2024 Class A-2 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>The 2024 football season is right around the corner! Since July 1st, we've published well <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/team-previews/">over 100 of the most in-depth team previews</a></strong> to get you ready for the upcoming season. And we have not slowed down in August. The past week has been all about the individuals to watch this season. From our Preseason All State teams to comeback players and freshmen to watch and much more, we have you covered. In this post, it's time to continue our class by class previews. Again, this is all put together to get you ready for the 2024 season. We continue with Class A-2 and this is a great look at all the teams, players and games to watch this season as we enter a new era with two divisions of Class A football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>PRESEASON RANKINGS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/woodland-cougars-ok-2024-team-preview/">WOODLAND</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/mangum-tigers-ok-2024-team-preview/">MANGUM</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/hominy-bucks-ok-2024-team-preview/">HOMINY</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/apache-warriors-ok-2024-team-preview/">APACHE</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/ringling-blue-devils-ok-2024-team-preview/">RINGLING</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/regent-prep-rams-ok-2024-team-preview/">REGENT PREP</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/thomas-terriers-ok-2024-team-preview/">THOMAS</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8) CENTRAL SALLISAW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9) VELMA-ALMA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/gore-pirates-ok-2024-team-preview/">GORE</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>ALL A-2 TEAM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>OFFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB - [player_tooltip player_id='595670' first='John' last='Mark Roller'] - Senior - Regent Prep</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB - [player_tooltip player_id='1005610' first='Austin' last='Solis'] - Senior - Mangum</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB - [player_tooltip player_id='858877' first='Dayton' last='Scott'] - Junior - Apache</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR - [player_tooltip player_id='1325121' first='Avery' last='Rogers'] - Senior - Mangum</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR - [player_tooltip player_id='1329117' first='Elijah' last='Hughes'] - Senior - Hominy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR - [player_tooltip player_id='1343474' first='Landon' last='Wald'] - Junior - Thomas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='1339125' first='Cole' last='Brookover'] - Junior - Regent Prep</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='1403591' first='DK' last='Kennedy'] - Senior - Woodland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='1325119' first='Gavin' last='Williams'] - Senior - Mangum</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='1403601' first='JR' last='Lookout'] - Junior - Hominy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='1343470' first='Stinson' last='Ward'] - Senior - Thomas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>DEFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='1331318' first='Brandon' last='Lindsey'] - Senior - Apache</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='479396' first='Elijah' last='Gilley'] - Senior - Hominy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='1403595' first='Jake' last='Green'] - Senior - Mangum</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='1329118' first='Christian' last='Roland'] - Senior - Hominy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='1348800' first='Devon' last='Mannon'] - Sophomore - Gore</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='1322395' first='Derrick' last='Kennedy'] - Junior - Woodland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='1343471' first='Harper' last='Hamar'] - Sophomore - Thomas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='1325113' first='Trey' last='Williams'] - Junior - Mangum</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='1403600' first='Bodee' last='Garrett'] - Senior - Allen</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='1334945' first='Kysen' last='Fincher'] - Senior - Ringling</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='806158' first='Trey' last='Bennett'] - Senior - Woodland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>ALL PURPOSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='1348799' first='Bladin' last='McCartney'] - Junior - Gore</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='858870' first='Blaine' last='Hipp'] - Junior - Hominy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='1322393' first='Dray' last='Long'] - Senior - Woodland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='998365' first='Houston' last='Herrin'] - Senior - Apache</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='1343473' first='Tye' last='Littlebird'] - Junior - Thomas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>MARK YOUR CALENDARS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>September 27th - Apache AT Mangum</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the first district game of the year, we get a showdown in western Oklahoma as Mangum will host Apache. Mangum comes into this season with some major expectations as a top five team. Apache is looking to build off a very successful 2023 campaign but they come into this season with a first year head coach. It will only be week four when these two teams square off and there's a lot of football still to be played. But it wouldn't be surprising to see this game decide the district championship. Both teams will come into this game with quarterbacks that can absolutely light it up. We could end up seeing a high-scoring affair to kick off district play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>October 4th - Velma-Alma AT Ringling</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In week five, Velma-Alma will get arguably their toughest test as they transition back to 11-man football this season. They go on the road to face a Ringling team that has been one of the best in Class A over the last five years. This season, they are starting a new era (sort of) with a first year head coach. Velma-Alma made it all the way to the Class B state championship last season and they are looking to carry that momentum into this season. The last time they played in Class A, they struggled but they have enough players from last year's team coming back that will make things very interesting in Class A-2 this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>October 11th - Gore AT Regent Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have two monster games to kick off the second half of the regular season. Regent Prep will host Gore in a battle of two top ten teams in our preseason rankings. Gore was a massive surprise team last year. After making it to the 2022 state title game, we thought they would take a step back after losing their head coach and a special senior class but that was simply not the case. And just like Velma-Alma, Regent Prep is making the transition to 11-man football this season. But for Regent Prep, this will be their first time playing 11-man football in program history. This is also a tough part of their schedule. A week before playing Gore, they play Central Sallisaw. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>October 11th - Hominy AT Woodland</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other week six showdown is perhaps the game of the year for Class A-2 in the regular season. Number one Woodland will host number three Hominy. We were in attendance for their match-up a year ago and Woodland certainly hasn't forgotten about the 2023 meeting. They were leading but Hominy scored with less than a minute to go to steal the game and the district title. And as we recall, the officiating had both sides frustrated. The 2023 meeting decided the district title and more than likely, that will be the same scenario in 2024. Hominy has to find a way to replace their superstar QB but they are confident with their roster while Woodland has been knocking the door on contending. They look to kick that door in this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2024 SEASON OUTLOOK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's a new era for Class A football as we head into the 2024 football season and beyond. The class has now been split into two divisions and for Class A-2, we see a class headlined by contenders that have been knocking on the door of truly contending for the state championship for several years now. We're talking about teams like Woodland, Hominy, Thomas and Gore. All four have been very close, including making it to the title game or back to back semifinal appearances before coming up short. Now, they get an opportunity to go after that state championship. You also have a perennial powerhouse in Ringling that has had recent championship success but they're starting a new era this season. A couple 8-man programs are also in the top ten with Regent Prep and Velma-Alma and they expect to make the transition to 11-man football look easy. Velma-Alma is once again playing 11-man football while Regent Prep is doing it for the first time in program history. There are also other programs like Apache, Central Sallisaw and Mangum that are trending in the right direction and it's only a matter of time before we see them playing meaningful football deep into November. All in all, it should make for more competitive football. We should see closer playoff races and a new champion will be crowned in December. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->