Poteau Pirates OK 2024 Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!</strong></em></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 Poteau Pirates!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Poteau Pirates</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #7 In Class 4A<br>Preseason Coaches Ranking: #5 In Class 4A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Head Coach: Greg Werner - 6th Season - 79-21 Record At Poteau</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2023 RESULTS (12-1 Record - Lost In Class 4A Semifinals)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 25th - Beat Bishop Kelley 24-21<br>Sept. 8th - Beat Metro Christian 24-7<br>Sept. 15th - Beat Chandler 42-21<br>Sept. 22nd - Beat Fort Gibson 48-13<br>Sept. 29th - Beat Madill 48-0<br>Oct. 6th - Beat Hilldale 56-0<br>Oct. 13th - Beat Broken Bow 50-12<br>Oct. 19th - Beat Sallisaw 28-13<br>Oct. 27th - Beat Ada 40-7<br>Nov. 3rd - Beat Stilwell 61-20<br>1st Round - Beat Miami 41-13<br>Quarterfinals - Beat Newcastle 28-18<br>Semifinals - Lost To Blanchard 26-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>2023 Offensive Scoring Average: 38.8 Points Per Game<br>2023 Defensive Scoring Average: 13.2 Points Per Game</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Poteau Pirates have left no doubt that they are one of the top football programs in Class 4A and the 2023 season was just another example of that. The Pirates had another double digit win season and made it to the semifinals before falling to eventual state champion Blanchard. This was actually the second straight year that the Pirates would lose to the eventual state champion in the semifinals after losing to Wagoner in 2022. While they haven't won another state championship since finishing on top in 2019, there are just not that many programs in the state that win at a higher level than the Pirates. They opened the season with a close win over Bishop Kelley and would start rolling from there. They cruised through the rest of the non-district slate and the domination only continued when district play began. The closest win was a 28-13 win over Sallisaw in week eight. The Pirates would run away with another district championship and roll into the playoffs with a 10-0 record. They beat up Miami in the first round before scoring a 10-point win over Newcastle in the quarterfinals. But the playoff run would end in the semifinals for the third straight year. Blanchard won 26-14 and went on to win the 4A state championship while Poteau finished 12-1. The Pirates are now 67-11 in the last six seasons and no other 4A program has more wins during that stretch. But Poteau is hungry to get over this semifinal hump and make it back to Edmond to compete for the Class 4A state championship.&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 Pirates come into this 2024 season with a lot of pedigree. They've won a lot of games and have been one of the best teams in Class 4A. But this 2024 team is going to look a little different than the squads over the last few seasons. Graduation hit the Pirates hard and they lost the majority of their starters from last year. Only five starters are back from an offense that averaged nearly 40 points per game. One plus is they will have experience at the quarterback position but they lost a lot of their firepower from the skill positions and the production that those guys brought to this offense. But it's not like the Pirates will be completely lacking that firepower going into this season. It will just come from names that maybe we're not used to seeing perform like that on a weekly basis. On defense, they're even lighter with only four starters back on that side of the ball. But Poteau is one of those programs where you just pencil them in as one of the top defensive units in their class. No matter what they've lost to graduation, this is a program that takes a lot of pride in dominating on the defensive side of the ball. The Pirates and those new starters will be tested early on against a tough non-district slate. And the district looks a little tougher as other teams like Ada, Hilldale and Sallisaw have all shown great improvement over the last 12 months. But Poteau is not going to shy away from the competition. They've proven what they can do over the past six seasons and now they'll just have some new faces leading the way.&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>Dax Collins - Running Back/Defensive Back<br>Jackson Sommers - Running Back<br>Luke Brooks - Defensive 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":["1335935"],"_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-66973eb2c158c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We mentioned that Poteau's offense lost a lot of production but they do return their quarterback. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1335935' first='Sam' last='Tecla'] would earn the nod as QB1 of the Pirates during his sophomore season and on a team that was so heavy with the running game, his job was easy for the most part in 2023. Tecla only threw 80 passes on the season but had 13 touchdowns and he took care of the football. This season, we're looking forward to seeing if his production goes up with all the new names in the Poteau backfield. Tecla isn't going to be alone there as they do have some familiar names and this is still going to be a run-first offense. But it wouldn't surprise us to see his passing production go up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1335932"],"_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-66973eb2c15fe"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Poteau rushing attack was just absolutely lights out in 2023. They had five guys finish the year with over 500 yards on the ground. They had three that finished with over 700 yards on the ground and [player_tooltip player_id='1335932' first='Spencer' last='Perry'] was one of them. During his sophomore season, Perry emerged as one of the top guys for Poteau in their running game and he would actually lead the team in carries. He finished his breakout season with over 700 yards and nine touchdowns and he's just getting started. He also saw playing time as a freshman and now that the other two 700+ yard rushers graduated, that frees up more carries for Perry, who looks like could be on the verge of a monster year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1335923"],"_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-66973eb2c1656"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1335923' first='Rylan' last='Waddell'] was the team's leading tackler last season and you have to consider that a breakout season for him. Looking back at our notes at this time last year, we didn't have Waddell on our radar when it came to the Poteau defense but that obviously didn't last long. Waddell emerged as one of the top defenders on this team and was very productive, finishing the year with over 60 tackles on the season and he impacted the game in other ways that you won't find on the stat sheet. Poteau only brings back four starters on defense but we really like the starters they do bring back at linebacker. And Waddell is no longer flying under the radar. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1335927"],"_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-66973eb2c1698"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Joining Waddell at the linebacker defense is fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='1335927' first='Tyler' last='Fassio'] and we're looking forward to seeing what he's able to do this season. Fassio looks like he's going to be one of the team's captains so it goes without saying, he'll be one of the leaders of this year's Poteau defense. And he has the production to back up that decision. Fassio was the second-leading tackler on the Poteau defense last season behind Waddell. With these two returning, it should make it easier to work in new starters along the defensive line and secondary. There is no doubt that Fassio is ready for the opportunity to take that next step as a linebacker and a leader. </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>Camden Crew - 2026 Linebacker<br>Caston Fox - 2027 Defensive Back<br>Hunter Myers - 2025 Offensive Lineman<br>Javier Ortiz - 2027 Running Back<br>Pierce Ballard - 2025 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='946189' first='Talyn' last='Phillips'] - 2027 Running Back<br>Walyn Waddell - 2025 Running Back/Linebacker<br>Westin Archey - 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>Aug. 30th - AT Booneville, AR.<br><strong>Sept. 6th - McAlester<br></strong>- In week one, Poteau will have their home opener and it'll be a big one as they challenge themselves against a McAlester team that is one of the better squads in Class 5A for this fall. These two will play each other for the first time since playing in the non-district slate during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. And while it probably won't grab a ton of headlines, it should be noted that McAlester head coach Forrest Mazey led the Pirates before leaving Poteau for McAlester in 2019. <br>Sept. 13th - NOAH<br>Sept. 27th - AT Stilwell<br><strong>Oct. 4th - AT Ada<br></strong>- At the halfway mark of the 2024 regular season, Poteau will have arguably their toughest match-up during the regular season. They hit the road to face Ada in district play and the Cougars are a top five team in our 4A preseason rankings this season. They bring almost everyone back and have multiple guys on their roster that will play D1 football. The Cougars definitely have the advantage in experience but Poteau knows how to win games like this one in week five. <br>Oct. 11th - Glenpool<br>Oct. 17th - McLain<br>Oct. 25th - AT Sallisaw<br><strong>Nov. 1st - Hilldale<br></strong>- The Pirates will be looking to lock up a district championship if everything goes the way they'd like it to go when Hilldale visits in week nine. The Hornets look like a team that could make some noise in Class 4A this fall but this is also a match-up that the Pirates have absolutely dominated. They have won six straight against Hilldale and last year was the most lopsided outcome when they won 56-0. By the time week nine rolls around, this young Poteau squad won't be so young. <br>Nov. 8th - AT Broken Bow</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>NOTABLE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When we talk about some of the greatest high school football coaches in Oklahoma, Poteau head ball coach Greg Werner needs to be mentioned more moving forward. Werner is closing in on a very special milestone as we enter the 2024 season. He's one win shy of 250 wins for his career. There simply aren't that many coaches in Oklahoma high school football history that have 250. Legends Allan Trimble, Gary Rose and Ron Lancaster didn't reach that special number during their hall of fame careers. And Werner has been a consistent winner everywhere he's been. At previous stops, he led Nowata and Broken Bow to the state championship game. He's taken Poteau there twice. Once during his first stint and then again in 2019, when they won it all against Weatherford. He had a short run at Van Buren in Arkansas but came back to Oklahoma and would land back at Poteau in 2019 after one season with Hilldale. And as we mentioned earlier in the preview, there's not another 4A program that has more wins than Poteau in the last six seasons. Five of those had Werner in charge of the Pirate ship.&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 - 12-1 - Lost In Class 4A Semifinals<br>2022 - 10-3 - Lost In Class 4A Semifinals<br>2021 - 11-2 - Lost In Class 4A Semifinals<br>2020 - 9-3 - Lost In Class 4A Quarterfinals<br>2019 - 13-1 - Class 4A State Champions</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>1 State Championship</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2019 - Beat Weatherford 9-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->