Class 2A Season In Review

<!-- 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 2022 football season has come and gone. Once again, the football season has just flown by. Over two weeks removed from the final football games of the 2022 season, we officially kicked off our postseason coverage last week. We continue things today with our season in review series. And we move on to Class 2A, taking a look back at the 2022 season. We look at who lifted the gold ball, crown a player of the year in the class along with recognizing many other top players from this season. Then we dive into the top storyline from this year and take a very early look at the 2023 season. Keep it locked into Prep Redzone Oklahoma every day for a new class in this week long series taking a look back at the 2022 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>STATE CHAMPION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Washington Warriors (15-0)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After coming up short in not one, but two state championship games in 2020 and 2021, the Washington Warriors were getting real tired of walking off the UCO field with a silver ball. Coming into the 2022 season, the Warriors were heavy favorites to finally get the job done and capture that elusive state championship. The Warriors were the preseason number one team back in June and they lived up to the hype, going wire to wire as the number one team in Class 2A and they finished it off with that gold ball. And they were tested throughout the year and passed every time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We knew that the first month of the season was going to prepare the Warriors for what they would see in the playoffs and Washington did not shy away from testing themselves right out of the gate. The season started with a massive week zero road test against another top five team in Vian. They passed with a 39-24 win. The following week they got a scare from 3A power Sulphur but would win before facing another top ten team in Jones on the road. After the non-district slate, the Warriors were 3-0 and took some momentum into district play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, the Warriors had a few tough games in district play. This year, not so much as they absolutely smashed their way through the district, on their way to another district title and unbeaten regular season. The toughest district game, if we had to pick, would be the games in week four or week eight against Frederick and Purcell respectively when they won by 33 points. That would be the lowest margin of victory for the Warriors in district play this season. Washington was rolling going into the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They beat up Atoka in the first round but then got a massive scare the following week against Oklahoma Christian School. The Warriors would survive and advance with an 18-11 win to punch their ticket to the quarterfinals. That close call must have gotten their attention because they put on clinics the following two weeks. First there was a 47-6 win over Idabel in the quarterfinals and then a 49-14 win over Jones in the semifinals to punch their ticket back to Edmond for the third consecutive season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors would face off with Millwood in a rematch of the 2017 state championship game that Millwood dominated. The Warriors and Falcons played a tight game throughout but the Warriors would score late in the fourth quarter to go up 17-14 and the defense would hold and Washington would finally get to celebrate on the UCO field that they walked off following heart break in the last two seasons. The Warriors finished off the perfect 15-0 season, going wire to wire as Class 2A's top-ranked team and won the gold ball in a classic. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>CHAMPIONSHIP HIGHLIGHTS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnIrb2ADiDI","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnIrb2ADiDI </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>PLAYER OF THE YEAR</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["98175"],"_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":"One of the more underrated players in the state over the last three seasons is Chandler senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='98175' first='Casmen' last='Hill']. He's been making an impact on the field since he was a freshman and he finished it off with one of the best rushing seasons we saw this year. Hill ended his career as one of the all time leading rushers in Oklahoma with over 7,500 career yards. In his senior season, Hill would lead all 11-man players with well over 2,700 yards and also 27 touchdowns on the year. And he didn't even play in every game this year. Had he played in every game, we could be talking about a legitimate 3,000 yard season from the Chandler star. What was really impressive about Hill was how he played and carried the Lions towards the end of the season when they needed wins. In their final regular season game, along with their first two playoff games, Hill would run for nearly 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns in those three games alone. Even as the Lions lost in the quarterfinals, Hill could not be contained as he finished with 181 yards in his final high school game.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63abd76b78ab1"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>BREAKOUT STARS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='294265' first='Cale' last='Marley'] - Athlete - Rejoice Christian<br>[player_tooltip player_id='571111' first='Cameron' last='Carter'] - Linebacker - Millwood<br>[player_tooltip player_id='512124' first='Logan' last='Hattaway'] - Running Back - Claremore Sequoyah<br>[player_tooltip player_id='424595' first='Masyn' last='Wright'] - Athlete - Vian<br>[player_tooltip player_id='428958' first='Titan' last='Hix'] - Quarterback - Hennessey</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>OTHER TOP PLAYERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='157519' first='Andrew' last='McCall'] - Linebacker - Atoka<br>[player_tooltip player_id='122426' first='Bai' last='Jobe'] - Defensive End - Community Christian<br>[player_tooltip player_id='215199' first='Clayton' last='Creasey'] - Quarterback - Jones<br>[player_tooltip player_id='157515' first='Chance' last='Wilson'] - Quarterback - Rejoice Christian<br>[player_tooltip player_id='237186' first='Cole' last='Scott'] - Running Back - Washington<br>[player_tooltip player_id='199075' first='DeSean' last='Mays'] - Running Back - Vian<br>[player_tooltip player_id='57164' first='Diego' last='Ramos'] - Quarterback - Vian<br>[player_tooltip player_id='211549' first='DJ' last='Strother'] - Linebacker - Beggs<br>[player_tooltip player_id='307899' first='Hayden' last='Milner'] - Defensive Lineman - Washington<br>[player_tooltip player_id='347111' first='Jaden' last='Nickens'] - Wide Receiver - Millwood<br>[player_tooltip player_id='98172' first='Luke' last='Adcock'] - Quarterback - Eufaula<br>[player_tooltip player_id='353411' first='Nate' last='Roberts'] - Tight End - Washington<br>[player_tooltip player_id='571112' first='Nick' last='Byrd'] - Athlete - Kiefer<br>[player_tooltip player_id='467968' first='Paul' last='Glasscock'] - Quarterback - Vinita<br>[player_tooltip player_id='211234' first='Ravian' last='Larry'] - Running Back - Idabel<br>[player_tooltip player_id='110739' first='Red' last='Martel'] - Running Back - Beggs<br>[player_tooltip player_id='57205' first='Rickey' last='Hunt Jr'] - Athlete - Millwood<br>[player_tooltip player_id='396316' first='Solomon' last='Byrams'] - Running Back - Victory Christian<br>[player_tooltip player_id='110748' first='Teyton' last='Chandler'] - Linebacker - Victory Christian<br>[player_tooltip player_id='157511' first='Todd' last='Drummond'] - Quarterback - Pawhuska</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>TOP STORYLINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Unpredictably Predictable Class</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming into the 2022 season, we thought that Washington and Rejoice Christian were the top two teams in the class and everyone else was playing for third. After the first month of the season, that was still the case. Injuries, upsets and emerging teams would make the second half of the regular season and the playoffs incredibly unpredictable in Class 2A. Overall, 2A ended up being one of the toughest classes to predict, with the exception of Washington. While the top ten rankings felt like a revolving door week after week with new teams coming in, then dropping a game and falling out, Washington remained consistent. The Warriors went wire to wire as our number one team in Class 2A and they finished it off with a state championship. So when we look at the biggest storyline to come from the 2022 season, it's hard to argue that it was just that. Washington winning the state title was predictable back in the summer. But the road to get to that championship game in Class 2A was anything but. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>EARLY LOOK AT 2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With how crazy the 2022 ended up being in Class 2A, it's hard to make any kind of predictions when it comes to 2023. Defending champion Washington and runner up Millwood will be right back in the mix again next year, we feel rather confident about that. Perennial powers Beggs, Jones and Vian all bring back very talented players that could help them make another run next season. And Rejoice Christian will be right back in the mix, despite losing some very special seniors. Then after that, you have to go back to teams like Claremore Sequoyah, Kiefer and Victory Christian and wonder if they have what it takes to make another run in 2023. Idabel was incredibly young in 2022 and they have some serious firepower on the offensive side of the ball returning. And with how the 2022 season played out, we're almost guaranteed to see quite a few teams that weren't listed here end up making a run and possibly become a state championship contender. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->