Class 3A 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 August and we are now less than a month away from the 2022 football season! After a month in July where we were previewing individual teams, we're taking a bigger picture look at the 2022 season. In this post, we take a look at Class 3A heading into the season. From our preseason rankings (which includes links to each team's preview) to the All 3A Team and much more, we'll get you ready for everything 3A heading into the season. Which games do you need to know about? What are some of the bigger storylines heading into the year? Get all of the answers right here with our in-depth 3A preview. And stay tuned throughout the week for more class previews.</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 {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong>Class 3A Preseason Rankings</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/lincoln-christian-team-preview-2/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/lincoln-christian-team-preview-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LINCOLN CHRISTIAN</a></strong><br><strong>2) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/verdigris-team-preview-2/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/verdigris-team-preview-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VERDIGRIS</a></strong><br><strong>3) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/heritage-hall-team-preview-2/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/heritage-hall-team-preview-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HERITAGE HALL</a></strong><br><strong>4) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/metro-christian-team-preview-2/?conversions=no" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/metro-christian-team-preview-2/?conversions=no" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">METRO CHRISTIAN</a></strong><br><strong>5) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/plainview-team-preview-2/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/plainview-team-preview-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLAINVIEW</a></strong><br><strong>6) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/cascia-hall-team-preview-2/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/cascia-hall-team-preview-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CASCIA HALL</a></strong><br><strong>7) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/holland-hall-team-preview-2/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/holland-hall-team-preview-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HOLLAND HALL</a></strong><br><strong>8) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/berryhill-team-preview-2/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/berryhill-team-preview-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BERRYHILL</a></strong><br><strong>9) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/anadarko-team-preview-2/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/anadarko-team-preview-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ANADARKO</a></strong><br><strong>10) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/seminole-team-preview-2/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/seminole-team-preview-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SEMINOLE</a></strong></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 {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong>All 3A Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>OFFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB - [player_tooltip player_id='38790' first='Kirk' last='Francis'] - 2023 - Metro Christian<br>RB - [player_tooltip player_id='370223' first='Charles' last='Ware'] - 2023 - Bristow<br>RB - [player_tooltip player_id='231981' first='Tre' last='Stevenson'] - 2024 - Perkins-Tryon<br>WR - [player_tooltip player_id='132296' first='Dalton' last='Person'] - 2023 - Verdigris<br>WR - [player_tooltip player_id='353415' first='Elijah' last='Thomas'] - 2025 - Checotah<br>WR - [player_tooltip player_id='38782' first='Morgan' last='Pearson'] - 2023 - Plainview<br>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='154216' first='David' last='Smithwick'] - 2024 - Lincoln Christian<br>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='411072' first='Garrett' last='Keith'] - 2023 - Plainview<br>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='157510' first='Kenyon' last='Bigbow'] - 2023 - Anadarko<br>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='157513' first='Levi' last='Lawson'] - 2023 - Checotah<br>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='38783' first='Tryce' last='Lewis'] - 2023 - McLoud</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>DEFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='411073' first='Demarie' last='Davis'] - 2023 - Berryhill<br>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='383538' first='Owen' last='Pazzo'] - 2023 - Cascia Hall<br>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='370228' first='Rayden' last='Churchill'] - 2023 - Anadarko<br>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='370220' first='Ethan' last='Stites'] - 2023 - Berryhill<br>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='38787' first='Parker' last='Jenney'] - 2023 - Holland Hall<br>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='38813' first='Reese' last='Roller'] - 2023 - Verdigris<br>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='276646' first='Tyler' last='Johnson'] - 2023 - Lincoln Christian<br>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='110756' first='Brytan' last='Gaddy'] - 2024 - Sulphur<br>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='315546' first='Jordyn' last='Harris'] - 2024 - Heritage Hall<br>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='393578' first='Quincy' last='Mouton'] - 2024 - Perkins-Tryon<br>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='287380' first='Trenden' last='Collins'] - 2023 - Muldrow</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>KICKER/ATHLETES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>K - [player_tooltip player_id='411074' first='Aiden' last='Horner'] - 2023 - Berryhill<br>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='99770' first='Clint' last='Campbell'] - 2023 - McLoud<br>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='370215' first='Cooper' last='Lai'] - 2023 - Cascia Hall<br>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='155258' first='Easton' last='Rogers'] - 2023 - Lincoln Christian<br>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='155875' first='River' last='Faulkner'] - 2023 - Heritage Hall</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 {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong>Mark Your Calendars</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>August 26th - Lincoln Christian AT Holland Hall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The very first week of the season and we have a big Class 3A showdown as Lincoln Christian travels to face off with Holland Hall. This is a rematch of the last two state championship games in Class 3A, which Holland Hall was able to win. The Bulldogs will definitely have a little revenge on their mind as they take on the two-time champions. Lincoln Christian is gunning for their second state title in the last four years and this will be a great way to kick off the season in Class 3A as they face off in week zero. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>September 9th - Metro Christian AT Poteau</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Metro Christian is moving on up to Class 3A and the Patriots immediately become one of the main teams to watch when it comes to the championship picture in Class 3A. Before we get into district play, the Patriots will be tested a few times in non-district play and arguably the biggest test comes in week two when they go on the road to face a top five team in Class 4A with Poteau. The Patriots and their high-powered offense will be tested as they face a strong Poteau defense that has the majority of their starters returning. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>September 23rd - Lincoln Christian AT Berryhill</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's the first week of district play but it's arguably the toughest test for Lincoln Christian as they go on the road to take on Berryhill. Lincoln has won 24 district games in a row, with their last district loss coming in September of 2018. Berryhill will provide them a massive test to open up district play this season. Berryhill is a new district foe for Lincoln Christian this fall and the Chiefs are looking to make an immediate impact. No impact would be bigger than knocking off the Bulldogs in week four and taking command of the district. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>September 30th - Verdigris AT Holland Hall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two teams have gotten very familiar with one another over the last few seasons. Verdigris knocked off the Dutch, ending their winning streak late in the regular season last year. But the Dutch got the last laugh as they would handle the Cardinals in the semifinals, on their way to a second consecutive state championship. Now, as we head into this season, the Cardinals appear to be the favorites in this district and they'll look to score another win over the Dutch. But they'll want a much deeper run in the playoffs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>October 21st - Plainview AT Heritage Hall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another marquee district match-up featuring top five teams in the preseason rankings has Heritage Hall hosting Plainview. This is similar to the Lincoln-Berryhill match-up. Heritage Hall has been flat out dominant in district play but Plainview will be a new district foe for them to face. These two teams are the top two within their district as they head into the season and this week eight showdown could end up deciding the district championship. We'll have a good idea of the playoff picture by week eight but this is a big match-up.</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 {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong>Notable Storylines</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>3A Shake Up</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 3A got quite the shake up during this last redistricting shuffle. They added some serious firepower with teams moving up from Class 2A and also teams moving down from Class 4A. Two of the bigger teams that are new to Class 3A this fall are Cascia Hall and Metro Christian as they move up from Class 2A. But more on them later. Marlow is also a new team moving up from Class 2A and they captured the 2A title with a perfect 15-0 season a year ago. And then you have a team like Bristow that is moving down from Class 3A after having a ton of success in Class 4A, including winning a district championship a few seasons ago. So Class 3A definitely feels like it is more loaded than it's ever been over the last several years. Really, since Class 3A became a 32-team class, we don't believe there has been as many contenders heading into the season as we'll see this year. The season should be very entertaining and the playoffs should be an absolute fight every single week as we're going to end up seeing some very good teams end up in the three or four seed position. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Private VS Public</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is without a doubt one of the biggest storylines in Oklahoma, regardless of class but it's a massive one in Class 3A. The "Private VS Public" debate has been a longtime topic among Oklahoma high school football fans, with the suggestion that private schools should only play against other private schools. We have never and will continue to not give an opinion on the matter because it's not our place but there's no doubt that this is going to be a big theme in Class 3A when you look at the preseason rankings. Five of the top seven schools are private schools with Plainview and Verdigris being the only outsiders from that club. And Class 3A has been dominated by private schools over the last several seasons. A private school has won the last four state championships with the championship game being an all private school affair the last two seasons. With Cascia Hall and Metro Christian both moving up from Class 2A, that adds two more private school powers that are ready to contend for the state title. Again, and we can't stress this enough, we're Switzerland on this topic. We're not leaning one way or another. But the reality is pretty simple when you look at Class 3A this season. Private schools will once again be in the mix and there's a good chance that we see several of them make deep runs in the playoffs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->