A State: Fairview Players To Watch

<!-- 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>The Class A state championship game is set for Saturday night at 7PM in Edmond as #1 Gore faces off with #2 Fairview for the Class A championship. In this post, we're taking a look at some of the Fairview Yellowjackets that you need to know about heading into Saturday night's game. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma for more state championship content before, during and following the game on Saturday night!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["379234"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Arguably the best two-way player for the Yellowjackets is senior standout [player_tooltip player_id='379234' first='Austin' last='Houk']. On offense, Houk is an outstanding tight end, who is the second leading receiver with 38 catches for 712 yards and nine touchdowns. On defense, he is an absolute wrecking ball along the defensive line and leads the teams in sacks with 13 and tackles for loss with 15. He's also one of the team's leading tacklers overall. Houk is an interesting prospect to keep an eye on moving forward because of what he can do on the defensive side of the ball. When you get down to the lower levels like Class A, the best football players always play on both sides of the ball and there are quite a few for Fairview that play on both sides. But it's hard to argue anyone has the kind of production that Houk has on either side. Whether it's offense or defense, chances are, Houk is going to make a play or two on Saturday.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["379235"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"While there's no doubt that Gore has a run-first team, Fairview has a very balanced offense between the pass and running games. Leading the way when the Yellowjackets want to run the ball is senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='379235' first='Blake' last='Perez']. He has nearly 1,800 yards and 29 touchdowns on 233 carries this season. Perez had a great junior season and he's only built on that success this season. Like Houk, Perez also has a big impact on the defensive side of the ball as well. On defense, Perez has nearly 50 tackles and a pair of interceptions on the season. But there's no doubt that his biggest impact, especially when we look at this game on Saturday is what he'll do on offense. Gore is going to run the ball. Fairview's possessions on offense are going to be limited. Perez and the Fairview offense are going to have to take advantage of their opportunities on the offensive side of the ball.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["379243"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"We had quite a few quarterbacks that burst onto the scene last year as freshmen. One of the lesser known quarterbacks that you need to know about moving forward is Fairview sophomore signal caller [player_tooltip player_id='379243' first='Jax' last='Bernard']. The jump he made from last season to this season is impressive. Last season, Bernard threw for over 2,100 and 21 touchdowns. This year, he comes into Saturday's game after throwing for nearly 3,000 yards and 38 touchdowns. Like we mentioned earlier, the Yellowjackets have been incredibly balanced on the offensive side of the ball. Bernard's improvement as a quarterback has been one of the biggest jumps that we've seen in the smaller classes. The state's 2025 class is absolutely loaded with talent at the quarterback position and Bernard belongs in that conversation. He'll be tested on Saturday when he faces the best defense he's gone against this season with the Pirates.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["379237"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"The top target to [player_tooltip player_id='379243' first='Jax' last='Bernard'] this season has been junior wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='379237' first='Reed' last='Martens']. We wrote about Martens back in July when taking a look at the Yellowjackets and how he could be the X-Factor to them making a run this season. He was having an outstanding sophomore season but he had it cut short with a collarbone injury. This season, Martens has come back with a vengeance and has been the top producer at the receiver postiion. Martens has just over 900 yards and 15 touchdowns on 62 catches this season. The combination of Bernard and Martens are going to be dangerous next year and there's a good reason to believe that the Yellowjackets are going to be a contender once again next season. But up first is the state title game on Saturday. Like we mentioned with Bernard, the Gore defense has been incredibly stingy this season so getting points when they can get them will be important.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6393ad543cf9e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>MORE NAMES TO KNOW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='412936' first='Kaden' last='Pettus'] - 2023 Offensive/Defensive Lineman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Micah Winans - 2023 Defensive Lineman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1107562' first='Mikka' last='Wheeler'] - 2025 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tegan Gilchrist - 2024 Linebacker</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->