Hilldale Hornets 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 Hilldale Hornets.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Hilldale Hornets</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 Hilldale Hornets have become a perennial playoff team in Class 4A over the last several seasons and they routinely find themselves in the top ten rankings. However, the Hornets find themselves outside of the top ten heading into this season after losing a very special 2023 class. At this time last year, the Hornets were ranked in the preseason rankings and would end up having a strong season, where they would contend in the district and make it back to the playoffs yet again. The Hornets rolled in the first two weeks but then stumbled in week three against 5A's Claremore. They would bounce back with two wins to start district play before falling in week six to Poteau. The Hornets wouldn't lose the rest of the way, including an impressive win over Broken Bow in week eight. Hilldale would actually match Poteau's 6-1 district record and sit atop the district with the Pirates. But because of the week six loss, they would have to settle for second place in the district. They would shut out McLain in the first round before falling in a heartbreaker to Elk City in the quarterfinals. Now, they look to regroup and replace that special 2023 class and contend once again this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How special was that 2023 class for the Hornets? Well, on paper, it looks like this could be a rebuilding season for the Hornets. Only one starter on offense and one starter on defense return for Hilldale this season. But what they lack in experience, they make up in talent. They could very well be replacing one special class for another one with the 2026 group. Based on all of the info we were given on Hilldale this offseason, the majority of returning talent appears to be in the 2026 class. From skill players to strong linemen, this class has a little bit of everything. We'll find out pretty quickly how the Hornets will contend when the 2023 season begins. They face a challenging non-district schedule and then it's right back into their tough district slate. District rival Poteau continues to be the favorite in this district but Hilldale has been getting closer and closer to dethroning them and bringing home the district championship. And if they are able to accomplish that, they will set themselves up for a deep run when the playoffs roll around. We're a long way from talking about the playoffs but it would be foolish to just write off the Hornets this fall. We expect them to be in the mix once again.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 RESULTS (9-3 Record - Lost In Class 4A Quarterfinals)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 2 - Beat Edison 44-6<br>Sept. 9 - Beat Nathan Hale 61-7<br>Sept. 16 - Lost To Claremore 27-10<br>Sept. 23 - Beat Stilwell 51-25<br>Sept. 30 - Beat Ada 24-16<br>Oct. 7 - Lost To Poteau 30-7<br>Oct. 13 - Beat Sallisaw 49-0<br>Oct. 21 - Beat Broken Bow 52-28<br>Oct. 28 - Beat Madill 31-0<br>Nov. 3 - Beat Fort Gibson 64-21<br>1st Round - Beat McLain 32-0<br>Quarterfinals - Lost To Elk City 24-20</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>Eric Virgil - Running Back<br>Evan Keefe - Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Logan Harper - Wide Receiver</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":["382955"],"_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":"We mentioned earlier how Hilldale has a really young but talented roster coming into this season. They have to replace a special 2023 class but the 2026 class already looks promising and one of their top skill position players will be [player_tooltip player_id='382955' first='Brady' last='Scott'] at the wide receiver position and he'll also turn around and play defense in the secondary. Scott has the potential to be one of the top producing players on the Hilldale offense but the Hornets are going to be a work in progress early on. We don't know much about Scott right now but there's a good chance we have a good idea by the time district play rolls around. If Scott has a breakout season this fall, the Hornets should have an offense that can contend in Class 4A.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["928463"],"_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":"While Scott has the potential to be a breakout star in the Hilldale offense, offensive and defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='928463' first='Grayson' last='Hall'] is a Hilldale prospect that we want to see in person this fall. Hall is listed on the roster at 6'5 and 275 pounds so he is a prospect that has some serious size and he could be the top replacement for a prospect like Evan Keefe, who starred for the Hornets on the offensive and defensive lines. If Hall is able to be that dominant force on both sides of the line of scrimmage, that could mean good things for Hilldale moving forward. There just aren't many players in Class 4A that will be able to contend with Hall's size on the line of scrimmage. Like Scott, if Hall is a breakout player, expect big things for the Hornets.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c5ca22f40cb"} /--> <!-- 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='948920' first='Cash' last='Schiller'] - 2025 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Dawson Fields - 2026 Quarterback/Linebacker<br>Harry Williams - 2026 Athlete<br>Hunter Frazier - 2026 Linebacker<br>Kaden Ford - 2027 Defensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1340799' first='Mason' last='Forhan'] - 2025 Defensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='595692' first='Talon' last='Shaffer'] - 2027 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><strong>Sept. 1 - Edison</strong><br>- The 2023 football season will open up for Hilldale in week one as they play host to Edison. This kicks off a non-district schedule featuring only Class 5A teams with all three having some legitimate talent and there's no doubt that the Hornets will be challenged early on. Hilldale opens the season against the Eagles and they were able to beat Edison with ease 44-6 in last season's meeting. But with a lineup that is almost entirely brand new coming into this year, these new faces will have to grow up quickly as the non-district schedule will challenge them before district play. <br>Sept. 8 - AT Nathan Hale<br>Sept. 15 - Claremore<br>Sept. 22 - AT Stilwell<br><strong>Sept. 29 - AT Ada</strong><br>- In week five, it's the halfway mark of the 2023 regular season and we'll have a pretty good idea of how the Hornets will be able to contend in the district. One of the pivotal district contests comes here as Hilldale will go on the road to face the Cougars. Last year, they knocked off Ada 24-16 but the Cougars return the majority of their starters and expect to be a playoff team again. Hilldale will need to be focused on this match-up and not look ahead to their week six clash with district favorite Poteau the following week. A win here keeps Hilldale in the hunt for the playoffs. <br>Oct. 6 - Poteau<br>Oct. 13 - Sallisaw<br>Oct. 20 - AT Broken Bow<br>Oct. 27 - Madill<br>Nov. 3 - AT Fort Gibson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first mission for Hilldale is to grow up quickly and compete for one of the four playoff spots in what should be a fairly competitive district. And if the Hornets are able to return to the playoffs once again, they'll have another mission and overall hurdle that they haven't been able to overcome. Despite being a pretty consistent top ten team in Class 4A, the Hornets haven't been able to get over the quarterfinal hump once they get to the playoffs. Since 2016, Hilldale has made six playoff appearances and every trip but one ended in the quarterfinal round. The other was in the 2021 first round when they lost to 4A powerhouse Wagoner. But like we said, the first step is making it back to the playoffs with a relatively inexperienced and young team. But the Hornets certainly have the history of punching their ticket to the playoffs.&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 -->