Anadarko 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 3A Preseason Ranking: #6) </strong></span>The <strong>Anadarko Warriors</strong> were initially left out of our Class 3A rankings to start the season in 2020 after consecutive seasons that left a little to be desired. They had back-to-back campaigns with 5 or more losses and failed to make the playoffs in 2019 after finishing 4-6. Good thing they did not listen to us though because 2020 was one of the best seasons Anadarko has had since they raised their last gold ball in 2013. Despite playing in a district that sent 3 teams to the 3A quarterfinals, including themselves, the Warriors were able to go 6-3 in the regular season and win their first playoff game since 2015. However, the 3A teams they lost to in 2020 district play, Kingfisher and Heritage Hall, were the two that placed ahead of them in 3A-1. That will have to change if they want to take that next step and get back to the top where they once were. What they do have this season that they have not had recently though is an experienced team that has had some playoff success. With 12 starters back from 2020’s team, this year’s Anadarko squad will look to get back to the top of their district for the first time since 2015 and take the next step into November and December. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>2020 Results (7-4 Record – Lost In 3A Quarterfinals)</strong></span> Sept. 4 – Beat Elgin 48-14 Sept. 11 – Lost to Marlow 21-20 Sept. 18 – Beat Chickasha 36-19 Sept. 25 – Beat Perkins-Tryon 18-7 Oct. 2 – Game VS Bridge Creek Canceled Oct. 9 – Beat Dibble 42-7 Oct. 15 – Beat McLoud 56-22 Oct. 23 – Lost to Heritage Hall 39-27 Oct. 30 – Beat Mount Saint Mary 40-7 Nov. 6 – Lost to Kingfisher 42-22 1st Round – Bye Second Round – Beat Sulphur 28-14 Quarterfinals – Lost to Lincoln Christian 63-20 <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Players To Watch</strong></span> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="112472" first="Karsen" last="Williams"] - 2022 Quarterback</strong> We had heard of the 2022 quarterback, but we got real familiar with [player_tooltip player_id="112472" first="Karsen" last="Williams"] at the Prep Redzone Oklahoma showcase back in June where we got to see him sling the ball all over the yard. Karsen has a very strong arm that he uses to hit WRs on deep routes with great placement and pace. He has also shown a very clean and quick release on multiple occasions and is not afraid to let the ball fly from different arm slots when necessary. It is not always a life or death situation to have a big-armed quarterback such as Williams once you make your way to the lower classes in Oklahoma, but his presence on the field gives Anadarko an X-factor that has the ability to push them over the top in close games. <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="157510" first="Kenyon" last="Bigbow"] - 2023 Offensive/Defensive Lineman</strong></span> A massive riser in our latest 2023 rankings, [player_tooltip player_id="157510" first="Kenyon" last="Bigbow"] has a chance to solidify himself as one of the best 10-20 Offensive Linemen in the state if he has the kind of year we think he is capable of. Bigbow played both right and left tackle in 2020 and did so at an elite level. He has great size for his age and has a great combination of speed and power. He had some of the quickest feet and was one of the smoother movers in space that we watched this offseason, and he had more pancake blocks than just about anyone in 2020. If he got his hands on a defender they were likely going down in a hurry. Bigbow also plays a little bit of defensive line where he has the capability to be a game wrecker in the backfield in 2021 with his pure strength and explosion off the ball. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>More Names</strong></span> Davin Nuckols – 2024 Offensive Lineman Rayden Churchill – 2023 Tight End/Defensive End <span style="font-size: 1rem;">Lucas Camp - 2023 Running Back</span> <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Notable</strong></span> Prior to 2010, the Anadarko Warriors had only won 3 district championships and never made it past the quarterfinal round in their school’s history. From 2010-2015, the Warriors won 6 district titles and went to 3 state championships with 2 Gold Balls to show for it. Since 2015, Anadarko has not won a district championship, they have not made it past the<span style="font-size: 1rem;"> quarterfinal round of the playoffs, </span><span style="font-size: 1rem;">and they have only had one season over 7 wins. Quite a rollercoaster ride over the past decade. However, 2020 marked the first time since 2015 that the Warriors were able to pull off a win in the playoffs and they did so against a Sulphur team that came into the game with just one loss in 3A. It may be too early to tell, but Anadarko looks primed in 2021 to start their slow ascension back to where they lived from 2010-2015, the top.       </span> <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>2021 Schedule/Games To Watch</strong></span> Sept. 3 – Elgin Sept. 10 – AT Marlow Sept. 17 – Chickasha Sept. 24 – Perkins-Tryon Oct. 1 – AT Bridge Creek Oct. 8 – Douglass Oct. 14 – AT McLoud <strong>Oct. 22 – Heritage Hall </strong>- As we highlighted in their preview on Sunday, out of all their district opponents, Anadarko came the closest to beating Heritage Hall in 2020. However, the Chargers return plenty of talent along both sides, so this year will not be any easier regardless of last year’s results. They will certainly have to score quite a few points if they want to stay alive in this matchup. They have a team that can keep it close, but if Anadarko gets out to a slow start offensively and allows Heritage Hall to run the ball with ease out of the gate this one could get out of hand quickly. Oct. 29 – AT Mount Saint Mary <strong>Nov. 5 – AT Kingfisher </strong>- If last season was any indicator, this regular-season finale will likely have huge playoff implications. In 2020, this was one of Anadarko’s 2 district losses and was a game they never really had control of. However, Kingfisher has many key pieces they will have to replace from last season’s team, so this is one that Anadarko could win to boost their district standing one last time before their potential playoff push. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Championship History</strong></span> <em><strong> 2 State Championships</strong></em> 2013 - Beat Poteau 40-0 2011 - Beat Cascia Hall 35-18