Vian Team Preview

Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy! 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">RIGHT HERE</a>. Overview (Class 2A Preseason Ranking: #10) Coming into the 2020 season, the Vian Wolverines once again had high expectations of contending in Class 2A. They were coming off a 2019 season in which they made a run all the way to the championship game. Nobody in Vian had expectations of anything less than a return trip to Wantland Stadium. Covid certainly threw some curveballs at the Wolverines. After dominating wins in week zero and week one, they had their week two game with Lincoln Christian get cancelled. Because of that, the Wolverines scrambled and still had a game that Friday night. Late Thursday morning, Vian agreed to travel to Oklahoma City to take on John Marshall in a game that would take place about 30 hours later. That evening, the Wolverines would prevail in a very entertaining 32-28 victory. Covid caused some very interesting match-up’s and scheduling decisions and this was a perfect example of that. Vian would go on to dominate their district, with the exception of an upset loss on the road to Cascia Hall. Because of the loss to Cascia, Vian would finish in second place and have to face Metro Christian in a championship rematch earlier than expected. They would lose to the Patriots for the second straight year and finish 9-2. The Wolverines aren't coming off a championship game appearance coming into this season but expectations remain the same. Despite only having eight starters back total from last year's team, Vian should be considered one of the top teams in Class 2A as they come in at #10 in our 2A rankings. Last year, they were knocked down and now have to dust themselves off and get back to what we saw from the Vian team that made that trip to Wantland in 2019. <hr /> 2020 Results (9-2 Record - Lost In Class 2A 3rd Round) Aug. 28 - Beat Gravette, AR. 26-8 Sept. 4 - Beat Eufaula 42-12 Sept. 11 - Beat John Marshall 32-28 Sept. 24 - Beat Keys 64-0 Oct. 2 - Beat Roland 58-7 Oct. 9 - Lost To Cascia Hall 7-6 Oct. 15 - Beat Pocola 84-0 Oct. 23 - Beat Panama 49-6 Oct. 30 - Game VS Spiro Cancelled Nov. 5 - Beat Heavener 47-0 1st Round - Bye Week 2nd Round - Beat Atoka 46-7 3rd Round - Lost To Metro Christian 34-22 <hr /> Players To Watch [player_tooltip player_id="57164" first="Diego" last="Ramos"] - 2023 Quarterback Last year was the first year for [player_tooltip player_id="57164" first="Diego" last="Ramos"] to really play quarterback at a consistent pace at the high school level. Vian is obviously a run-first team so they didn’t ask Ramos to use his arm as much as being creative in the running game. Ramos is also a standout baseball player and could end up being one of the best baseball prospects in the state’s 2023 class. However, on the football field, he’s going to end up being a four-year starter for the Wolverines and will be a steady presence on an offense that will have some new faces this fall. We expect Ramos to take that next step this fall as a QB. [player_tooltip player_id="61124" first="Xavin" last="Lackey"] - 2022 Linebacker Vian’s [player_tooltip player_id="61124" first="Xavin" last="Lackey"] is one of the best overall linebackers in the state. He’s without a doubt the highest rated Vian prospect when it comes to our recruiting rankings. Lackey has been a dominating force on this Vian defense for over two years now. He has over 200 tackles in the last two seasons and is ready to step into the spotlight this season. Vian has had a star on their defense with defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id="38502" first="Solomon" last="Wright"] for the last few years. Now, it’s Lackey’s turn to step into that role and be the can’t miss player on this exciting defensive unit. Lackey is more than capable of fitting into that role. More Names DeSean Mays - 2023 Running Back Dylan Sanders - 2022 Defensive Lineman <hr /> Notable A combination of Covid and an early playoff exit ended up snapping a streak that Vian had going in 2020. From 2015-2019, the Wolverines had won at least ten games in each season. Their streak of five straight seasons of at least ten wins came to an end last year in the playoffs when they lost to Metro Christian. They had their season ended by the Patriots for the second consecutive season. In 2019, it was in the title game, last year, it was in the third round. Vian did keep a streak going during the shortened season last year. For the 10th consecutive season, Vian won at least one playoff game. The Wolverines have been one of the best and consistent teams in Class 2A over the last decade. The only thing that is waiting for them is a state championship. During that decade stretch, they’ve only made it to one state championship game. Class 2A is once again going to be very competitive this year and Vian will still be one of those championship contenders. They’re hoping that this season ends with double digit victories and with them finally raising the gold ball. <hr /> 2021 Schedule/Games To Watch Aug. 27 - Gravette, AR. Sept. 3 - AT Eufaula Sept. 10 - AT Lincoln Christian - These two perennial powers and state championship contenders have met in non-district play for the last several seasons. Before last year’s week two game was cancelled due to Covid, they had played in 2018 and 2019. Both meetings were decided by single digits with Lincoln getting the win on both occasions. The Bulldogs have gotten into the habit of facing off with Class 2A’s best in non-district play. They have Beggs, Jones and Vian on their schedule, all ranked in the top ten. For Vian, this wraps up a tough non-district schedule as well. The Wolverines will counter Lincoln’s high-flying offense with a ground and pound game. Sept. 24 - Keys Oct. 1 - AT Roland Oct. 8 - Cascia Hall - Vian absolutely smashed all of their district opponents in 2020 with the exception of one team and that was Cascia Hall. It would be Vian’s only regular season loss and they fell 7-6. In the five other district games, Vian outscored their opponents 302-19 in those games with a pair of shutouts. Cascia Hall will have some new faces but the defense will still be talented and this match-up last year was a defensive stalemate. The Wolverines will get Cascia at home this time around and the district championship will more than likely be decided right here as these teams are the heavy favorites. Oct. 14 - Pocola Oct. 22 - AT Panama Oct. 29 - AT Spiro Nov. 5 - Heavener <hr /> Championship History 1 State Championship 1971 - Beat Lawton MacArthur 25-13