Mount St. Mary drops to 2A under new coach Runnels
By Jason Jewell Sports Editor
Nearly a decade removed from its last winning season, the Mount St. Mary football team looks to reverse that trend and even compete for a playoff spot.
The Rockets, which have played in Class 3A for the last several years, dropped down to the newly-created Class 2A Division I for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Mount St. Mary has been assigned to a tough District 1, which includes powerhouse programs such as Millwood, Jones, Chisholm and Oklahoma Christian School (OCS).
The Rockets are picked to finish sixth in the district pre-season rankings which could put them just short of a spot in the postseason.
Along with playing in a new classification, Mount St. Mary got a new head coach in J.D. Runnels.
Runnels, a former standout at the University of Oklahoma, previously served as coach at Western Heights before moving to the Mount for the 2024 season.
Mount St. Mary returns a limited number of starters on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Harrison Tesio returns for his final season as the starting quarterback to lead MSM’s offense. The senior threw for nearly 2,000 yards 13
touchdowns last season.
Senior John Allison is expected to be Tesio’s top receiving target at tight end, after making 44 catches for 513 yards and four touchdowns.
Junior Gabe Ward has also emerged as a viable receiving target. He collected 29 receptions for 295 yards last season. Sophomore running backs Cord Brown and Jefferson Hodge combined for 610 yards rushing but should be called on for more production this year.
On defense, senior linebacker Zach Ellison ended last season with 88 tackles and three sacks. Junior Greyson Buell and Allison join him at linebacker, as Buell had 43 tackles and Allison added 44 stops.
Sophomore Wade Webb leads the way in the secondary and made 30 tackles and an interception.
Mount St. Mary hosts Community Christian this Friday in the opener.
Coach J.D. Runnels
Deer Creek tabbed to finish 3rd in loaded district
By Jason Jewell Sports Editor
As the Deer Creek school district continues to enjoy rapid growth in enrollment, the football team jumps up to Class 6A Division I for the 2024 season after spending much of the last half-decade in Division II.
The Antlers reached the 6A-II state championship game two years ago and suffered a heartbreaking 36-35 loss in the semifinals last year to eventual champion Muskogee.
playoff game in three consecutive seaons, are also ranked No. 6 in the presason 6A-I top 10 poll. Defending champion Bixby leads the survey, followed by Jenks, Owasso, Tulsa Union and Edmond Santa Fe.
577 yards and seven more TDs.
Senior Junior Youmbi and Lemar Davis occupy the backfield behind Adamson. Youmbi carried the ball 44 times for 340 yards and four scores.
A solid offensive line comprised of four returning starters, including seniors Jack Kinsey, Owen Akin, Jenkins Wills and Evan Odom.
Top receiver Mason Smith also returns for his senior campaign.
On defense, senior Brady Brewer is expected to rotate between linebacker and safety this season. Brewer made a team-best 105 total tackles in 2023.
This season, Deer Creek has been picked to finish third in a loaded District 6AI-2 which includes last year’s finalists Bixby and Jenks, along with Mustang and upstart Moore.
The Antlers, which have won a
Deer Creek returns 16 starters from last year’s semifinal squad.
Senior Grady Adamson returns to lead the offense in his final season. Adamson threw for nearly 2,600 yards and 28 touchdowns and ran for
Junior Ryan Hubble joins Brewer at linebacker after making 59 tackles and six sacks a year ago.
Roaming the secondary are seniors Jaydon Bradshaw and Sam Amish, along with junior Luke Bray.
Deer Creek travels to Edmond Memorial this Friday.
Coach Wade Standley
McGuinness enters season with new coach, district
By Jason Jewell Sports Editor
Spending much of the last decade in the same district, the McGuinness football team opens the 2024 season with a new coach and competing in a different district.
Longtime offensive coordinator Ryan Stringer was promoted to head coach in the offseason to succeed Bryan Pierce.
“I started (at McGuinness) right out of college and really fell in love with it,” Stringer said. “I want to be here a long time.”
Having been an assistant and keeping nearly all of the previous coaching staff, Stringer noted that continuity helps the Irish succeed.
“I think the consistency helps us be successful,” the coach said. “We have
established a good culture.”
McGuinness competes in
District 5A-1 this season, after occupying a spot in 5A2, with powerhouses Carl Albert and Guthrie.
The Irish are picked to win the district which includes Lawton
MacArthur and Midwest City.
“We’re excited to face some new teams and are familiar with a lot of them,” Stringer said.
On offense, the Irish return several starters from the 2023 squad, which went 8-4, led by quarterback Damon Cochran II. The senior threw for nearly 2,000 yards and 20 touch-
downs, while rushing for nearly 500 yards and six TDs.
“I really feel like Damon will take a big leap from last year,” Stringer said. “He was injured during the spring so it’ll be good to have him back at full strength.”
District 5A-1
Pre-Season Rankings
1. McGuinness
2. Lawton MacArthur
3. Midwest City
4. Duncan
5. Newcastle
6. Southeast
7. Classen SAS
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Senior Nathan Steiner and junior Andrew Harris return as Cochran’s main receiving targets. Steiner collected 27 receptions for 449 yards and five TDs last year.
Senior J.R. Fletcher gets his turn as the featured running back in 2024, after being the back up for J.P. Spanier in his junior campaign. Fletcher ran for
355 yards and four scores.
The Irish boast an experienced offensive line, led by seniors Nick House and Rockford York along with junior Baylor Mounts. Senior Zach Tawwater had been tabbed as the starting tight end and defensive lineman but was tragically killed over the summer in a swimming accident.
Defensively, senior Jace Weeks makes a position change from linebacker to safety after collecting 100 tackles last year. Senior linebacker Tom Watts accounted for 90 tackles, four sacks and a forced fumble. Harris is also expected to be a force in the defensive backfield, after grabbing 60 tackles last season.
After opening against Deer Creek, the Irish visit Tulsa Kelley this Friday.
Coach Ryan Stringer
Adams takes over the reins as John Marshall enters 5A
By Jason Jewell Sports Editor
Since winning a state championship in 2017, the John Marshall football team has been the victim of a revolving door of coaches.
New coach Tarrion Adams hopes to steady the stream of new faces on the sideline. Adams, who played at the University of Tulsa, served as a position coach for the Bears before submitting his name as a head coaching candidate.
“I really enjoy the opportunity to work with kids,” the coach said. “Having already been on staff as a position coach, I look forward to continuing my relationships with those
players and cultivating new ones.”
While the transition has been “going pretty good,” Adams said being a head coach takes on a more wide-ranging skill set.
“There’s a lot more responsibility than just being on the sidelines,” he said. “There’s a lot of planning and building a structure. It’s not just Xs and Os.”
Due to enrollment increases, John Marshall moves up to Class 5A for the 2024 season. The Bears compete in District 2, which is arguably the toughest district in 5A, with Carl
Albert, Guthrie, El Reno and Lawton as the top programs.
“John Marshall has been on a decline, but we don’t plan on continuing that trend,” Adams said. “I’m glad we drew a tough district. We want to play the best people we can and we get an opportunity to do that.”
A number of key seniors return this season for the Bears offense.
District 5A-2
Pre-Season Rankings
1. Carl Albert
2. Guthrie
3. Lawton
4. El Reno
5. Noble
6. Altus
7. John Marshall
8. Western Heights
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Senior DaiDrien Parker anchors the offensive line and sets the tone for a physical running game.
“DaiDrien is a good all-around leader,” Adams said. “He has put in a lot of work and is set up to have a good year.”
Senior Shawn Powell heads into his final season as John Marshall’s primary running, while senior James Allen, a track standout, sets the pace in the receiving corps.
A pair of sophomores Malcolm Edd and London Lewis have been competing for the starting quarterback job. Several offensive players compete on defense, including Parker on the defensive line, Powell at linebacker, Allen in the secondary. Junior Aeden Clayton and sophomore Elijah Thomas join Parker on the line.
After opening against Clinton, the Bears host Bethany this Friday.
Coach Tarrion Adams
Crossings Christian assigned to top division in 2A
By Jason Jewell Sports Editor
Becoming a mainstay in the Class 2A playoff race, the Crossings Christian football team desires to continue its upward trajectory.
As one of the largest classifications, 2A enjoys a new look this year as officials at the Oklahoma Secondary Activities Assocation created two divisions this season and will award state championships in each division.
The Knights drew a spot in Division I and compete in a revamped District 2.
“Reshuffling the districts makes things much more interesting,” said second-year coach Jacob Stephenson. “We know we’re competing in a very strong district and class. But if
we want to be the best, we have to beat the best.”
Crossings Christian is picked to finish third in the district standings, just behind powerhouse programs Washington and Marlow.
“It’ll be much different this year,” Stephenson said of district play. “We won’t be going in with any preconceived notions. Not knowing these teams we’ll have to learn on the fly.
The Knights have matched up with Washington in the playoffs, but the other teams are less familiar.
“We know Washington and
Marlow are traditional powers,” the coach said. “It’s hard to overcome tradition.”
Crossings Christian boasts a strong senior class of 17 players on both offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
District 2AI-2
Pre-Season Rankings
1. Washington
2. Marlow
3. Crossings Chr.
4. Lindsay
5. Lexington
6. Little Axe
7. Dickson
8. Marietta
“Our seniors are leading the charge and we’re going to rely on their years of experience,” Stephenson said.
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Senior Nolan Matthews anchors the offensive line as a 3-year starter, along with seniors Darius Maree, Zane Brooks and Braden Ayala.
The Knights also enjoy some senior depth with “jack of all trades” Bennett Baker at wide receiver.
Sophomore Tristan Berglan leads the offense in his first season starting at quarterback.
“We’re really excited about Tristan at quarterback,” Stephenson said. “He’s taking the responsibility seriously and working hard. Having seniors in many of the skills spots should help him get more comfortable in the offense.”
Baker jumps over to play defense as the leading tackler in the secondary.
Senior Bennett Bell roams the middle from his linebacker spot, along with Holden Manchester. The duo combined for 134 tackles, six sacks and an interception. Senior Gavin McElroy plays on the line.
After opening against Douglass, the Knight next play Sept. 13 at OCS.
Coach Jacob Stephenson
Heritage Hall picked to repeat in reshuffled District 3A-1
By Jason Jewell Sports Editor
Change seems to be the name of the game this season for several Fridayland football teams and Heritage Hall is no exception.
Although the Chargers remain in the same district as last year, they face several different opponents.
“It will be a pretty fun mix of different teams from the past couple districts we’ve been in,” said coach Brett Bogert. “There are several good teams.”
Heritage Hall, favored to repeat as district champion, drew a familiar rival in Kingfisher, along with Pauls Valley, Purcell and Plainview.
“We’re excited to be matched up against Kingfisher again,” Bogert
said. “We’ve developed a pretty good rivalry with them and play them in a lot of different sports.”
The Chargers also look to return to the state championship game after suffering a loss to
Lincoln Christian last season.
“I thought we had a great season and disappointed in the way it ended,” Bogert said. “We have our biggest roster ever with 65 players but only six are seniors. So we’re excited about the future.”
Heritage Hall won’t have to wait
until the final game to face Lincoln Christian this season, as the Chargers open the season against the Bulldogs this Friday.
District 3A-1
Pre-Season Rankings
1. Heritage Hall
2. Pauls Valley
3. Kingfisher
4. North Rock Creek
Having to essentially rebuild the offensive line, Heritage Hall boasts a handful of experienced starters, including senior Barrett Travis and junior Jerrod Williams.
5. Purcell
6. Plainview
7. Anadarko
8. Star Spencer
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Travis rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns at running back, while Williams earns his first start at wide receiver after starting every game in the defensive secondary in his first two seasons.
“We’re excited for (Jerrod) to take the No. 1 receiver role,” Bogert said.
Senior Cal Welker joins Williams as a slot receiver.
Junior David Griffin returns as the only starter on the offensive line.
Like a lot of smaller schools, several offensive players jump over to start on the defense.
Among them are Williams and Welker in the secondary, along with Travis at linebacker and Griffin at nose guard.
Hillman Brown and Rhett Davis bracket Griffin as defensive tackles in a 3-man front. Senior Boston Fuller joins Travis in the middle at linebacker, and junior Graham Murphy starts in the secondary.
Coach Brett Bogert
PC North eyeing spot in expanded 6A-II playoff bracket
By Jason Jewell Sports Editor
With the expanded playoff bracket in Class 6A-II, the PC North football team projects to just be inside the cutoff line of top 6 teams in a district.
The Panthers are picked sixth in District 6AII-2, with a number of top-flight programs dotting the top half of the standings.
Defending state champion Muskogee garnered the top spot in the pre-season rankings, with Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Bartlesville and Ponca City predicted to round out playoff spots for the district.
In addition, those five teams also earned spots in the pre-season top 10
poll in 6A-II.
PC North looks to reverse a recent trend of three straight seasons with a losing record.
Nearly a dozen starters return for the 2024 season, with six on offense.
Senior Kameron Oliver gets his chance to start at running back after gaining 202 yards on 22 carried in a limited role and caught 33 passes for 585 yards and seven touchdowns.
Senior Lewis Moreland takes the field for his final campaign after missing much of last season with an injury. Moreland is expected to see
playing time at both wide receiver and quarterback.
Senior Milton Alford also returns at running back and could handle most of the kickoff returns. Alford rushed for 703 yards and six TDs, while adding 490 return yards with another score.
Senior JaKorey Locke and junior Bravion Stubbs should play key roles at receiver and senior Garrett Kitchko anchors the offensive line.
PC North’s defense centers around senior Dameon Hardmon who accounted for 75 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles.
Seniors Markus Stewart and Kelvin Tucker join Hardmon at linebacker. Steward grabbed 82 tackles and three sacks, while Tucker had 58 tackles and 6 1/2 sacks.
The Panthers host Shawnee this Friday in the season opener.
District 6AII-2
Pre-Season Rankings
1. Muskogee
2. Sand Springs
3. Sapulpa
4. Bartlesville
5. Ponca City
6. Putnam City North
7. Putnam City West
8. Capitol Hill
Class 6AII Top 10
1. Muskogee
2. Stillwater
3. Choctaw
4. Sand Springs
5. Piedmont
6. Sapulpa
7. Putnam City
8. Bartlesville 9. Ponca City
10. Eisenhower
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Coach Derek Lane
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Fridaylanders earn spots on state college rosters
A pair of state champions, along with several other Fridayland standouts, earned spots on state college football rosters for the 2024 season.
Former McGuinness graduate Zach Schmit joins Deer Creek’s Jack Sexton, Heritage Hall’s Andy Bass and Casady’s Ace Hodges on the squad at the University of Oklahoma.
Schmit, listed as redshirt-senior, starred as the Sooners’ primary kicker, playing in all 13 games last season and making 15 of 21 field goal tries and connecting on all 67 extra-point attempts.
Sexton played in seven games over the 2023 season on the offensive line and earned starts in the last four games of the year, including OU’s bowl game against Arizona.
After opening against Temple on Aug. 31, OU hosts Houston this Saturday in Norman.
Bass, a state champion quarterback at Heritage Hall, joins the Sooners as a preferred walk-on and is expected to compete for playing time as a running back, while Hodges, a standout at Casady, competes for playing time on the defensive line.
Gavin Freeman, another state champion from Heritage Hall, highlights a trio of Fridaylanders at Oklahoma State University.
Freeman, junior wide receiver, transferred from OU after catching 19 passes for 95 yards and returning a
Fridaylanders on Campus
Oklahoma
Andy Bass, Heritage Hall
Ace Hodges, Casady
Zach Schmit, McGuinness
Jacob Sexton, Deer Creek
Oklahoma State
Gavin Freeman, Heritage Hall
Jaleel Johnson, PC North
Logan Ward, Deer Creek
Central Oklahoma
Kazeyn Bird, McGuinness
Grayson Miller, Deer Creek
Colton Neal, Deer Creek
Ethan Nedio, Casady
Oklahoma Baptist
Blake Meek, Crossings Christian
Haydn Thornton, PC North
Southern Nazarene
Ryan Gooch, PC North
Adam Owdetallah, PC North
punt 82 yards for a touchdown last season.
PC North’s Jaleel Johnson returns as a sophomore defensive lineman. He played in 12 games and made 12 tackles, including at least one stop in eight straight games.
Deer Creek’s Logan Ward rounds out the group as the Cowboys’ kickoff specialist. The redshirt-junior boasted 85 kickoffs with 40 of them resulting in touchbacks. He took over as the pri-
mary place kicker in the last two games, making seven extra-point attempts.
OSU entertains Arkansas this Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, after opening Aug. 31 against South Dakota State.
Nearly a dozen other Fridayland graduates made rosters at Division II Oklahoma schools.
Deer Creek’s Grayson Miller and Colton Neal, along with McGuinness’ Kazeyn Bird and Casady’s Ethan Nedio play at Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
Miller is a junior punter, while Neal is listed as a freshman wide receiver, Bird as a sophomore linebacker and Nedio as a freshman defensive lineman.
The Bronchos open the 2024 season against Langston this Saturday.
Crossings Christian’s Blake Meek, a sophomore linebacker, and PC North’s Haydn Thornton, a freshman linebacker, earned spots at Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee.
The Bison traveled to Arkansas Tech last Thursday in their season opener.
Former PC North graduates Ryan Gooch, a freshman linebacker, and Adam Owdetallah, a freshman defensive lineman, made the roster at Southern Nazarene in Bethany.
The Crimson Storm also hit the road for their season opener on Sept. 5 at Harding in Arkansas.
2024 State College Football Schedules
2024 OU Schedule
Aug. 30 vs. Temple
Sept. 7 vs. Houston
Sept. 14 vs. Tulane
Sept. 21 vs. Tennessee
Sept. 28 @ Auburn
Oct. 12 vs. Texas (at Dallas)
Oct. 19 vs. South Carolina
Oct. 26 @ Mississippi
Nov. 2 vs. Maine
Nov. 9 @ Missouri
Nov. 23 vs. Alabama
Nov. 30 @ LSU
2024 OSU Schedule
Aug. 31 vs. South Dakota St.
Sept. 7 vs. Arkansas
Sept. 14 @ Tulsa
Sept. 21 vs. Utah
Sept. 28 @ Kansas State
Oct. 5 vs. West Virginia
Oct. 18 @ BYU
Oct. 26 @ Baylor
Nov. 2 vs. Arizona State
Nov. 9 @ TCU
Nov. 23 vs. Texas Tech
Nov. 30 @ Colorado
Central Oklahoma
Sept. 7 vs. Langston
Sept. 14 vs. Central Missouri
Sept. 21 @ Nebraska-Kearney
Sept. 28 vs. Fort Hays State
Oct. 5 @ Missouri Southern
Oct. 12 vs. NW Missouri
Oct. 19 @ Northeastern OSU
Oct. 26 vs. Pittsburg State
Nov. 2 @ Missouri Western
Nov. 9 @ Washburn
Nov. 16 vs. Emporia State
Oklahoma Baptist
Sept. 5 @ Arkansas Tech
Sept. 14 vs. Harding
Sept. 21 @ Southeastern OSU
Sept. 28 vs. East Central
Oct. 5 @ Henderson State
Oct. 10 vs. Southern Arkansas
Oct. 19 vs. Southwestern OSU
Oct. 26 @ Northwestern OSU
Nov. 2 @ Ark.-Monticello
Nov. 9 vs. Ouachita Baptist
Nov. 16 vs. Southern Nazarene
Southern Nazarene
Sept. 5 @ Harding
Sept. 14 vs. Arkansas Tech
Sept. 21 vs. Northwestern OSU
Sept. 28 @ Southwestern OSU
Oct. 5 @ Southern Arkansas
Oct. 12 vs. Henderson State
Oct. 19 @ Southeastern OSU
Oct. 26 vs. East Central
Oct. 31 @ Ouachita Baptist
Nov. 9 vs. Ark.-Monticello
Nov. 16 @ Oklahoma Baptist
Southwestern OSU
Sept. 5 @ Ouachita Baptist
Sept. 14 vs. Ark.-Monticello
Sept. 21 @ East Central
Sept. 28 vs. Southern Nazarene
Oct. 5 vs. Harding
Oct. 12 @ Arkansas Tech
Oct. 19 @ Oklahoma Baptist
Oct. 26 vs. Southwestern OSU
Nov. 2 @ Southern Arkansas
Nov. 9 @ Henderson State
Nov. 16 vs. Northwestern OSU
Casady kicks off OSSAA play in 2A’s new lower division
By Jason Jewell Sports Editor
Three years ago, Casady school officials made the decision to seek membershhip in the Oklahoma Secondary Activities Association (OSSAA) after being a charter member of the Southwest Preparatory Conference since its founding.
The Cyclones football team, after enduring two seasons as a provisional member officially begins com-
petition in the newly created Class 2A Division II for the 2024 season.
Casady joins District 2AII-1 and is picked to finish fourth in the pre-season rankings.
Alva, Stroud and Meeker are projected to finish ahead of the Cyclones. All three also earned spots in the 2A-II top 10 preseason survey.
Coach Ty Prestidge
Casady to an impressive 7-2 mark in his first season.
Senior Ethan Hamilton returns to start at quarterback for the Cyclones. Hamilton enjoys a number of key targets in his twin brother Landon Hamilton and senior Dyson Faye.
Junior Andrew Fitzpatrick is expected to be the starting running back.
Stroud
Meeker
Casady
Hennessey
Newkirk
Kellyville
Luther
Source: VYPE Pigskin
With nearly five decades of experience on the sideline, longtime high school coach and Hall of Fame inductee Ty Prestidge guided
Like many other smaller schools, several Casady offensive players jump over to the defensive side of the ball. Landon Hamilton joins Faye as the top returning defensive players at middle linebacker and safety, respectively. Senior Jackson Stewart also adds speed in the secondary.
The Cyclones travel to Edmond in the season opener at OCS.
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Stroud
Holdenville
Meeker
Spiro
Henryetta
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