Harrah Panthers 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 Harrah Panthers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Harrah Panthers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: UR</strong><br><strong>Preseason Coaches Ranking: UR</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Harrah Panthers come into this season as a team outside of the top ten that definitely has the potential to be a top ten team at some point this season. The biggest hurdle is going to be the district and that might be a theme here as we preview the 2023 Panthers. Harrah is coming off a 3-7 season and the Panthers are definitely hungry to punch their ticket back to the playoffs this season. The Panthers were in an absolutely brutal district last season and it played out that way as Harrah would suffer a six-game losing streak in the middle of the season that put them out of playoff positioning. They were beaten up by some of the district heavyweights like Blanchard and Tuttle. They would then close out the season on a high note, with dominant wins over Classen SAS and Bridge Creek in the final two weeks of the regular season to finish off the year at 3-7. But with plenty of new starters last season that were thrown into the fire, they have come out on the other end looking to really improve this fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers bring back eight starters on the offensive side of the ball, including the majority of their skill position players. They also bring back eight starters on defense, which will certainly help when they face those district foes with some legitimate offensive firepower. But like we mentioned, the biggest test for the Panthers is going to come in district play. They are in the same district with four top ten teams in our preseason rankings, including three in the top six. Blanchard, Tuttle, Newcastle and Bethany were the top four in the district and as of right now, they look to be the top four again. Harrah lost to those four teams by a combined score of 196-27. So needless to say, those four games are going to be critical for Harrah's playoff chances this season. If they are able to steal a game against one of those four and take care of business in the other district contests, the Panthers will find themselves in a position to make it back to the playoffs this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 RESULTS (3-7 Record - Missed Playoffs)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 2 - Lost To McLoud 28-7<br>Sept. 9 - Beat Western Heights 49-6<br>Sept. 16 - Lost To Seminole 22-14<br>Sept. 23 - Lost To Blanchard 53-7<br>Sept. 30 - Lost To Tuttle 38-7<br>Oct. 7 - Lost To Tecumseh 13-6<br>Oct. 14 - Lost To Newcastle 57-6<br>Oct. 21 - Lost To Bethany 48-7<br>Oct. 28 - Beat Classen SAS 47-0<br>Nov. 3 - Beat Bridge Creek 34-14</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>Dawson Hairell<br>Jeremiah Marsala<br>Payton Howell</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":["924953"],"_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":"Harrah's offense is going to be boosted by the return of 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='924953' first='Devon' last='Macaraig'] at the running back position. He was Harrah's leading rusher last season and he's looking to double his production and become a 1,000 yard rusher. He certainly has the potential after going over 500 yards on the ground last year. We really like the skill players that the Panthers bring back on the offensive side of the ball and Macaraig is a big part of that. We mentioned how the Panthers finished out strong last season with back to back wins and those also featured Macaraig's best performances. He would go over 100 yards in each of their last two wins, helping the Panthers not only win their last game but win their last two and not many teams can say that.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["924954"],"_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":"When I look at Harrah on paper and somewhat on film, 2024 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='924954' first='Luke' last='Sellers'] looks to be like the top guy that could end up playing at the next level. Sellers immediately passes the eye test and from the looks of it, he's had a very busy offseason so far at camps and putting in work on the field and in the weight room. Sellers was the top threat for the Panthers in the passing game last season and he finished with over 400 yards. He was the go-to target and we don't see that changing anytime soon. Harrah's quarterback was incredibly young last season so we expect an improvement in that department and if that happens, we think Sellers is in a good position to absolutely explode this fall with the Harrah offense and college opportunities could be on the other side.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["924955"],"_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 running back and linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='924955' first='Titus' last='Johnson'] is going to be able to help out Macaraig at the running back position this season. Johnson was the second-leading rusher behind Macaraig on the team last fall but it's what he does on defense that lands him right here as a player to watch for the Panthers. Johnson led the team with over 70 tackles on the season and he's looking to be the team's leader again this season and take that production up to the next level. There are some really good defensive players in Class 4A this fall but Johnson definitely has earned his way into that discussion. He's a hard-nosed ball carrier on the offensive side of the ball but we love what he brings to to the table on the defensive side of the ball.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c27d353fa8f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>More Names To Know</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Colton Whitnah - 2024 Offensive Lineman/Linebacker<br>Connor Barton - 2025 Offensive Lineman/Linebacker<br>Isaiah Osbourne - 2026 Running Back/Linebacker<br>Jaxen Wilson - 2024 Athlete<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1288785' first='Joey' last='McLaughlin'] - 2025 Quarterback<br>Kolton Avalos - 2026 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Montana Best - 2024 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Travis Taber - 2025 Athlete</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 - McLoud<br>Sept. 8 - AT Western Heights<br><strong>Sept. 15 - Seminole</strong><br>- These two teams have met early on in the season in each of the last nine seasons. The Panthers are looking to turn things around in the series as it has been one that has been absolutely dominated by the Chieftains over the last decade. Harrah is 1-8 against the Chieftains but this game is important for a few reasons. First, it's the last tune up game before district play starts and games start counting towards the district standings. And if the Panthers are able to get a win here in week three, that will give them a ton of momentum into district play. <br>Sept. 22 - AT Blanchard<br>Sept. 29 - AT Tuttle<br>Oct. 6 - Tecumseh<br>Oct. 12 - Newcastle<br><strong>Oct. 20 - AT Bethany</strong><br>- The district gauntlet ends in week eight as the Panthers hit the road to face off with Bethany. At this point, after playing some of the other heavy hitters in the district, Harrah is going to know exactly what they need to do if they are going to make it to the playoffs. Bethany certainly expects to keep the Panthers from making it back to the postseason and needless to say, this will be a must-win game for Harrah. The Panthers have some familiarity with the Bronchos after facing off in district play last year and from 2016-2019. They are looking for their first win during that stretch.<br>Oct. 27 - AT Classen SAS<br>Nov. 3 - Bridge Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've mentioned it a few times but there's no doubt that the district is the biggest storyline for the Panthers coming into this season. As we look at the Harrah Panthers on paper right now, this looks like a team that has what it takes to be a playoff team and definitely turn things around after a losing season. But this district is absolutely brutal for the second straight season. Four top ten teams, three that are in the top six and you have an absolute gauntlet standing between the Panthers and their third playoff appearance in the last four seasons. A team can go 6-4 in this district and be a playoff team in most districts but 6-4 might not cut it if you lose to the wrong teams. The Panthers are no strangers to fighting and clawing for playoff positioning. They have the experience and talent to be a playoff team but they'll have to go out and prove it on the field.&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 -->