Perry Maroons 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 Perry Maroons!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Perry Maroons</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #6 In Class 2A-1<br>Preseason Coaches Ranking: UR In Class 2A-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Head Coach: Travis Cole - 10th Season - 49-44 Record At Perry</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2023 RESULTS (5-5 Record - Missed Playoffs)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 25th - Beat Mannford 25-0<br>Sept. 1st - Lost To Luther 38-6<br>Sept. 8th - Lost To Tonkawa 8-0<br>Sept. 22nd - Beat Blackwell 42-16<br>Sept. 29th - Beat Hennessey 20-14 (OT)<br>Oct. 6 - Lost To Millwood 18-6<br>Oct. 12th - Lost To Oklahoma Christian School 64-6<br>Oct. 20th - Beat Newkirk 33-7<br>Oct. 27th - Beat Chisholm 12-8<br>Nov. 2nd - Lost To Alva 23-20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>2023 Offensive Scoring Average: 17 Points Per Game<br>2023 Defensive Scoring Average: 19.6 Points Per Game</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Perry Maroons had a tough ending to the 2023 season. They would finish 4-3 in district play and ended up being in a three-way tie with Alva and Chisholm for the final two spots in the district. Based on district points, Alva and Chisholm got in and Perry's season came to an end despite the winning record in district play. Normally, that's good enough to get you in the playoffs but it wasn't meant to be in 2023. Perry ended the season at 5-5 and are looking to use that year as a building block to a promising 2024 campaign. The 2023 season began with a shutout win over Mannford but they fell to Luther and Tonkawa to start 1-2 after non-district action. Back to back wins over Blackwell and Hennessey would put them in a good spot to start district play. But they tripped up in the next two weeks, losing to Millwood and Oklahoma Christian School. It was time to win out in order to punch their ticket to the playoffs and the Maroons would beat Newkirk in week eight and got a clutch win over Chisholm in week nine. It all came down to week ten and they fell to Alva 23-20 and would be on the outside looking in on the 2A playoffs. There were four games that were decided by a possession in 2023 and one game (Hennessey) that went to overtime. But Perry brings almost everyone back from last year's team and they could end up being that surprise team that you see from time to time that goes from missing the playoffs to a serious contender in the following season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2024 OUTLOOK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perry comes into this season as the number six team in our Class 2A-1 preseason rankings and we think this squad has a lot of potential when it comes to the players they bring back and overall experience. Nine starters are back on the offensive side of the ball and this is a unit that could certainly use that experience to make a big jump in 2024. It wouldn't be surprising to see their scoring average go up this season with the return of their starting quarterback, the majority of their skill players and majority of starters on the offensive line. On paper, they should improve over what we saw from last year. On defense, they could be even better. And they were pretty good in 2023. All but one starter is back on the defensive side of the ball. Everybody on the defensive line and everybody in the secondary is back. While they do have to replace a college signee from the linebacker position, they also have several other players in that spot that are going to be names to watch throughout the 2024 season. So again, on paper, this is a very experienced team that has a lot of talent to make a run in 2024. But Perry also finds themselves in the new Class 2A-1 following the split in 2A football. And the district that Perry landed in is absolutely brutal. Two of the top three teams in our 2A-1 preseason rankings are also in that district. So the road to the playoffs is going to be a tough one but we think this is a Perry team that will definitely improve from last year. Now, how far do they go when it comes to making the playoffs and then making a run? Only time will tell on that question.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>KEY LOSS TO GRADUATION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Treg Bowman - 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":["1333190"],"_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-6694b503b54ea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='1333190' first='Andrew' last='Kukuk'] is a player that we've known about for about a year now and we're looking forward to seeing what kind of impact he has on both sides of the ball for the Maroons in 2024. Last season, Kukuk was an impact player on offense and defense as he led the team in rushing on offense and then was also a productive safety in the Perry secondary. He finished his sophomore season with over 500 yards on the ground on offense and a handful of interceptions on defense. If Kukuk becomes one of the better two-way players in 2A-1 football this season, that will certainly help the Maroons in their pursuit of the playoffs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1333189"],"_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-6694b503b5560"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1333189' first='Jaxson' last='Cunningham'] returns after leading the Perry offense throughout the 2023 season. Cunningham showed in several games in 2023 that he can step up and lead the offense 30-40 pass attempts. He finished the year with nearly 1,700 yards passing and it's not a huge leap to think that his numbers could go up significantly considering that the Maroons also bring back their top targets in the passing game. Cunningham is a good-looking athlete that could take a major step in a positive direction this season. And if that happens, don't be surprised if the Perry offense follows him and they make a dramatic leap forward as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1288788"],"_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-6694b503b55a4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Our final player to watch is arguably the top returning player for the Maroons this season. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1288788' first='Whelan' last='Carson'] is a two-way star that will double as Perry's top option in the passing game and a linebacker that has emerged as one of the better prospects in the state's 2025 class. Last season, Carson was hands down Perry's top target in the passing game. He led the team with over 50 catches for over 1,100 yards and ten touchdowns. That kind of production is enough to get our attention but when you add in that he also finished the year with nearly 130 tackles and has become a very intriguing linebacker prospect with his size and ability to move, he'll be one of the top players in 2A-1 this fall. </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>Asher Robinson - 2027 Running Back/Linebacker<br>Bronson Bouher - 2025 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Cash Waren - 2025 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Gunnar Farrar - 2027 Quarterback/Defensive Back<br>Jackson Stoops - 2025 Tight End/Linebacker<br>Tajon Williams - 2025 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back</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>Aug. 30th - Mannford<br><strong>Sept. 6th - Alva</strong><br>- With the split in Class 2A, Perry's match-up with Alva goes from being a district contest to a non-district game as the Goldbugs are in Class 2A-2 this season and next. In week one, the Maroons will host the Goldbugs in a game that Perry has certainly had circled on the calendar for a while. Perry's 2023 season came to an end in the final week of the season when they fell to Alva and that forced a three way tie for the final spots in the playoff. Perry was left on the outside and will want to erase that memory. <br>Sept. 13th - AT Luther<br><strong>Sept. 27th - AT Jones<br></strong>- After a much-needed week off, Perry will open up district play on the road against Jones. We mentioned how Perry's district was brutal with two of the top three teams in 2A-1 both coming from Perry's district. Jones is one of them. And unfortunately for Perry, both games with those top three teams come on the road. So having a week off before the district slate gets started is important to be at their best when they try to stun the Longhorns. A win here will put Perry in a very good position moving forward.<br>Oct. 4th - Blackwell<br>Oct. 10th - AT Mount Saint Mary<br>Oct. 17th - Oklahoma Christian School<br>Oct. 25th - Crooked Oak<br>Nov. 1st - AT Chisholm<br><strong>Nov. 8th - AT Millwood<br></strong>- In the final week of the regular season, Perry will hit the road to Oklahoma City to face off with Millwood. Like we mentioned earlier in the preview, the two toughest district contests come in the first and last week of district play. By the time week ten rolls around, the Maroons will know exactly what they need to do in terms of punching their ticket into the playoffs or even still contending for a district championship. Last season's game with Millwood was competitive but ended with the Falcons winning. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>NOTABLE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perry has the experience and the talent to make a run this year and make the 2024 season a memorable one. But they are going to have to turn things around if they punch their ticket to the playoffs. Perry has missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons but the Maroons haven't had the most success once they've made the postseason in this century. Starting with the 2000 season, Perry has made 11 appearances in the playoffs and they have a 1-11 record. That 2000 season was the only time Perry has won a playoff game and you have to go all the way back to 1964 to find the last time Perry was a part of the final eight in a playoff run. But with the split in Class 2A, it gives Perry an opportunity to turn their playoff luck around and start making runs in the postseason. While they are definitely in the tougher of the two divisions and their district might be the toughest in the class, they also have a team that looks it can go on a run in November.&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 - 5-5 - Missed Playoffs<br>2022 - 4-6 - Missed Playoffs<br>2021 - 6-5 - Lost In Class 2A 1st Round<br>2020 - 5-4 - Lost In Class 2A 1st Round<br>2019 - 7-4 - Lost In Class 2A 1st Round</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>0 State Championships</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->