SW Covenant Patriots OK 2023 Team 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>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 Southwest Covenant Patriots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Southwest Covenant Patriots</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: UR</strong><br><strong>Preseason Coaches Ranking: UR</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Southwest Covenant Patriots are hungry to extend their playoff streak but want much more as we look ahead to the 2023 season. Before we do that, let's take a look back at last year's 5-5 season that included another playoff appearance for the Patriots. They opened the year with a 2-3 mark in the first half of the regular season but they would bounce back in a big way in the following three games. They would beat Okeene, Canton and Waukomis to solidify their spot in the playoffs and give them a puncher's chance at the district crown in week ten. The regular season would come to a close with a loss to Seiling and they finished the regular season with a 5-4 record. It was a first round exit for the Patriots as they lost to Waurika in the first round after punching their ticket to the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season. As we look ahead to 2023, there is a lot to be optimistic about as the Patriots look to build off last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The majority of the starters return to Southwest Covenant heading into 2023 so that's a big plus, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Five starters are back on offense, including the majority of their production from the quarterback and the skill players. The Patriots will need some new faces to come along and grow up quickly on the offensive line as they break in some new starters along the line of scrimmage. But we like the skill players the Patriots bring back and think this offense could be pretty explosive. The defense brings back four starters on that side of the ball so they'll have a pretty normal mix of experienced starters and new faces on that side of the ball. The Patriots are determined to get back to winning records and playing meaningful football late into November. We're not too far removed from that and if the Patriots can sneak up on some teams, especially in the district, they could set themselves up for a deep playoff run.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 RESULTS (5-5 Record - Lost In Class B 1st Round)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 2 - Lost To Oklahoma Bible Academy 48-20<br>Sept. 9 - Beat Alex 36-8<br>Sept. 16 - Beat Summit Christian 70-40<br>Sept. 23 - Lost To Davenport 20-18<br>Oct. 7 - Lost To Covington-Douglas 50-14<br>Oct. 13 - Beat Okeene 52-28<br>Oct. 21 - Beat Canton 54-52<br>Oct. 28 - Beat Waukomis 52-14<br>Nov. 4 - Lost To Seiling 54-8<br>1st Round - Lost To Waurika 42-24</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>Andrew Arnould - Defensive Lineman<br>Caleb Moody - Offensive Lineman<br>Garret Popp - Defensive Lineman<br>Zach Beshears - Running Back/Linebacker</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":["938218"],"_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":"We really like the skill players that Southwest Covenant brings back on the offensive side of the ball and the conversation can start with 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='938218' first='Asher' last='Hoover'] at the quarterback position. Hoover came into last season and really did a good job, especially down the stretch of the regular season. Hoover would throw for over 1,300 yards and 21 touchdowns with only four interceptions. Minus the playoff loss to Waurika, Hoover was incredibly accurate with the ball but did throw three interceptions in that playoff game. He's looking to cut back on the turnovers heading into his junior season and he has some really talented players around him to make plays.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["938217"],"_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":"2024 standout [player_tooltip player_id='938217' first='Gabe' last='Ross'] is one of those really talented players and when you look at the production he had last season, there isn't much that he wasn't able to accomplish. Ross ran for nearly 500 yards and led the team in rushing touchdowns with eight on the season. He matched that number in the receiving department with eight touchdown receptions. He had one game where he caught four touchdowns and racked up nearly 200 yards receiving. Ross was also an impact player on defense. He was second on the team in tackles with over 80 and led the team in interceptions. Ross was an absolute gamechanger for the Patriots and he'll look to do it again this fall.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64cedc93600b5"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>More Names To Know</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caleb Friend - 2025 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Nate Weuhmuller - 2024 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Nathan Gerber - 2025 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Trace Brunk - 2024 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Zeke Williams - 2024 Running Back/Linebacker</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><strong>Sept. 1 - AT Oklahoma Bible Academy</strong><br>- The season opener always brings excitement but this is a very important game right out of the gates for Southwest Covenant. They'll go on the road to face an Oklahoma Bible Academy team that was one of the best in Class B a season ago. Both teams expect to be playoff teams and really start knocking on the doors of some of the top contenders in Class B year in and year out. The Patriots lost to the Trojans 48-20 last season and the Trojans shut them out in the 2021 meeting. We'll get a good idea of how much that returning experience will help the Patriots early.<br>Sept. 8 - Alex<br>Sept. 15 - Summit Christian<br>Sept. 22 - AT Davenport<br>Oct. 6 - Covington-Douglas<br>Oct. 12 - AT Okeene<br>Oct. 19 - AT Canton<br>Oct. 27 - Waukomis<br><strong>Nov. 2 - AT Seiling</strong><br>- Arguably the two biggest games on the schedule are the first and last regular season games for the Patriots. By the time week ten rolls around and they hit the road to face Seiling, the Patriots are going to know exactly where they stand in the district title race. If the Patriots find themselves with a perfect record in district play by the time this contest takes place, this could very well be a head to head match-up for the district championship. Seiling dominated this district a year ago and are favorites to win it again this year. The playoffs start early here with this kind of match-up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southwest Covenant officially joined the OSSAA for the 2010 season and they've really started hitting their stride over the last seven seasons. Last season featured the seventh consecutive playoff appearance for the Patriots and they expect to keep that streak alive this season. The streak began in 2016 when the Patriots were in Class C but a few years ago, they were bumped up to Class B in 2020 but that didn't slow them down. They've made the playoffs in all three seasons while competing in Class B and they want to return to contending for the gold ball. They were able to make it to the state championship game back in 2018 but they fell to 8-man powerhouse Tipton. This season, with the majority of their production returning on the offensive side of the ball, the Patriots could be a team that makes a deep run into November.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Championship History</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>0 State Championships</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->