Class 3A 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>We are now less than two weeks away from the opening games kicking off as the 2023 football season in Oklahoma is right around the corner. And Prep Redzone Oklahoma will have you covered from start to finish. Since July 1st, we've been in preview mode and we've been pumping out a ton of preview content with over 100 team previews. If you missed any of them, you can check them out&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/team-previews/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RIGHT HERE</a></strong>. Last week, it was all about the individuals with Preseason All State teams as well as comeback players and freshmen to watch. Now, it's time to take a big picture approach with class by class previews.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this post, we're taking a look at Class 3A. From our preseason rankings (including links to each team's preview) to our All Class 3A team and much more, we're getting you ready for the 2023 football season in 3A. Heritage Hall is your reigning state champion and they are atop of our preseason rankings coming into the season. The Chargers are the favorites but will they be repeating or will they get stopped on their road to Edmond?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>PRESEASON RANKINGS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/heritage-hall-chargers-ok-2023-team-preview/">HERITAGE HALL</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/lincoln-christian-bulldogs-ok-2023-team-preview/">LINCOLN CHRISTIAN</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/sulphur-bulldogs-ok-2023-team-preview/">SULPHUR</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/perkins-tryon-demons-ok-2023-team-preview/">PERKINS-TRYON</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/marlow-outlaws-ok-2023-team-preview/">MARLOW</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/metro-christian-patriots-ok-2023-team-preview/">METRO CHRISTIAN</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/plainview-indians-ok-2023-team-preview/">PLAINVIEW</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/holland-hall-dutch-ok-2023-team-preview/">HOLLAND HALL</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/cascia-hall-commandos-ok-2023-team-preview/">CASCIA HALL</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/bristow-pirates-ok-2023-team-preview/">BRISTOW</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>OTHER TEAM PREVIEWS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>- <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/berryhill-chiefs-ok-2023-team-preview/">BERRYHILL</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>- <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/checotah-wildcats-ok-2023-team-preview/">CHECOTAH</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>- <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/locust-grove-pirates-ok-2023-team-preview/">LOCUST GROVE&nbsp;</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>- <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/lone-grove-longhorns-ok-2023-team-preview/">LONE GROVE</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>- <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/08/mcloud-redskins-ok-2023-team-preview/">McLOUD</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>ALL 3A TEAM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>OFFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB - [player_tooltip player_id='127357' first='Luke' last='Milligan'] - Senior - Lincoln Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB - [player_tooltip player_id='360247' first='Blake' last='Stewart'] - Senior - Plainview</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB - [player_tooltip player_id='917724' first='Darien' last='Dansby'] - Junior - Bristow</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR - [player_tooltip player_id='897728' first='Barron' last='Gage'] - Senior - Marlow</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR - [player_tooltip player_id='133792' first='Damontre' last='Patterson'] - Senior - Sulphur</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR - [player_tooltip player_id='353415' first='Elijah' last='Thomas'] - Junior - Checotah</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='110744' first='Caden' last='Ricke'] - Senior - Lincoln Christian&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='154216' first='David' last='Smithwick'] - Senior - Lincoln Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='353413' first='Justus' last='Gilliam'] - Junior - Sulphur</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='376277' first='Ryan' last='Wells'] - Senior - Verdigris</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='922963' first='Trenton' last='Jordan'] - Junior - Berryhill</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>DEFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='846607' first='Ayden' last='Guess'] - Senior - Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='916761' first='James' last='Heatherman'] - Senior - Cascia Hall</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='231981' first='Tre' last='Stevenson'] - Senior - Perkins-Tryon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='531187' first='Zavier' last='Freeman'] - Senior - Heritage Hall</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='480075' first='Hillman' last='Browne'] - Junior - Heritage Hall</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='867298' first='Mason' last='Torres'] - Junior - Lincoln Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='928480' first='Sam' last='Harris'] - Senior - Lone Grove</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='110756' first='Brytan' last='Gaddy'] - Senior - Sulphur</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='393579' first='Cutter' last='Greene'] - Senior - Perkins-Tryon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='587270' first='Jerrod' last='Williams'] - Sophomore - Heritage Hall</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='436010' first='Mason' last='Bennett'] - Sophomore - Seminole</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>KICKER/ATHLETES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>K - [player_tooltip player_id='949500' first='Henry' last='Simon'] - Senior - Cascia Hall</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='207182' first='Andy' last='Bass'] - Senior - Heritage Hall</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='593641' first='Caleb' last='Hawkins'] - Junior - North Rock Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='315546' first='Jordyn' last='Harris'] - Senior - Heritage Hall</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='587295' first='Zaylun' last='Matlock'] - Sophomore - McLoud</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>MARK YOUR CALENDARS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>August 31st - Millwood AT Heritage Hall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This match-up between 3A and 2A powers has become one of the marquee non-district games ever since they started playing each other a few years ago. Defending 3A champion Heritage Hall will host last year's 2A runner up in Millwood in a battle of OKC powerhouse programs. The Chargers won a very competitive and close game on the road against the Falcons last year to kick off their state championship season. Both teams expect to have long and successful seasons that end with a championship appearance in Edmond. We get our first look at both teams here in week one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>September 22nd - Berryhill AT Lincoln Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3A's #2 team in the preseason rankings is Lincoln Christian and after playing a tough non-district slate, the Bulldogs will open up district play at home against Berryhill. The Bulldogs were absolutely dominant in district play a season ago and they expect to repeat that success in 2023. But the one team that gave Lincoln Christian problems last year was Berryhill. The Bulldogs blew out everyone on the district slate and only allowed one special teams touchdown in the five other district games. They only beat Berryhill 14-7 and the Chiefs hope to challenge Lincoln again this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>September 22nd - Cascia Hall AT Holland Hall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The annual "Hall Brawl" rivalry game between Cascia Hall and Holland Hall has become a district contest. Last year, it was the first year that these two rivals squared off in district play and they'll do it one more time this fall before Holland Hall heads up to Class 4A next season. The Commandos and the Dutch each appear primed for a run at the district championship in a district that is completely wide open this season. In our opinion, there is no clear favorite in the district as we head into the year and that will make things interesting every week. It's only week four but this match-up will have heavy playoff implications. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>September 29th - Metro Christian AT Perkins-Tryon</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In district 3A-1, Metro Christian and Perkins-Tryon appear to be the two favorites coming into this season but there are a few other teams that will have something to say about that. But in week five, Perkins-Tryon will play host to the Patriots, who are coming off a run to the 3A title game but will look very different after losing outstanding players to graduation. In this match-up last year, the Patriots won behind an outstanding QB performance from Kirk Francis. He's now a freshman at Tulsa and the Demons are looking to get some payback and more importantly, take control of the district race. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>October 27th - Sulphur AT Heritage Hall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending champs will host Sulphur in week nine and this kicks off a two week stretch at home when they play top five teams in Sulphur and Marlow to close out the regular season. Once we get to this part of the season, we're going to have a good idea of what the playoff bracket will look like but there will still be plenty of work to do. The winner of this game is going to be in a good spot while the loser is going to need some help to keep their district title hopes alive. For Sulphur, they are coming into this season hungry to make it back to the playoffs this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>NOTABLE STORYLINES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>3A-2 Is Loaded</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are a few districts that are in the running for state's toughest district, regardless of class. 3A-2 is in that conversation as it is an absolute gauntlet and has the potential to be very competitive. Preseason rankings are full of speculation and what could be but three teams in the top five are from this district and if you expand that, four out of the top seven are all from 3A-2. Heritage Hall (#1) Sulphur (#3) Marlow (#5) and Plainview (#7) all look like teams that will be among the best in Class 3A. They have a great mix of individual talent and returning experience that will make them tough teams to beat this season. Plainview and Sulphur are also looking forward to this season after rare 2022 campaigns that saw them miss out on the postseason. They look to come back with a vengeance this fall. And whenever you're talking about this district, the conversation has to start with Heritage Hall, who looks to be the favorite to repeat as state champion. One thing is for sure, this district will prepare everyone for the playoffs in November. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Private VS Public</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the last several seasons, one of the biggest storylines in Oklahoma has been the dominance of private schools in football and it has been the overwhelming storyline in Class 3A. Since 2018, the 3A state champion has been a private school and for the past three seasons, the state championship game has featured two private schools. Because of that, a phrase that we've seen floated out there on social media over the last couple seasons has been "public school state champion" as the private schools have continued their dominance. This season, we think that the public schools are going to have a little more firepower as graduation has hit some of the private school programs pretty hard. Granted, the top two schools are Heritage Hall and Lincoln Christian respectively and five of the top ten schools in our preseason rankings are all private schools. But for those fans of 3A public schools that believe private schools shouldn't play against public schools, we have somewhat good news. Because of the recent Rule 14 passing, Heritage Hall, Holland Hall and Lincoln Christian will all be moving up to Class 4A starting in 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->