Muskogee Practice Report

<!-- 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>As we come down the stretch of the 2023 regular season, teams are starting to separate and the true state title contenders are starting to emerge. The Muskogee Roughers have been in that category for us since the end of last season. We had the Roughers on top of the Class 6A-2 rankings back in January in our "Way WAY Too Early Rankings" feature and they haven't gone anywhere. The Roughers come into this week in the number one spot with a 7-1 record. The only loss came back in week two in a showdown with 5A's #1 Carl Albert.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming into this season, we had the belief that it could be a special year when you consider how the Roughers have been built over the last few years. It's been well documented at this point but just in case you're new here, a quick rundown. Muskogee went 2-8 in 2021 while playing mostly sophomores and freshmen. It was a year full of growing pains but it immediately paid off. In 2022, the Roughers would go 10-2 and made it all the way to the 6A-2 semifinals. And now this year, that young and inexperienced team that went 2-8 is now atop the 6A-2 ranks and look like the favorite to win the gold ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outside of the loss to Carl Albert back in week two, the Roughers have been perfect this season. And they really haven't been tested along the way. In their seven wins, the closest margin was a 22-point win over Enid in the season opener. The Roughers have kicked it into overdrive over the last month, averaging over 60 points per game while just giving up 5 points a contest in the last four games. But a road showdown with defending champion Stillwater is looming next week. Before they focus on the Pioneers, they will hit the road this week to face #6 Bartlesville. The Bruins have one of the best running backs in Class 6A-2 but if the Roughers play Bartlesville like we saw them against Carl Albert, the Bruin running game is going to struggle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below, we take a look at some of the players to watch heading into this week's match-up and in the future as the Roughers prepare for that showdown with Stillwater and the playoffs. Muskogee has indeed been the top-ranked team in Class 6A-2 all season so they have plenty of firepower on both sides of the ball and these are just some of the players you need to know about. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>MUSKOGEE PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["202153"],"_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 try to avoid the word u0022underratedu0022 when we write about players and prospects because it gets thrown around too often and loses meaning. But Muskogee senior standout [player_tooltip player_id='202153' first='Anthony' last='Watson'] truly is one of the more underrated players in the state when you consider the impact he has on the game. First off, on offense, he's the safety net for the passing game at the tight end position. Then on defense, it doesn't matter where he lines up, whether it's at defensive end or linebacker, Watson finds a way to have an impact on the game. We've liked his game for well over a year and he doesn't get enough credit around the state for being one of the better two-way players in Class 6A-2 and in the state's 2024 class. Having a player like Watson could help the Roughers to a title.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["211556"],"_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":"Muskogee junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='211556' first='Jamarian' last='Ficklin'] might have been considered underrated a little over a year ago but that's not the case anymore. He is very firmly one of the best quarterback prospects in the state's 2025 class and has established himself as one of the best players in Oklahoma this season. The dynamic quarterback is completing over 70 percent of his passes and has totaled 26 touchdowns with only 4 interceptions. And Ficklin has also added over 400 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground as he's helped lead the Roughers to the top spot in Class 6A-2. We're fired up to see what this young standout is able to do when the lights are brightest and what comes after that. His recruitment has already begun with D1 schools extending offers. After this season, that list should get longer.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["129399"],"_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":"When you look at the stats, it's actually been somewhat of a quiet season for Muskogee senior wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='129399' first='Kayden' last='McGee'] but it's only a matter of time before the star receiver has another u0022wowu0022 moment. McGee still has nearly 800 receiving yards and eight touchdowns but we imagine that production per game is going to go up in the final two weeks of the regular season and when the playoffs begin. Last season, McGee emerged as one of the best wide receivers in the state. Between playing at Muskogee and then with Sooner 7 in the offseason, we've probably seen McGee more than almost any other receiver in the state. We're very familiar with his game and we've been fans for a while now. As the Roughers start preparing for that playoff push, we think McGee will remind the state why his nickname is u0022Big Playu0022.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["598826"],"_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":"So Muskogee has some of the top players at their position on the offensive side of the ball but junior [player_tooltip player_id='598826' first='Ondraye' last='Beasley'] could end up being the X-factor for the Roughers on offense. Beasley has put up some serious numbers as a receiver but he's also helped out the running game this fall. The biggest thing that we like about Beasley is his consistency. The Roughers have firepower so they don't need one player to carry the load and week after week, Beasley finds a way to make an impact on the game. In the season opener against Enid, he had over 100 yards on the ground and 100 yards receiving. He hasn't had a game like that since then but he hasn't needed to. But as we get closer to the playoffs, you can bet that the Roughers will lean on him more if they need to in a close game.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653aabf61f488"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->