Class A Preview

Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!   We are now a week 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 <a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/team-previews/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RIGHT HERE</a>. 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.   In this post, we're taking a look at Class A. From our preseason rankings (including links to each team's preview) to our All Class teams and much more, we're getting you ready for the 2023 football season in Class A. Fairview is the defending champion coming into this season but Colcord is sitting atop the preseason rankings. And Class A features some outstanding individual talent in addition to championship-contending teams.   PRESEASON RANKINGS   1) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/colcord-hornets-ok-2023-team-preview/">COLCORD</a>   2) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/hominy-bucks-ok-2023-team-preview/">HOMINY</a>   3) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/fairview-yellowjackets-ok-2023-team-preview/">FAIRVIEW</a>   4) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/wynnewood-savages-ok-2023-team-preview/">WYNNEWOOD</a>   5) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/woodland-cougars-ok-2023-team-preview/">WOODLAND</a>   6) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/pocola-indians-ok-2023-team-preview/">POCOLA</a>   7) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/minco-bulldogs-ok-2023-team-preview/">MINCO</a>   8) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/stroud-tigers-ok-2023-team-preview/">STROUD</a>   9) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/mangum-tigers-ok-2023-team-preview/">MANGUM</a>   10) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/crescent-tigers-ok-2023-team-preview/">CRESCENT</a>   OTHER TEAM PREVIEWS   - <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/christian-heritage-crusaders-ok-2023-team-preview/">CHRISTIAN HERITAGE</a>   ALL A TEAM   OFFENSE   QB - [player_tooltip player_id='379243' first='Jax' last='Bernard'] - Junior - Fairview   RB - [player_tooltip player_id='268315' first='AJ' last='Lyons-Jerrell'] - Junior - Pocola   RB - [player_tooltip player_id='353410' first='Caden' last='Knighten'] - Junior - Wynnewood   WR - [player_tooltip player_id='916836' first='Ashton' last='Pride'] - Senior - Mangum   WR - [player_tooltip player_id='858870' first='Blaine' last='Hipp'] - Sophomore - Hominy   WR - [player_tooltip player_id='379237' first='Reed' last='Martens'] - Senior - Fairview   OL - [player_tooltip player_id='479396' first='Elijah' last='Gilley'] - Junior - Hominy   OL - [player_tooltip player_id='412934' first='Eli' last='Kirkes'] - Senior - Minco   OL - [player_tooltip player_id='924310' first='Jonathan' last='Warren'] - Senior - Christian Heritage   OL - [player_tooltip player_id='898388' first='Kanye' last='Gordon'] - Senior - Pocola   OL - [player_tooltip player_id='917795' first='Stone' last='Fisher'] - Senior - Crescent   DEFENSE   DL - [player_tooltip player_id='901957' first='Ashton' last='Taylor'] - Senior - Minco   DL - [player_tooltip player_id='474063' first='Khaleeal' last='Penn'] - Junior - Colcord   DL - [player_tooltip player_id='913431' first='Peyton' last='Gaylord'] - Senior - Stroud   LB - [player_tooltip player_id='384069' first='Bryce' last='Graham'] - Senior - Christian Heritage   LB - [player_tooltip player_id='473068' first='Cade' last='Linn'] - Junior - Colcord   LB - [player_tooltip player_id='189939' first='Jackson' last='Rhodes'] - Senior - Woodland   LB - [player_tooltip player_id='889075' first='Tegan' last='Gilchrist'] - Senior - Fairview    DB - [player_tooltip player_id='154220' first='Aaron' last='Lyle'] - Senior - Wynnewood   DB - [player_tooltip player_id='467141' first='Brayden' last='Hardwick'] - Sophomore - Pocola   DB - [player_tooltip player_id='572029' first='Keilan' last='Robinson'] - Sophomore - Hooker   DB - [player_tooltip player_id='954199' first='Ryan' last='Morgan'] - Senior - Tonkawa   KICKER/ATHLETES   K - [player_tooltip player_id='954200' first='Pasquale' last='Bitondi'] - Senior - Mangum   ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='572034' first='Gabe' last='Winfield'] - Senior - Colcord   ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='449182' first='Garrett' last='Scott'] - Senior - Pocola   ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='386581' first='Jaxon' last='Woods'] - Senior - Hominy   ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='572028' first='Kleat' last='Martens'] - Junior - Hooker   MARK YOUR CALENDARS   September 8th - Stroud AT Colcord   It doesn't get much better than this when you look at the non-district schedules this season. #8 Stroud is hitting the road to face off with top-ranked Colcord in week two and when you consider all classes, week two might be the absolute best week of football during the regular season. Class A's marquee game that week is going to feature Colcord hosting a Stroud team that expects to be in the state title picture in November and December. Colcord obviously has high expectations heading into this year and rightfully so given the talent they have coming back on both sides of the ball.   September 22nd - Fairview AT Hooker   Week four brings the first district games of the season and for defending state champion Fairview, it might be their toughest test of the regular season. The Yellowjackets will hit the road to open up district play against a Hooker team that has some outstanding talent on both sides of the ball. Whether it's offense or defense, Hooker has what it takes to give the defending state champions plenty of problems. It might be wee four but it would not surprise us at all if this game ends up deciding the district championship. The winner here will have a ton of momentum moving forward.   October 6th - Pocola AT Gore   Pocola is looking to get over the hump and finally win the district championship and then contend for the state championship this season. They've been knocking on the door with some outstanding individual talent but this year might be the year. Standing in their way in week six is a Gore team that has absolutely dominated this district for the last several seasons. But the Pirates were hit hard by graduation and they are going to look dramatically different than the team we saw playing in the state title game a year ago. For Pocola, this is the first of several mountains they want to climb this fall.   October 20th - Ringling AT Wynnewood   Down in southern Oklahoma, you have Wynnewood hosting perennial powerhouse Ringling. Now, full disclosure, we have no idea what to expect from Ringling this fall after some of the things this program went through this offseason. But this is still a perennial power year after year and the Savages are looking to take the district crown from them. Wynnewood is going to feature one of the best overall players in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='353410' first='Caden' last='Knighten'] and when you talk about Class A, we have seen star players, like Knighten, carry their team to district and even state championships.   October 27th - Woodland AT Hominy   Speaking of individual talent, Hominy might have the best player in the state this season with their star quarterback and overall athlete in [player_tooltip player_id='386581' first='Jaxon' last='Woods']. And when Hominy plays host to Woodland in week nine, it's hard to think the district championship won't be on the line. This district is going to be incredibly competitive and the overall talent from top to bottom makes it one of the tougher districts in the state. Hominy is knocking on the door of that top spot in the class and Woodland isn't far behind them as a preseason top five team as well. This should make for a very entertaining game.   NOTABLE STORYLINES   A Split Is Coming Soon   Starting in 2024, Class A (along with Class 2A and Class B) will be split into two divisions. The updated ADM numbers were released in July and the football coaches voted on and approved the updated districts and class lineups moving forward. Class A's Division 1 is still going to be incredibly competitive and Division 2 will certainly see some new teams get an opportunity to win at a level they haven't experienced in a while. In fact, Division 2 is going to be a new class that we'll have our eyes on as it will feature several 8-man programs making the transition to 11-man football. Class A's new Division 1 will feature defending champion Fairview as well as 2020 and 2021 champion Cashion. Class A has always been a class that has had a lot of parity in terms of state champions over the last 15 years. One thing we'll be keeping an eye on is whether or not that changes and a handful of teams emerge as the dominant teams in their respective divisions. It's going to be interesting to see how that split plays out and what storylines come from it. But again, that doesn't happen until the 2024 season.   Legitimate Star Power   As we mentioned in the "Mark Your Calendars" section, Class A is certainly a class where a team can win a state championship if they have a truly dynamic player leading the way. We've seen that a few times over the last decade. Hominy won it all with Zaven Collins leading the way on offense and defense. Afton would then raise a gold ball behind quarterback Wil Amos. And when you look at Hominy's [player_tooltip player_id='386581' first='Jaxon' last='Woods'] and Wynnewood's [player_tooltip player_id='353410' first='Caden' last='Knighten'], you have two standouts that were Player Of The Year finalists a year ago. Those two aren't the only teams with dynamic players that could put their teams on their shoulders. Colcord has an outstanding two-way player in [player_tooltip player_id='572034' first='Gabe' last='Winfield']. Pocola brings back a few different players who could fit that role and defending champion Fairview brings back their starting quarterback who has been starting since his freshman season and his confidence is at an all time high after leading them to a state title. Anywhere you look in Class A, you'll find some really good football.

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