Moore Lions 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 Moore Lions!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Moore Lions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: UR In Class 6A-1<br>Preseason Coaches Ranking: UR In Class 6A-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Head Coach: Greg Bryant - 3rd Season - 8-12 Record At Moore</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2023 RESULTS (4-6 Record - Missed Playoffs)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 25th - Beat Edmond Memorial 31-28<br>Sept. 1st - Beat Edmond North 31-28<br>Sept. 8th - Beat Norman 43-42<br>Sept. 22nd - Lost To Westmoore 37-33<br>Sept. 29th - Lost To Enid 49-42<br>Oct. 6th - Beat Southmoore 45-0<br>Oct. 13th - Lost To Jenks 31-6<br>Oct. 19th - Lost To Norman North 29-26<br>Oct. 27th - Lost To Bixby 68-5<br>Nov. 2nd - Lost To Broken Arrow 42-35</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>2023 Offensive Scoring Average: 29.7 Points Per Game<br>2023 Defensive Scoring Average: 35.4 Points Per Game</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Moore Lions are coming into the new season hungrier than ever to finish strong. With the way the last three seasons have gone, we don't blame them. In 2023, Moore would go 4-6 and miss out on the playoffs for the third straight year. But it was also the third straight year that the Lions would start the season with a 3-0 record but would fall short of punching their ticket to the playoffs. The Lions began the year with some great close wins in games that went down to the wire. They beat Edmond Memorial and Edmond North in the first two games where the final score was 31-28. They would follow that up with a 43-42 win over Norman. But their luck in those close games would completely flip in district play. They would go 1-6 the rest of the way and in district play alone, they had four games that were decided by seven points or less and unfortunately for the Lions, they would go 0-4 in every game. All in all, the 2023 season would feature seven games that were decided by seven points or less. When you look at the Lions in 2023, it's easy to judge a 4-6 record and missing the playoffs but when you actually look at the results, this was a much better team. In 2024, it's going to be all about how they finish and they are hungrier than ever to get the job done and make it back to the playoffs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2024 OUTLOOK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions bring back half of their starters as they go into the 2024 football season but the guys they bring back were some of the more impactful guys on the roster from a year ago. You start on the offensive side of the ball and this was a unit that averaged just shy of 30 points per game last season. Five starters are back on the offense and the conversation there starts with the quarterback position. It was a little over a year ago that the Lions got a move-in quarterback that would end up becoming a breakout star in their offense. He's back and looking to elevate his game to new heights in 2024. He'll need to find some new weapons at the wide receiver position but he has a solid core of offensive linemen returning to help. Defensively, this is a unit that brings back six starters from last season and when you look at the roster on paper, it's hard to argue that the strength of this side of the ball will come from the front seven. Their guys on the defensive line and linebacker position are experienced and talented. They will look to set the tone for this side of the ball as the Lions look the scratch and claw their way back to the playoffs. Moore will also see somewhat of a new schedule as the majority of their district opponents are new in 2024. And as we've mentioned already, it's going to be all about how they finish the season. Looking at this team on paper and what they have on the schedule, there's no doubt that this should be a playoff team in 2024. Now, they have to go out on the field and prove that.&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>Cam Hayes - Running Back<br>Corey Dean - Defensive Back<br>Liam Evans - Kicker<br>Noah Wood - Offensive Lineman</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":["353416"],"_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-66aa59f974ce4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We've liked senior lineman [player_tooltip player_id='353416' first='Gracen' last='Gruver'] for a long time now. It feels like every time we write about him, we can't decide which side of the line of scrimmage we like him more on. For the Lions, they don't have to choose one side because Gruver starts for Moore on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Earlier this year, he announced his commitment to Air Force and that capped off a recruitment that saw him receive a handful of D1 offers. He was a guy that we started watching a few years ago and there was clearly a lot of potential there. And there's no doubt that he's living up to that and then some and gives Moore a cornerstone to work with on both sides of the line of scrimmage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1355551"],"_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-66aa59f974d51"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1355551' first='Hayden' last='Stull'] turned out to be one of the breakout stars for the Lions last season on the defensive side of the ball. Looking at some of our notes from this time last year, Stull was not on our radar and that was definitely a mistake. He would come out in 2023 and become one of the team's leading tacklers and an absolute game-wrecker on the defensive side of the ball. Stull would finish the year with 86 tackles and he also dominated opposing offenses, finishing with eight sacks on the year. Stull now turns his attention to this season and joining Gruver as a ferocious 1-2 punch in the Moore front seven. We really like the personnel they bring back there. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1355553"],"_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-66aa59f974d96"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We've talked about the strength of this Moore defense coming from the front seven but that doesn't mean they don't have talent returning in the secondary. Senior defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1355553' first='Jon' last='Alexander'] is back for the 2024 season after a terrific junior campaign in 2023. He would finish as one of the team's leading tacklers and emerged as one of the top standouts on the defensive side of the ball. Alexander would finish his junior season with 90 tackles on the year and he also turned out to be a playmaker. Whether it was interceptions or fumbles, when Alexander got the ball in his hands, he turned into a weapon as he would finish the year with two defensive touchdowns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["211565"],"_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-66aa59f974dd6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We mentioned earlier in the preview that Moore got a key move-in during the summer last year at the quarterback position. [player_tooltip player_id='211565' first='Malikai' last='Miller'] is that guy and he's a prospect that has really impressed us at our offseason camps in the past but last season, he put it all together. He earned the nod as QB1 of the Lions and became one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in 6A-1 football and we don't really think that's up for debate. Miller produced in a big way as a passer and as a runner and is looking to finish off his high school career with a big senior season. Miller has also emerged as a legitimate D1 prospect as an overall athlete and after last season, we can see why. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["353414"],"_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-66aa59f974e14"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Senior [player_tooltip player_id='353414' first='Seth' last='Freeman'] continues to be on the short list of one of the more intriguing prospects in the state's 2025 class. He might not be as big as some of the other top offensive linemen in this class, but he has certainly made a name for himself. Freeman is widely considered one of the top long snappers in the country. Not just the state or even the region, he's one of the best in the nation and he's proved that at multiple camps throughout the last few years. Freeman is committed to Oklahoma and also has plenty of experience as a traditional center as well. He has started ten games for the Lions at center and will be one of the names to watch this season. </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>Andre Lee - 2025 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Brady Prestridge - 2027 Offensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='268349' first='Cheii' last='Larney'] - 2025 Offensive Lineman<br>Dalton Mays - 2025 Tight End/Linebacker<br>Elijah Moon - 2025 Running Back<br>Jaeden Williams - 2025 Running Back/Defensive Back<br>Jonnel Alexander - 2025 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1751526' first='Maverick' last='Gardner'] - 2026 Athlete<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1506281' first='Nick' last='Carden'] - 2025 Linebacker</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. 29th - Westmoore<br></strong>- The annual Moore War comes back to the season opener after Moore and Westmoore were district opponents during the last two seasons. And for the Lions, this was one of those four district losses that were by seven points or less in 2023. This has become a series that has been more competitive in the last five years but overall, it's been owned by the Jaguars. The Lions have just one win in the last twenty meetings. They look to start a winning streak of their own this year. <br>Sept. 13th - AT Southmoore<br>Sept. 20th - Norman North<br><strong>Sept. 27th - AT Mustang<br></strong>- The district schedule will kick off in week four on the road in Mustang. And for the 2024 Moore Lions, this season is all about what they can do in district play. Mustang will be a new district opponent but not an unfamiliar opponent. They've worked with Mustang and a few other teams during the spring practice period in each of the last two years. These two were also district opponents from 2014-2021. Moore won the last two meetings in 2020 and 2021. The Lions could get a ton of momentum with a win here. <br>Oct. 4th - Bixby<br>Oct. 11th - AT Deer Creek<br>Oct. 17th - Norman<br>Oct. 25th - Jenks<br><strong>Nov. 1st - AT Edmond North<br></strong>- Week nine brings arguably the most important two-week stretch of the season. They'll hit the road to face Edmond North and then wrap up the season in week ten against Enid. It's very simple here. No matter what happens during the first five weeks of district play, you win these two games and you're in the playoffs. Now, Moore has a legitimate chance to not only win these games but finish the regular season with a winning record in district play. That should be good enough to host a first round playoff game. <br>Nov. 8th - Enid</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>NOTABLE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We mentioned earlier in the preview that Moore will have a district schedule that features mostly new opponents. They will only have three district foes this season that were on their district slate last year with Bixby, Enid and Jenks. But fortunately for Moore, despite having the top two teams in our 6A-1 preseason rankings (Bixby and Jenks) the district schedule actually looks like one where the Lions can find some wins. Edmond North and Norman are both district opponents now and the Lions went 2-0 against them in non-district action last season. And like we've mentioned before, the Lions definitely have the talent to punch their ticket to the playoffs. The schedule sets up for Moore to finish strong and get into the dance. But as we always say, it's easy to say that in the summer. The Lions will look to go out and get it done in the fall.&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 - 4-6 - Missed Playoffs<br>2022 - 4-6 - Missed Playoffs<br>2021 - 7-3 - Missed Playoffs<br>2020 - 3-8 - Lost In Class 6A-1 1st Round<br>2019 - 6-6 - Lost In Class 6A-1 Semifinals</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 -->