4A State: Blanchard Players To Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong><em><strong><em><strong><em><strong><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></strong></em></strong></em></strong></em></strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 4A state championship game is set! #1 Wagoner will square off with #3 Blanchard in Edmond on Thursday at 7PM. The Bulldogs are back in Edmond and looking to defend their state championship from a year ago. The Bulldogs are also looking to finish off a perfect season as the wire to wire top-ranked team in Class 4A. For Blanchard, the Lions are hungry for that gold ball and have been playing great football, including a big semifinal win over #2 Poteau. In this post, we're putting the spotlight on the Lions with ten players to watch from Blanchard and a few more names to know. Later today, we'll also feature the players to watch from Wagoner and release our official Class 4A state championship preview, with everything you need to know before Thursday night's game. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma for more state championship content in each class!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>RELATED</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/11/class-4a-title-first-look-2/">- 4A Championship First Look</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/11/class-4a-championship-preview-3/">- 4A Championship Preview</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/11/4a-state-wagoner-players-to-watch-2/">- Wagoner's Players To Watch</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>BLANCHARD'S TEN PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1100191"],"_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 start on the defensive side of the ball with senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1100191' first='Ben' last='Heefner'] and he's in a new spot coming into the title game. With [player_tooltip player_id='383303' first='Tyler' last='Hughes'] not expected to play on Thursday, that means that Heefner is the team's leading tackler coming into the championship clash with Wagoner. Heefner is one tackle shy of 80 on the season and he's been one of the best tacklers on the team since the start of the season. As the Lions look to slow down Wagoner's consistent offense, Heefner will have a lot on his plate. He'll need to know where Wagoner's quarterback is going at all times on Thursday.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["268307"],"_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":"We've mentioned this a few times this fall, but just in case you're new here. Coming into this season, we knew junior standout [player_tooltip player_id='268307' first='Brayson' last='Carter'] mainly for his abilities on the offensive side of the ball. But you can make the argument that he is Blanchard's best two-way player on this year's team that is one win away from a gold ball. Carter is still an outstanding wide receiver and leads the team in receptions. He's one part of a three-headed monster for Blanchard at wide receiver that all have at least 500 yards. But Carter has emerged as a potential star on the defensive side of the ball this fall.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["363852"],"_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":"Blanchard senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='363852' first='Carson' last='Cooksey'] has become arguably the top quarterback in Class 4A football this season. Cooksey has taken his game to new heights this season and leads a Blanchard offense that is one of the best in the class. The senior is just a few yards shy of 3,000 yards for the season and has 28 touchdowns with just six interceptions. And the thing that impresses us the most about Cooksey is his distribution to different receivers. As we mentioned with Carter, three different receivers have at least 500 yards. Cooksey also is a threat in the run game with eight rushing touchdowns.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1100200"],"_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":"Blanchard junior standout [player_tooltip player_id='1100200' first='Coric' last='Pierce'] has enjoyed a breakout season this fall for the Lions. He's emerged as yet another target for Cooksey in the potent Blanchard passing game. He has nearly 800 yards receiving and leads the team in that category. He also has well over 60 tackles on the defensive side of the ball. So when we look at Thursday's game with Wagoner, it's hard not to imagine Pierce playing a vital role on either side of the ball or perhaps both. But when it comes to defense, Pierce and the Lions will look to slow down Wagoner's passing attack that has reached new heights this fall.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1100202"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Back to the defensive side of the ball with junior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1100202' first='Gage' last='Ellison'] and this one is a tough spotlight. Ellison is a little banged up and is going to be a game time decision on Thursday night. If the 4A title game was a little later in the week, he could be able to go. If he does play, he won't be 100 percent. But having Ellison on the field will give the Lions some continuity on that side of the ball. He's right there with Heefner in the team lead with tackles. He's also the team leader in sacks this season. And what impresses us the most is the majority of his sacks have come in the last four weeks.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1094507"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Blanchard has some very talented 2025 prospects but [player_tooltip player_id='1094507' first='Hudsen' last='Periman'] might be at the top of the list. He and Carter can battle it out for that title perhaps. Periman has been playing lights out over the last month of the season. He's Blanchard's leading wide receiver when it comes to touchdown receptions with 12. He caught two more in the semifinal win over Poteau last week. In fact, half of Periman's touchdown receptions have come in the last four games alone. He is playing outstanding football for the Lions. And we didn't even bring up what he can do on the defensive side of the ball as well.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1100190"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"A lot of the attention this season has been on Cooksey and his three-headed monster at wide receiver. But senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='1100190' first='McHale' last='Howell'] has been incredibly important to this Blanchard offense this season. And specifically in the playoffs, Howell has taken his game up a notch. This season, he has over 800 yards and ten touchdowns on the ground. But in just three playoff games, Howell has accounted for nearly 300 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. The Lions are going against a tough Wagoner defense and Howell will have to work for just about everything he gets on Thursday.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["268313"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Blanchard senior [player_tooltip player_id='268313' first='Reagan' last='Palmer'] gave the Lions a boost last week in their semifinal win over Poteau. Palmer missed the majority of his senior season this fall with a broken collarbone. He made the most of his opportunity last week, returning a kick for a score and also coming up with an interception on the defensive side of the ball. Palmer is also a terrific wide receiver so he gives the Lions yet another threat for Cooksey in the passing game. But having a player like him that can impact all three phases of the game is a big boost. And for the senior, he has to be happy he's making up for lost time.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["120544"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Blanchard senior [player_tooltip player_id='120544' first='Rio' last='Reynolds'] is one of the better definitions of a u0022team playeru0022 as you'll find this week. Reynolds has been battling Cooksey for the quarterback spot over the last several years. But this year, he moved over to defensive back and has had a good showing. We've seen Reynolds quite a bit in the offseason but it's always been at the quarterback position. The regular season meeting with Tuttle was our first chance to see him on defense. He was one of several Blanchard Lions to come up with an interception that evening and he returned it all the way for a touchdown from his cornerback spot.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["1068995"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"When we saw Blanchard earlier this season against Tuttle, one of the players that easily stood out to us on the field was senior [player_tooltip player_id='1068995' first='Ross' last='Johnston'] along the line of scrimmage. Standing on the field before the game, you saw Johnston tower over just about everybody else on the field. So it makes sense that not long after that, Johnston picked up an offer and eventually committed to stay somewhat close to home at Tulsa. We mentioned it last month when we updated the 2024 prospect rankings, but Johnston is one of those hidden gems in this class that is ready to make a big impact in college.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65679436bbbcc"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>MORE NAMES TO KNOW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>PLAYER</strong></td><td><strong>CLASS</strong></td><td><strong>POSITION</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Blake Woods</td><td>2024</td><td>Offensive Lineman</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1100203' first='Kade' last='Saunders']</td><td>2025</td><td>Defensive Lineman</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1100192' first='Matthew' last='Tonsing']</td><td>2024</td><td>Defensive Back</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1100199' first='Vaughn' last='McIntyre']</td><td>2025</td><td>Running Back</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->