Jones Longhorns OK 2025 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 2025 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 Jones Longhorns!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Jones Longhorns</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #2 In Class 2A-1</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: Kevin Witt - 4th Season - 30-10 Record At Jones</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2024 RESULTS (9-3 Record - Lost In Class 2A-1 Quarterfinals)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 29th - Beat Luther 51-6<br>Sept. 6th - Beat Kiefer 33-0<br>Sept. 13th - Lost To Bethany 36-29<br>Sept. 27th - Beat Perry 29-0<br>Oct. 4th - Lost To Millwood 46-13<br>Oct. 11th - Beat Crooked Oak 49-0<br>Oct. 17th - Beat Chisholm 47-20<br>Oct. 25th - Beat Mount St. Mary 49-7<br>Nov. 1st - Beat Oklahoma Christian School 42-14<br>Nov. 8th - Beat Blackwell 63-6<br>1st Round - Beat Lindsay 44-8<br>Quarterfinals - Lost To Metro Christian 27-21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>2024 Offensive Scoring Average: 39.2 Points Per Game<br>2024 Defensive Scoring Average: 14.2 Points Per Game</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Jones Longhorns came into the 2024 football season as a consensus top five team in Class 2A-1. They expected to be in the mix for that 2A-1 state championship and they came out of the gates swinging. They beat Luther and Kiefer with ease before dropping their final non-district game to Bethany by a touchdown. That was a Bethany team that ended up making the 4A semifinals. The Longhorns went into district play at 2-1 and this was a district that projected to be incredibly competitive from top to bottom. In week five, they had a road showdown in OKC, against Millwood. It was a match-up of top five teams but it was a dominant win from the home team. The Falcons took advantage of early turnovers to run away with a 46-13 win. From there, the Longhorns didn't lose again in the regular season. They closed out the season with five straight wins to finish 8-2 on the season and finished second in the district. They took care of business at home against Lindsay in the first round. That set up a quarterfinal clash on the road against Metro Christian. That was an undefeated Metro Christian club and the Longhorns came up short, losing 27-21. Turnovers would once again haunt the Longhorns as Metro would score 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull away. Jones came up short of a third consecutive trip to the state semifinals and the season came to an end with a 9-3 record. While Jones came up short of the ultimate goal, it was still another winning season and another where the Longhorns were one of the top teams in their respective class. And there's no doubt that they are using the memories of last season's setbacks to drive them this offseason.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2025 OUTLOOK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When Class 2A was split into two divisions and the Longhorns landed in Class 2A-1, they were one of the top teams we circled that could have consistent success, year after year. They come into this season with incredibly high expectations as the number two-ranked team in our preseason rankings. And look, when it comes to Class 2A-1, everyone is chasing Washington but the Longhorns do come into this year as arguably the top contender in this class. Half of their starters are back from last season, starting with an offense that brings back six starters, including their starting quarterback. The Longhorns averaged just shy of 40 points per game last season and there's no reason to think they can't get over that mark this season. When you look at the games they lost in 2024, turning the ball over was the main culprit. If they can take care of the football in 2025, they have the firepower to be one of the top units in Class 2A-1. Defensively, it will be more of a rebuild as they bring back five starters on that side of the ball. But the conversation starts with a linebacker that will be a four-year starter and might as well just be an extension of the coaching staff at this point with everything he brings to the table. They might be young on that side of the ball and they'll go through some growing pains but as long as they are ready to go by district play, they should be ready to contend. Speaking of district play, their district feels like it could be the most wide open and competitive district race, not only in Class 2A-1 but in the state. And while everyone might be looking up at Washington right now in Class 2A-1, the Longhorns are one of the main teams that has a legitimate shot to taking them down.&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>Chase Pitts - Wide Receiver (Signed With NWOSU)<br>Creighton Jones - Athlete (Signed With NWOSU)<br>Riley Ellefson - Tight End (Signed With Stephen F Austin - All State Honorable Mention)</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":["1179996"],"_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-68689cd96a3a0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1179996' first='Acyn' last='Hansen'] is going to come into this season as one of the top quarterbacks in Class 2A-1. Following a junior season where he absolutely exploded from a production standpoint, he should be ready to take that next step this fall. Last season, in his first year as QB1, Hansen would throw for over 2,600 yards and 29 touchdowns while completing 66 percent of his passes. He was also the main option in the running game, finishing with over 800 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. Like we mentioned, this Jones offense could average north of 40 points per game this season and having Hansen returning at QB is a big reason why.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong><em>(2024 All State Honorable Mention)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1324239"],"_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-68689cd96a433"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1324239' first='Carlos' last='Hardeman'] is expected to take on a much bigger role this season for the Longhorns on both sides of the ball. Hardeman moved over to Jones after starting his career as a do-it-all quarterback for Classen SAS. Coming into this season, Hardeman is the top returning wide receiver after a limited season in 2024. He will give Hansen an athletic playmaker to get the ball to throughout this season. Hardeman is one of the more intriguing prospects on this roster from the standpoint that it still feels like his best football is in front of him. Every time we've seen him in person, he's been one of the top players on the field. He's also a violent player to watch on defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1703876"],"_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-68689cd96a499"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wide receiver is one area where the Longhorns will need some new names to step up in a major way this season. Four of their top five receivers from last season graduated. One player we're keeping an eye on is [player_tooltip player_id='1703876' first='Derek' last='Templeton'] as he heads into his sophomore season. Templeton might be known more for his work on defense right now but he could be a boost to the offensive side of the ball as well. Templeton has good athleticism to go with his 6'2 frame and it wouldn't surprise us to see him become one of the breakout stars of this season. Templeton has a lot of momentum going right now as he's had a terrific offseason on the camp circuit. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["505619"],"_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-68689cd96a4fb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Senior offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='505619' first='Jack' last='Mendoza'] is another player on this Jones offense that comes into this season as an absolute veteran. Mendzoa started for the Longhorns as a sophomore, on an offensive line that featured four seniors. Last season, he took that next step as a leader as the lone returning starter on the offensive line. This season, he's going into another year as a starter and at this point, there really isn't much that Mendoza hasn't already seen. When it comes to the state's 2026 class with interior offensive linemen, we have Mendoza among the best in that group. He'll once again be paving the way for a Longhorn offense that expects to be explosive in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["587272"],"_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-68689cd96a55b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='587272' first='Luke' last='DeBusk'] is going to be one of the more experienced players, not just in Class 2A-1 but in the state this season. DeBusk has been starting since his freshman season and he's been a one-man wrecking crew ever since. He comes into this season with well over 300 tackles in his career and with another solid season, he could be over 450 tackles for his career by the end of this season. DeBusk will also be a big key to bringing along some of those new faces on this Longhorn defense. In 2024, we also saw a new element to his game as he became a short yardage specialist at running back. He was one of the team's leaders in rushing touchdowns with ten.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong><em>(2024 All State Honorable Mention)</em></strong></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>Dom Harris - 2026 Offensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1704495' first='Dorian' last='Wiley'] - 2026 Defensive Lineman/Linebacker<br>Drew Thomas - 2027 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Eli DeBusk - 2028 Linebacker<br>Evan Collier - 2026 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1461909' first='Hunter' last='Purvis'] - 2027 Wide Receiver<br>Jet Biby - 2027 Wide Receiver/Linebacker<br>Kade Templeton - 2028 Quarterback<br>Michael Renfrow - 2027 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1704021' first='Tripp' last='Rogers'] - 2027 Running Back/Linebacker<br>Ty Duren - 2028 Offensive Lineman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2025 SCHEDULE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aug. 29th - AT Luther</strong><br>- For the second straight year, the regular season will kick off with a match-up against Luther. Jones beat the Lions 51-6 in the season opener a year ago. They'll be looking to kick off their 2025 season with a similar dominant performance. And with a win, they'll win their tenth straight in the series.<br><strong>Sept. 5th - Kiefer</strong><br>- The home slate will kick off in week one with a match-up against Kiefer. This will be the only home game for Jones in the first month of the season. The Longhorns will look to take advantage against a Kiefer team that they beat 33-0 last season and have won two in a row in the last three seasons.<br><strong>Sept. 12th - AT Bethany</strong><br>- Jones will wrap up their non-district slate with a road game against Bethany in week two. These two teams have met in non-district play in each of the last five seasons and it's turned into a solid non-district series. Jones fell 36-29 last season and will be looking to even up the series this year.<br><strong>Sept. 26th - AT Perry</strong><br>- District play will begin with a road game against Perry in week four. Last season, the Longhorns took down the Maroons with a 29-0 victory in week four. This season, they'll meet a Perry team that is rebuilding after losing a solid senior class. Prior to last year, these two met exclusively in the playoffs.<br><strong>Oct. 3rd - Millwood</strong><br>- Jones and Millwood are the top two ranked teams in this district as we head into the season so this could be a head to head clash for the district title. Millwood dominated this match-up a year ago, winning 46-13. The Longhorns will get the Falcons at home this season and will want some revenge.<br><strong>Oct. 10th - AT Crooked Oak</strong><br>- The second half of the regular season kicks off with a road game against Crooked Oak. The Longhorns rolled in this match-up a year ago, winning 49-0 and they led 42-0 by halftime. Crooked Oak was another new opponent for the Jones schedule. The last time they faced off was 2011.<br><strong>Oct. 16th - Chisholm</strong><br>- On a Fall Break Thursday night, Jones will host Chisholm in a rare head to head battle featuring two Longhorns. The Jones Longhorns prevailed in last season's meeting, winning 47-20. This season, they'll look to get another big district win over a Chisholm team that has a first year head coach.<br><strong>Oct. 24th - Mount St. Mary</strong><br>- Jones will host Mount St. Mary in week eight and this could be a sneaky interesting game on the Longhorn schedule. Jones won this match-up 49-7 a year ago but the Rockets have a lot of new faces and young talent. Historically, this has been a series that has been owned by the Longhorns.<br><strong>Oct. 31st - AT Oklahoma Christian School</strong><br>- In week nine, the district championship could be on the line when Jones heads to Edmond to face Oklahoma Christian. These two became district foes a year ago for the first time in nearly two decades. The Longhorns won last year's meeting 42-14 and they've won six straight in the series.<br><strong>Nov. 7th - Blackwell</strong><br>- The regular season will come to an end in week ten with a home game against Blackwell. Last season was the first meeting between these two teams in recent memory, with Jones winning 63-6. The 57-point win was the largest margin of victory for the Longhorns during the 2024 season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>NOTABLE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 2A and now Class 2A-1 has a handful of teams that have been among the best in the class, year after year, over the last decade. You have Washington and Millwood but you also have to consider Jones one of those teams. The Longhorns have won at least ten games in the majority of the last ten seasons. Last year was a rare year where they came up short on ten wins and a lot of that had to do with simple district placement. But head coach Kevin Witt is going into his fourth season as head coach of the Longhorns and he's averaging exactly ten wins a year after his first three seasons. Jones would make it to the semifinals in each of his first two seasons at the helm. Last year, they fell short in the quarterfinals. This season, as we've mentioned, Jones looks like they are the favorite within their district but it's certainly one that's going to be competitive week in and week out. But if Jones captures that district title, the path is going to be in place for them to win double digit games again and possibly make a run to the state championship game. The Longhorns haven't played for a state title since they won it all in 2016. There is no doubt that this year's Longhorn team is hungry to make that run to Edmond.&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>2024 - 9-3 - Lost In Class 2A-1 Quarterfinals<br>2023 - 11-3 - Lost In Class 2A Semifinals<br>2022 - 10-4 - Lost In Class 2A Semifinals<br>2021 - 8-4 - Lost In Class 2A 2nd Round<br>2020 - 9-3 - Lost In Class 2A 3rd Round</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>1 State Championship&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2016 - Beat Plainview 16-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->