Throwback Thursday – Jenks Goes Back To Back
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We miss football. We miss football a lot. So every Thursday in April, extending into May, we’ll take a look back at the 2021 football season with a Throwback Thursday post. By the end of this series, spring practices will be starting and we’ll have real football to talk about! And we’ll be a few weeks closer to the start of the 2022 football season. Until then, let’s take a look back at 2021 and start in Class 6A-1, where the Jenks Trojans captured a second straight state championship with a win over rival Union.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
For the 18th time in school history, the Jenks Trojans ended the season by lifting the gold ball. Jenks also captured the title for the second consecutive season after winning it all in 2020. Jenks would knock off rival Union in the title game to move one spot closer to Ada’s record for most state championships in state history with 19.
Jenks began the year at #3 in our preseason rankings for 6A-1, despite coming in as defending champion. It didn’t take long for them to take the top spot in those rankings back and they would never let it go. After giving Bixby their toughest game of the season, the Trojans would never lose following their week one loss to the Spartans.
Jenks would shut out Union in week two, dominate Broken Arrow in week five and take care of Edmond Santa Fe to really clinch the district championship. All three of those wins would come on the road as the Trojans would win their first district title in a few seasons. The Trojans would get a scare from Mustang in the semifinals but other than that, it was a dominating season for Jenks from start to finish.
The Trojans were led by a two-headed monster at running back with Jaiden Carroll Jaiden Carroll 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Jenks | 2023 State OK and Jalyn Stanford Jalyn Stanford 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Jenks | 2023 State OK . Then you had a Jenks defense that was among the absolute best in Oklahoma this season with legitimate guys at all three levels. The Trojans would lean on that running game and defense to carry them to the state championship in 2021.
Then you had the emergence of a freshman at quarterback. Shaker Reisig Shaker Reisig 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Union | 2025 State OK was a name many already knew about before the 2021 season began. He became a household name when he officially became the starter on the morning of the Union game and would lead the Trojans to a win over their rival on the road.
In the title game, Jenks would actually fall down 15-0 to rival Union as the Redhawks scored on the first play of the game and it seemed like their offense was on a roll. However, Jenks would absolutely dial in on defense and completely shut down the Union offense following an explosive first quarter. Jenks would use their strong rushing attack plus a defensive touchdown to run away with championship #18.
LOOKING AHEAD
6A-1 just got a little more crowded and competitive. This fall, the Bixby Spartans officially move into 6A-1 after winning seven state championships in eight years in 6A-2. With the Spartans moving up to 6A-1, the Tulsa-area “Big Four” of Broken Arrow, Jenks, Owasso and Union officially becomes a “Big Five”. As we look ahead to the 2022 season, it looks like Bixby and Jenks are the two favorites to lift a gold ball in December. And coincidentally, they’ll face off potentially for a district championship in week ten. The other three Tulsa-area schools will certainly be in contention. Then we’ll have a few west side teams in the mix that could surprise some people. But as it stands right now, with all the talent returning for both defending champs, Bixby and Jenks are the favorites going into 2022.