Kingfisher Team Preview
In this article:
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…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingGet 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 RIGHT HERE.
Overview
The Kingfisher Yellowjackets are ready to begin another season with their starting quarterback returning on offense and their leading tackler back on defense. The Yellowjackets made it to the quarterfinals in 2020 but would lose to eventual champion Holland Hall. This was the second consecutive year that Kingfisher was eliminated and booted out of the playoffs by the team that would eventually raise the gold ball. Lincoln Christian sent Kingfisher packing in 2019. As they head into a new season, they were just on the outside looking in on our preseason rankings for Class 3A. They’re certainly on the shortlist of teams that we won’t be surprised by if they end up making it into that top ten by the end of non-district play in September. The Yellowjackets bring back six starters on offense but only three starters return on the defensive side of the ball. They will benefit from returning their leading tackler from a year ago but they will have plenty of new faces on that side of the ball. The district is going to be tough once again with Heritage Hall being the favorite. Anadarko and McLoud are much improved from a year ago and Perkins-Tryon will be in the conversation. Kingfisher will have to battle for one of those four playoff spots. The biggest question we have about Kingfisher as they enter this season is how they’ll replace superstar
Cade Stephenson
Cade
Stephenson
6'2" | ATH
Kingfisher | 2021
State
OK
. After moving from quarterback to just a typical athlete, he led the Yellowjackets in rushing and also ended up with double digit touchdown receptions. As if that wasn’t enough, Stevenson also had multiple interceptions on defense. The Yellowjackets don’t appear to have one player that can step into that role, so they’ll need to replace it by committee. However, this is a team and more importantly a program that doesn’t have years where they rebuild, it’s a reloading program so we expect a couple guys to pick up the slack and help lead the Yellowjackets back into the playoffs yet again.
2020 Results (8-4 Record – Lost In Class 3A Quarterfinals)
Aug. 28 – Beat Alva 54-6
Sept. 4 – Lost To Weatherford 50-49
Sept. 11 – Beat Chisholm 45-8
Sept. 25 – Beat Bridge Creek 52-12
Oct. 2 – Lost To Clinton 21-10
Oct. 9 – Beat McLoud 21-13
Oct. 15 – Beat Perkins-Tryon 38-31
Oct. 23 – Game VS Mount St. Mary Cancelled
Oct. 30 – Lost To Heritage Hall 47-21
Nov. 6 – Beat Anadarko 42-22
1st Round – Beat Dickson 49-8
2nd Round – Beat Lone Grove 51-41
Quarterfinals – Lost To Holland Hall 52-21
Players To Watch
Jax Sternberger
Jax
Sternberger
6'0" | QB
Kingfisher | 2023
OK
– 2023 Quarterback
We have yet another Sternberger that is considered a “Player To Watch” for the Yellowjackets. Older brother Jace is now with the Green Bay Packers. Another older brother Jett is a basketball standout and now Jax is making a name for himself. After last year’s breakout sophomore season, we wouldn’t be surprised if Jax ends up becoming one of the top quarterbacks in Class 3A. Last year, he threw for over 2,000 yards and more than 20 touchdowns and comes back with that year under his belt. The only cause for concern is that the Yellowjackets will have to replace their top two wide receivers from a year ago.
Slade Snodgrass – 2022 Linebacker
Slade Snodgrass just looks the part of a linebacker out of Oklahoma. The name, the look and the fact that he led the team in tackles a year ago certainly helps. Snodgrass will be one of the unquestioned leaders of this year’s team. This Kingfisher bunch has a very talented 2023 class but Snodgrass will be looked at as the leader going into his senior season. The expectations for Snodgrass should be fairly simple. Lead the team in tackles again and help Kingfisher back to the playoffs. This defense will have plenty of new faces and it will be important for Snodgrass to set the tone on what’s expected.
More Names
Alan Munoz – 2022 Linebacker
Harrison Evans – 2023 Tight End
Wrigley Kennedy – 2023 Offensive Lineman
Notable
The Yellowjackets have been one of the most consistent programs since the turn of the century. In fact, starting in 2000, the Yellowjackets began a playoff streak that still stands as they head into the 2021 season. After once again punching their ticket to the playoffs in 2020, the Yellowjackets have made 21 consecutive trips to the postseason. That’s the longest active streak in Class 3A football today. Whenever you talk about 3A football over the last several years, the talk has begun with Kingfisher’s district rival Heritage Hall, as well as eastside power Lincoln Christian. However, it’s Kingfisher that holds the longest active playoff streak and year in and year out, they have to be considered one of the top teams in 3A football. They also have the respect of fellow 3A coaches, and rightfully so. Kingfisher came in as the 5th best team in Class 3A in our coaches preseason rankings. The Yellowjackets even went 4-6 several years ago in the regular season but still found their way into the playoffs. Kingfisher might be on the outside looking in on our preseason rankings, but chances are they won’t be left out of the playoffs in November.
2021 Schedule/Games To Watch
Aug. 27 – Alva
Sept. 3 – AT Weatherford
– We have to highlight this game because if it’s even a little bit as entertaining as last year’s meeting, the fans will get their moneys worth. Last year, the Eagles prevailed over Kingfisher, winning 50-49. The Eagles trailed 28-16 at halftime and would score early in the third quarter, within the first two minutes, to spark a massive second half. Kingfisher would score with about a minute left but what would have been the game-winning two-point conversion was no good. The 2021 match-up probably won’t have 99 combined points but we can hope.
Sept. 10 – AT Chisholm
Sept. 24 – Bridge Creek
Oct. 1 – AT Douglass
Oct. 8 – McLoud
Oct. 14 – AT Perkins-Tryon
Oct. 22 – Mount St Mary
Oct. 29 – AT Heritage Hall
– It’s become one of the better rivalries in Class 3A as Kingfisher will travel to OKC to face off with fellow perennial power Heritage Hall. The Chargers have had Kingfisher’s number here in recent years but it’s still one of the best rivalry games when it comes to district opponents. Speaking of the district, the district title could be up for grabs here as the Yellowjackets could be in position to steal it from the Chargers. It should surprise nobody as Heritage Hall is once again the favorite to win this district. The Yellowjackets will be determined to end their five-game losing streak to the Chargers in this late October match-up.
Nov. 5 – Anadarko
Championship History
2 State Championships
2013 – Beat Blanchard 30-23
2003 – Beat Sulphur 21-18