A Way Too Early Look At Class A-2

<!-- 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>Throughout the month of January, we recapped the 2024 football season with All State teams, season recaps and many more player awards. But we finished off the month by starting to take a far too early look at the 2025 football season and we finish it up today with Class A-2. Now again, it's still early on in the year and we are seven months away from the 2025 season kicking off so there are quite a few things that can change between now and then. For instance, taking a look back at our WAY too early rankings for the 2024 season in Class A-2, we had eventual state champion Woodland at #2, which isn't terrible. But what was terrible was the fact that Talihina wasn't in the top ten at all and would make it all the way to the state championship game. And as you'll see here, we're not making that mistake with Talihina again. But nevertheless, it's time to take a look ahead and see how 2025 could shape up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>WAY TOO EARLY TOP TEN FOR CLASS A-2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1) TALIHINA<br></strong>- As Talihina had to settle for silver in the state championship game in December, we looked up and down their roster and saw mostly sophomores and freshmen. They bring back almost everyone for 2025 and this team is going to be hungry to finish what they started. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1524935' first='Landen' last='Griffith'] might be the very best player in this class in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2) WOODLAND<br></strong>- Woodland absolutely smashed everyone in 2024, on their way to a state championship. After winning every game by at least 20 points, the Cougars now have to reload because they are losing a very special senior class and it starts with [player_tooltip player_id='806158' first='Trey' last='Bennett'] at quarterback. But the Cougars don't expect to rebuild as they try to defend their crown. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3) THOMAS<br></strong>- Thomas brought back the majority of their team in 2024 and it looks like they'll do it again in 2025. They'll challenge Talihina for the most experienced team in Class A-2 this fall. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1343473' first='Tye' last='Littlebird'] returns to lead a Thomas squad that looks to take the next step and make it back to the state title game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4) MANGUM<br></strong>- Mangum has been knocking on the door for the last few years as one of the better regular season teams but they are still looking to have that success continue in the playoffs. They have to replace [player_tooltip player_id='1005610' first='Austin' last='Solis'] at the running back spot but the Tigers bring back a ton of experience and production everywhere else. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5) HOMINY<br></strong>- The Hominy Bucks have been a top five team for the last 3-4 years and nothing changes as we start looking ahead to 2025. [player_tooltip player_id='858870' first='Blaine' last='Hipp'] returns for the Bucks and he will give them a dynamic weapon at the quarterback position and he'll be one of the top athletes in Class A-2 as a whole when the '25 season kicks off. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6) CENTRAL SALLISAW<br></strong>- Central Sallisaw has become a consistent threat in Class A and now Class A-2 and this season could be the year that they take that next step and truly contend. Now, in 2024, they were in one of the more competitive districts in the state and as of right now, it looks like it could be just as tough in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7) RINGLING<br></strong>- It feels like Ringling just has to be in the top ten somewhere at this point as they continue to win at a high level, including a district championship in 2024. They have to replace star playmaker [player_tooltip player_id='1334945' first='Kysen' last='Fincher'] and that's not easy production to replace. But they are in a district that they could win again in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8) VELMA-ALMA<br></strong>- At this time last year, Velma-Alma was coming off a state championship appearance and expected to still be an 8-man program. After the April redistricting shuffle, they got bumped up but made the transition look easy. They would go 8-3 and nearly captured the district title and have a lot of production returning in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9) REGENT PREP<br></strong>- Similar to Velma-Alma, Regent Prep made the transition from 8-man football to the 11-man game look easy. The Rams would actually make a run to the Class A-2 semifinals in their first year of 11-man football. But they have to find a new QB as [player_tooltip player_id='595670' first='John' last='Mark Roller'] graduates and that's going to be a tough task. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10) FAIRLAND<br></strong>- Fairland could be a darkhorse heading into the 2025 season. They went 3-7 last year and were just on the outside looking in on the playoffs. But they return quarterback Carson Schertz and he had a strong 2024 season. They're in a tough district but could end up being a team that makes some noise this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->