Scene Setter: Choctaw-Del City

<!-- 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>Each week on Prep Redzone Oklahoma, we'll put a spotlight on one of the top games of the week. From a match-up breakdown to looking at each team and their top players, we'll get you completely covered! This week, one of the best games will see 6A-2's #2 Choctaw hosting 5A's #2 Del City. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles were able to hand Choctaw their only loss during the regular season a year ago in a shootout. It wouldn't be all that surprising to see another shootout when these teams hit the field on Friday night. Del City made plenty of headlines this season as they added several notable move ins to their team, making their offense one of the top units in terms of skill positions in the state. Choctaw looked good when we got a chance to see them in person at the Jenks Preview on Friday. But the Yellowjackets are already dealing with some of their top players missing time to injuries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Yellowjackets played well in last week's Jenks Preview in the mini game against Sand Springs. The offense was balanced and both quarterbacks battling for playing time looked good. Each brings something different to the table and the battle appears to be ongoing as we head into the first week of the regular season. The Yellowjackets were missing some of their top standouts on Friday night but the offense will get a boost from the return of one playmaker. But we'll be keeping an eye on the defensive side of the ball as their top player missed the scrimmage last week and will not return this week for the season opener. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Del City comes into this season as the #2 team in Class 5A behind Mid-Del rival Carl Albert. And on paper, it certainly looks like we could see a Mid-Del state championship game in December based on the talent on each team. We mentioned earlier how the Eagles will roll out an offense full of newcomers. And those newcomers were some of the top playmakers on the offensive side of the ball a season ago. The Eagles have quite a few players on this year's team that are either already committed to D1 programs and will be signing with D1 programs before it's all said and done. The first test for this loaded offense is Friday at Choctaw. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>CHOCTAW PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["211555"],"_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":"The first of two quarterbacks fighting for the starting job is 2025 standout [player_tooltip player_id='211555' first='Cash' last='Williams'] and we featured him earlier this month on the website. Williams had his sophomore season cut short due to an arm injury but he's back and looked really good when he got on the field last week against Sand Springs in the mini game. Williams brings some unique athleticism to the quarterback position but he isn't just an athlete in the backfield making plays. Williams made several throws that impressed last week and the Yellowjackets can move the ball with Williams. The Choctaw junior can also move around and play a few other positions as well.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["598412"],"_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":"With Choctaw missing their top player on the defensive side of the ball, one player we think is going to step up is 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='598412' first='Easton' last='Costa'] at the linebacker position. Costa had a really good scrimmage last week against Sand Springs and he leads a linebacker group that had a really good week overall. We think that the front seven for Choctaw could be incredibly strong once they are all back and healthy. But Costa is your prototypical middle linebacker who flies all over the field. Del City's offense features one of the top running backs in the state. Costa will look to contain him when these two teams open the season on Friday.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["211559"],"_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":"We mentioned earlier how Choctaw was missing a few key pieces last week but they get one back this week. 2025 two-way standout [player_tooltip player_id='211559' first='JuJu' last='Smith'] sat out last week's scrimmage but he's expected to play this week and if he does, we anticipate him being a big part of what they do on offense. Smith is absolutely electric with the football in his hands and whether he's lining up at wide receiver, in the backfield or even on defense, Smith is an absolute playmaker. We think that if Smith can stay healthy, he's primed for a big junior season. If the Yellowjackets find themselves in another shootout, expect Smith to be a big part of their offense.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["402379"],"_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":"The other quarterback battling for playing time is 2026 standout [player_tooltip player_id='402379' first='Landon' last='Gatson'] and just like Williams, he also showed flashes in their mini game against Sand Springs. Gatson certainly looks the part physically. Whether he's standing in the pocket and firing rockets all over the field or tucking the ball and running, Gatson is a true dual-threat at the quarterback position and we really like the physicality he plays the position with. Anytime you have multiple quarterbacks battling for playing time, it's always good if they bring something different to the table and that's what Choctaw has in our opinion with Gatson and Williams at QB.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64e63d3c4523b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>DEL CITY PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["215200"],"_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":"The first of three massive move ins this offseason to Del City is TCU commit [player_tooltip player_id='215200' first='Ladainian' last='Fields'] and he might be the most impactful to the Eagles this fall. On offense, Fields is a game-changing wide receiver. That's how we first knew about him when he was at Southeast. He was a sophomore and put up massive numbers as a wide receiver. Then last year, he showed that he's just a special athlete as he still put up strong numbers on offense but turned around and was one of the state's leaders in interceptions. So Fields is going to give the Eagles the complete package when it comes to a game-changer on offense and ball hawk on defense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["587262"],"_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":"A lot of attention this season, especially early on, will be on some of the new playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. But Del City's defense is not lacking talent either. One standout that we think should get plenty of looks this fall is 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='587262' first='Ricklan' last='B Holmes II'] at the linebacker position. Last season, Holmes was a breakout player on the Del City defense. This was a defensive unit that was very talented and had several D1 signees and despite being a freshman, Holmes got onto the field and definitely belonged. As the Eagles look to slow down Choctaw's balanced offense, Holmes will be a big part of the game plan on the defensive side of the ball.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["215198"],"_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":"The other move in that will contend with Fields for the most impactful addition is 2024 standout [player_tooltip player_id='215198' first='River' last='Warren'] at the quarterback position. Warren has been the top-rated quarterback prospect in the state's 2024 class since the end of his sophomore season. Warren can sling the ball all over the field and he continues to get better and better every time we see him. We're looking forward to seeing what he can do in this Del City offense with some legitimate D1 prospects around him. There's no doubt that Warren is going to have some weapons at his disposal so we're very curious to see what kind of production he has this fall.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["393974"],"_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":"And the final player to watch is 2024 standout [player_tooltip player_id='393974' first='Rodney' last='Fields'] at the running back position. Fields was one of the first 2024 prospects to give a verbal commitment when he committed to Oklahoma State at the beginning of this year and he's been committed to the Cowboys ever since. Like Ladainian, Rodney also moved over from Southeast after a great start to his career and he looks to continue his role as one of the top running backs in Class 5A. But as we mentioned earlier in this article, Choctaw's front seven is probably the strength of their defense. Fields won't have anything easy on Friday but that's nothing new to him.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64e63d3c45425"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->