Miami Wardogs 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 Miami Wardogs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Miami Wardogs</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 Miami Wardogs are looking to continue the momentum from last season's winning season. The 2022 season was their first winning season since 2008. The Wardogs started the season with a 2-2 mark. The two losses came to 5A's Grove and Cushing to open district play. Both teams would go on to go unbeaten in the regular season. The Wardogs won three straight games from there and also won four out of five. A close loss to Oologah in week eight would drop them in the standings. But they would qualify for the playoffs for the first time since that winning season in 2008. They would face perennial powerhouse Poteau in the first round and got bounced out with a 48-14 loss. The Wardogs bring back the majority of their starters and we think they have what it takes not only to make a return trip to the playoffs, but they could find themselves in the Class 4A top ten rankings at some point this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seven starters come back on the offensive side of the ball but the biggest question mark is going to be the quarterback position. They lost their starting quarterback from last season and a young signal caller who was the heir apparent to the position. But whoever ends up starting for the Wardogs, he's going to benefit from having the majority of their skill players returning. The offensive line unit also appears to be a unit that is improving. The defense brings back eight starters on that side of the ball and we think this is a unit that is going to be one of the better defenses in the district. They bring back their top three leading tacklers and this lineup also features five of the top six tacklers. We think the Wardogs will contend within the district. This is the same district that featured the two teams that played for the state championship last season. But after Wagoner, we think that it is completely wide open and the district race will be fun to watch unfold.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 RESULTS (6-5 Record - Lost In Class 4A 1st Round)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 26 - Beat Dewey 21-0<br>Sept. 2 - Lost To Grove 41-14<br>Sept. 9 - Beat Inola 34-7<br>Sept. 23 - Lost To Cushing 54-13<br>Sept. 30 - Beat McLain 19-18<br>Oct. 7 - Beat Skiatook 56-35<br>Oct. 13 - Beat Catoosa 43-22<br>Oct. 21 - Lost To Oologah 22-18<br>Oct. 28 - Beat Cleveland 35-7<br>Nov. 4 - Lost To Wagoner 42-7<br>1st Round - Lost To Poteau 48-14</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>Karson Jinks - Quarterback</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":["929833"],"_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 a few times how the Wardogs could be led by a defensive unit that is one of the best in the district. It could certainly help them in their goal of contending in the district and making it back to the playoffs for the second straight year. Leading that defense is 2025 standout [player_tooltip player_id='929833' first='Chris' last='Kelley'] at the linebacker position. Kelley finished his sophomore year with a little over 100 tackles and he also had 12 tackles for loss. Kelley was a tackling machine last season and he will look to lead the Wardogs in tackles once again this fall. Class 4A has a reputation of being a class with strong running games and dominant defenses and Miami might fit that description.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["929832"],"_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 the offense finds their groove early on in the season with a new quarterback, having 2024 running back [player_tooltip player_id='929832' first='Hunter' last='Nichols'] returning is going to help whoever ends up in the quarterback position. Last season, Nichols finished with a little over 100 carries and nearly 800 yards and ten touchdowns. We anticipate his production to go up in a significant way. Jinks was Miami's leading rusher last season but he also carried the ball over 200 times. We think Nichols will be in a position to be the team's leading rusher with a higher workload this fall. He won't be alone in the backfield but we really like his potential to take the next step as a player in the Miami offense.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c712b72083f"} /--> <!-- 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='119608' first='Braylon' last='Riley'] - 2024 Wide Receiver<br>Garrett Walls - 2024 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Hayden Miller - 2025 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1286146' first='Josiah' last='Barley'] - 2026 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='744152' first='Seth' last='Davis'] - 2025 Running 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>Aug. 25 - AT Dewey<br><strong>Sept. 1 - AT Grove</strong><br>- In week one, the Wardogs hit the road to face off with 5A's Grove. The Ridgerunners beat Miami with ease last season but they were also hit hard by graduation. This is a Grove team that will look a lot different than the team that went unbeaten and made it to the 5A semifinals a year ago. This former district foe is the perfect “measuring stick” game for Miami early on in the season. The Wardogs are looking to build up some momentum early on in the season and this is the perfect game to accomplish that. We'll know more about this team following this game.&nbsp;<br>Sept. 8 - Inola<br><strong>Sept. 22 - AT Cushing</strong><br>- The district slate starts off with a bang as Miami will go on the road and face a Cushing team that was absolutely dominant last season. They beat Miami 54-13 in last year's meeting but this is a completely different Cushing team as we head into 2023. The majority of their offensive firepower graduated and this Tiger squad is going to look a little different. Everyone is looking at Wagoner as the district favorite right now. If Miami can open up the district schedule with a big win on the road, they will stay in the hunt for the district title and one step closer to the playoffs.<br>Sept. 29 - McLain<br>Oct. 6 - Skiatook<br>Oct. 12 - AT Catoosa<br>Oct. 20 - Oologah<br>Oct. 27 - Cleveland<br>Nov. 3 - AT Wagoner</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fresh off their playoff appearance last season, the Wardogs are hungry to make playing meaningful football in November a regular occurrence. Miami made the playoffs in 2020 but that was in a season where Covid had so much impact that the OSSAA allowed everyone to play in the playoffs that wanted to play. Despite an 0-9 regular season, the Wardogs went to the playoffs. The 2022 season saw Miami qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Now, the Wardogs are determined to make back to back playoff appearances and that would be the first time Miami made consecutive playoff appearances since they went to the playoffs in five consecutive seasons from 2004-2008. Miami expects to be a playoff team this season but they'll have to earn 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 -->