Cascia Hall Commandos OK 2023 Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's the month of July and that means it's preview time! Throughout the month of July and into August, we are publishing well over 100 in-depth team previews to get you completely ready for the 2023 football season. This is something that began in 2021 and has continued to get bigger every single year. We're looking forward to diving deep into the top teams across the state. From defending champions, to top contenders and plenty of dark horses, we'll have complete coverage every single day with new teams from Class 6A, all the way down to the addition of 8-man coverage this year with Class B and C. In this post, we take a look at the Cascia Hall Commandos.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Cascia Hall Commandos</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #9</strong><br><strong>Preseason Coaches Ranking: #7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It should be no surprise here as Cascia Hall is once again in the preseason top ten. Coming into the 2022 football season, the Commandos were in another class transition as they moved back up to Class 3A. The last 15 years have seen Cascia Hall move around from 2A to 4A and last year they returned to Class 3A. The Commandos immediately established themselves as one of the top teams in the class. They won two close games against Victory Christian and Berryhill in district play and then they contended within their district. They would lose to Verdigris in week seven and that would end up deciding the district championship. The Cardinals would have the head to head and they claimed the district title. But as we look ahead to the 2023 season, we think the Commandos might be one of, if not the favorite in the district. They would make it back to the quarterfinal round before losing to a Metro Christian team that made it all the way to Edmond. Cascia Hall extended their state-record playoff streak to 36 consecutive playoff appearances. No other program in state history has made the playoffs more times in a row. This year's team shows no signs of not extending that streak.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite showing no signs of slowing down as we look ahead to the 2023 football season, this Cascia Hall team is certainly going to look quite different. The Commandos had a special 2023 senior class that graduated and they will have quite a few new names on both sides of the ball. Most eyes will be on the quarterback position as they have to replace a very experienced player at that position. But hearing from head coach Joe Medina this offseason, not only will they have a new quarterback but the offense will look quite different. Because of the personnel that Cascia Hall is going to have coming back, they expect to be more of a pass-first team, which is completely different from what we're used to seeing. They had three different outstanding running backs and a QB that could run last season but this year, they are going to air it out more. The defense will be leaned on more as they work in a new quarterback and offense and that has traditionally been a strength for the Commandos. Despite all of the new faces and schemes, we think Cascia Hall will be right there in the mix for the district crown. When you look at this district, it is completely wide open because most of the contenders were hit by graduation. When November rolls around, Cascia should be right there once again.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 RESULTS (9-3 Record - Lost In Class 3A Quarterfinals)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 26 - Beat Victory Christian 26-21<br>Sept. 2 - Lost To Rejoice Christian 42-27<br>Sept. 9 - Beat Berryhill 28-21<br>Sept. 23 - Beat Holland Hall 21-14<br>Sept. 30 - Beat Central 29-25<br>Oct. 7 - Beat Jay 49-14<br>Oct. 13 - Lost To Verdigris 17-0<br>Oct. 21 - Beat Bristow 56-22<br>Oct. 28 - Beat Inola 62-20<br>Nov. 4 - Beat Dewey 44-2<br>1st Round - Beat Muldrow 40-6<br>Quarterfinals - Lost To Metro Christian 49-19</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Key Losses To Graduation</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baxter Robertson - Athlete<br>Cooper Lai - Quarterback/Safety<br>Ethan Clark - Running Back/Linebacker<br>Jayce Ward - Linebacker<br>Owen Pazzo - Defensive Lineman/Linebacker</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players To Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["916760"],"_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":"Cascia Hall 2024 standout [player_tooltip player_id='916760' first='Daniel' last='Jarrett'] has mainly been a standout on the basketball floor so far in his high school career. But as he enters his senior year, he's joining the football team and he has the potential to be an impact player right from the start. Jarrett immediately caught the eye of Cascia Hall's coaching staff this offseason and head coach Joe Medina believes that Jarrett has a quickness that the Commandos haven't had at the wide receiver position in a long time. That definitely translates when you watch him on the basketball floor. The anticipation is that Jarrett is going to be a massive piece on offense at wide receiver as the Commandos go to more of a pass-first offense. He will also have the ability to help the defense in the secondary.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["916761"],"_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":"One of the Cascia Hall players we're looking forward to seeing the most is 2024 standout [player_tooltip player_id='916761' first='James' last='Heatherman'] on both sides of the line of scrimmage. On offense, Hetherman is the lone returning starter on the offensive line and he's back at left tackle. He will have a very important job this season as he helps protect the new starting quarterback. Then you turn around and look at Heatherman on defense and he is one of the leading tacklers returning this season for the Commandos. And Heatherman has the ability up front to play with a mean streak and he's one of the first names that the Cascia Hall coaches bring up when you talk about game changers on this year's team. Heatherman is going to be a force along the line of scrimmage that we're fired up to see.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["916762"],"_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":"Let's make no mistake about it, Cascia Hall is still going to run the football. While they may pass the ball way more than what we're used to, they will also hand the ball off and churn up the yards up and down the field. The running game will be led by 2025 running back [player_tooltip player_id='916762' first='Owen' last='Darby'] and he's more than capable of leading that rushing attack. While the Commandos work in a new quarterback and transition into this new offense that is throwing it more, Darby is going to be that steady presence in the backfield and running the football. Darby showed signs last year as he broke into the lineup as a sophomore. And this was a backfield that was already very talented and deep at the running back position. Darby is looking to expand his production this fall.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64bae07d84953"} /--> <!-- 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='1083187' first='Barrett' last='Mullen'] - 2026 Quarterback<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1333179' first='Carter' last='Nathman'] - 2026 Linebacker<br>Jude Lawson - 2024 Defensive Lineman<br>Mason Roach - 2024 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1741351' first='Max' last='Gipson'] - 2027 Quarterback<br>Max McMahon - 2024 Linebacker</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2023 Schedule/Games To Circle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aug. 25 - Victory Christian</strong><br>- After a decade of not playing (2010-2019) this match-up was given new life in the non-district slate as these two Tulsa schools started squaring off against one another. And fortunately for Cascia Hall, this has been a completely one-sided match-up as the Commandos have won nine in a row in the series and that includes a second round victory in the 2A playoffs back in 2021 and then a close win over Victory to open the 2022 football season. Victory Christian nearly came back and stunned Cascia Hall in last year's season opener. <br>Sept. 1 - AT Rejoice Christian<br>Sept. 8 - Berryhill<br><strong>Sept. 22 - AT Holland Hall</strong><br>- It's the annual “Hall Brawl” and it will open up district play for the Commandos. After taking week three off to prepare for district play, arguably the toughest district contest comes in week four when they hit the road to face Holland Hall in a match-up of preseason top ten teams. Both teams expect to contend for the district championship and this match-up is going to have massive playoff implications. Cascia Hall got a close win over Holland Hall in the district opener last season and even though it's just week four, this one is a must win. <br>Sept. 29 - Central<br>Oct. 6 - AT Jay<br>Oct. 12 - Verdigris<br><strong>Oct. 20 - AT Bristow</strong><br>- You can make the argument that Cascia Hall's top two district opponents this season will be Bristow and Holland Hall and unfortunately for the Commandos, they'll have to hit the road for both match-ups. Cascia Hall had no problems in their match-up with Bristow last season and if they find themselves unbeaten in district play coming into this week, you can also make the argument that Cascia Hall can lock up the district title with a win here. It'll be a clash of styles as Bristow's option attack faces Cascia Hall's new high-powered passing offense. <br>Oct. 27 - Inola<br>Nov. 3 - AT Dewey</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head coach Joe Medina has been a Cascia Hall lifer. He graduated from Cascia Hall in 1984, came back to start his coaching career as an assistant coach in the late 80's. After eight seasons out in San Diego, he became the head coach at Cascia Hall in 1999 and has been there ever since. He has taken this program to new heights and the peak came 15 years ago when they were winning three consecutive state championships and were one of the top programs in the state, regardless of class. We mentioned the playoff appearance streak and because of that, Medina has racked up the wins. He is just two wins away from 300 career wins between Cascia Hall and at St. Augustine in California. As long as everything goes right for the Commandos, Medina should reach that milestone before the month of October. But there's another milestone that Medina could reach. He's eight wins away from 250 victories at Cascia Hall. There aren't many coaches in Oklahoma history that have 250 wins, but Medina could become one of the next guys in that exclusive club.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Championship History</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>5 State Championships</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2009 - Beat Berryhill 21-0<br>2008 - Beat Claremore Sequoyah 28-21<br>2007 - Beat Heritage Hall 20-13<br>1999 - Beat Bristow 31-0<br>1989 - Beat Okemah 21-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->