Pocola Indians OK 2023 Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></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 Pocola Indians.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Pocola Indians</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #6<br>Preseason Coaches Ranking: UR</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Pocola Indians came into the 2022 football season with high expectations but injuries and being put in the same district with powerhouse Gore led to a 6-5 season. As the Indians dropped down from Class 2A to Class A, they would begin the season with back to back wins and looked dominant, especially on the offensive side of the ball. They would then suffer back to back losses to wrap up non-district play. A 61-12 loss to Gore in week six was followed by a narrow loss to Panama the following week. Despite the second district loss, they still finished second in the district and clinched a playoff spot for the second consecutive season. That was just the second time in school history that Pocola made back to back playoff appearances. However, it was a short appearance once again as they fell to Commerce in the first round. As we look ahead to the 2023 football season, this team is hungrier than ever to turn things around this fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's a few different reasons to be excited about the possibilities for this year's Pocola football team. Eight starters return on the offensive side of the ball and another nine starters are back on the defensive side of the football. You start there with the experience and the fact that they are going to have starters that have been on the field since they were freshmen. You talk about hunger and these players are ready to finally kick in the door that they have been knocking on for the past two seasons. The Indians will also benefit from district powerhouse Gore getting hit hard by graduation. The 2023 class was special at Gore and they have to replace nearly everyone. Coming into the season, it's Pocola that's at the top of the rankings within the district. This is a team that has some serious star power as well, featuring two-sport stars that have had success in basketball. The Indians hope that success translates to the football field.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 RESULTS (6-5 Record - Lost In Class A 1st Round)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 26 - Beat Heavener 52-35<br>Sept. 2 - Beat Hackett, AR. 28-6<br>Sept. 9 - Lost To Spiro 35-8<br>Sept. 16 - Lost To Mena, AR. 35-34<br>Sept. 23 - Beat Canadian 54-6<br>Sept. 30 - Beat Central Sallisaw 30-8<br>Oct. 7 - Lost To Gore 61-12<br>Oct. 13 - Lost To Panama 30-28<br>Oct. 21 - Beat Haskell 54-14<br>Oct. 28 - Beat Proter 56-13<br>1st Round - Lost To Commerce 39-24</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>Aiden Hollan - Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Tucker Thompson - Linebacker<br>Zac Jones - Fullback/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":["268315"],"_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":"2025 standout [player_tooltip player_id='268315' first='AJ' last='Lyons-Jerrell'] has been on our radar since he was a freshman and we're ready to see him have a season where he's healthy and able to impact the game in a variety of ways. Last season, he was a threat to throw the ball and run the ball as a wildcat quarterback but this fall, he's also expected to have a big impact at linebacker on defense. We've mentioned this before but Jerrell first came across our boards after performing incredibly well at one of our camps. Then we realized he had a fantastic freshman season. Jerrell is one of several playmakers that will be returning for the Indians on the offensive side of the ball. Whether he's lining up at quarterback or running back, he's going to be one of the better two-way players in Class A this fall.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["382643"],"_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":"2025 standout [player_tooltip player_id='382643' first='Dakotah' last='Terrell'] is the first of two Pocola standouts that have become stars on the basketball floor. Terrell in particular has captured the attention of college coaches for his ability on the basketball floor but we still like him on the gridiron as well. On offense, he's a match-up nightmare at tight end or when he flexes out to the wide receiver position. This spring, Terrell absolutely exploded as a defensive lineman during team camps. He terrorized the opposing offensive linemen and was making a massive impact in the backfield. It's going to be interesting to see if Terrell's recruitment starts to take off in football, like it has in basketball. There are quite a few dual-sport prospects in the state's 2025 class that could end up earning D1 offers in both sports.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["449182"],"_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":"2024 standout [player_tooltip player_id='449182' first='Garrett' last='Scott'] is the other Pocola playmaker that has starred on the basketball floor but his ceiling might be higher on the football field. Scott really reminds us of Mustang 2023 WR/DB Jacobe Johnson, who earned Under Armour All American honors and is now at OU. Like Johnson, Scott has become one of the better guards in the state's 2024 class for basketball. But like Johnson, we think that Scott should absolutely explode as a prospect for what he can do on the football field. Scott has been incredibly productive at the wide receiver position over the last few seasons. He also has the ability to shut opponents down as a defensive back. We watched Scott play quite a bit of basketball in the last eight months and we think that the raw athleticism is clearly there.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["898388"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Pocola has quite a few playmakers back at the various skill positions but they can only go as far as the offensive line will take them. And having 2024 offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='898388' first='Kanye' last='Gordon'] back on the field for them this fall will certainly give this offensive line a boost. Gordon had to sit out last season after transferring but he's back and ready to provide an instant impact to Pocola on both sides of the line of scrimmage. He's listed at 6'5 and 330 pounds and the Indians plan on playing him on both sides of the ball. But based on that size, he sounds like a prototypical offensive tackle, on either side of the line. He's going to be opening up quite a few running lanes this fall as he's going to have a size advantage almost every time he steps on the field.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64a9adc2815a7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>More Names To Know</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>AJ Martin - 2024 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Austin Hardwick - 2024 Quarterback<br>Breydon Hardwick - 2026 Athlete<br>Casson Raley - 2024 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Dylan Wilson - 2026 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Hunter Grimsley - 2024 Defensive Lineman<br>Kolby Masterson - 2024 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>Aug. 24 - AT Heavener<br>Sept. 1 - Hackett, AR.<br><strong>Sept. 8 - Spiro</strong><br>- Pocola's last non-district match-up comes in week two as they host 2A's Spiro. The Indians fell to the Bulldogs last season 35-8. The Indians have several games against teams that they lost to last season circled on their schedule and this is the first one. Before the Indians dive into district play, this is the last game before the games start counting towards playoff seeding. The Pocola offense will look to get going early and often and carry that momentum through the bye week and into district play. <br>Sept. 22 - Canadian<br>Sept. 29 - AT Central Sallisaw<br><strong>Oct. 6 - AT Gore</strong><br>- There's a few games in district play that will provide major tests for the Indians. Whether it's the week five road game against Central Sallisaw or the week seven home game against a Panama team that narrowly beat Pocola a year ago. But we're going with the week six road game against a Gore team that dominated the Indians a season ago. This has been a Gore team that has dominated this district over the last two seasons but Pocola is determined to take the district crown from the Pirates this fall. <br>Oct. 13 - Panama<br>Oct. 19 - AT Haskell<br>Oct. 27 - Porter<br>Nov. 3 - AT Talihina</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pocola will be looking to make some school history this fall. We mentioned earlier in the preview that the Indians made their second straight playoff appearance last fall and it was just the second time in school history that they accomplished that. The history could come this fall if they make it to the playoffs for the third consecutive year. That has never happened in school history. But the Indians won't be satisfied with just making it to the playoffs. They want to make a run and that will start by competing in their district and getting a favorable seed for November. The Indians haven't won a playoff game since a 2007 first round victory over Fairland. Before that, you have to go all the way back to the early 80's to find the last time the Indians won a playoff game. So needless to say, Pocola's first goal is to make it back to the playoffs but this is a program that is hungry for success in the postseason.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Championship History</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>0 State Championships</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->