Pryor 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 Pryor Tigers. An experienced offense comes back and the Tigers are ready to hunt in Class 5A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>Pryor Tigers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Pryor Tigers are once again going to be district contenders in Class 5A but they're ready to take that next step and become a perennial playoff team and go further than they ever have in the postseason. Last year, the Tigers came into the season and would go 9-3 on the year. They found themselves 7-1 on the season and more importantly unbeaten in district play before a week nine showdown with Collinsville. They would lose and the Cardinals would go on to win the district and state championship. Pryor would finish second in the district and that would help them take care of business in the first round against Bishop Kelley. But a 40-0 loss to Lawton MacArthur in the quarterfinals would be the end of their season. That unfortunately continued Pryor's bad luck in the quarterfinal round as the Tigers are still searching for their first ever semifinal appearance. The playoffs are once again the goal this season but the district got a bit tougher with the redistricting shuffle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If we were ranking the top teams in this district, the conversation would start with defending champion Collinsville, throw in perennial playoff team Bishop Kelley and also a Grove team that is moving up to 5A after winning the district title in 4A last year. The Tigers will certainly be challenged but they have enough talent, especially on offense, to be a playoff team once again and if they could surprise a few of those teams mentioned, they could contend for the district. Six starters come back on the offensive side of the ball, including one of the more productive quarterbacks in Class 5A last season. On the other side of the ball, five starters return on defense so the Tigers will have a good mix of experience and youth as they go into 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 (9-3 Record - Lost In Class 5A Quarterfinals)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 3 - Beat Catoosa 20-10<br>Sept. 10 - Beat Gravette, AR. 35-14<br>Sept. 17 - Lost To Grove 57-34<br>Sept. 24 - Beat Tahlequah 31-14<br>Oct. 1 - Beat Glenpool 38-37<br>Oct. 8 - Beat Hale 66-14<br>Oct. 14 - Beat Memorial 38-0<br>Oct. 22 - Beat Sapulpa 36-21<br>Oct. 29 - Lost To Collinsville 63-8<br>Nov. 5 - Beat Claremore 35-7<br>1st Round - Beat Bishop Kelley 21-6<br>Quarterfinal - Lost To Lawton MacArthur 40-0</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>Bobby Belew<br>Bret Elza<br>Josh Gore<br>Nate Silky<br>Tank Felts</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='230393' first='Brunk' last='Gray'] - 2023 Quarterback<br></strong>Pryor 2023 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='230393' first='Brunk' last='Gray'] had a breakout season last year and was one of the more productive quarterbacks we saw in Class 5A last season. Gray threw for over 2,700 yards and 25 touchdowns last season as the Tigers continue to have one of the better passing attacks in Class 5A. However, the Tigers lose a lot of production from their wide receiver group so having new players step up will be a big key to their continued success this season. If Gray can outdo his production from a year ago, this Pryor offense will be tough to slow down. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='395858' first='Jacob' last='Couch'] - 2024 Linebacker <br></strong>We mentioned that the defense was going to have a few new faces as they bring back just five starters from last year's quarterfinal team. One of the returning starters is 2024 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='395858' first='Jacob' last='Couch']. Last year, Couch was inserted into the lineup as a sophomore and did a fantastic job. That 2021 Pryor defense was quite experienced coming into the season so Couch making an impact at a young age was definitely something we noticed. Couch will look to become more of a leader on this year's defense now that he has a year under his belt. </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>Blake Raglin - 2023 Linebacker<br>Brody Ward - 2023 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Julian Espinoza - 2024 Running Back/Defensive Back<br>Noah Cowan - 2024 Offensive/Defensive Lineman</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 - AT Pensacola Catholic, FL.<br>Sept. 9 - AT Alma, AR.<br>Sept. 16 - Coweta<br><strong>Sept. 23 - AT Collinsville<br></strong>- The Tigers will definitely have this game circled as they head into the 2022 season. Collinsville hammered the Tigers last year, on their way to winning the state championship. But this is a Collinsville team that will look completely different this fall as they have to replace quite a bit from last year's team. They are defending state champs but they're not necessarily the favorites in this district coming into the season. If the Tigers could make a statement, beating Collinsville in the district opener, that will send quite the statement to the rest of the district. <br>Sept. 30 - Will Rogers<br>Oct. 7 - Claremore<br>Oct. 13 - AT Bishop Kelley<br>Oct. 21 - Edison<br><strong>Oct. 28 - Grove<br></strong>- These two teams met up last season in non-district play and the game turned into a shootout with Grove winning 57-35. At this point in the season, the Tigers are going to know exactly what they need to do if they're going to contend for the district championship, or they could be fighting for playoff seeding. Either way, this week nine battle with the Ridgerunners is arguably the biggest district game of the year. Unlike Collinsville, Grove brings essentially everyone back and they come into this season as the favorite to capture the district crown. <br>Nov. 3 - AT Hale</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>Pryor has quite a road trip to open up their 2022 season. Earlier this year, they announced that the Tiger football team would open the 2022 season down in Florida as they take on Pensacola Catholic in a game that's being marketed as the "Battle At The Beach". This will be a great opportunity for the Tigers to experience a once in a lifetime memory as they travel together to Florida to open their 2022 season. We've seen several Oklahoma teams travel out of state in recent memory but a trip to Florida is one of the more lengthy road trips, that's for sure. Fortunately, the Tigers will play this game in week zero and have a bye week in week one before hitting the road again, traveling to Arkansas to face Alma in week two. Pensacola Catholic went 5-5 last 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>Championship History</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>0 State Championships</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->