Class 5A Season In Review
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The 2023 football season has come to a close and it’s time to start taking a look back at the year in football before we move on to the offseason and looking ahead to 2024. Every day for the next four weeks, we’ll have more postseason content on Prep Redzone Oklahoma. From our Season In Review series to player awards and of course our All State teams. Check back each day for a new postseason post on the 2023 season, ONLY on Prep Redzone Oklahoma. In this post, we’re continuing our season in review series with a look back at all the top stories and players from Class 5A.
STATE CHAMPION
Carl Albert Titans (14-0)
Ever since they walked off the field at UCO nearly a year ago, Carl Albert was already tabbed as the Class 5A favorite in 2023. Not only did the Titans bring almost everyone back, but they got two terrific move ins during the offseason that are both committed to Oklahoma. So the question then became not whether Carl Albert was the favorite, but would anybody get within two or three scores of Carl Albert? Nobody did for the first two months. The Titans rolled through the non-district schedule, including an impressive 43-20 win over eventual 6A-2 state champion Muskogee on the road.
A showdown with #3 Guthrie loomed in October and we finally saw it in week eight. The Blue Jays had been dominant all season and that defense was ready for the fight again as the champs came to town. But Carl Albert would not be denied and they won 24-21. After a week ten scare from Piedmont, the Titans wrapped up the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record. In their first three playoff games, Carl Albert continued their dominance. They beat El Reno by 28 points, Collinsville in the quarterfinals by 38 points and then in a rematch against rival Bishop McGuinness in the semifinals, they won by 23. That punched Carl Albert’s ticket back to the state championship game to defend their title.
The top-ranked Titans would see #2 Del City in the title game in a battle of Mid-Del rivals. These two teams were #1 and #2 all season and it was a highly anticipated state championship game between two unbeaten teams with plenty of star power on both sides. Carl Albert would capture their second consecutive state championship behind a 35-14 win and they made some more history in the process. With the win over Del City, Carl Albert would bring home their 18th state championship in school history. That puts them in a tie with Jenks for the second most championships in state history. They get a chance to tie Ada for the most titles next year.
CHAMPIONSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
5A PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Del City senior and Oklahoma State signee Ladainian Fields Ladainian Fields 6’2″ | 180 lbs | ATH Del City | 2024 State OK was the best player in Class 5A football this season. And similar to what we said yesterday in our 6A-2 Review, it doesn’t matter what metric you use, Fields was at the top. He absolutely dominated all three phases of the game. He was one of the state’s best wide receivers, a ball hawk in the secondary and a threat to return any kick he got his hands on. He showed up in a big way in their biggest games, notably the semifinal win followed by his performance in the state title game. Fields has been a true game changer for a few years now, but in different areas of the game. It feels like he put everything together this season and was one of the best overall football players in the state. No matter where he was on the field, you saw the impact.
Highlights
BREAKOUT STARS
Aivan Locklin Aivan Locklin 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Lawton MacArthur | 2026 State OK – 2026 Quarterback – Lawton MacArthur
If there was a stock market on high school football teams, we’d go ahead and tell you to buy now on Lawton MacArthur before the price goes up. The Highlanders are extremely talented and some of their top players are all sophomores. Leading the way for the offense this season was sophomore quarterback Aivan Locklin Aivan Locklin 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Lawton MacArthur | 2026 State OK and he was a player to watch from the first time we saw him back in August. There’s no doubt that he has some playmakers around him but he made this offense go.
Damon Cochran II Damon Cochran II 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Bishop McGuinness | 2025 State OK – 2025 Quarterback – Bishop McGuinness
Bishop McGuinness junior quarterback Damon Cochran II Damon Cochran II 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Bishop McGuinness | 2025 State OK was put into a unpredictable position coming into this season. He had to replace an experienced starter that moved away and he the McGuinness junior made the most of his opportunity. He and the Irish went through some growing pains early on but navigated their way through a brutal district and they were playing some of their best football towards the end of the season. That continued as they made a run to the semifinals.
Eli Moroney Eli Moroney 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Guthrie | 2024 State OK – 2024 Linebacker – Guthrie
Guthrie’s defense had a special run this season and specifically in the first two months of the season. They were shutting down and shutting out everyone they played and senior linebacker Eli Moroney Eli Moroney 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Guthrie | 2024 State OK was a big part of that. He was racking up some monster numbers in the sack category this season and he was one of the best tacklers in the open field that we watched in 2023. When Moroney got to a ball carrier, that ball carrier went down in a hurry. He became one of the state’s best this fall.
Scott Rigby Scott Rigby 5'11" | ATH Collinsville | 2026 State OK – 2026 Running Back – Collinsville
The same thing we said about Lawton Mac applies here to Collinsville. The Cardinals have a nice collection of talented sophomores. One of those players is Scott Rigby Scott Rigby 5'11" | ATH Collinsville | 2026 State OK at the running back position. Rigby ended up running for more than 1,000 yards this season and he appears to be primed for a big year next fall as he becomes the marquee running back in this Collinsville offense. We like the pieces they bring back on the offensive side of the ball and Rigby is a big part of the production returning.
Stice Smith Stice Smith 6'3" | ATH Bishop Kelley | 2024 OK – 2024 Quarterback – Bishop Kelley
Bishop Kelley senior quarterback Stice Smith Stice Smith 6'3" | ATH Bishop Kelley | 2024 OK is another example of a senior that has paid his dues and it paid off in a major way this fall. Smith was one of the best quarterbacks that we watched in 5A football this season. We wrote about him earlier this week as he helped lead his Comets to a fourth quarter comeback win over Claremore in a game that ended up deciding the district championship. Smith was an excellent player for the Comets this season and put up some serious numbers on offense.
OTHER TOP PLAYERS
Braxton Etheridge Braxton Etheridge 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Claremore | 2024 State OK – 2024 Quarterback – Claremore
Claremore had a season to remember in 2023 and senior quarterback Braxton Etheridge Braxton Etheridge 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Claremore | 2024 State OK emerged one of the better signal callers in the state, regardless of classification. He put up some monster numbers as the Zebras made a run to the Class 5A semifinals.
Cannon Wood Cannon Wood 6'1" | 215 lbs | ATH Piedmont | 2024 State OK – 2024 Running Back/Linebacker – Piedmont
Piedmont senior standout Cannon Wood Cannon Wood 6'1" | 215 lbs | ATH Piedmont | 2024 State OK picked up right where he left off last season. He was one of the best two-way players in the state in 2022 and he filled that role again in 2023. Wood was a powerful runner that also turned around and starred at linebacker.
Colton Howard Colton Howard 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Sapulpa | 2024 State OK – 2024 Quarterback – Sapulpa
We’ve written this a few times but it deserves to be repeated here. Sapulpa senior quarterback Colton Howard Colton Howard 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Sapulpa | 2024 State OK is one of the top quarterbacks in terms of improvement over the last two seasons. Howard’s steady growth as a passer turned him into one of 5A’s best.
Ethan Watkins Ethan Watkins 5'10" | 165 lbs | ATH Mcalester | 2024 OK – 2024 Running Back – McAlester
McAlester is quickly turning into one of the top programs in Class 5A in producing standout running backs. Senior Ethan Watkins Ethan Watkins 5'10" | 165 lbs | ATH Mcalester | 2024 OK took the ball and (literally) ran with it this season. Watkins became an absolute star and big play threat in this McAlester offense.
Gage Deckard Gage Deckard 6'1" | 175 lbs | WR Claremore | 2024 State OK – 2024 Wide Receiver – Claremore
We mentioned with Claremore’s Etheridge that this was a season to remember for the Zebras. Senior wide receiver Gage Deckard Gage Deckard 6'1" | 175 lbs | WR Claremore | 2024 State OK emerged as one of the top wide receivers, not only in Class 5A but in the state. He put up monster numbers and was a game changer.
Hudson Henslick Hudson Henslick 5'9" | 155 lbs | WR Collinsville | 2024 State OK – 2024 Wide Receiver – Collinsville
Collinsville senior wide receiver Hudson Henslick Hudson Henslick 5'9" | 155 lbs | WR Collinsville | 2024 State OK was on this breakdown last season as a breakout star. This season, he had higher expectations and it’s hard to argue that he didn’t meet them. He impacted the game in all three phases and was incredibly clutch.
Jaylen Harper Jaylen Harper 5'11" | RB Guthrie | 2024 State OK – 2024 Running Back – Guthrie
Guthrie senior running back Jaylen Harper Jaylen Harper 5'11" | RB Guthrie | 2024 State OK came into this season looking to make an impact and he did just that. Like Henslick, Harper was a breakout player last season and then elevated his game this fall. He made 150 yards and three touchdowns look routine.
Joshua Rushing Joshua Rushing 6'3" | 195 lbs | WR Lawton MacArthur | 2026 State OK – 2026 Wide Receiver – Lawton MacArthur
We mentioned earlier that you should buy stock now on Lawton MacArthur. Sophomore wide receiver Joshua Rushing Joshua Rushing 6'3" | 195 lbs | WR Lawton MacArthur | 2026 State OK has the potential to be an absolute star down in southern Oklahoma. Rushing emerged this season as a big play threat for the Highlanders at receiver.
Julian Espinoza Julian Espinoza 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Pryor | 2024 State OK – 2024 Running Back – Pryor
Pryor senior running back Julian Espinoza Julian Espinoza 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Pryor | 2024 State OK put up another season of strong production this fall. Espinoza had a good junior year and then backed it up with an even better 2023 season. Espinoza helped guide the Tigers back to the playoffs this season.
Kenneth Colston Kenneth Colston 6'0" | QB Midwest City | 2024 OK – 2024 Quarterback – Midwest City
Midwest City senior quarterback Kenneth Colston Kenneth Colston 6'0" | QB Midwest City | 2024 OK led a very balanced and explosive offense this season. Their stable of running backs might get a lot of the credit in terms of production but Colston had a great season leading the way for the Bombers on offense.
Kevin Sperry Kevin Sperry 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Denton Guyer | 2025 TX – 2025 Quarterback – Carl Albert
We said it a few times but we’ll say it again here. What Carl Albert junior quarterback Kevin Sperry Kevin Sperry 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Denton Guyer | 2025 TX did in the game against Guthrie is still the most impressive thing we saw this season. There was a ton of hype around Sperry moving up from Texas this summer and he lived up to it.
Malachi Nicholson Malachi Nicholson 5'11" | RB El Reno | 2024 State OK – 2024 Running Back – El Reno
We don’t think another 11-man player had more yards this season than El Reno senior running back Malachi Nicholson Malachi Nicholson 5'11" | RB El Reno | 2024 State OK and it might not be close. He had nearly 3,000 yards on the ground and that was highlighted by a 500+ yard performance in one game against Noble.
Marco Smith Marco Smith 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB Sapulpa | 2024 State OK – 2024 Running Back – Sapulpa
We were fired up to see Sapulpa senior running back Marco Smith Marco Smith 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB Sapulpa | 2024 State OK back to full strength this season. He made the most of his opportunity and became a touchdown machine for the Chieftains in 2023. After missing a lot of his junior season, Smith was great this fall.
Matt Lund Matt Lund 6'0" | RB Elgin | 2024 State OK – 2024 Running Back – Elgin
Elgin senior running back Matt Lund Matt Lund 6'0" | RB Elgin | 2024 State OK became the school’s all time leading rusher this season. Lund was outstanding when we got a chance to see him in person or on film. He emerged as one of the state’s very best football players and helped lead the Owls to a dominant 2023.
Ritson Meyer Ritson Meyer 6'1" | 200 lbs | ATH Elgin | 2026 State OK – 2026 Running Back/Linebacker – Elgin
Lund set the school’s all time rushing record but sophomore Ritson Meyer Ritson Meyer 6'1" | 200 lbs | ATH Elgin | 2026 State OK might be gunning for it in the next two seasons. Meyer had an excellent season for the Owls and with him returning for the next two seasons, we could be looking at Meyer being the school’s top rusher.
River Warren River Warren 6'4" | 195 lbs | QB Del City | 2024 State OK – 2024 Quarterback – Del City
Del City senior quarterback River Warren River Warren 6'4" | 195 lbs | QB Del City | 2024 State OK joined the Eagles this offseason and led a three-headed monster that was one of the best in the state. Warren has long been considered the best senior quarterback in the state and this season backed up that claim.
Rodney Fields Rodney Fields 6'0" | RB Del City | 2024 State OK – 2024 Running Back – Del City
Another Del City standout is senior running back Rodney Fields Rodney Fields 6'0" | RB Del City | 2024 State OK and there aren’t too many players that had better years in 2023 than Fields. From the offseason to his senior season with the Eagles, Fields was routinely one of the best players that we saw.
Sam Rhoades V Sam Rhoades V 6'4" | 235 lbs | ATH Bishop Kelley | 2024 State OK – 2024 Defensive Lineman – Bishop Kelley
Bishop Kelley senior defensive lineman Sam Rhoades V Sam Rhoades V 6'4" | 235 lbs | ATH Bishop Kelley | 2024 State OK has been a very intriguing big man prospect to watch over the last few years. When we watched Bishop Kelley in person this season, Rhoades was an incredibly disruptive defensive end with a bright future.
Trystan Haynes Trystan Haynes 6'2" | 165 lbs | ATH Carl Albert | 2025 State OK – 2025 Athlete – Carl Albert
Another Carl Albert junior that was a star this season was Trystan Haynes Trystan Haynes 6'2" | 165 lbs | ATH Carl Albert | 2025 State OK and it didn’t matter where he lined up. Haynes was Carl Albert’s leading receiver on offense and a star defensive back. Haynes would also become Carl Albert’s top threat in the return game.
Xavier Robinson Xavier Robinson 6'2" | 225 lbs | RB Carl Albert | 2024 State OK – 2024 Running Back – Carl Albert
Carl Albert senior running back Xavier Robinson Xavier Robinson 6'2" | 225 lbs | RB Carl Albert | 2024 State OK was an absolute scoring machine this season. He finished the year with nearly 40 touchdowns on the season. He made five touchdowns in a game look like a regular occurrence and was once again one of the best in the state.
EARLY LOOK AT 2024
The more things change, the more they look to stay the same. Class 5A is going to see some change in 2024 as we’ll see 6A-2 playoff teams Putnam City West and Tahlequah dropping down to Class 5A and joining them will also be a very hungry and talented Booker T Washington squad. The districts will also feel a little more balanced from our first glance at some of the district slates. But make no mistake, Carl Albert will still go into the 2024 season as the team to beat. With so much talent coming back on both sides of the ball, it would be foolish to think they won’t be at the top of the 5A ranks. It will be interesting to see how teams like Claremore, Del City and Guthrie rebuild after losing some special classes. Other programs like Collinsville, Elgin and Lawton MacArthur have a ton of young talent and they’ll be right back in the mix. Don’t count out Bishop Kelley, McAlester and Midwest City, who all seem to be in the mix. So while Carl Albert feels like the easy pick here, they are going to have plenty of competition as they attempt to go after their 19th state championship in school history.