Catoosa Team Preview

Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!   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 Catoosa Indians. Going into year two under head coach Christian Hood, Catoosa is ready to take the next step to returning as a contender.   Catoosa Indians (4A Preseason Ranking: #10)   As the Catoosa Indians go into year two of the Christian Hood era, they are hoping to return to becoming a consistent contender in Class 4A. They come into this season as the #10 team in our 4A preseason rankings with 13 starters back from last year's squad. Despite going 4-6 during the regular season, Catoosa still found a way to finish fourth in the district and would punch their ticket to the playoffs. However, because of the fourth place finish, the Indians would have to go on the road to face district champion Poteau and things ended early for Catoosa as they were bounced out of the playoffs following a 56-14 loss. Catoosa is hoping to finish higher in the district this season and get a more favorable playoff match-up because of it. The district will once again be tough as it features the top two teams in our 4A rankings with #1 Cushing and #2 Wagoner. But if Catoosa takes care of business in the other district games, they could be the third team. They could be even higher if they pull an upset or two.   Leading the way for Catoosa will be an offense that returns six starters and just about every skill player from last season. They have a chance to be pretty special and it starts with the quarterback position. On the defensive side of the ball, Catoosa also brings back seven starters and they'll need that defense to be improved from last year with some of the offenses that they'll have to slow down this fall. They had one of the more clutch kickers in Oklahoma last season and will need to find a replacement there to help in those close games this fall. And as we mentioned, the district will once again be tough but the Indians should be one of the four playoff teams representing that district this season.   2021 Results (4-7 Record - Lost In Class 4A 1st Round)   Sept. 3 - Lost To Pryor 20-10 Sept. 10 - Lost To Fort Gibson 52-21 Sept. 17 - Beat Claremore 19-18 Sept. 24 - Beat Skiatook 9-7 Oct. 1 - Lost To Grove 56-27 Oct. 8 - Lost To Wagoner 56-0 Oct. 14 - Beat Oologah 21-20 Oct. 22 - Lost To Miami 27-19 Oct. 29 - Lost To Bristow 49-13 Nov. 5 - Beat Cleveland 30-6 1st Round - Lost To Poteau 56-14   Key Losses To Graduation   Brock Ferguson Colyn Treat Danny Rowe Fute Yang Ivan Hankins Kameron Neighbors   Players To Watch   [player_tooltip player_id="322496" first="Deandre" last="Hamilton"] - 2025 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Our first Catoosa player to watch is the youngest of the group with 2025 wide receiver and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id="322496" first="Deandre" last="Hamilton"]. We first got to check out Hamilton during this spring with our "Friday Film Review" series and he got some playing time as a freshman for the Indians. What we saw was a playmaker on both sides of the ball who was only starting to get comfortable with the varsity level. Once that happens and Hamilton is a bigger part of the offense, big things should happen for Catoosa in return. Hamilton has the chance to be the top wide receiver in a Catoosa offense that is going to be balanced but they'll be throwing it quite a bit as well.   [player_tooltip player_id="157525" first="Michael" last="Barnett"] - 2023 Athlete One prospect that we've seen quite a bit of over the last two years is Catoosa's [player_tooltip player_id="157525" first="Michael" last="Barnett"] while he's played with Sooner 7 during the offseason. He's played running back and linebacker and he's always been impressive every time we see him. He might be the best athlete on this Catoosa team when you consider how many different positions he can not only play, but he can play them at a high level. He's going to give the Catoosa offense a very versatile athlete that can do a variety of things from running the ball, catching the ball out of the backfield or lining up at wide receiver. And on defense, he brings that same versatility and Catoosa can play him where they need him most.   [player_tooltip player_id="311218" first="Russel" last="Dugger"] - 2023 Quarterback Another Catoosa prospect that we benefitted from seeing play 7v7 ball this offseason was 2023 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="311218" first="Russel" last="Dugger"]. The Catoosa quarterback could throw it all over the field and while other Sooner 7 quarterbacks might have gotten more pub, Dugger definitely raised his stock and got better as the spring went on. Building off that and his junior year, we expect for him to be one of the better passers in Class 4A. He'll have excellent weapons around him with Barnett and Hamilton. Head coach Christian Hood will put this offense in positions to make plays and Dugger will be the triggerman of that offense. We think he's a 2023 QB on the rise.   More Names To Know   [player_tooltip player_id="157864" first="Aidan" last="Scraper"] - 2024 Running Back Brandon Ball - 2023 Linebacker Jayden Salyer - 2024 Offensive/Defensive Lineman   2022 Schedule/Games To Circle   Sept. 2 - Stigler Sept. 9 - AT Verdigris - We won't have to wait until district play to find out where this Catoosa program is in year two under head coach Christian Hood. In week two, the Indians make the short trip up to Verdigris to face the Cardinals, who are one of the top teams in Class 3A this season. This isn't a must-win for Catoosa as this match-up has no playoff implications but it's a perfect measuring stick game to see where Catoosa is at before they enter district play. The Indians expect to contend for a playoff spot and a high seed at that. To be that kind of team, these are the games that you have to win, and if you don't win, you definitely need to be competitive in. We'll learn a lot about Catoosa after this week two match-up. Sept. 16 - AT Edison Sept. 23 - McLain Sept. 30 - Cushing - Speaking of measuring stick games, this is arguably the biggest game on the schedule for Catoosa as they reach the halfway point in the regular season and will host Cushing. The Tigers come into this season as a new district opponent and the #1 team in our 4A preseason rankings as they bring back nearly all 22 starters. The Indians will certainly be tested, especially on the defensive side of the ball as Cushing might have the best offense in Class 4A this season. If Catoosa can keep this one close or even steal the upset victory, they'll be in a good position within the district. Another district clash in week nine at Wagoner will also have big playoff implications. Oct. 7 - AT Oologah Oct. 13 - AT Miami Oct. 21 - Skiatook Oct. 28 - AT Wagoner Nov. 4 - Cleveland   Notable   Catoosa made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2018. After being one of the consistent playoff teams over the last decade in Class 4A, they went a couple years missing out on the postseason. Now, the Indians look to not only make it back to the playoffs but end a losing streak they have in the postseason. Catoosa has lost five playoff games in a row as they've been one and done and out of the postseason after the first round. The last time they had some playoff success was a little over a decade ago when they made back to back semifinal appearances in 2010 and 2011. Another playoff win came in 2013 but that was the last playoff victory for this football program. Catoosa is once again in a tough district but if they can steal a game or finish higher than fourth and avoid matching up with a district champion, they'll have a shot to get their first playoff win since 2013.   Championship History   0 State Championships

Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!