4A Season In Review

<em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em> The 2020 season has come to an end but that doesn’t mean we’re done having content every day here at Prep Redzone Oklahoma. In fact, we’re just heating up and continuing our postseason series today. Be sure to check back every day for new postseason content from our season in review series to All-State teams and much more! On Monday, we released our <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/12/final-team-rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Final Team Rankings</a></strong> for the 2020 season. Tuesday, we announced the ten finalists for our first-ever <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/12/2020-player-of-the-year-finalists/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prep Redzone Oklahoma Player Of The Year</a></strong> award. Wednesday, we kicked off the season in review series with a look back at the 2020 season in <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/12/6a-d1-season-in-review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Class 6A-D1</a></strong>. Then we continued that series with a look back at the season in <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/12/6a-d2-season-in-review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Class 6A-D2</strong></a>. Yesterday, we rewinded and reviewed 2020 for <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/12/5a-season-in-review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Class 5A</strong></a>. Today, it’s time to take a look back at Class 4A. <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>STATE CHAMPION - WAGONER BULLDOGS</strong></span> Wagoner came into 2020 as one of our top teams in 4A looking to redeem themselves after coming up short in the semifinals in 2019 and redemption is just what they got. They opened up the season against 5A Coweta and blanked them 28-0. The following week, they did more of the same against another 5A team in Tahlequah, beating them 22-10. For their non-district finale, the Bulldogs traveled to 2A Sperry and once again dominated with a 52-0 performance. Wagoner would dominate their district with their closest game being a 28-7 win over Bristow in week 5. Overall for district play this season, the Bulldogs averaged 52 points a game and only allowed more than one score once. Other than a 21-14 scare to Tuttle in the second round, the playoffs were more of the same for Wagoner. In the first round they shut out Sallisaw. In the semis, they would shut down a hot Cushing team 40-14, and in the championship, they played lights out once again and would defeat Clinton 42-13 to win the 4A state title. <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>PLAYER OF THE YEAR</strong></span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="38508" first="Isaac" last="Smith"] - Defensive End - Wagoner </strong></span>[player_tooltip player_id="38508" first="Isaac" last="Smith"] came into the season as one of our top defensive linemen and a Tulsa commit and he only improved his stock with us here at Prep RedZone and with college coaches around the country. He was a constant threat in the backfield all season and was a nightmare to scheme around for offensive coordinators and offensive lineman across 4A. Along with a state championship to end his career, Smith was rewarded with a few new scholarships offers from a number of division one schools. One of them, Texas Tech, is where he has recently recommitted to and where he will be playing his college ball next season. <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>BREAKOUT STARS</strong></span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Braden Drake - Running Back - Wagoner</strong></span> Drake came into 2020 looking to help the Bulldogs get into the state championship after falling short and it is fair to say he did his part and then some. On the season, Drake ran for over 2000 yards and was one of the most electric backs in all of 4A. He does not currently have many offers, but he is definitely a college back that will shine once his opportunity arises. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="62996" first="Hayden" last="Fry"] - Running Back/Linebacker - Cushing </strong></span>By now it seems we have highlighted the entire Cushing team because each week a new player would shine for the Tigers, and many weeks [player_tooltip player_id="62996" first="Hayden" last="Fry"] was in that conversation. Fry was a beast on both sides of the ball this season, rushing for over 1400 yards on offense, and compiling over 180 tackles on defense. The Senior for Cushing currently has offers to a few division 2 and NAIA schools, but figures to gain a few more as signing day in February approaches. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Justus Conway - Linebacker - Newcastle</strong></span> In 2019, Conway was a rotational linebacker for Newcastle and compiled just 15 tackles. In 2020, Conway exploded with 79 tackles and an incredible 16 sacks. The Junior Linebacker does not have many offers yet, but that will certainly change with another stellar season in 2021. <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>OTHER TOP PLAYERS</strong></span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="38490" first="Bryce" last="Stephens"] - Wide Receiver - John Marshall</strong></span> Stephens has been one of the top receivers in the state for some time now and he went out and proved that once again in his senior season. His stats may not have always shown it as the John Marshall offense struggled at times in 2020, but when you watch the tape it is impossible to leave Stephens off this list. His team did not have quite the season they had hoped for, but they will still miss their top playmaker on offense dearly as he is moving on to the SEC. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="38610" first="Caden" last="Powell"] - Quarterback/Linebacker - Clinton</strong></span> As I wrote about in their semifinal preview, Powell has simply been a bully on both sides of the ball. On offense, Powell was not your typical pocket passer, but instead a big bruising runner. On defense, Powell has been more of the same but he did more of the tackling where on offense he was breaking the tackles. Powell caught fire towards the end of the season and nearly led Clinton to a State Championship but fell short to Wagoner. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="38715" first="Camden" last="Crooks"] - Wide Receiver/Defensive Back - Cushing</strong></span> After a breakout season as a Freshman, many of us were wondering how Crooks would come out to start the year in 2020 and the answer to that was on absolute fire. The Sophomore was constantly on our players of the week list for his efforts on both sides of the ball and was a corner piece for our underclassmen spotlight series. Before we know it he may be one of the best playmakers in the state as he enters his Junior season in 2021. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="38500" first="Ethan" last="Downs"] - Defensive End - Weatherford</strong></span> Coming into 2020, [player_tooltip player_id="38500" first="Ethan" last="Downs"] was one of our top overall players for the class of 2021 and he did not disappoint. The Senior DL finished the year with just a handful of sacks but that is because he has been one of the best at his position for a few seasons now and was constantly double-teamed and triple-teamed as a result of that. Catch Ethan rocking the Crimson and Cream for the Sooners in 2021 and beyond. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Johnnie Durossette - Quarterback - Hilldale</strong></span> When choosing my bracket busters for 4A, I nearly chose Hilldale simply because of Johnnie Durossette. The QB for Hilldale had an incredible year, throwing for over 2000 yards and 20 TDs to only 6 INTs, and added over 400 yards and 13 TDs on the ground. He has not gotten the recognition he deserves in the recruiting world, but hopefully that changes within the next few months. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Lincoln Smith - Wide Receiver/Defensive Back - Blanchard</strong></span> Blanchard came into the playoffs as one of the top teams in Class 4A and would end up making a run to the semifinals. After a close game against Clinton, they would fall one game short of the title game. The Lions were incredibly balanced and had a lot of playmakers returning this season, which led to their run in the playoffs. However, it was Lincoln Smith’s impact on both sides of the ball that would make the Lions one of the top teams in 4A football. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="38821" first="Mason" last="Willingham"] - Quarterback - Skiatook</strong></span> Mason was a nice surprise for me mid-season when we were updating rankings for the class and he is still one of the better QBs in the class of 2023. He played very well in some big-time games this year and looked much more polished than your average Sophomore. He may not reach the ceiling that a few other QBs in his class will, but he has one of the highest floors of most QBs in the 2023 class. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Sawyer Jones - Quarterback - Wagoner</strong></span> When your offense is constantly scoring 40+ each week you are almost guaranteed to have a polished and efficient QB under center and that is just what Sawyer Jones was in 2020. No game was too big for him and he showed it by leading the Bulldogs to one of their best seasons in school history. Jones is not the most coveted QB in the class of 2021 but he is certainly one of the best in terms of on-field performance in results in 2020. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="63285" first="Stephon" last="Tolon"] - Quarterback/Defensive Back - Bristow</strong></span> Coming into the 2020 season, Bristow’s [player_tooltip player_id="63285" first="Stephon" last="Tolon"] had to be considered one of the top athletes in 4A football. He led the Purple Pirates to a district title in 2019 and he wouldn’t allow Bristow to suffer a setback in 2020. While district rival Wagoner ended up being the kings of 4A once again, Tolon was still one of the best players in the state on offense and defense. Offensively, he was dominant running the Bristow flexbone offense. On defense, he was one of the better defensive backs in 4A. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Trey Gause - Linebacker - Wagoner</strong></span> Wagoner was perfect on their way to the state championship. But without a doubt, the biggest headline from their title run was their dominant defense. They completely shut teams down. One of the standouts for the Bulldogs on that side of the ball was senior linebacker Trey Gause. The Bulldog standout led the team in tackles and was the leader of a defense that would shut down and shut out so many opponents in 2020. <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">TOP STORYLINE</span></strong> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Wagoner Dominates On Their Way To Title</strong></span> As you can see at the top, Wagoner won the title in 4A in convincing fashion, but the ease they did it with must be explained deeper as they made one of the most impressive runs in the state this season. On offense, the Bulldogs were virtually impossible to stop as they averaged 45 points a game and failed to score 40 points or more only twice once district play started, including in the playoffs. On defense, they allowed less than 6 points per game, pitched 6 shutouts, and only allowed more than one score 4 times. In total, they outscored their opponents by an astounding <span style="font-size: 1rem;">630-81 and did not have a single opponent other than Tuttle come within 21 points of defeating them. A truly historic season for the Bulldogs in 2020.</span> <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>EARLY LOOK AT 2021</strong></span> Wagoner will be the team to beat in 2021 to start, but after losing many of their key playmakers they may not be the favorite going into the season. Look for teams such as Weatherford, John Marshall, and Bristow to bounce back in 2021 after falling short of their goals for the 2020 season. Additionally, 2021 may be the year for Grove to start their rise in 4A as some of their young playmakers will become upperclassmen and leaders on the team. However, if I had to pick a favorite for 2021 it would have to be Cushing as they were already in the semifinals this year, and they return nearly all of their playmakers including [player_tooltip player_id="54349" first="Blaze" last="Berlowitz"], [player_tooltip player_id="38715" first="Camden" last="Crooks"], and many, many more. 2021 should be a competitive and deep year in Class 4A.