Elgin Owls 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 Elgin Owls.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Elgin Owls</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #4<br>Preseason Coaches Ranking: #6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Elgin Owls came into the 2022 football season as an underdog after moving up from Class 4A. They moved into Class 5A and despite being the new kid on the block, they immediately became one of the top teams within their district. They began the season with a 6-0 record before stumbling in week seven to Noble. They would bounce back with two wins, setting up a district championship showdown with Midwest City in week ten. After a heartbreaking loss to the Bombers at home, the Owls would have to settle for the two seed going into the playoffs. And unfortunately for everyone in district 5A-1, they were all matched up with the top four teams in district 5A-2, which was arguably the best district in the state, regardless of class. Elgin was shut out by Guthrie and all of their district mates lost as district 5A-2 swept 5A-1 in the first round. The Owls would make the most of their trip up to Class 5A and they have some serious momentum as they head into the 2023 football season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Owls are the top-ranked team in their district as we head into this fall. A big reason behind that is the fact that they bring back nearly all 22 starters from last year's team. Nine starters return on offense, led by one of the top rushing attacks in Class 5A this season. Between their top two running backs, the Owls are going to have one of the top running games in the state. They also return their starting quarterback from last season, which will give them some balance on the offensive side of the ball. But the offense isn't the only thing to watch this fall. The defensive unit brings back nine starters as well. This was one of the better defensive units in Class 5A last season. They shut out three opponents last season and are looking for more in 2023. Elgin made the most of that bump up to Class 5A but they are still looking for extended playoff success. On paper, they are set up for a deep run in Class 5A this fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 RESULTS (8-3 Record - Lost In Class 5A 1st Round)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 2 - Beat Anadarko 33-14<br>Sept. 9 - Beat Cache 27-0<br>Sept. 16 - Beat Weatherford 41-10<br>Sept. 23 - Beat El Reno 47-8<br>Sept. 30 - Beat Ardmore 35-0<br>Oct. 7 - Beat Altus 34-0<br>Oct. 14 - Lost To Noble 32-21<br>Oct. 21 - Beat Duncan 29-7<br>Oct. 27 - Beat Lawton MacArthur 20-13<br>Nov. 4 - Lost To Midwest City 23-21<br>1st Round - Lost To Guthrie 17-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Key Loss To Graduation</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Toby Parker - Defensive 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":["449039"],"_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 running back [player_tooltip player_id='449039' first='Matt' last='Lund'] is on the brink of rewriting the Elgin record books at the running back position. Lund ran for 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns last season and as he heads into the 2023 football season, he's closing in on the school's all time rushing record. Lund is just 850 yards away from becoming the record holder but he won't be alone in the backfield. The Owls will be at their best with the firepower they return in the backfield and Lund is at the top of that list. Colleges are starting to take notice as Lund has seen his recruitment take off after a very busy spring. Last season, Lund and the Owls had one of the best rushing attacks in Class 5A and they will look to repeat that as we head into the 2023 season. And right now, there's no reason to think they won't do it again.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["472321"],"_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 top two-way players for the Owls coming into this season is 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='472321' first='Ritson' last='Meyer'] and he is primed for an even bigger 2023 season after breaking out in 2022. Meyer was a two-way star for Elgin last season as he complimented Lund at the running back position. He would add just over 800 yards and nine touchdowns as the Elgin rushing attack became one of the best in Class 5A last season. Then Meyer would turn around and play defense at the linebacker position. He would finish with well over 100 tackles and it appears that he is just scratching the surface on what he can be as a playmaker for the Owls on that side of the ball. Meyer became somewhat of an X-factor for Elgin last season but he should expand his game this season.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["211570"],"_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":"2025 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='211570' first='Tres' last='Lorah'] is going into his third season as QB1 for the Owls. He first got onto our radar as a freshman when he burst on the scene and was a dual-threat option for Elgin on the offensive side of the ball. Now, as he goes into his junior season, Lorah is going to benefit from having some absolute workhorse running backs playing next to him. Having players like Lund and Meyer at the running back position will take a lot of pressure off Lorah. Last season, the Owls were able to sneak up and surprise some teams as they moved up from Class 4A. And as we mentioned earlier, the Owls are not going to be sneaking up on anyone. Lorah's athletic ability is a big reason why we like him in the state's 2025 class at quarterback.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64a5bf7d1d952"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>More Names To Know</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andre Crabtree - 2024 Linebacker<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1701962' first='Brody' last='Morrison'] - 2026 Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='915629' first='Colyn' last='Donnelly'] - 2025 Linebacker<br>[player_tooltip player_id='497348' first='Jace' last='Williams'] - 2025 Offensive Lineman<br>Jack Anglley - 2024 Defensive Lineman<br>Keith Ferguson - 2024 Offensive Lineman<br>Michael Adesola - 2024 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Peyton Christensen - 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>Sept. 1 - Anadarko<br>Sept. 8 - Cache<br><strong>Sept. 15 - AT Weatherford<br></strong>- Before Elgin dives head first into district play, their toughest test of the non-district slate will come in week three in their first road game of the season. They'll hit the road to face off with Weatherford in the last tune up before games start counting towards playoff seeding. Elgin dominated this match-up last season with a 41-10 victory but this year's game should be much more competitive. Both teams are ranked in their respective preseason ranking and are looking to be contenders this fall. In the last eight meetings, both teams hold 4-4 records against one another. <br><strong>Sept. 22 - AT El Reno<br></strong>- One week after their clash with Weatherford, the Owls will remain on the road with their district opener against El Reno. The Indians come into this season as one of the more experienced teams in the district and could certainly provide a threat to Elgin making a run at the district championship. Like the Weatherford match-up, Elgin had no problems in their game with El Reno last season. Elgin won 47-8 last season but we anticipate that the Indians are going to be significantly improved from last season. Right out of the gate, Elgin will need to be on their A game. <br>Sept. 29 - AT Ardmore<br>Oct. 6 - Altus<br>Oct. 12 - Noble <br>Oct. 20 - AT Duncan<br>Oct. 27 - Lawton MacArthur<br><strong>Nov. 3 - AT Midwest City<br></strong>- For the second straight season, the district championship could be decided on the final night of the regular season. In 2022, Elgin would fall to Midwest City as the Bombers stunned the Owls with 11 seconds left to win 23-21, capturing the district championship in the process. After Elgin scored with just under 1:30 to play, they thought they had the district title in the bag. So needless to say, the Owls will certainly have this game circled on their schedule and will look to leave no doubt. Elgin is going to be tested by several other teams in district play but the Owls are determined to capture that district crown. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With nearly all of their starters back from last year's team, Elgin is determined to make their deepest playoff run in recent memory. As mentioned earlier, the Owls were knocking on the door of capturing a district championship last year, in their first season in Class 5A. This season, it's hard to imagine the Owls aren't the favorite in their district as we head into the season. And if the Owls are able to win the district championship, they are going to set themselves up for potentially making their deepest run into the postseason. Elgin has only won five playoff games in school history and they've never made it to the semifinal round. The Owls are also looking for their first playoff win since the 2010 4A playoffs but they've always gotten tripped up in the quarterfinals when they make it out of the first round. As one of the top teams in Class 5A coming into this season, the Owls are hoping to turn around their playoff fortunes.&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>0 State Championships</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->