Elk City Elks 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 Elk City Elks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Elk City Elks</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>Elk City has definitely turned a corner and has become a consistent top ten team over the last two seasons and they plan on staying there in 2023. Last season, the Elks were coming off a 2021 year where they snuck up and surprised some teams on their way to a semifinal appearance. In 2022, the Elks backed it up with another double digit win season and a second straight trip to the semifinals. Elk City was dominant to start the season and they would suffer their only setback in the regular season when they lost to eventual 5A champion Carl Albert. Elk City would then run the table and capture a district championship in the process. That would set them up with an easier path in the playoffs but the Elks would still get tested in the playoffs. They would survive a scare from Newcastle in the first round, then they would beat Hilldale in the quarterfinals to punch their tickets to the semifinal for the second straight year. Elk City would fall to Cushing in the semifinal round and come up short of a trip to Edmond for the second straight season. And now, as they look towards the 2023 football season, Elk City expects to be back in the semifinals and this time, they want to finally clinch that spot in the title game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elk City is a consensus top ten team heading into this season but they are definitely going to look different this season. They have to replace the majority of their starters but the guys they have coming back feature a good mix of experience and young talent. Elk City has raised the bar of what's expected and despite only having five starters back on offense, we still anticipate them to have one of the top rushing attacks in Class 4A this season. The defense will have a little more work to do, especially early on in the season. They bring back just four starters on the defensive side of the ball. So as Elk City is tested by a non-district schedule that features four opponents, those new starters and younger players are going to have to grow up quickly. It will be trial by fire for Elk City and that young defense but we think that by the time the district slate rolls around, Elk City will be able to contend within the district. They took the next step by winning the district championship last season, now they want to defend that district crown and then compete for the state championship. Class 4A has been dominated by traditional powers over the last decade and Elk City wants to crash the party in 2023.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 RESULTS (11-2 Record - Lost In Class 4A Semifinals)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 26 - Beat Altus 36-7<br>Sept. 2 - Beat Bridge Creek 52-0<br>Sept. 9 - Beat Canadian, TX. 37-36 (OT)<br>Sept. 16 - Lost To Carl Albert 45-2<br>Sept. 30 - Beat Clinton 14-12<br>Oct. 7 - Beat Cache 36-21<br>Oct. 13 - Beat Chickasha 51-14<br>Oct. 20 - Beat Weatherford 22-12<br>Oct. 28 - Beat Woodward 33-21<br>Nov. 3 - Beat John Marshall 33-22<br>1st Round - Beat Newcastle 28-21<br>Quarterfinals - Beat Hilldale 24-20<br>Semifinals - Lost To Cushing 56-14</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>Austin Jones - Quarterback<br>Gage Eastman - Defensive Lineman<br>Levy Owens - Fullback <br>Logan Trevino - Offensive Lineman<br>Trace Decker - Offensive/Defensive Lineman</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":["915114"],"_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 area that we're curious about is Elk City's offensive line. They have to replace a lot of experience and talent at that position but having 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='915114' first='Holden' last='Dixon'] returning at the center position will help some of those younger players come along quickly. Dixon is a three-year starter at the position and will bring some much needed experience for those new starters to look to. And as Elk City looks to establish the running game, Dixon is going to open up some holes and control things along the line of scrimmage. We anticipate Dixon to be one of the top offensive linemen in Class 4A when you see the experience he brings back to the position.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["478775"],"_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":"We talked about how Elk City wants to run the football and one player we think is primed for a breakout season is 2026 running back [player_tooltip player_id='478775' first='Tucker' last='Garza']. He only had 24 carries last season but finished with over 300 yards and five touchdowns. He had all five touchdowns in the week seven win against Chickasha after their starting running back went down with an injury. Now, fast forward to the start of the 2023 season and Garza is stepping into that starting role and Elk City's coaches are expecting some big time production from him. He's a great athlete with special field vision and the coaches anticipate a monster season from him as he takes the bulk of the carries.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64b9a3798bcfe"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>More Names To Know</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Braxton Robertson - 2024 Linebacker<br>Catch Geno - 2025 Quarterback/Linebacker<br>Cole Buie - 2025 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1082643' first='Cooper' last='Garbarino'] - 2024 Running Back/Defensive Back</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>Week 0 - AT Altus<br>Week 1 - Bridge Creek<br>Week 2 - AT Canadian, TX.<br><strong>Week 3 - Carl Albert</strong><br>- The last non-district game comes in week three as Elk City will host 5A powerhouse and defending champion Carl Albert. This was the only blemish on Elk City's regular season schedule last season. The Titans won 45-2 and this year's contest could end up being another blowout as the Titans are heavy favorites to win another state championship. But this will be the last game that doesn't count towards playoff seeding. And as Elk City gets ready for a tough district slate, they'll use trial by fire to get ready for the district season, starting in week five. <br>Week 4 - Bye Week<br><strong>Week 5 - AT Clinton</strong><br>- Because their district will only have seven teams, Elk City gets a much needed week off in week four following the Carl Albert game. That should give them plenty of time to rest up and get ready for the district schedule, which starts with district rival Clinton. This game is always one that gets circled on the calendar but the stakes in this western Oklahoma rivalry have been raised over the last few seasons. Clinton swept Elk City in 2021, including a win over the Elks in the semifinals. Last year, Elk City won a low-scoring affair. The winner here will be set up for success in the district race. <br>Week 6 - Cache<br>Week 7 - AT Chickasha<br><strong>Week 8 - Weatherford</strong><br>- Late in the season, Weatherford will come to town as Elk City will host the Eagles. As we come into this season, the Eagles are the top-ranked team in the district with nearly all 22 starters coming back. But as we mentioned with the Clinton game, this district is wide open and we could see several teams walking away with the district crown, including Elk City. If the Elks are able to beat Clinton and then knock off Weatherford in week eight, they will be in a great position to capture another district championship, setting themselves up with an easier playoff path. <br>Week 9 - Woodward<br>Week 10 - AT John Marshall</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In 2021, Elk City surprised some people as they won ten games just two years after going 0-10 in back to back seasons. The Elks would follow up that ten win season with another year of double digit wins and a district championship in 2022. Elk City hadn't had back to back double digit win seasons since the late 90's when they were contending for the state championship every season. In fact, prior to the 2021 season, Elk City hadn't won a playoff game since 2006 and had not been to the semifinal round since 2004. Now, as they head into the 2023 football season, they've made back to back trips to the semifinals and they've shown that they belong in the conversation with Class 4A's best. This has been a class that has been dominated by just a few teams like district foe Clinton, Poteau, Tuttle and defending champion Wagoner. Elk City is looking to throw their hat in the ring and become one of those consistent powerhouses in Class 4A.&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 Championship</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1998 - Beat Clinton 20-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->