Clinton Red Tornadoes 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 Clinton Red Tornadoes.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Clinton Red Tornadoes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #7</strong><br><strong>Preseason Coaches Ranking: #4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Clinton Red Tornadoes came into the 2022 season looking to defend their Class 4A state championship. They came up short as they lost to fellow 4A power Poteau in the quarterfinals. This was definitely a season that did not lack dramatics. They opened their year with a win over Kingfisher followed by a blowout loss to Bishop McGuinness. But they would turn around immediately as they handled a Heritage Hall team that would go on to win the Class 3A state championship. Back to back district losses halfway through the regular season would prevent Clinton from winning the district but because of a three-way tie, the Red Tornadoes actually finished second in the district standings. They would take advantage of the home field advantage with a 34-27 win over Bethany in overtime to advance to that quarterfinal match-up with Poteau. For the second straight week, Clinton would find themselves tied at the end of regulation. In the end, it was Poteau advancing with a 35-28 win in overtime. Now, as we look ahead to the 2023 football season, it's hard to imagine that Clinton won't be in the mix once again in Class 4A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Red Tornadoes are once again starting the season in the preseason top ten rankings and they expect to contend for their district championship before contending for the state championship. Clinton brings back half of their starters from last year's team but as we know when you're talking about a program like Clinton, they reload and never rebuild. Five starters will be back on the offensive side of the ball and while they have to replace quite a bit in terms of their production from the skill positions, we do like what they bring back on the offensive line. And when you're talking about Clinton on the offensive side of the ball, this is a team and program that routinely uses multiple running backs so it's going to be a run-heavy offense by committee once again. On the defensive side of the ball, six starters return and just like on offense, we really like Clinton's strength up front along the line of scrimmage. They'll have to earn their way to the district crown as two other district opponents are in the preseason top ten rankings and both of those teams are the two that beat Clinton in district play last fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 RESULTS (7-4 Record - Lost In Class 4A Quarterfinals)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 26 - Beat Kingfisher 21-6<br>Sept. 2 - Lost To Bishop McGuinness 46-14<br>Sept. 9 - Beat Heritage Hall 28-7<br>Sept. 23 - Beat John Marshall 29-0<br>Sept. 30 - Lost To Elk City 14-12<br>Oct. 7 - Lost To Weatherford 30-10<br>Oct. 21 - Beat Chickasha 40-7<br>Oct. 28 - Beat Cache 35-7<br>Nov. 4 - Beat Woodward 42-7<br>1st Round - Beat Bethany 34-27 (OT)<br>Quarterfinals - Lost To Poteau 35-28 (OT)</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>Javion Hill - Linebacker<br>Matthew Ngyuen - Offensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='806158' first='Trey' last='Bennett'] - Running Back/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":["901850"],"_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":"2024 offensive and defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='901850' first='Layden' last='Fuller'] is a defensive standout that we're looking forward to seeing how his production evolves this season. Last fall, Fuller was one of Clinton's leading tacklers with 77 tackles on the season and he would also finish his junior season with 16 tackles for loss. The Clinton big man got into the opposing backfield often and when he was there, he was causing problems. Like we mentioned earlier, the Red Tornadoes bring back quite a bit of talent on the offensive and defensive lines so there are several reasons to be excited about the outlook of this year's team. Fuller is going to be a defensive lineman that we pay attention to this fall but we can't overlook what he can do on the offensive side of the ball.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["901851"],"_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":"As we mentioned at the beginning of this preview, Clinton routinely spreads the love among their running backs and they like to spread out the carries accordingly. One of the returning players at the position is 2025 standout [player_tooltip player_id='901851' first='Zaedon' last='Collins'] at the running back and linebacker position. Collins is not Clinton's top returning rusher on this year's squad but he was able to rack up over 500 yards on 51 carries on the season. We anticipate those numbers are going to go up this season. But another big reason why he's going to be a player to watch for the Red Tornadoes this fall is what he does on defense. Like Fuller, Collins was one of the leading tacklers last season with over 71 tackles and he has the potential to be Clinton's best two-way player.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64ada111aa957"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>More Names To Know</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brayden Fuller - 2026 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Connor Richardson - 2026 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Darren Hester - 2026 Running Back<br>Kyntavion Hill - 2025 Running Back/Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='948913' first='Montiel' last='Crane'] - 2024 Offensive/Defensive Lineman</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 Kingfisher<br>Sept. 1 - Bishop McGuinness<br><strong>Sept. 8 - Heritage Hall</strong><br>- The non-district gauntlet schedule will wrap up in week two with arguably Clinton's toughest game of the season when they host 3A's #1 preseason team in Heritage Hall. There is an interesting dynamic with this match-up after the last two seasons. In 2021, Clinton won the state championship but the only blemish on the schedule was a loss to Heritage Hall. In 2022, Heritage Hall would win the state championship but their only loss last year was in week two when Clinton won 28-7. Both teams expect to contend for the state championship once again. A loss here might be good luck?<br>Sept. 22 - John Marshall<br><strong>Sept. 29 - Elk City</strong><br>- In the fourth consecutive home game for Clinton, they'll wrap up the month of September against district foe Elk City. Clinton has dominated this district series for the majority of the last few decades but Elk City finally turned things around last season by knocking off the Red Tornadoes with a 14-12 victory. That was just their second win over Clinton in the last twenty meetings. These two teams met twice during Clinton's 2021 run to the state championship with the second win coming in the semifinals. Elk City has proven that they can be a consistent contender within the district. <br><strong>Oct. 6 - AT Weatherford</strong><br>- After those four consecutive home games, Clinton will finally go on the road to kick off the second half of the regular season and the month of October. After a week five game against Elk City, the Red Tornadoes will go on the road to face another team that's ranked in the preseason top ten for Class 4A. They will travel to Weatherford to face an Eagle team that brings back basically everyone from last year's team. Unlike the Elk City series, this one has been more even in recent memory. In the last six meetings, these western Oklahoma schools are dead even at 3-3 against one another. <br>Oct. 12 - Guymon<br>Oct. 20 - Chickasha<br>Oct. 27 - AT Cache<br>Nov. 3 - AT Woodward</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With their state championship victory two years ago, Clinton added their 17th gold ball to the trophy case. That broke a tie with Carl Albert and put them all alone in third place for most championships in state history. Carl Albert rejoined Clinton in a tie for third place after capturing the 5A title in 2022. Only Ada (19) and Jenks (18) have more gold hardware in the hallways of their school. Clinton also appeared in their 27th state championship game in school history and only Jenks (28) has played for it all more times. Their championship victory in 2021 was their first since 2012 and for a program like Clinton, that was a drought. From 2000-2012, Clinton won seven championships in thirteen years. Talking with coaches and players after their dominating win over Tuttle, you could tell that the 2021 gold ball meant a little more because the drought was over. The search for championship number 18 has begun and Clinton does not want to fall short.&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>17 State Championships</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2021 - Beat Tuttle 35-0<br>2012 - Beat Anadarko 21-14<br>2007 - Beat Kingfisher 21-16<br>2005 - Beat Wagoner 20-7<br>2004 - Beat Broken Bow 28-0<br>2003 - Beat Glenpool 28-7<br>2001 - Beat Sallisaw 41-23<br>2000 - Beat Sallisaw 41-6<br>1997 - Beat Elk City 31-13<br>1996 - Beat Weatherford 28-0<br>1984 - Beat Idabel 34-13<br>1982 - Beat Bristow 33-23<br>1978 - Beat Durant 12-0<br>1969 - Beat Muskogee Manual 55-6<br>1968 - Beat Wewoka 42-6<br>1967 - Beat Broken Bow 34-6<br>1965 - Beat Broken Bow 34-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->