Scene Setter: Heritage Hall-Millwood
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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 3A’s #1 Heritage Hall hosting 2A’s #2 Millwood in a game that is the season opener for both sides.
These two teams met up to kick off last season on a rainy Thursday that resulted in the field having standing water everywhere. Between the wet field conditions, penalties and turnovers, the game was messy but it was back and forth throughout the second half with the Chargers holding on to win 35-28. The Falcons tied the game at 28 but the Chargers would put together a drive that took up the majority of the fourth quarter. While Millwood would put together a drive that got into Heritage Hall territory, it would stall and the Chargers would start the season with a win and they would go on to win the 3A state title.
We got a chance to see 3A’s top-ranked Heritage Hall two weeks ago when they participated in a scrimmage at Carl Albert. The Chargers were rolling on offense and they are led by one of the more dynamic quarterbacks in the state in senior signal caller Andy Bass Andy Bass 6'0" | 195 lbs | ATH Heritage Hall | 2024 State OK on the offensive side of the ball. The Chargers really like their depth on the line of scrimmage and they looked strong in the other skill positions. After winning a 3A state championship in 2022 and coming back this fall with the majority of their top players, Heritage Hall came into this season as the top-ranked team in the class and they are the team to beat. But they’ll be tested by a very difficult regular season schedule, including Thursday’s opener against Millwood.
Thursday’s game will be the first time we’ve seen Millwood since they walked off the field in Edmond after falling to Washington in the Class 2A state championship game. The Falcons bounced back from the week one loss to Heritage Hall last season by winning out and making it all the way to Edmond. The Falcons return the majority of their starters from last year’s team and they are right behind the defending champion Warriors in the Class 2A rankings. Millwood is headlined by a couple D1 commits on both sides of the ball. The Falcons are routinely one of the top teams in their respective class year after year and we’re looking forward to seeing this match-up of state champion contenders.
HERITAGE HALL PLAYERS TO WATCH
Heritage Hall senior Andy Bass Andy Bass 6’0″ | 195 lbs | ATH Heritage Hall | 2024 State OK is the first of two Oklahoma commits in Thursday’s game. Bass committed to the Sooners last week as a running back prospect. All we heard prior to the 2022 season was about how dynamic Bass was and how he was going to provide the Chargers with a real spark on offense. He lived up to the hype and then some. Bass had a great debut with Heritage Hall in their win over Millwood. He totaled over 300 yards of total offense with over 200 passing yards and nearly 100 yards on the ground. Bass was outstanding in their scrimmages two weeks ago at Carl Albert. He looks like he could be one of the best players in Oklahoma this year.
Highlights
One of the biggest question marks we had about Heritage Hall coming into this season was how they replace the production of River Faulkner at the running back position. We got a sneak peak at that answer last season in the win over Millwood when Faulkner had to sit out the season opener. Barrett Travis Barrett Travis 6’1″ | RB Heritage Hall | 2025 State OK got the start at the running back position and would finish the game with over 50 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win. When we got a chance to see the Chargers two weeks ago in the scrimmage, Travis really impressed us when he got the ball in his hands. There is no doubt that this offense goes through Bass but Travis is going to have a good season.
We mentioned earlier how Heritage Hall really likes the depth and overall experience they have returning on both sides of the line of scrimmage. One of the players to keep an eye out for this week and throughout the season is senior Zavier Freeman Zavier Freeman 6’2″ | DL Heritage Hall | 2024 State OK and specifically on the defensive line. Freeman made a massive impact in their win over Millwood last season. He would recover a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown as the Chargers jumped out to an early 14-0 lead. Freeman is a player that we think could be primed for a big year this fall. It seemed like he got better and better from the start of the year to the championship win over Metro Christian.
MILLWOOD PLAYERS TO WATCH
Millwood had a lot of confidence in their freshman quarterback CJ Turnbull CJ Turnbull 6’3″ | 190 lbs | QB Millwood | 2026 State OK last fall as he made his first career start in the season opener against Heritage Hall. Turnbull had a hot and cold game against the Chargers. When it was right, it was really right, like his 78-yard touchdown pass and 60-yard touchdown run against the Charger defense. Turnbull had a really strong freshman season and he’s quickly emerging as one of the better quarterbacks in the state’s 2026 class. Turnbull is a player that we’re going to have our eyes on this season and specifically against Heritage Hall. The Chargers have a pretty strong secondary so they’ll provide a good challenge.
Highlights
Millwood junior wide receiver Jaden Nickens Jaden Nickens 6’4″ | WR Douglass | 2025 State OK is the other prospect in this match-up that is committed to Oklahoma. Nickens committed to the Sooners earlier this month and he has held on to the top overall spot in our 2025 prospect rankings over the last few ranking updates. At the wide receiver position, he is a truly special talent and he’s only been playing football for the Falcons for a little over a year. In last year’s game with Heritage Hall, Nickens was on the receiving end of Turnbull’s 78-yard touchdown and he also had an interception on the defensive side of the ball. We expect the Turnbull to Nickens connection to be one of the best in the state.
Millwood’s other D1 commit is 2024 standout Micho Lavine Micho Lavine 6’3″ | 210 lbs | ATH Millwood | 2024 State OK at the running back and linebacker position. Lavine was on our radar following his freshman season and he unfortunately had his sophomore season shortened because of an injury. Lavine came back last season as a junior and made up for lost time with a big year on both sides of the ball. Lavine is a big powerful runner that could be the top ball carrier after the graduation of Rickey Hunt. On defense, Lavine will be tasked with leading a Millwood defense, and specifically a front seven that has to keep Bass contained. It’s easier said than done but Lavine has the ability and experience to handle the task.