Hilldale 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 4A Preseason Ranking: #3)</strong></span> We were higher than most on the <strong>Hilldale Hornets</strong> going into the 2020 season and they backed up that hype with a strong 11-2 season. Now as we enter 2021, it shouldn’t seem so crazy that they come in as our #3 team in the 4A preseason rankings. Coming off an 11-2 season and returning 15 total starters from that team, the Hornets are ready to make a serious run in Class 4A. Last year, it might have been too early. They were dominant for the majority of the season but in the year’s biggest games, they simply fell short. They would probably like to get another crack at Cushing, who they lost a nailbiter to in the quarterfinals. And they very well could get another shot at Cushing as the Tigers are our preseason number one team. Hilldlae also fell short in their district against perennial power Poteau. The Pirates were coming off a state championship but they had to replace a lot of big names. They were able to still nock off the Hornets so step one in 2021 is finding a way to neutralize the Pirates. Eight starters return on a Hilldale offense that put up a lot of points last season. Seven starters return on the other side of the ball and they have some guys that will be absolute playmakers for them. The Hornets seem determined to take the next step and similar to Cushing in 4A, they have very young players which makes them a threat not only this year, but next year as well. <hr /> <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">2020 Results (11-2 Record - Lost In 4A Quarterfinals)</span></strong> <strong>Sept. 4 -</strong> Beat Will Rogers 54-0 <strong>Sept. 11 -</strong> Beat Checotah 40-0 <strong>Sept. 18 -</strong> Beat Atoka 27-7 <strong>Sept. 25 -</strong> Lost To Poteau 38-24 <strong>Oct. 2 -</strong> Beat Broken Bow 35-34 <strong>Oct. 9 -</strong> Beat Stilwell 52-6 <strong>Oct. 15 -</strong> Beat Muldrow 48-14 <strong>Oct. 23 -</strong> Beat Sallisaw 44-34 <strong>Oct. 30 -</strong> Beat McLain 43-14 <strong>Nov. 6 -</strong> Beat Fort Gibson 39-20 <strong>1st Round -</strong> Beat Miami 42-0 <strong>2nd Round -</strong> Beat Grove 43-42 <strong>Quarterfinal -</strong> Lost To Cushing 34-28 <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Players To Watch</strong></span> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="157514" first="Eric" last="Virgil"] - 2023 Running Back</strong> One of the breakout stars for Hilldale last season was running back [player_tooltip player_id="157514" first="Eric" last="Virgil"]. The Hornet offense was incredibly balanced but it was obvious that anytime Virgil got the ball in his hands, you could end up seeing something special. Virgil was at his best halfway through the season in October when he put up the majority of his season stats. However, the two games in which he didn’t get as many touches or yards came in their two losses to Poteau and Cushing. Virgil is ready to make sure he’s on his game, no matter who the Hornets are going against. Also watch out for this standout on defense as well. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="57160" first="Evan" last="Keefe"] - 2023 Defensive Lineman</strong></span> We go from one two-way star to another as [player_tooltip player_id="57160" first="Evan" last="Keefe"] is already one of the top overall linemen in 4A football. Playing on offense and defense, Keefe is a dynamic player and he’ll be one of the keys to the Hilldale success this fall. As an offensive lineman, he’ll be anchoring the offensive line to help spring those big runs from Virgil. On defense, that’s where Keefe is at his best in our opinion. He commands a double team with just how strong he is. He is one of the strongest linemen in the 2023 class and sometimes a double team isn’t enough to keep him out of the backfield. <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">More Names</span></strong> <strong>Brayson Lawso</strong>n - 2022 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back <strong>Jax Kerr</strong> - 2025 Quarterback <strong>Logan Harper</strong> - 2023 Wide Receiver <strong style="font-size: 1rem;">Rylan Nail</strong><span style="font-size: 1rem;"> </span><span style="font-size: 1rem;">- 2022 Athlete</span> <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Notable</strong></span> The Hornets are primed for a deep playoff run this fall and are considered one of the top contenders in 4A football. However, they have a big hurdle that they have to overcome in the playoffs to be a true title contender. In their last five playoff appearances, they’ve been eliminated in the quarterfinals. In fact, the Hornets have never made it to the semifinal round in any year during their history. They’ve been able to have some playoff success over the last few years but not enough to win multiple games in the postseason and punch their ticket to the semifinal round. When it comes to the semifinals in the larger classes, you always hear about "practicing on thanksgiving" because that means you’re one win away from the championship game. Unfortunately for the Hornets, they’re still searching for that first semifinal appearance but it could come this fall. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>2021 Schedule/Games To Watch</strong></span> Sept. 3 - AT Will Rogers <strong>Sept. 10 - AT Checotah</strong> - This was the game in 2020 that let everyone know that Hilldale should be taken seriously in Class 4A. They would dismantle Checotah early on in the season and Checotah was a strong team. They’ll be strong again and you know that they’ll have revenge on the mind after being shut out by the Hornets in 2020. The first five games of the season for Hilldale are some of their toughest games of the year. This is the first real test of the year after Hilldale opens the season in Tulsa against Will Rogers. Another road game in week two followed by the next three games will be the toughest stretch for Hilldale during the regular season. Sept. 17 - Oologah <strong>Sept. 24 - Poteau</strong> - Here we go. As mentioned earlier, we’ll find out how serious Hilldale is as a state title contender when they open up district play against Poteau. The Pirates have been the kings of this district for several years, including winning the state championship in 2019. Hilldale is looking to dethrone them of the district crown before going after state. It’s the first district game of the year but it could end up deciding that district championship later on in the year. Hilldale will get the benefit of having it at home. Poteau also plays a brutal non-district schedule so the Hornets might be rested and ready. Oct. 1 - Broken Bow Oct. 8 - AT Stilwell Oct. 14 - Muldrow Oct. 22 - AT Sallisaw Oct. 29 - McLain Nov. 5 - AT Fort Gibson <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Championship History</strong></span> <em><strong>0 State Championships</strong></em>