Claremore Sequoyah 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 Claremore Sequoyah Eagles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Claremore Sequoyah Eagles</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #7</strong><br><strong>Preseason Coaches Ranking: #8</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Claremore Sequoyah definitely came into the 2022 football season flying under our radar. We knew that the Eagle football program was improving and was more than likely going to be a contender for a playoff spot but we didn't see an 11-2 season coming. This is the same program that's just a few years removed from going winless in back to back seasons&nbsp; in 2018 and 2019. The Eagles turned things around immediately and would make the playoffs in 2022 for the second straight season. The Eagles would win a pair of playoff games and it would be their first playoff wins since 2016, when they were in Class 3A. Sequoyah got everyone's attention in the first half of the season as they would begin the year 4-0 and push district favorite Rejoice Christian to the brink in a week five loss. That would be the only setback for Sequoyah as they would finish the regular season at 9-1 and would continue that success in the postseason. The 2022 campaign would come to an end in the quarterfinals as they lost to a Millwood team that made it all the way to the Class 2A state championship game. Now, as we look ahead to the 2023 football season, the Eagles are no longer flying under our radar and we think that the Eagles have a chance to do some real damage in Class 2A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles come into this season as the seventh best team in the Class 2A preseason rankings and they'll be the top-ranked team within their district. Sequoyah will also have a bigger target on their backs coming into this season. But they'll have some firepower returning, specifically on the offensive side of the ball. The Eagles return seven starters from last year's team, including a backfield duo that will be one of the top producing duos in Class 2A this season. The strength of the team last fall was their running game and we think that they'll be strong again this season. Then you look at a defense and it's a mix of youth and experience as they bring back five starters on the defensive side of the ball. Once again, the Eagles are going to have a challenging district stretch. But the Eagles are coming into this season in a new position as perhaps the favorite to capture the district crown. It's been a while since the Eagles were serious state championship contenders, but 2023 might be the year they break through and go deeper into the playoffs when November rolls around.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 RESULTS (11-2 Record - Lost In Class 2A Quarterfinals)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 26 - Beat Inola 55-7<br>Sept. 2 - Beat Checotah 63-18<br>Sept. 16 - Beat Locust Grove 56-14<br>Sept. 23 - Beat Adair 56-16<br>Sept. 30 - Lost To Rejoice Christian 42-34<br>Oct. 7 - Beat Salina 48-20<br>Oct. 13 - Beat Nowata 51-6<br>Oct. 21 - Beat Pawhuska 51-26<br>Oct. 28 - Beat Vinita 22-21<br>Nov. 4 - Beat Caney Valley 42-6<br>1st Round - Beat Sperry 48-15<br>2nd Round - Beat Eufaula 35-7<br>Quarterfinals - Lost To Millwood 49-30</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>Dylan Piguet - Running Back<br>Jacob Marmon - Linebacker<br>Karson Bickel - Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Logan Hattaway - Running Back</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":["901925"],"_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 most versatile player that's returning for Claremore Sequoyah is 2025 two-way star [player_tooltip player_id='901925' first='Dylan' last='Burks'] at running back and then on defense. On offense, Burks was Sequoyah's most versatile athlete on the offensive side of the ball. Despite not getting the bulk of the carries on offense, Burks still found a way to run for around 800 yards on the ground. He was also one of Sequoyah's leading receivers with around 500 yards receiving. And as if that wasn't enough, Burks will also come into this season as one of the leading tacklers from last season's team. They finished with 90 tackles on the season and he will be one of the more versatile players for the Eagles this season. We could see him, combined with their quarterback being one of the top duos in Class 2A.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["901926"],"_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":"Speaking of the quarterback, they'll benefit from 2025 signal caller [player_tooltip player_id='901926' first='Landon' last='Gilbreath'] returning this fall and he'll look to take his game to the next level this season. Last year, Gilbreath was one of the breakout stars in Class 2A when you look at the statistics. He threw for nearly 1,900 yards and then he also added around 800 yards on the ground. Claremore Sequoyah was absolutely dominant last season with the ground game but Gilbreath's ability to beat defenses with the pass and the run gives them an element that puts a ton of stress and pressure on a defense. And as we mentioned with Burks, we think that the duo of Gilbreath and Burks will put up a lot of numbers this season. Whether it's the running or passing game, the Eagles can do a lot with these two.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["901924"],"_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":"Claremore Sequoyah brings back plenty of firepower on the offensive side of the ball and we have the feeling that they'll be one of the higher scoring teams in Class 2A this season. But the offense will only be as good as the offensive line allows and they will benefit from the return of 2024 two-way standout [player_tooltip player_id='901924' first='Tucker' last='Long'] on the offensive and defensive lines. You can definitely make the argument that Long is incredibly important on offense and will be the anchor of an offensive line that sets up a dominating running game. The Eagles seemed like they were at their best last season when they were able to establish the running game and there were plenty of times when they ran it at will on their opponents. But don't overlook Long's ability on defense.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64ada77d4db69"} /--> <!-- 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='357475' first='Bryton' last='Cagle'] - 2025 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Ethan Germany - 2025 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Levi Gastelum - 2025 Tight End/Defensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1083182' first='Mason' last='Jones'] - 2025 Offensive Lineman/Linebacker<br>Sonny Proctor - 2024 Fullback/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>Aug. 25 - AT Inola<br>Sept. 1 - AT Checotah<br><strong>Sept. 15 - AT Locust Grove</strong><br>- Claremore Sequoyah remains on the road in week three as they wrap up non-district play with their third consecutive road game against Locust Grove. The Eagles were dominant in this match-up last season as they beat the Pirates 56-14. On paper, this match-up looks like it could be another easy win for the Eagles but we think the Pirates are going to be improved this season. They have a sophomore quarterback that's going to be one of the better quarterbacks in his class this season and could provide the Eagles with a challenge in their final non-district contest. <br>Sept. 22 - Adair<br><strong>Sept. 29 - Rejoice Christian</strong><br>- The only loss in the regular season last year was in week five when the Eagles fell to Rejoice Christian, who eventually captured the district championship. Coming into this season, Claremore Sequoyah and Rejoice Christian are once again the top two teams in the district. It's easy to think that the district championship could be decided once again as these two teams go head to head in week five. It will be a battle of the Eagles and Claremore Sequoyah is hopeful to get a win and then put themselves in the driver's seat to capture the district championship this season. <br>Oct. 6 - AT Salina<br>Oct. 12 - AT Nowata<br>Oct. 20 - Pawhuska<br>Oct. 27 - AT Vinita<br>Nov. 3 - Caney Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's a change coming in Class 2A starting in 2024. Really, it's coming to Class 2A, A and B as all three classes will be cut in half to have two divisions. Instead of a 64-team class, they will join the rest of the state, minus Class 6A, in having 32-team classes. Based on the numbers last year, Claremore Sequoyah would be in the higher division in Class 2A. Sequoyah does have a history of being in Class 3A so it is a possibility that the Eagles are one of those borderline teams that could go from Class 3A to the higher division in Class 2A. It looks like Class 2A will be pretty balanced once the divisional split happens. Obviously, things can change as it's based on school enrollment. But some of the other top teams in the new higher division of Class 2A will be defending champion Washington and top fellow top five teams Idabel and Jones. But before the Eagles worry about the split, they want to contend this year and go further than they have before.&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>1 State Championships</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2006 - Beat Marlow 32-3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->