Adair Team Preview

<em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em> Stay tuned to Prep Redzone Oklahoma every day as we release more individual team previews as we get closer to the start of the 2021 football season. In case you missed it, you can check out our Preseason Rankings <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/06/2021-preseason-rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>RIGHT HERE</strong></a>. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Overview (Class 2A Preseason Ranking: #9)</strong></span> Any time we’re talking about Class 2A and looking ahead to what could be, you have to include the <strong>Adair Warriors</strong>. They’ve been one of the best and consistent teams during this decade. They don’t have a run of consecutive championships or anything like that but they’re always a top ten team and making deep runs into the postseason. This year is no different as they come off yet another 10-win season from a year ago. Last year, the Warriors captured another district championship in dominating fashion. The only slip up in the regular season was a non-district loss to Stigler. In the playoffs, the Warriors had to wait to get on the field. After not having any of their regular season games cancelled or postponed due to Covid, the Warriors didn’t play in the first two rounds of the playoffs because opponents would have to forfeit their playoff trip. So the Warriors wrapped up the regular season on November 6th against Claremore Sequoyah and wouldn’t hit the field again until November 27th when they beat Spiro. Adair would fall to Washington in the quarterfinal round the following week and the Warriors would go on to lose to Metro Christian in the 2A title game. The Warriors now come into the 2021 season as the #9 ranked team in our 2A preseason rankings. That’s a little lower than the Warriors are used to being but they do only return five starters on offense and another five on defense. They are the heavy favorites in their district because one starter they return is quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="38725" first="Nate" last="Ratcliff"], who is one of the best in the state at his position. Look for Adair to be another 10-win team and they have as good of shot at contending for the 2A title as any in arguably the state’s deepest and most competitive class. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>2020 Results (10-2 Record - Lost In 2A Quarterfinals)</strong></span> <strong>Aug. 28 -</strong> Beat Jay 46-7 <strong>Sept. 4 -</strong> Lost To Stigler 45-6 <strong>Sept. 10 -</strong> Beat Locust Grove 36-0 <strong>Sept. 25 -</strong> Beat Dewey 50-6 <strong>Oct. 2 -</strong> Beat Nowata 44-6 <strong>Oct. 9 -</strong> Beat Sperry 24-21 <strong>Oct. 15 -</strong> Beat Kansas 52-7 <strong>Oct. 23 -</strong> Beat Salina 46-0 <strong>Oct. 30 -</strong> Beat Rejoice Christian 64-20 <strong>Nov. 6 -</strong> Beat Claremore Sequoyah 42-7 <strong>1st Round -</strong> Bye Week <strong>2nd Round -</strong> Bye Week <strong>3rd Round -</strong> Beat Spiro 50-27 <strong>Quarterfinals -</strong> Lost To Washington 49-29 <hr /> <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Players To Watch</span></strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="38725" first="Nate" last="Ratcliff"] - 2022 Quarterback</strong> Adair quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="38725" first="Nate" last="Ratcliff"] is one of the best returning quarterbacks in 2A football. He’ll be a three-year starter for the Warriors and like many Adair quarterbacks before him, he’s put up some big numbers in his career. He threw for 34 touchdowns and 7 interceptions as a sophomore in 2019. He followed that up with another season of 34 touchdowns but only threw 2 interceptions in 2020. He’s also a threat to run the ball. The only question with Ratcliff is who he’ll throw to as the Warriors have to replace several of their top pass catchers from last year. One player who could step up in that role is our next Player To Watch. <strong>Reece Jackson - 2024 Athlete</strong> That player and next Adair standout athlete could be sophomore Reece Jackson. After we released our 2024 rankings, we realized that Jackson should not only be included but he should probably be relatively high considering the impact he made as just a freshman. And he made that impact on a team that was full of juniors and seniors and still found a way on to the field. Last year, Jackson was probably more important to Adair’s success on the defensive side of the ball. This year, he’ll be equally as important on offense as he could end up being Ratcliff’s top playmaker at that position. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>More Names</strong></span> <strong>Lane Jackson - 2022 Wide Receiver</strong> <strong>Roger Reed - 2022 Tight End</strong> <hr /> <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Notable</span></strong> In 2020, the Warriors made their 12th consecutive playoff appearance and the streak started back in 2009. However, those first three appearances were first round exits each year. But since then, the Warriors have been mainstays in the 2A playoffs and have made it to at least the quarterfinal round in the last nine appearances. From 2012-2015, Adair and Davis had one of the best playoff rivalries that we’ve seen. They met each year in the quarterfinals with Davis winning three straight from 2012-2014 by a combined five points. In 2015, the Warriors finally got over the Davis hump with a one point win over the Wolves. They would win the next week in the semifinals by 30 points and won the championship with a record-setting 64-point victory. Adair has become one of those teams that you just expect to not only make it to the playoffs, but make a deep run into the postseason. This year will be no different with the Warriors being the favorites in their district. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>2021 Schedule/Games To Watch</strong></span> Aug. 27 - AT Jay <strong>Sept. 3 - Stigler</strong> - The only blemish on the regular season record for Adair in 2020 was a blowout loss to Stigler. The Panthers were one of the better teams in Class 3A so a loss to them, especially when it’s a non-district loss, isn’t the end of the world. Adair will still be out for some revenge as they have a chance to run the table, at least during the regular season. Stigler might be taking a step back this year as they were a senior-heavy team in 2020 and will have a new head coach as well. With a rivalry game on the road against Locust Grove coming up the following week, Adair will want to get a win to continue that early season momentum. Sept. 9 - Locust Grove Sept. 24 - AT Dewey Oct. 1 - Nowata <strong>Oct. 8 - AT Sperry</strong> - The Warriors absolutely smashed everyone in their district last year as they ran away with the district crown. The one team they struggled with was Sperry. They were able to get out of their 2020 meeting with a 24-21 win. This year, the Warriors are once again heavy favorites in the district and this might be the closest district contest Adair faces as they go on the road this time to take on the Pirates. Rejoice Christian and Claremore Sequoyah might have something to say about that later in the year. But there is a good chance the district championship is decided right here in week six. Oct. 14 - AT Kansas Oct. 22 - Salina Oct. 29 - AT Rejoice Christian Nov. 5 - Claremore Sequoyah <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Championship History</strong></span> <em><strong>1 State Championship</strong></em> 2015 - Beat Haskell 70-6