Bishop Kelley Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's the month of July and that means it's preview time! Throughout the month of July, we are publishing 100 team previews to get you ready for the 2022 season. This is something that began last year and has become even bigger and better this year. We're looking forward to diving deep into the top teams across the state. From defending champs, to top contenders and dark horses, we'll have complete coverage every single day with new teams from Class 6A down to A. In this post, we take a look at the Bishop Kelley Comets. Year after year, the Comets are one of the more consistent programs in Class 5A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>Bishop Kelley Comets</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've written this quite a bit over the last few years about the Bishop Kelley football program and it always revolves around the same theme. Head coach JJ Tappana is one of the absolute best coaches in Oklahoma and he always gets the absolute most out of his teams year after year. This is a team that you can usually pen, not pencil into the 5A playoffs and it looks like this year is one of those years. After a rare losing season in 2021, the Comets still continued their playoff streak but their slow start to the season really hurt the overall record. The Comets began the year 0-4 but they had much more success in district play, going 5-1 over the next six weeks. However, they were bounced out of the playoffs in the first round and had their first losing season since 2010. The Comets are determined to return to the playoffs and improve that record in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Comets will benefit from having 13 starters back from last year's team. Six starters return on the offensive side of the ball and we expect for them to be a very run-heavy team in 2022 with some serious firepower returning that can carry the ball. That will help the Comets work their new quarterback into the lineup. On defense, the Comets bring back seven starters and are looking to be much improved from last season. This is a unit that had somewhat of a slow start last season but they were so improved to close out the 2021 season. They'll take that momentum into the new year and the defense will be one of the best parts of this year's Bishop Kelley squad. The Comets will once again be tested in a big way early on in the season. If they can avoid the slow start once again, they're in a district where they can contend for the district championship. They might be on the outside of the Class 5A top ten right now, but we expect them to be in the top ten sooner rather than later this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2021 Results (5-6 Record - Lost In Class 5A 1st Round)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 27 - Lost To Poteau 35-27<br>Sept. 3 - Lost To Sand Springs 34-13<br>Sept. 10 - Lost To Bishop McGuinness 49-6<br>Sept. 24 - Lost To McAlester 19-0<br>Oct. 1 - Beat Durant 55-7<br>Oct. 8 - Beat Edison 41-0<br>Oct. 14 - Beat Will Rogers 55-34<br>Oct. 22 - Beat East Central 48-12<br>Oct. 29 - Lost To Coweta 28-14<br>Nov. 5 - Beat Shawnee 55-14<br>1st Round - Lost To Pryor 21-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Key Losses To Graduation</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cash Hudson - Offensive Lineman<br>Jake Rawlings - Running Back<br>Kale Livesay - Linebacker<br>Luke Benton - Defensive Back<br>Will Pickard - Quarterback</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players To Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='315543' first='Austin' last='Munson'] - 2023 Running Back<br></strong>Bishop Kelley has a good history of producing strong running backs and [player_tooltip player_id='315543' first='Austin' last='Munson'] appears to be the next one up in the Bishop Kelley lineup. Munson has the chance to have a really strong season as the Comets really focus on the running game as they break in a new quarterback. The early season schedule will really test the Comets and the offense will need an experienced player like Munson to be more of a leader for some of those new faces. Munson is a 2023 prospect that we're very interested in seeing how his senior season goes as he tries to raise his recruiting stock this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='360241' first='Sam' last='Rhoades V'] - 2024 Athlete<br></strong>Arguably the most talented athlete on the Bishop Kelley squad is 2024 athlete [player_tooltip player_id='360241' first='Sam' last='Rhoades V']. This is a very versatile athlete that can play a variety of positions on both sides of the ball. Rhoades is also a very strong athlete and his lifting numbers are off the charts. We like Rhoades as an overall athlete within the 2024 class. He's definitely a versatile prospect that's on the rise and we're interested to see what his natural fit is at the next level. Whether it's offense or defense, Rhoades is going to be a playmaker for the Comets this fall and he has a very high ceiling on what he can be as a college prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>More Names To Know</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carter Couch - 2025 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Kai Livesay - 2025 Athlete<br>[player_tooltip player_id='268311' first='Luke' last='Lazenby'] - 2024 Tight End<br>[player_tooltip player_id='191294' first='Reid' last='Jones'] - 2024 Defensive Lineman<br>Sawyer McGraw - 2023 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='911901' first='Stice' last='Smith'] - 2024 Quarterback/Defensive Back</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 Schedule/Games To Circle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 26 - Poteau<br>Sept. 2 - Rogers, AR.<br><strong>Sept. 9 - AT Bishop McGuinness<br></strong>- Bishop Kelley has several games on this schedule that might be a little more important in the big picture but let's not kid ourselves. You have to have the annual Bishop Battle as one of the top games year in and year out. Especially over the last ten years or so with both teams consistently in contention in Class 5A and they've gotten used to the majority of their games being decided by seven points or less. A good first step towards contending in Class 5A will be going to OKC and dominating their rival and keeping the prized Shillelagh.<br>Sept. 23 - AT Will Rogers<br><strong>Sept. 30 - AT Collinsville<br></strong>- The third consecutive road game for Bishop Kelley comes in week five when they travel up to Collinsville to face off with the defending state champion Cardinals. Collinsville captured their first ever state championship last season and the Comets are now in their district and this will be the first big district test for the Comets this season. Collinsville does command respect as the defending state champions but they have to replace the majority of their starters from last year's championship team. A win here will put Bishop Kelley in a great position within the district.<br>Oct. 7 - Edison<br>Oct. 13 - Pryor<br>Oct. 21 - AT Claremore<br>Oct. 28 - Hale<br><strong>Nov. 4 - AT Grove<br></strong>- Arguably the three toughest games of the season for Bishop Kelley all come on the road so the Comets will definitely be road warriors when they travel to Grove in week ten. At this point of the season, Bishop Kelley is going to know exactly what they need to contend for the district crown, better their playoff seed or fight for their playoff lives. The Comets and the Ridgerunners will square off in a game featuring two very physical football teams who will want to run the ball. Grove is looking to win another district title in their first year back up in Class 5A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bishop Kelley had history repeating itself in 2021 as they went 5-6 and would lose in the first round of the playoffs. The 2020 season featured Bishop Kelley's best start since the 2009 season. In 2009, the Comets went 10-0 during the regular season but would lose in the quarterfinals to Carl Albert. In 2020, the Comets began the year 7-0 and would lose to Carl Albert in the quarterfinals. In both the 2010 and 2021 seasons, following those years with great starts, the Comets would go 5-6 and drop out of the playoffs in the first round. Last year would be the first losing season for Bishop Kelley since that 2010 season as well. Bishop Kelley will look to get out to a better start in 2022 and get back to their winning ways this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Championship History</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>1 State Championship</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1981 – Beat El Reno 33-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->