotal to make sure the public knows the great things happening with southeastern Oklahoma’s largest school dis trict.“Ithink it’s very big moving forward to just continue pro moting our programs, continue to shine,” Singleton said. “We’ve got a lot of great things going on that sometimes a lot of people don’t know about. It’s getting that message out there, and continuing to support our coaches.”
• Contact Derek Hatridge at dhatridge@mcalesternews.com.
Singleton admitted there’s still a lot of work to be done. However, he is excited about the upcoming athletic year and thrilled to be starting this new adventure in McAlester a place he and his family have planted roots in and fondly call home.“It’sour opportunity to stay embedded in the community, and be actively involved in social events and things of that na ture and athletics,” he said. “It was too good of an opportunity to pass up for me.”
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 24 FALL 2022
S 821 North 1st Street McAlester 918-318-7399 Jacob & Carly Padilla, Owners MON.-FRI 8AM-5PM •SAT. 8AM-12 NOON Shawnee Feed Is Oklahoma Owned &Operatedand Have TeamedUpWith ‘OK FEED &SEED’ To OfferYou The Best Animal FeedFor All Your Critters! OK FEED &SEED WE ARE ASHAWNEE FEED DEALER WE ARE ASHAWNEE FEED DEALER THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTES! THIRD PLACE FEED STORE GOOD LUCK TO THE BUFFS &ALL AREA WIDE TEAMS! Market ll-Service ocer yStore A S F GJohnny’s AStreet &Washington, McAlester 918-423-6872 7:30am –7:00pm • 7Daysa week Thank YouAgain, McAlester, for Voting Us #1 Meat Market! FIRST PLACE MEATMARKET McAlester’s #1 MeatMarket Helpful, knowledgeableser vice andagreat price, guaranteed.AtTHRogersLumberC ompany servicehas been ourbusiness since1901. Lumber •Pressure-Treated Wood •Decking & Railings •Adhesives •Hardware •Molding Open Mon.-Fri., 7:30 am -5:00 pm •Sat., 7:30 -noon Thank You McAlester for voting us for #1LUMBERYARD and #1 HARDWARE STORE! 1420 South Main •McAlester •TOLL FREE -877.425.3980 •918.423.3980 Thebestser vice comes from people you know!FIRSTPLACE LUMBERYARD FIRST PLACE HARDWARE GO OD LUCK Mc AL ESTER &A LL AR EA TEA MS! Good Luck 106 S. 6th St. McAlester,OK Area Teams W. E. ALLFORD PROPANE &FUEL 918-423-3121 Serving SE OK Since 1952! FOOTBALL PREVIEW 25 FALL 2022
Derek Hatridge | Sports Editor buffs rushing trio AMong top stAt returners LeadersStat FOOTBALL PREVIEW 26 FALL 2022
Caden Lesnau, McAlester, Senior Lesnau has been a solid QB2 for the Buffs in the last two seasons, and he looks to make his mark in the starting role this season. Le snau completed 70% of his throws last sea son, and also has the athletic ability to scramble. He’s been a utility for the Buffs, and able to play at multiple positions. But now, he’ll be leading the charge as they head into 2022.
Here is a look at the top returning stat leaders heading into the upcoming football season:
Dakota Moton, McAlester, Senior The other side of the coin that is McAl ester’s rush attack, Moton has been a solid asset for the Buffs. He earned 847 yards on 84 carries, and scored eight rushing touch downs with his speed and on-a-dime move ments. He’s yet another high-powered weap on in the McAlester offense, and will be an other key as the Buffs look to run it back this season. Ethan Watkins, McAlester, Junior Watkins established himself as yet another option in the Buffs’ run game. He amassed 689 yards on 105 carries, and scored four touchdowns for McAlester last season. Now with a year of varsity play under his belt, Wat kins will be able to contribute even further to McAlester’s efforts to once again make waves this season.
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 27 FALL 2022
Erik McCarty, McAlester, Senior McCarty only caught 13 passes during the 2021 season, but he made the most out of every one. He added up 234 yards and a score as a receiver, and used his quick feet and speed to bolt away from any would-be tacklers. McCarty’s versatility and skills make him a formidable weapon any time he is giv en the football.
Ayden Fry, Savanna, Senior The senior Bulldog threw for more than 1,000 yards and rushed for more than 400 more in 2021, and will be leading the pack as the top returning quarterback in the area. Fry has strengthened with each passing year, and looks to come back even stronger for his final campaign in 2022.
PASSING
RECEIVING Troy Clark, Wilburton, Junior Clark caught 20 passes and turned them into 342 yards and a score during his sopho more season in 2021. The young athlete re turns as one of the top returners not just for the area, but for the Diggers as well. Now with lots of playing time under his belt, he’ll be itching to head back out to the field in 2022.
RUSHING Erik McCarty, McAlester, Senior McCarty rocketed out to another record year, rushing for 2,009 yards and setting a new school record for rushing touchdowns at 38. Whether he’s being handed the ball or it’s snapped directly to him, there isn’t much going to stop the Oklahoma commit once his feet get to moving. As one of the top re turning players in the state, he’ll be ready to return the Buffs back to another deep playoff run.
Jaedon Dan, Savanna, Senior Dan caught 26 passes for 325 yards with multiple touchdowns last season for the Bull dogs. He was the top receiver for Savanna, and used his athleticism to bolt down the field. Now returning for his senior season, he’ll join quarterback Fry as yet another piece of the offensive puzzle for the Bulldogs in 2022.
ACCEPTINGNEW PATIENTS SCHEDULE YOURAPPOINTMENT TODAY! 918-429-1400 1400 WADE WATTS AVE. KENNEDYEYECARE2020.COM McAlesterBuffaloes!!
McAlesterBuffaloes!!GoodLuck
Mcc A rty le A ds pl Ayers
Erik McCarty, McAlester, Senior, Running back
Derek Hatridge | Sports Editor
Another season brings some familiar faces and some new ones for local football teams. Here are some of the top players to watch heading into the 2022 season.
Garrett Shumway, McAlester, Senior, Offensive/Defensive Line
Shumway is a major returning force in the trenches. He recorded 80 tackles last season, including 15 tackles for a loss in 2021, mak ing him the second-leading returning tackler to the Black Death Defense. He also recorded five sacks last season — most leading the team — and forced a fumble. Now returning for his final season in McAlester, Shumway will be a big factor for the Buffs on the de
Playerstowatch FOOTBALL PREVIEW 30 FALL 2022
McCarty solidified his name among some of the top talent in the state with yet another record-breaking season in 2021. He sur passed his own mark set sophomore year as he churned up 2,009 yards and 38 touchdowns, helping lead McAlester to the Class 5A State Championship game. McCarty furthered his legacy as he fol lowed his father’s footsteps by officially committing to the Universi ty of Oklahoma. But before he heads to Norman, he’ll have one more year in the black and gold to make one final statement in his high school career.
Not many bleed Bulldog blue like Fry, and he’ll be ready for battle one final time as he embarks on his senior season. The senior threw for more than 1,000 yards and rushed for more than 400 more in 2021, gaining momentum each and every night. Fry is also the top-re turning quarterback amongst the area schools and has established himself as a veteran leader on the team. And he will look to end his high school career on a high note as he takes to the field at Savanna one final time.
Troy Clark, Wilburton, Junior, Running back/Wide receiver
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 31 FALL 2022
Blankenship made an immediate impact on his team from day one, with his breakneck speed and athleticism plus throwing ability. He’s able to play multiple positions around the field for the green and white, making him a key utility. And after earning back-to-back trips to the playoffs the previous two seasons, Blankenship will be looking to help lead Quinton to another postseason run under the leadership of a new head coach.
Clark has been quite the tool for the Diggers to capitalize on in his high school career. He’s been a Swiss army knife of sorts, able to both run and catch the football, churning it up for many yards. Last season, he amassed 360 yards on 67 catches, and nabbed 20 catches for 342 yards – gathering up a couple scores in both avenues. As one of the incoming upperclassmen this season, he’ll be helping lead the charge on the offensive side of the ball.
Eli Blankenship, Quinton, Junior, Quarterback
Ayden Fry, Savanna, Senior, Quarterback
to wAtch this se A son fensive side of the ball.
Thank You FOR VOTINGUS #1CLE ANING/JANITORIAL SERVICE AGAIN! Daily,Weekly,Bi-Weekly &Monthly Rates RESIDENTIAL •COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL •W•PropertyPreservationindowCleaningand Carpet Cleaning Available •Construction Clean-Up • BONDED &INSURED 918-424-9503 •918-423-4918 •918-527-8871 FIRST PLACE CLEANING/JANITORIAL SERVICE GOOD LUCK TO ALL AREA TEAMS! 100 Harper Valley Rd. |Kiowa, Ok 918-432-3400 |www.firstbank-ok.com TakeAdvantage of our 30 Year Mortgages! Our goal is to make the home buying process agreat experience! Contact MandyHorn, VP at First Bank Kiowa for more financing details. F i r s t B a n k Since 1901 HEALOKLAHOMATHCARESOLUTIONS of fers Our team of professionals provide skilled nursing and careser vices to elderly,disabled or injured patients. Providing compassionate, quality careand companionship is our mission and the hear tofour organization. From ser vices like meal preparation and housekeeping to medication management, personal hygiene and general nursing care, we areheretomeet your needs on an hourly or live-inbasis. 918-421-8822 315 East Wyandotte•McAlester ADivision of Country Style Health Care We work with your insurance company and within your budget to create an af for dable careplan that meets your needs. To schedule aconsultation and needs assessment, please give us a call today at 918-421-8822. •IVTherapy,Enteral Feedings •Foley Catheter Care/ Change •Nutrition/Hydration Assessment •Blood Pressure/Pulse Assessment •Respiration Assessment •Diabetic Assessment/ Teaching •Wound Care/Dressing Changes •Colostomy Care/Dressing Changes •Assess/Teach Medications Regime •Disease Management •Strengthening And Therapeutic Exercises •Personal Care/Hygiene HealthcareOutreach Program Crisis Inter vention* (*Not Available In All Areas) Some of the Services We Provide Include: FIRST PLACE HOME HEALTH AGENC Y THANK YOUFOR VOTING US #1HOME HEALTH AGENCY! FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING… THE DIFFERENCE IS THE CARE! Vicki Moore Outreach Coordinator GOOD LUCK TO ALL AREA TEAMS! 1609 N. Strong Blvd. McAlester, OK 918-426-1322 Call noworschedule an appointmentonline: ExcelTherapyOK.com REQUEST THE BEST! RichardZaccaro, DPT Stephen Miller,PT Jennifer Sharp, PTA BrookeButler,PTA CindyQualls, Office Manager FOOTBALL PREVIEW 32 FALL 2022
ITALIAN AT ITS BEST Enjoy fresh authentic Italian Cuisine... Spaghetti, Handmade Ravioli, Lamb Fries, Handmade Gnocchi, Lasagna, Fettuccine Alfredo, Italian Sausage, Meatballs, Focaccia Pizza. Roseanna’s Italian Food 918-423-2055 Voted #1Italian Food T Ser ving The Best In Italian Food www.roseannas.com TUESDAY &WEDNESDAY 11am-8pm •THURSDAY -SATURDAY 11am-9pm SUNDAY 11:30am -2:30pm •CLOSED MONDAY HWY.31EAST (205 E. Washington) KREBS 1.3 Miles fromKrebs sign on Hwy 31 East,Northeast corner of Hwy 31 &Washington, Krebs FIRST PLACE ITALIAN FOOD AUTO • HOME • LIFE “Insuring for Reality” Josh Hass Agent 214 E. Choctaw Ave. , McAlester • OK • 918-426-1104 BuGoffs! 918- 423- 4199 TandyTown Location Open 24/7 GOOD LUCK AREA TEAMS! FOOTBALL PREVIEW 33 FALL 2022
HartshorneMinersMcAlesterBuffaloes
Aug. 26 at Ketchum, 7 p.m. Sept. 2 BYE Sept. 9 vs. Savanna, 7 p.m. Sept. 16 at Wewoka, 7 p.m. Sept. 23 vs. Pocola, 7 p.m. Sept. 30 at Gore, 7 p.m. Oct. 7 vs. Panama, 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at Haskell, 7 p.m. Oct. 21 vs. Porter, 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at Talihina, 7 p.m. Nov. 4 at Central, 7 p.m. Aug. 19 vs. Spiro (Scrimmage), 5:30 p.m. Aug. 26 vs. TBA (Scrimmage) Sept. 2 at Wilburton, 7 p.m. Sept. 9 at Heavener, 7 p.m. Sept. 16 vs. Henryetta, 7 p.m. Sept. 23 at Savanna, 7 p.m. Sept. 30 vs. Wewoka, 7 p.m. Oct. 7 vs. Stroud, 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at Mounds, 7 p.m. Oct. 21 vs. Konawa, 7 p.m. Oct. 28 vs. Allen, 7 p.m. Nov. 4 vs. Liberty, 7 p.m. Aug. 26 vs. Broken Bow, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 3 vs Scotlandville (LA) at Indepen dence Bowl, 11 a.m. Sept. 9 vs. Ada, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16 BYE Sept. 23 vs. Tulsa Memorial, 7 p.m. Sept. 30 at Del City, 7 p.m. Oct. 6 at Coweta, 7 p.m. Oct. 13 vs. Tulsa East Central, 7 p.m. Oct. 21 at Durant, 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at Sapulpa, 7 p.m. Nov. 4 vs. Glenpool, 7 p.m.
CanadianFootballSchedulesCougars
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 34 FALL 2022
savannaQuintonSavagesBulldogs
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 35 FALL 2022
WilburtonDiggers
Sept. 1 at Wetumka, 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at Keota, 7 p.m. Sept. 15 vs. Cave Springs, 7 p.m. Sept. 22 at Weleetka, 7 p.m. Sept. 29 vs. Strother, 7 p.m. Oct. 6 vs. Midway (Homecoming), 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at Caddo, 7 p.m. Oct. 20 vs. Dewar (Senior Night), 7 p.m. Oct. 27 at Porum, 7 p.m. Nov. 3 at Webbers Falls, 7 p.m. Aug. 19 vs. Savanna (Scrimmage), 6 p.m. Aug. 26 vs. Gore, 7 p.m. Sept. 2 vs. Hartshorne, 7 p.m. Sept. 9 BYE Sept. 16 at Panama, 7 p.m. Sept. 23 at Antlers, 7 p.m. Sept. 30 at Hugo, 7 p.m. Oct. 7 vs. Eufaula (Homecoming), 7 p.m. Oct. 13 vs. Valliant, 7 p.m. Oct. 21 at Heavener, 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at Idabel, 7 p.m. Nov. 4 vs. Spiro (Senior Night), 7 p.m. Sept. 2 vs. Warner, 7 p.m. Sept. 9 at Canadian, 7 p.m. Sept. 16 vs. Gore, 7 p.m. Sept. 23 vs. Hartshorne, 7 p.m. Sept. 30 vs. Mounds, 7 p.m. Oct. 7 at Liberty, 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at Wewoka, 7 p.m. Oct. 21 vs. Allen, 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at Konawa, 7 p.m. Nov. 4 vs. Stroud, 7 p.m.
The Miners will now be in Class A, and have been slotted into district A-6 alongside Stroud, Liberty, Mounds, Konawa, Wewoka, Allen, and fellow local team Savanna. Beare said he was optimistic about their new designation, and thinks it’s going to be beneficial facing schools with similar makeup as Hartshorne.“Previously, we’d face a team with 50 kids on their team, and we’d have around 30,” he said. “And that makes a difference, especially later in the game when they can roll more people in and we can’t.”
“It’s been going good. We’ve been working hard, had pretty good numbers,” Beare said. “Just trying to get them in shape for the season.”
Derek Hatridge | Sports Editor
Hartshorne will be in a new frontier as they will play in a new district in a different class. Coach Jeff Beare said things have gone well in the offseason as they’ve been preparing for the gauntlet ahead.
Miners re A dy for rivA lries A nd new ch A llenges in 2022 se A son
The Miners are forging a different path this season.
HartshorneMiners FOOTBALL PREVIEW 36 FALL 2022
The biggest challenge for the Miners is going to be filling the roles vacated by the 2022 graduating class. Last season, the Hartshorne offense churned up more than 1,500 yards and passed for 600 more – but a lot of those piec es are now gone. Beare said his team only has two seniors in the 2023 class, but an abundance of young talent that is ready to make their mark and have been battling for their position out on the field. “We’re really young,” he said. “We graduated a bunch of seniors who did a lot of things for us, including our starting quarterback. So we’re filling in a lot of roles
• Contact Derek Hatridge at dhatridge@ mcalesternews.com.
andThepositions.”staffatHartshorne though are already familiar with players long before they’re in high school, and start developing them young.“Wecoach the junior high too, so we’ve been seeing these kids and developing them for a while,” he said. “So transitioning into ninth grade and high school isn’t that differ ent, because we’ve already had them for a fewTwoyears.”ofthose players include junior Treyce Morgan and sophomore Cody Sanders. The pair started football at a young age, and are now looking to help propel the Miners in 2022. Sanders said the work during the off season has been brutal, but he knows it’s only helped he and his teammates get stron ger“It’stogether.beenrough, but fun,” he said. Morgan said the team will be looking to do a lot of winning when they hit the field and he’s looking forward to one game in particu lar.“First game versus Wilburton,” he said. Previously, the pair of rival schools have both been in Class 2A and in the same dis trict. But with Hartshorne in a new class, it’ll now be a non-district game that both schools are more than happy to be putting on the schedule.Bearealso agreed with the sentiment sur rounding the continued Battle of Gowen Mountain series, and said it’ll be a great way to kick off the 2023 season. “We’re opening up with our rival, which is great,” he said. “Not like you should need any extra motivation for week one, but it’s still ex citing.”Inthe end, things are going to be different but exciting for Hartshorne on Friday nights. And those that bleed blue will be excited by what they see. “I think it’s going to be really good, and I’m ready to get started,” Beare said. “You’re going to have fun watching it,” Sanders added.
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 37 FALL 2022
HartshorneHartshorneMinersMiners FOOTBALL PREVIEW 38 FALL 2022
WWW.CHOCTAWSMALLBUSINESS.COMToreceiveservicesfromCSBDpleasegoonline®isterat: CHOCTAW PREFERRED SUPPLIER PROGRAM | CHOCTAW STORE AND WELCOME CENTER CHOCTAW TRAVEL PLAZAS | CHOCTAW CASINO GIFT SHOPS | CHOCTAW CONSTRUCTION UP TO $200.00 COVERED FOR THE PURCHASE OF MARKETING MATERIAL SUCH AS SIGNS, BROCHURES, OR BUSINESS CARDS. RECEIVE UP TO $2,500.00 WORTH OF PREVIOUSLY USED CHOCTAW FIXED ASSET OFFICE FURNITURE. GET DESIGN ASSISTANCE WITH THE CHOCTAW MARKETING TEAM FOR UP TO 12 HOURS. FOR TRIBAL MEMBER-OWNED BUSINESSES, CHOCTAW SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WILL PROVIDE: WANT TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? CSBD DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY DIRECT FINANCING MARKETING MATERIAL ASSISTANCE MARKETING DESIGN ASSISTANCE FURNITURE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM QUALIFIED CSBD CLIENTS WILL RECEIVE ADDITIONAL SERVICES AS FOLLOWS: CONNECTION TO CHOCTAW NATION PURCHASING FOR QUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: • BUSINESS PLANNING • BUSINESS COUNSELING • MARKETING • CONNECTION TO FINANCING • BUSINESS TRAINING • MINORITY BUSINESS REGISTRATION • BUSINESS REGISTRATION • BID ASSISTANCE INFORMATION • 8(A) CERTIFICATION ASSISTANCE • BUSINESS TAX Small Business Development DAVID BUSINESSSMITHADVISOR 580-380-9651DAVIDS@CHOCTAWNATION.COM Mon.–Sat. 8am–9pm • Sun. 8am–8pm 401 Highway 270 West, Hartshorne, OK • 918-297-3543 Our great everyday values and weekly specials make it easy to keep your kitchen stocked with everyone’s favorites. KICK OFF TO A WINNING Lindley’sHARTSHORNESEASONMINERS!Grocery 401 Highway 270 West, Hartshorne, OK • 918-297-3543 Mon.-Sat. 8am-9pm • Sun. 8am-8pm HARTSHORNE TAGAGENCY Kelly Colbert • 918-297-2181 902 Pennsylvania, Hartshorne, OK FIRST PLACE TAGAGENT McAlester News-Capital VOTEDBEST of the BEST 2022 Cto our Customers &Friends for Your Votes of Confidenceand Voting Hartshorne TagAgency #1Tag Agent! GOOD LUCK HARTSHORNE &ALL AREA TEAMS! SCORE Christi John ApplyOnline at : e *This is notanoffer to lend.All mortgage loans aresubjecttobuyer qualification/credit approval YOUR NEW HOME WITH Christi John Sr.MortgageConsultant |NMLS# 1378696 ApplyOnlineat: ChristisMortgageTeam.com *This is notanoffer to lend.All mortgage loansare subjecttobuyer qualification/credit approval. FOOTBALL PREVIEW 39 FALL 2022
CanadianCougars FOOTBALL PREVIEW 40 FALL 2022
“I’m excited to get that going,” he said.Leithead comes to the Cougars via Guymon, where he spent the last three years. And while he’s ad mitted there have been some chal lenges transitioning to a new school on the opposite side of the state, Canadian has immediately gone to work over the summer.
But Leithead is most excited to get back to football – the practices, the games, and all the adrenaline that comes on Friday nights. He said he and his staff will have the Cougars playing a more physical style of football, and they will be matching the energy themselves on the sidelines.
When the Cougars take the field this season, things are going to look a little Canadiandifferent.willbeunder the direc tion of new head coach Nathan Lei thead, and he’s primed and ready for the start of this new chapter.
“I’ve been relying on coaches to do weights and stuff like that. We’ve been having okay numbers for weights considering it’s a new coaching staff and stuff like that,” he said. “Overall, it’s not too bad.”
Derek Hatridge | Sports Editor
c A n A di A n eMbr A cing ch A nges with
“I’m a fiery guy. I played inside linebacker in college, and I have very energetic, high energy,” Leit head said. “If you go to a game, you’re going to see me yell…I do move around on the sidelines. My wife calls me a jackrabbit on the sidelines.”Leithead said the Cougars will also be adjustable and adaptable while keeping that high energy. He is transitioning the team to a new
Sophomore tight end T.J. Cook said he most enjoys the physicality of the game, and is looking forward to going up against the Cougars’ opponents. He also said with more experience under their belt, he and his teammates are ready to meet the challenge head-on.
Although they’re a very young team, the Cougars roster is filled with players ready for the return of football. Sophomore quarterback William Beshear said he enjoys the atmosphere on Friday nights, and he’s already setting multiple goals for himself and as a team.
HIRING! HIRING! HIRING! Nursing&RehabilitationC enter•918-689-3211 1152 Eunice Burns Road •Eufaula,OK We arelooking for friendlyand enthusiastic team playerstojoinusinproviding outstandingcarefor ourpatients. SIGN-ON BONUS AVAIL ABLE! LPN’s•CN A’s eufaulamanornursingcenter.com Eufaula Manor Nursing &Rehab Center is a24-hour Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center! APPLYINPERSON EUFAULA MANOR McAlester NewsCapital VOTEDBEST of the BEST 2022 C THIRD PLACE NURSINGHOME GOOD LUCK CANADIAN COUGARS! HIRING! HIRING! HIRING! We arelooking forfriendlyand enthusiastic team players to join us in providingoutstandingcarefor ourpatients. SIGN-ON BONUS AVAILABLE! LPN’s •CNA’s Eufaula Manor Nursing &Rehab Center is a24-hour Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center! APPLYINPERSON EUFAULA MANOR FOOTBALL PREVIEW 41 FALL 2022
“It’s a new year and a new football team,” he said. “I feel like we’ve all grown up and we’re all not going to be scared.”
“Last year, they were an air raid scheme, and it’s going to be com pletely different. We’re going to be running the ball and doing differ ent things out on the field. Hopefully people will be able to see from game one that things are changed.”
new he A d co A ch kind of offense, and is excited to be putting his visions for the pro gram into practice out on the field.
“I’m looking forward to doing better than we did last year,” he said. “My goal is to throw at least seven touchdowns.”
There will still be some familiarity for the Cougars, as the stu dent-athletes will continue working hard, giving their all, and mak ing their community proud. But there’s going to be a lot of exciting disparity too, and Leithead can’t wait to begin writing the newest chapter. “Just be ready for a different look from Canadian,” he said. Contact Derek Hatridge at dhatridge@mcalesternews.com.
Derek Hatridge | Sports Editor
The green and white are returning to the gridiron with a whole lot ofQuintonnew. is eager to begin the 2022 season, and will be doing so under the direction of new head coach Brian Haynie. He is making his return to coaching in southeast Oklahoma after spending years on the western side of the state – and he’s bringing a whole lot of that knowledge back with him.
“You learn everywhere you go, and with every year, you keep learning,” Haynie said. “The biggest part of that experience is you’ve got to prepare every week. Every day, every week, it’s the little things. The devil’s in the details.”
QuintonSavagesQuintonSavages FOOTBALL PREVIEW 42 FALL 2022
new co A ch: Quinton working on the little things
The green and while will have many
The green and white finished last season with a 4-7 record, and a second-consecutive playoff appearance since making the move to eight-man football. Haynie got to work immediately in the Q, with players participat ing in spring ball before having a summer filled with workouts. He said the goal was to of course get his players in the room and stron ger as the season approaches. “We’ve been having them come into the weight room three times a week, and doing some agility work and stuff like that, just trying to get ready for the season,” Haynie said.
A lifelong student of the game, Haynie admitted there are certain challenges when you’re playing eight-man football – particularly on one side of the ball. “Defense,” Haynie said. “Offensively, it’s a whole lot of fun. But defensively, you’re a guy short. “I’m sort of a nerd at heart, and I sat down one day ‘why is it so much harder?’ You have five people on any given play in eight-man that can throw, catch, run the football,” he explained. “Well, in 11-man football, six out of 11 can potentially get the ball on any given play. You just do the math on that, and it’s 62.5 percent versus 55 percent. So you’re kind of a defender short.”
weapons at their disposal on both sides of the ball, such as senior Caden Williams. He said he and the team have been working hard this off season, and he’s looking forward to how that will translate out onto the field.
Haynie is excited to be teaching a new team of student-athletes the game, and all that can come from hard work, operating as a team, and a little tenacity. And once they have that mind set, the successes will start to pile up.
•
“I don’t want our players just to know ‘hey, you double-team the nose guard on this play’ or whatever. I want them to understand the big picture. ‘This is what we’re trying to accomplish, and this is why your job is important,’” Haynie said.“If you start looking at it that way, it not only gives them a better understanding of the game and the game plan,” he added. “It also allows them to make adjusting to the plan a lot easier because they understand our objective and what we’re trying to accomplish with each scheme or play.” Contact Derek Hatridge at dhatridge@mcalesternews. com
Junior teammate Ka’maree Gragg agreed, say ing he enjoys earning wins with his teammates. And they’re all setting goals both as a team, and personally.“Iwantto make a bunch of tackles on de fense,” Gragg said. Williams said he too enjoys the thrill of the de fensive side of the ball, but after earning the program’s first playoff victory in two decades two seasons ago, he’s most looking forward to him and his teammates once again working to make a little Quinton history.
315 West Electric Avenue, McAlester 918-423-4661 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 43 FALL 2022
“Things have been going pretty good,” Wil liams said. “We’ve worked a lot on our offense, and we’ve put in the shell of our defense…of fensively, I think we’re going to be pretty good.”
“I want to do more than that, though. I want to win more,” he said. “If we got the fourth round (win), we’d be the first Quinton team in history. So I’d like to do that.”
s AvA nn A putting
One of the biggest factors for Sa vanna this season will come in the form of senior leadership, including from the likes of players such as Ayden Fry. The senior quarterback is
Cherry said just because he’s at the helm doesn’t mean a whole lot will change for this team versus last season. He said there are lots of as pects that the Bulldogs have been working on previously that he didn’t want to change, and he de scribed his personal coaching style as one that likes to keep opponents on their “Offensively,toes. I’m a ‘four yards and a cloud of dust’ type of guy. I be lieve if you’re going to win, you need to be able to run the football. And when they come in to stop the run, that’s when you’re ready to throw it,” he said. “Defensively, we want to stop what (opposing teams ) do best, and make them do some thing they’re not as good at.”
savannaBulldogs FI RSTPLACE TI RE STOR E OK TIRE &AUTO 801North 1st Street•McA lester 918.423.2121 Mon.-Fri., 8am -5 pm |S aturd ay,8 am -12N oo n Clos ed Sund a y Half Shaf ts • Alignment • FarmTires • Front Ends • Struts • Batteries • OilChange TOPNOT CH SERVICE FOR EV CUANERYCARDEVERYSTOMER! DILLON HACKLER,OWNER GOOD LUCK BUFFS & ALL AREA WIDE TEAMS! THANK YOUAGAIN McALESTER &SURROUNDING TOWNS FORYOURVOTES! FOOTBALL PREVIEW 44 FALL 2022
Derek Hatridge | Sports Editor
Savanna is gearing up for the 2022 season with a new face at the helm after Rick Cherry was named the newest head coach. He said things have been going well this offseason, attributing it to the will ingness of his players to put in the hard“They’vework. been going good. The kids have been real receptive to it. Part of the reason I’ve done it is they’ve talked me into it them selves,” Cherry said. “We’ve had good turnouts at our summer pride, and the kids are working hard doing what they need to do to get bigger, stronger, and faster.”
• Contact Derek Hatridge at dhatridge@mcalesternews.com.
one of the top returning players in the area, accounting for more than 1,500 yards of offense for the Bulldogs lastAndseason.Fryhas been fired up for a chance to return to the field, setting goals for himself and his team. “Definitely a winning record, and fighting for a playoff spot,” he said. “Play somebody at their place, and knock somebody off.”
One of the most important things to get ready for the season Cherry said is going to be getting live reps in against other teams. And the best way to do that before the opening game is participating in August scrimmag es.“We haven’t had a scrimmage in two years,” he said. “So going into the first game, our first game is Warner just as it’s been the last two years. And that’s not a team you want to be going into not going up against somebody besides yourself. We want to be able to get those scrimmages in this year.”
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 45 FALL 2022
He also talked of how exciting it was to have new teams to face after the redistricting process, including the return of one local team to Class A. “Hartshorne is back. I’ve definitely had that one cir cled,” Fry said. “I’m ready for that one. I think it’s going to be a fun game.”
in work A he A d of new se A son
But Cherry will have many talents to pull from as the Bulldogs have both impact returners and young new comers that he said balance out the team. “It’s going to be a pretty good mix,” he said. “We’ve got more seniors than we’ve had the last couple of years, but we’ve still got a lot of young guys that are going to get a lot of playing time. So it’s still a pretty good mix.”
And all the hard work, sweat, and long days in the sun will be worth it once the Bulldogs hit the field for the first time this fall. While Cherry said no one can truly pre dict what is going to happen in a season, he’s excited just to be returning to competition once again.
“I’m just looking forward to the year, throwing our hats out there, and seeing what happens,” he said.
bA ck to the
The Diggers are going to look a little different this season.
Troy Bullard previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Diggers last season, and was named head coach following former coach Jeff Marshall’s transition into administration. And Bullard said that one of the first things he told his team this summer is how much he was looking forward to working with them all. “I’m excited,” he said. “I just told them a while ago, what I was excit ed about is they’re all eager to learn, and we’re teaching.”
Bullard said due to recent graduation of Wilburton’s starting quar terback Grayson Mathis and his top targets on the receiving end of the ball, the Diggers are going to have to switch things up a bit as they find their way to a new identity – but one that is still signa ture Wilburton football. “We’re going to have to become run-oriented because our quarterbacks are young. But my style of coaching’s not that much different than what we’ve had,” he said. “We’re going to have eleven men to the football, and I like a bal ancedWilburtondefense.”is also going to tweak operations in the trenches for this upcoming season, all with the intent to get stronger with each and every outing. “We’re going to try to develop our linemen into a little bit of a different expectation out of them. More of a double climb situation, Derek Hatridge | Sports Editor
wilburton
WilburtonDiggers FOOTBALL PREVIEW 46 FALL 2022
Wilburton has seen a lot of familiarity the last few seasons. But af ter the graduation of an impactful senior class in May and the pro motion of a new head coach, Diggers fans will be seeing a lot of newness in the program.
• Contact Derek Hatridge at dhatridge@mcalesternews.com.
Bullard has impressed upon his players that now is the time for someone to step up and learn some thing new. So many positions and roles are open, and he can’t wait to see how those get fulfilled this fall. “We’re at the starting blocks, and I’m excited about it,” he said.
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 47 FALL 2022
“So far this summer, we’ve come a long way,” Miller said. “These freshmen have gained so much and got ten so much better these last few months. I really think that we’re right there where we need to be.”
grind with new coA ch double chip blocks, and stuff like that,” Bullard said. “Basically what we’re trying to do is teach and get better.’Lastseason, Wilburton amassed more than 2,500 yards of offense. And while they’ll be finding new pieces to plug into this season’s offense, they’ll have returning players such as Troy Clark to continue con tributions. Clark totaled more than 700 yards of of fense for the Diggers in 2021. Clark said he was looking forward to taking the field, and expects the Diggers to show up and make a statement.“Justbasically trying to overcome all the how ev erybody views us from these last couple of seasons,” Clark said. “And proving a point basically saying we’re not here to lose…we’re here to play, we’re here to win.”Senior lineman Brendan Miller said the Diggers will face some challenges, including new district oppo nents. But he’s ready for the opportunity to face them head on. “These new teams coming, I haven’t played them. So I don’t know how big or strong they are,” Miller said. “Just trying to watch film and figure out what they do, but you really don’t ever know until you’re in person.”Wilburton will see a lot of new faces at different po sitions as the Diggers are filled to the brim with young talent. But that’s something the players say will help ignite their new-look team.
Roy’sChoice SelectMeats Varietyof Fruits Fresh Vegetables ROY’SCARDINAL FO OD STORE 621 HWY.2NORTH •WILBURTON, OK •918.465.2452 Joe &B.J.Coy andThe Team Load up on family favorites ... meats ,vegetables ,fruits , chips ,pop ,etc . Our service is second to none . Quality &Value in Every Aisle GO WILBURTON DIGGERS! WE ARE OPEN FOR ALL YOUR VET NEEDS! PROTECT PETS... Spaying and Neutering Saves Lives! CARING for Your Pets Like Family 2835 S.W. 1060 Avenue, Wilburton, OK • 918.465.3128 Walk-In Hours: Mon 8:30am-5pm Tues. thru Fri., 8:30am-NOON Regular Hours: Mon. thru Thurs., 8:30am-5pm, Fri. 8:30am-NOON CLOSED Sat. & Sun FORWOODSON VET SERVICE GO WILBURTON DIGGERS! Welcome to the office of Dr. Gerald D. Rana, DO and Charles Higdon, APRN-CNP. Dr. Rana is Board Certified in Family Medicine with Specialty in Diabetes Management. We provide care for all ages, from neonate to geriatrics. For more information about our clinic, check out our website: https://www.ranafamilymedical.com New Patient Programs Include: • Pain Management • Suboxone Treatment • Weight Loss • Genetic Testing for Medication Treatment • Diabetic Retinopathy Eye Exam • Soonercare Child Immunizations RANA’S FAMILY MEDICAL CLINIC 810 HWY. 2 NORTH • WILBURTON, OK • 918-465-0170 We accept Private and Commercial Insurance, Soonercare and Private pay. If you have any insurance questions, feel free to contact our office prior to your visit. Same day appointments are often available. If you would like to fill out our patient paperwork prior to your appointment, it is available to print out from our website at: https://ranafamilymedical.com. GO WILBURTON DIGGERS!GO WILBURTON DIGGERS! WELCOME TO WILBURTON! Rana’s Family Medical Clinic 810 Hwy. 2 North, Wilburton, OK 74578 918-465-0170 Welcome to the office of Dr. Gerald D. Rana, DO and Charles Higdon, APRN-CNP. Dr. Rana is Board Certified in Family Medicine with Specialty in Diabetes Management. We provide care for all ages, from neonate to geriatrics. For more information about our clinic, check out our website: https://www.ranafamilymedical.com 3.5” x 2.5” | Maximum Font Size: 30 pt MKT-5894M-A > edwardjones.com We support all our local area teams. David S Lerblance Financial Advisor 715 Wyandotte Ave Mcalester, OK 74501 918-426-1470 Member SIPC FOOTBALL PREVIEW 48 FALL 2022
Look no further than the conferences top five defenses last season, where they surrendered a combined average of 21.4 points per game. Compare that to the top five offenses, which had an average ranking of 40.6 nationally in scoring offense.
Oklahoma State and Baylor relied on big defensive performances to make it into the Big 12 championship last season, and finished ninth and 10th in scoring defense respectively. With Jim Knowles leaving Stillwater for Ohio State, the Cowboys’ defense will likely have more growing to do under new defensive coordinator Derek Mason.Still,with teams like Oklahoma (60th in scoring defense), Texas (99th) and TCU (118th) all having a down season on the defensive side of the ball, it seems likely that the defenses from top-to-bottom have a chance to get even better. All three teams will be bringing in new defensive coordinators this season, including Ted Roof at Okla homa.“Idon’t know what I’d call it right now, but I would say the defenses have gotten a lot better the last couple of years for sure,” Kansas State defensive tackle Eli Huggins said. “Offenses have kind of changed a little bit, not as much [passing]. I’s been diversified a little bit, but I’d say defenses have definitely gotten better over the last couple of years for sure.”
defensive - Minded co A ches ch A nging n A rr Ative on big 12 defenses
When asked about restoring the Sooners’ previous identity as a de fensive team, Venables emphasized the need for consistency and ef fort.“You have to rehearse your beliefs,” Venables said. “You have to re hearse what your values are. You have to rehearse what your stan dards are continuously as you nurture and develop a culture of ex cellence, a culture of great defense, what that looks like. “It’s not going to be what I just left at Clemson, but it wasn’t that way when [I] got there in 2012, either, and you develop that through a lot of work, a lot of players believing in what you’re doing. Certainly staff chemistry and cohesion is an incredible part of that.”
ARLINGTON, Tex. With each passing year, the Big 12 appears to be getting closer and closer to shedding a long-held stigma about the conference.Foryearsthe Big 12 has had a reputation as an offensive league, and for good reason. The conference has routinely produced high-scoring offenses with quarterbacks that were often asked to air it out early and often. Last season, Iowa State finished at the top of the conference in passing offense, but finished 32nd nationally at 263.8 yards per game. The Cyclones threw the ball 34.3 times per game. The Sooners were 33rd with 263.5 yards per game. For reference, the Sooners ranked 14th in passing yards per game in 2020 at 315 yards per game in what could be considered a slow season for the program’s air attack. It’s been awhile, but defenses have started to get a foothold again in the Big 12. “The defenses in the conference are definitely changing,” Kansas running back Devin Neal said at Big 12 media days. “The Big 12 has always been known for the air raid offense, not playing a bunch of defense. But now teams are running things that are more unique and more competitive. That’s what’s fun you’ve got to break down the defenses and try to do what you can to slow them down.”
Klieman, who led North Dakota State to four NCAA Division II na tional championships prior to taking over the Wildcats, said he knew the conference’s defenses were better than advertised when he made the jump. “I had heard about all the offenses, and there’s some explosive of fenses, but there’s great defensive minds,” Klieman said. “You look at what Mike (Gundy) has done at Oklahoma State for the last couple of years. I thought they were great. Dave Aranda [came in and made] that transition. Iowa State’s always been good on defense. We’re improving on defense. Shoot, Neal [Brown] has had some really great defenses at West Virginia. “… You can’t say ‘Man, we’re gonna be really good on of fense and struggle on defense and win the Big 12 or vise ver sa and say we’re just gonna shut people out. You need to be balanced and have your offense bail your de fense out and your defense bail your offense out.”
Baylor head coach Dave Aranda and Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman each brought a defensive perspective into their programs and fielded top-25 defenses in their second season. The Sooners now have their own defensive-minded head coach in Brent Venables and will be looking to take the first steps to develop ing a new philosophy on that side of the ball.
By Tarik Masri | CNHI Sports Oklahoma
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 49 FALL 2022
By Hallie Hart | CNHI Sports Oklahoma
Gundy pointed out that Sanders, who compiled 2,839 passing yards for 20 touchdowns during the past season, was thrown into tricky situations. As injuries wore down the offensive line and young, inexperienced receivers stepped into starting spots, Sanders didn’t say any thing about his circumstances, Gundy said. Instead, he settled into his role, fig uring out how to build consistency in a shuffled lineup. The next step for the Cowboys’ experi enced leader is to help his young team mates grow, too. “My comfort level really is just about getting the guys around me comfort able,” Sanders said. “ ...It’s better they can play as just themselves.”
s A nders re A dy to le A d with 3 ye A rs of stA rting experience
ARLINGTON, Texas – While several Big 12 football teams navigate uncertainty at quarterback and welcome newcomers from the transfer portal, Oklahoma State has an established offensive leader. Spencer Sanders, a redshirt senior from Denton, Texas, is preparing for his fourth season as the Cowboys’ starting sig nal-caller. This time, extra attention sur rounds him – he was the quarterback se lected for the Preseason All-Big 12 Foot ball Team. On the main stage at AT&T Stadium for Big 12 Media Days, OSU coach Mike Gundy discussed Sanders’ growth.“Spencer has been fantastic for us, and he has now become a magician in our of fense,” Gundy said. “He knows it. He can run it fast. He understands. The middle (and) toward the end of last year, he started to make really quality decisions in a short amount of time, which is very important in quarterback play.”
OKlaCowboysstate FOOTBALL PREVIEW 50 FALL 2022
Cowboys return to site of champion ship loss In December, Brock Martin sat in a chair on the field at AT&T Stadium as a dejected mood washed over OSU’s side line.Defensive end Martin and his team mates had fallen to Baylor in the Big 12 Championship game. On Wednesday, in side the stadium where Cowboy running
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 51 FALL 2022
watching Bixby alumnus Brennan Presley make leaping catches and use his speed for kickoff returns during the past sea son.In the fall, another Presley could join the game action. Brennan’s younger brother, Braylin, has arrived for his freshman season, and Gundy ex pects them to eventually impact special teams as a dynamic duo. “Hopefully, at some point in their careers, the two guys returning the kickoff will both be Pres leys,” Gundy said. Junior receiver Brennan can teach Braylin the ways of Cowboy football, but he also respects his brother’s individual journey. “He’s in college, too,” Brennan said. “He’s an in dividual. I let him live his life, but also, I’ll try to give him any tips and stuff that I can offer so he doesn’t necessarily have to go through the same things that I have been through. Just offering that, but let him – because you honestly have to mess up sometimes in life in order to learn – so (I’m) just knowing when to let him fail and learn and when to offer some presence.”
back Dezmon Jackson had landed inches short of the end zone, Martin relived the postgame sting.“Ijust don’t think I wanted (the game) to be over,” Martin said. Wide receiver Brennan Presley also described the eeriness of returning to the scene of the championship loss. AT&T Stadium has not been kind to the Cowboys, but stepping onto the fa miliar field for Big 12 Media Days provides them with motivation to advance to the Big 12 title game for the second straight year. Martin, who is back for his final season of eligibility, has a chip on his shoulder, and dissatisfaction with the title game’s result also lingers in Gundy’s mind. “ ...You have one team that has the thrill of vic tory and the other team has disappointment, and it never goes away,” Gundy said. “Still, to this day, at times when I wake up in the middle of the night, games such as the championship game will come across my mind, more so than even games where we had a lot of success for whatever reason, but our team is resilient, as you couldPresleysee.”brothers prepare for first season as CowboyCowboyteammatesfansenjoyed
By Jesse Crittenden | CNHI Sports Oklahoma ARLINGTON, Tex. Since the Big 12’s inception in 1996, there’s been no question about who has domi nated the Oklahomaconference.haswonthe confer ence championship in 14 of the 28 seasons. No other team in the con ference has won more than three. Of the 14 teams that are currently or have been in the conference, five have never won it. At last year’s Big 12 Media Days, the other nine teams were repeated ly asked about how to end the Sooners’ streak of six straight confer ence championships. The Sooners were widely considered the favorite to win it again, though Baylor even tually ended the season as champi ons and the Sooners missed the title game.Itwas clear when the Sooners took the stage at AT&T Stadium Thursday that a lot had changed. The Sooners aren’t seen as the favor ite, and any Sooner-related ques tions were instead focused on the team’s impending move to the Southeastern Conference by no later thanBut2025.theSooners still remain in the conference for at least this season. And according to OU wide receiver Marvin Mims, not winning last sea son or the impending conference change haven’t changed the Soon ers’ ultimate goal. “We’re comfortable in this confer ence. We run the conference,” Mims said. “We don’t feel like outcasts. No body is thinking about the SEC or anything like that. Who knows if I’ll even play in the SEC? No one thinks
‘ we run the conference’ Sooners blocking out the noise, focusing on winning Big 12 title OklahomaSooners FOOTBALL PREVIEW 52 FALL 2022
Focusing on the 2022-2023 season was a constant theme for the Sooners, and that includes ignoring any perceived slights during the preseason.
“True success is taking something from wherever it is and making it better. And if we’re going to be a program that successful, that’s got to be a foundational piece. It’s daily improvement. We say it all the time: quit worrying about some day, and yesterday’s a dead yesterday. You learn from your past, you grow through success and fail ure. You’re never going to tap into the greatness inside of you unless you focus on right here and right now.”
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 53 FALL 2022
“I just think it’s it’s a beautiful thing when nobody’s on it or everyone’s on it, whatever it is. It’s preseason,” Gabri el said. “You’ve still got to go out there and earn it every single week. That’s why we play the game, to find out who wins and who loses. And I think every single day no matter what, you’ve still got to look yourself in the mirror every single day and continue to find ways to get better in workouts, skills and drills, in the film room, whatever it is. So we’re just gonna control we can control.”
There are still some unknowns for the Sooners to navi gate, and not being the conference favorite is unknown territory for the team. But the focus remains on this season, and OU corner back Woodi Washington is confident they can be back on top.“With the new coaching staff, I think we have a great shot to go back and win another Big 12 before it’s all said and done,” Washington said.
The Sooners came in at second in the conference pre season poll behind Baylor, marking just the second time since 2010 that the team isn’t the preseason favorite. The Sooners had only one player on the All-Big 12 Preseason team punter Michael Turk which tied with Kansas for dead last in the conference.
It’s clear that message starts with head coach Brent Venables. The new Sooner coach spent much of his time in Arlington talking about the constant need for his team to improve and focus on this season. “When you live in a place like Norman, Oklahoma, and it’s a college town and we’ve had incredible success, ev erybody’s always patting these guys on the back and telling them great they are,” Venables said. “Sometimes, people think you show up and you’re going to be suc cessful just by showing up. But to me, it’s about the work.
about it. Even with next year and those new [four] teams coming in, nobody says anything about it, thinks about it. We’re all just worried about the upcoming season.”
OU quarterback Dillon Gabriel made it clear the Soon ers aren’t focusing on that, either.
Free Checking with E-Statements Financial Counselors Free Online Bill Pay Copper's Coin Club Fixed Rate Visa's Youth Accounts Debit Cards Mobile App Loans and much more! Become a Member Today! Serving 10 counties with branch locations in; McAlester, Henryetta, Okmulgee, Checotah Federally Insured by wNCUA ww.firstfamilyfcu.com Find us on Facebook for updates, fun photos, and givevaways! Visit our McAlester location to get started today! 1095 S George Nigh Expressway McAlester, OK 918-558-6190 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 54 FALL 2022
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 55 FALL 2022
TOLIVER CHEVY SUPPORTS OUR AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAMS! www.toliverchevygmc.com • (918) 303-8453 700 S George Nigh Expressway McAlester Go Buffaloes!Go Buffaloes!
