Southeast Practice Report
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The Southeast Spartans haven’t had a winning record since 2005 but it’s time to start taking them much more seriously moving forward. It’s good news and bad news for the Spartans when it comes to their 2022 campaign. The good news is very good, they have an extremely talented and young team that is very exciting to watch. The bad news is they are in the toughest district in the state, regardless of class. The battle for the top four spots in the district are going to be brutal and there will be some very good and competitive teams that end up on the outside looking in on the playoffs. The Spartans are determined not to be one of those teams left out.
Now, the first three weeks have gone incredibly well for Southeast and there’s no arguing that. They’re 3-0 on the season and have outscored opponents by a combined score of 191-6. They finally gave up points last week in an 80-6 victory over US Grant. Having said that, the Spartans have beaten up on Grant, Classen and Capitol Hill. Those three programs are going to struggle this year. The first big test of the season comes on Friday night when they travel to face a Piedmont team that entered the Class 5A top ten rankings over the weekend. Piedmont has won three straight after losing a low-scoring affair to Noble in week zero. And in those three wins, the Wildcats have looked rather dominant.
It will certainly be a clash of styles when Piedmont hosts the Spartans because you have the Wildcats who run the option and look to control time of possession throughout the game. And on the other side you have a Southeast team that has shown that they can score in the blink of an eye. But facing Piedmont will provide the Spartans with a real challenge and we’ll learn much more about them moving forward following this district opener. But with other district foes like Bishop McGuinness, Carl Albert and Guthrie waiting for them later on this season, every district game is a must-win and a loss will put that team in scramble mode.
Below, we take a look at some of the standouts for the Spartans who are off to fantastic starts to their seasons.
One of our favorite playmakers within the state’s 2024 class is Southeast’s wide receiver Ladainian Fields Ladainian Fields 6’2″ | 180 lbs | ATH Del City | 2024 State OK . He’s an absolute playmaker and while he’s been somewhat limited on the offensive side of the ball so far this year, he still is a target that defenses need to know where he is at all times. Fields has only caught four passes this season but he’s been incredibly efficient with those receptions. Three out of the four receptions went for touchdowns. Fields has shown that he can be a standout on the defensive side of the ball as well. In the first three games, Fields has come up with three interceptions as a defensive back. Fields is a unique prospect in the state because he’s a top ten prospect in football but he’s also a top ten prospect in basketball as well.
Highlights
Southeast doesn’t have just one potential dual-sport star in that 2024 class. Spartan quarterback Micheal Graham Micheal Graham 6’0″ | ATH Del City | 2024 State OK is also a big part of the Southeast basketball team that made a run to the 5A semifinals back in March. And on the gridiron, Graham is QB1 for the Spartans and is off to an excellent start to the season. His top target throughout the year will no doubt be Fields but we’ve been impressed with the complete balance that Southeast has shown on the offensive side of the ball. They can beat teams with the pass or with the run and while they’ll be tested in a big way against Piedmont on Friday night, all of their offensive playmakers should have really strong seasons. We’re interested to see more of Graham on the football field because right now it looks like he might be more of a basketball prospect.
The only senior on this report is defensive standout Noel Guiterrez Noel Guiterrez 5’9″ | ATH Southeast | 2023 OK . The senior led the Spartans in sacks last year as a junior and he’s off to a great start this season as well, leading a Spartan defense that has been pretty good in the first three weeks. Guiterrez is leading the Spartans in tackles through the first three games and is once again up there among the team leaders in sacks and tackles for loss. Guiterrez doesn’t have the ideal size for the next level at 5’9 but you can’t argue with the production that he’s had over the last two seasons. The Spartans have some outstanding athletes on both sides of the ball and Guiterrez has to be in that conversation with his production and his ability to fly all over the field on defense. He has a nose for the ball and always is in the right spots.
While Fields and Graham were the more known Southeast prospects for us coming into this season, arguably the best offensive weapon so far this year has been yet another junior in running back Rodney Fields Rodney Fields 6’0″ | RB Del City | 2024 State OK . He’s been a top performer across the state following two of their three wins so far this season and his stat line from last week was just absolutely ridiculous. Fields finished with 231 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. ON FOUR CARRIES. Not bad. Fields is off to a great start this season and gives the Spartans a legitimate threat in the run game, to go along with their terrific passing attack. Fields is definitely another junior prospect that we’re going to keep an eye on as the future is no doubt bright at Southeast with the 2024 “Big Three” of Ladiainian Fields, Micheal Graham Micheal Graham 6’0″ | ATH Del City | 2024 State OK Jr. and Rodney Fields Rodney Fields 6’0″ | RB Del City | 2024 State OK .