Fairview Yellowjackets OK 2024 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>It's the month of July and that means it's preview time! Throughout the month of July and even into August, we are publishing well over 100 of the most in-depth team previews that you'll find anywhere to get you completely ready for the 2024 football season. This is something that began for us at PRZ-Oklahoma in 2021 and it continues to get bigger and better every single year. We're looking forward to diving deep into the top teams across the state in every class. From defending champions, to the top contenders and plenty of dark horses and other teams to know, we'll have complete coverage every single day. There will be multiple previews dropping every single day! In this post, we take a look at the reigning Class A state champion Fairview Yellowjackets!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Fairview Yellowjackets</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #1 In Class A-1<br>Preseason Coaches Ranking: #1 In Class A-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Head Coach: Robert Bernard - 10th Season - 76-37 Record At Fairview</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2023 RESULTS (15-0 Record - Class A State Champions)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 25 - Beat Hobart 56-6<br>Sept. 1 - Beat Chisholm 42-0<br>Sept. 8 - Beat Alva 41-21<br>Sept. 22 - Beat Hooker 56-22<br>Sept. 29 - Beat Thomas 56-20<br>Oct. 6 - Beat Sayre 69-8<br>Oct. 13 - Beat Mooreland 69-22<br>Oct. 20 - Beat Texhoma/Goodwell 62-14<br>Oct. 27 - Beat Burns Flat-Dill City 58-0<br>Nov. 3 - Beat Merritt 54-14<br>1st Round - Beat Hobart 62-6<br>2nd Round - Beat Crescent 19-7<br>Quarterfinals - Beat Stroud 56-20<br>Semifinals - Beat Woodland 27-6<br>Championship - Beat Hooker 34-8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>2023 Offensive Scoring Average: 50.7 Points Per Game<br>2023 Defensive Scoring Average: 11.6 Points Per Game</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fairview came into the 2023 season as the defending state champions and they were hungry to reach new heights and they did just that. After a perfect 2023 season, the Yellowjackets took their game to another level and were absolutely dominant. Fairview was simply not challenged during the regular season. The closest win came in week two against Alva when they won 41-21. They would finish off the regular season at 10-0 and were rolling heading into the playoffs. Things weren't as smooth in the postseason but they still won every game by double digits. They would make a return trip to Edmond to defend their Class A crown and they met district rival Hooker in the championship game. On a Saturday afternoon in Edmond, the Yellowjackets leaned on their star junior quarterback and ran away with a 34-8 victory to capture another state championship. It was a dominant 2023 campaign that saw the Yellowjackets average just over 50 points per game on offense and they gave up a little more than 11 points per game on defense. For the second straight season, Fairview won the gold ball with a 15-0 record. They come into the 2024 season with a 30-game winning streak and haven't lost a regular season game since 2020. That 30-game winning streak is tied with Washington for the longest active winning streak in the state and both teams don't plan on seeing it end anytime soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2024 OUTLOOK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But just like with Washington in Class 2A, we won't see Fairview going 15-0 anymore. Class A has been split into two divisions and the Yellowjackets find themselves in Class A-1 and they are the preseason favorite to win the new class. Fairview only returns about half of their starters but there's a few reasons the Yellowjackets are the preseason favorites. First off, until someone beats them, they have the crown. And while they only have about half of their starters back, the offense shouldn't miss a step with the return of their star quarterback, who became one of the state's very best players last season, earning a spot as a finalist for PRZ-Oklahoma Player Of The Year. But despite having that gunslinger back, he's going to have to develop a new chemistry with the receiver group. Fairview was hit hard by graduation at the wide receiver position so they'll need new players to step up this fall. But the Yellowjackets are confident in some of the young players they have coming up. Six starters are back on the offensive side of the ball and another five starters are back on defense. The defending state champs will also be challenged by a tough non-district schedule. The young players that are coming up will get thrown into the fire early on but that should prepare them for another run at the state championship.&nbsp;</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>Brant Strader - Defensive Back<br>Isaiah Burris - Wide Receiver<br>Reed Martens - Wide Receiver<br>Tegan Gilchrist - 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":["1107564"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66846084284af"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The defense brings back five starters but they'll be boosted by the return of Boden Williams at the linebacker position. The senior was one of the team's leading tacklers last season. He finished the year with just over 130 tackles and will definitely be leaned on this season as one of the leaders of this defense. At this time last year, Miller was considered another name to know on this Yellowjacket defense and he took his game to another level in 2023. Now, a lot of the attention will be paid to the offensive side of the ball but don't overlook Miller impacting the game on defense. We won't be surprised to see his production take a step up this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1051822"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668460842852a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Senior standout [player_tooltip player_id='1051822' first='Easton' last='Hamar'] was probably known last season for what he did on the defensive side of the ball in the secondary. And while Hamar's performance on defense is still going to be valuable, it's what he does on offense that we have our eyes on. Last fall, Hamar was limited on the offensive side of the ball but when he got opportunities, he took full advantage. The senior only had six catches last season but three of them went for touchdowns. But with Fairview losing just about all of their production from the receiver position, we anticipate Hamar stepping into a new role on offense. Between offense and defense, Hamar will be very important. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["379243"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6684608428580"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We mentioned earlier that the Yellowjackets were going to benefit from having a superstar returning at quarterback and [player_tooltip player_id='379243' first='Jax' last='Bernard'] is that guy. Last season, Bernard accounted for well over 4,000 yards of total offense. He also finished the year with 47 passing touchdowns and 17 touchdowns on the ground. Between the production week after week and leading his team to another state championship, Bernard was a no-brainer to become a finalist for our Player Of The Year award. So needless to say, coming into the 2024 season, Bernard is already on our short list for this year's award. Bernard was a star and produced at a high level, no matter the competition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>MORE NAMES TO KNOW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1743237' first='Alex' last='Houk'] - 2027 Running Back/Defensive Lineman<br>Eli Winans - 2025 Defensive Lineman<br>Karson Howerton 2025 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Sutton Hayes - 2025 Linebacker<br>Trace Bonham - 2025 Defensive Lineman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2024 SCHEDULE/GAMES TO CIRCLE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aug. 30th - AT Alva<br></strong>- The pursuit of a third consecutive state championship will start on the road for the first two weeks of the season. Fairview opens up the 2024 campaign on the road against Alva, followed by a road test against Kingston. The two-time champs are not shying away from competition going into this year. The non-district slate is a very competitive one against top teams in their class and even higher. Only two teams stayed within 20 points of Fairview last year and Alva is one of them. <br>Sept. 6th - AT Kingston<br>Sept. 13th - Tonkawa<br>Sept. 27th - Watonga<br>Oct. 4th - AT Merritt<br>Oct. 11th - Crescent<br><strong>Oct. 17th - AT Hooker<br></strong>- Coming into this season, there is no doubt that the week seven clash between Fairview and Hooker is the marquee match-up in the class. First off, it's a rematch of last year's state championship game so you don't need much else to hype up this contest. Then you throw in the fact that these two teams are #1 and #2 in the preseason rankings and the district title could be on the line and you have the makings of an instant classic. Fairview dominated the two meetings last year. <br>Oct. 25th - AT Hinton<br>Nov. 1st - Sayre<br><strong>Nov. 8th - Cashion<br></strong>- Before Fairview captured back to back state championships in Class A, it was Cashion that was the dominant team in the class. They won back to back titles in 2020 and 2021 but they are looking to get back to the mountaintop of Class A again. And with the split in Class A and the redistricting, these two programs are now district foes and we'll see them square off in week ten. Who knows what could happen between now and then that raises the stakes in this one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>NOTABLE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head coach Robert Bernard has turned this Fairview program into one of the best small school programs in the state. And when you consider where this team was following the Covid-impacted season in 2020, that's quite something. Following that 2020 season, Bernard had a 35-36 record in his first six seasons. They were coming off multiple losing seasons in a row. Bernard not only turned it around, he turned it around instantly and the Yellowjackets became a contender. Ever since that 2020 season, Bernard and Fairview hold a 41-1 record and have had three straight regular seasons end with perfect records. Fairview is also going to come into this season tied with Washington for the state's longest active winning streak with 30 consecutive victories. And like the Warriors in a now split Class 2A, the Yellowjackets are the favorites in the now split Class A. Fairview was patient and it has certainly paid off in a big way.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>LAST FIVE SEASONS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2023 - 15-0 - Class A State Champions <br>2022 - 15-0 - Class A State Champions <br>2021 - 11-1 - Lost In Class A 2nd Round<br>2020 - 3-8 - Lost In Class A 1st Round<br>2019 - 2-8 - Missed The Playoffs</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>4 State Championships</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2023 - Beat Hooker <br>2022 - Beat Gore 32-28<br>1999 - Beat Nowata 39-14<br>1946 - Beat Poteau 14-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->