Stillwater Pioneers OK 2025 Team Preview

Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!   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 Stillwater Pioneers!   Stillwater Pioneers   Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #2 In Class 6A-2   Head Coach: Chad Cawood - 3rd Season - 19-6 Record At Stillwater   2024 RESULTS (9-3 Record - Lost In Class 6A-2 Semifinals)   Sept. 6th - Beat Union 36-35 (OT) Sept. 13th - Beat Enid 38-23 Sept. 20th - Lost To Carl Albert 30-0 Sept. 27th - Beat Lawton Eisenhower 66-20 Oct. 3rd - Beat U.S. Grant 65-0 Oct. 11th - Beat Northwest Classen 63-7 Oct. 17th - Lost To Choctaw 35-28 Oct. 25th - Beat Putnam City 28-7 Oct. 31st - Beat Piedmont 49-7 Nov. 8th - Beat Southmoore 58-0 Quarterfinals - Beat Putnam City North 49-14 Semifinals - Lost To Muskogee 35-14   2024 Offensive Scoring Average: 41.2 Points Per Game 2024 Defensive Scoring Average: 17.8 Points Per Game   The 2024 Stillwater Pioneers came into the season as the #2 ranked team in Class 6A-2 and had more state championship aspirations after making back to back trips to Edmond in 2022 and 2023. The season started off with fireworks when they welcomed in 6A-1 contender Union to Pioneer Stadium and sent them back to Tulsa with a 36-35 loss in overtime. The Pioneers would drop the non-district finale to 5A powerhouse Carl Albert but that would be a quick setback. Stillwater won their first three district games by 45 points or more. Then came a showdown with Choctaw on the road, in a game that would eventually decide the district championship. The Pioneers fell 35-28 and would get the two-seed in the playoff bracket. They wrapped up the regular season with three straight wins, all by 20+ points and went into the postseason at 8-2. Stillwater rolled to a quarterfinal win and then had a 2023 state championship rematch against Muskogee in the semifinals. Stillwater lost 35-14 and the season came to an end at 9-3, one game shy of a third consecutive trip to the state championship game. The 2024 Pioneers were a team that could have contended for that state championship. They tripped up in a district title showdown with Choctaw and that put them on the same side of the bracket with the defending champs. But coming up short has definitely fueled them this offseason.    2025 OUTLOOK   The 2025 Stillwater Pioneers look a lot like the Pioneer teams that we've seen over the last few years. Firmly in the top four of the preseason rankings and one of the top contenders to take home the state championship. This year's team has a great blend of young, explosive talent and experience in key positions. Offensively, the Pioneers bring back seven starters but there is no doubt that the strength is going to come on the line of scrimmage with the majority of their offensive linemen returning and arguably the best wide receiver duo in Class 6A-2 and possibly the state. They'll have a new quarterback under center but he's a young and dynamic athlete that appears to be primed for a breakout season. Defensively, the Pioneers have more holes to fill with only four starters returning on that side of the ball. And they lost quite a bit of experience and production from the defense to graduation. But of the four starters returning, we like the potential of that side of the ball as similar to the offense, the strength of the defense will start up front with the defensive line. The Pioneers will have arguably the most disruptive defensive lineman in Class 6A-2 and that's certainly a good start for a unit that will be incredibly inexperienced at the start of the season. The 2025 schedule is similar to last year where it's a very tough non-district slate and the district has gotten tougher. So this year's Stillwater team will have to earn it on the field but they are once again one of the top contenders in Class 6A-2. It's not crazy to think that they'll be making another trip to Edmond in December.    KEY LOSSES TO GRADUATION   Athan Nickles - Linebacker (Signed With SWOSU - All State Honorable Mention) Judah Schwoegler - Offensive Lineman (Signed With Air Force - All State Honorable Mention) Mason Schubert - Quarterback (Signed With SWOSU - All State Honorable Mention)   PLAYERS TO WATCH    Sophomore wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1214367' first='David' last='Thomas'] is the first half of arguably the best WR duo in the state. At this time last year, we thought that Thomas was going to be a very important piece to the Pioneer offense, right away as a freshman. His first career catch was a 40-yard touchdown against Union. He would end up finishing the season with 34 catches for over 550 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a match-up nightmare for opponents and he's just scratching the surface on what he's going to be as a wide receiver prospect. He's incredibly special and last season was only the beginning. He's firmly established himself as one of the top overall prospects in his class.    (All State Honorable Mention)     Junior wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='492378' first='Deakon' last='Jones'] is the other half of that dangerous WR duo, alongside Thomas. Jones absolutely exploded last season. After having a solid freshman season, he would be the unquestioned leader of the Pioneer receiver group. He led the team with 63 catches for well over 800 yards and 14 touchdowns. He had multiple games where he finished with over 100 yards and two touchdowns. And the fact that the Pioneers are going to have Jones and Thomas for two more seasons should be incredibly scary for the rest of Class 6A-2. You can maybe contain one of these guys but good luck slowing both of them down. Jones also continues to improve his overall game.    (2024 All State Honorable Mention)     After a breakout sophomore season, defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='467410' first='Nehemiah' last='Kolone'] struggled to get his footing during his junior season. First off, he was hurt to start the year and was completely limited with what he could do. So the production from sophomore to junior year is very misleading. But after watching Kolone in person during the spring, he looks a lot like the guy that we saw in 2023, terrorizing opposing offensive tackles. Kolone has a very unique blend of strength and athleticism to go along with a deep bag of moves to beat offensive tackles. If Kolone stays healthy in 2025, he's going to be one of the more disruptive defensive ends in the state, regardless of the class.    (2024 All State Honorable Mention)     We mentioned earlier in the preview how Stillwater's offensive line was going to be a big strength of this year's team. Leading the way at center will be junior [player_tooltip player_id='1140727' first='Paxton' last='Pitchford'] and he has the potential to be very good. Pitchford has lined up at multiple positions for the Pioneers and has quickly become their swiss army knife on the line of scrimmage. This spring, they were playing Pitchford at center and he seemed to fit in seamlessly with that position. Pitchford is another Pioneer that is on the radar of college coaches. He earned that attention despite being banged up during the 2024 season. He'll set the tone for a Stillwater offense that could be the best in 6A-2.     That young and dynamic quarterback that we mentioned earlier in the preview is [player_tooltip player_id='1173979' first='Satank' last='Taptto'] and he'll just be a sophomore this fall. Taptto has been a quarterback that the Stillwater coaches have been talking about for a couple years now. He first got on our radar when he was still in 8th grade and was just a terrific athlete. Now, Taptto has earned the starting role at quarterback and gives the Pioneers a unique talent to work with. First off, the sophomore passes the eye test physically. Then you watch him throw the ball and he has a rocket for an arm and the throws down the field look effortless. Combine all that with the obvious talent Stillwater has at wide receiver and Taptto could put up big numbers.    MORE NAMES TO KNOW   Ares Willis - 2026 Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='492379' first='Bradford' last='Mitchell'] - 2027 Wide Receiver/Defensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1166475' first='Chandler' last='Johnson'] - 2028 Tight End/Defensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='206345' first='Conner' last='Quintero'] - 2026 Quarterback Cyrus Johnson - 2029 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Jaedan Adams - 2028 Running Back Jakoby Petree - 2027 Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='863380' first='Julian' last='Jacobs'] - 2026 Offensive Lineman Kyle Stokes - 2027 Running Back/Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1690912' first='Lucas' last='Crawford'] - 2026 Offensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='700412' first='Peyton' last='Campbell'] - 2027 Defensive Back Rocky Kolone - 2029 Linebacker William McElroy - 2026 Offensive Lineman   2025 SCHEDULE   Sept. 5th - AT Union - For the second straight year, the season kicks off against Union. Last year, the Pioneers made a very loud statement to the rest of the state, when they beat Union 36-35 in overtime. This season, they come to Tulsa to face the Redhawks. Last year's meeting was the first in over a decade.  Sept. 12th - Enid - The home slate will start in week two against Enid. After not playing the Plainsmen since 2017, these two met in non-district play a year ago. The Pioneers prevailed 38-23 in last season's meeting. That would extend their winning streak against Enid to six consecutive victories.  Sept. 19th - AT Carl Albert - Non-district play will wrap up in week three, on the road, against reigning 5A champion Carl Albert. The Titans shut out the Pioneers 30-0 last season. But that was a historically good Titan defense. This year's Titan team will look different but they're still Carl Albert. A big test to end non-district play.  Sept. 26th - AT Lawton Eisenhower - District play will kick off in week four, on the road in Lawton against Lawton Eisenhower. The Eagles will have a first year head coach but they also have some talent returning. Stillwater rolled to a 66-20 victory at home last season. They'll look to kick off district play with another big win.  Oct. 3rd - U.S. Grant - After back to back road games, Stillwater returns home for a match-up against U.S. Grant in week five. The Pioneers rolled to a 65-0 victory over the Generals a year ago. This district contest has been one-sided, in favor of Stillwater. They've won the last four meetings by 50 or more.  Oct. 10th - AT Northwest Classen - Stillwater goes back on the road to start the second half of the regular season with a week six meeting against Northwest Classen. Similar to the U.S. Grant series, this one has been all Stillwater over the last few years. They won 56-0 in last year's meeting and 70-0 in 2021.  Oct. 16th - Choctaw - To be the champ, you gotta beat the champ. And on a Fall Break Thursday night, Stillwater will welcome in defending champion Choctaw. The Pioneers fell 35-28 in their regular season meeting a year ago. These two teams appear to be the favorites to capture this district again.  Oct. 24th - Putnam City - A week after the showdown with Choctaw, Stillwater will host another serious contender in the district when Putnam City comes to town. The Pioneers beat the Pirates 28-7 last season but this is a rebuilt Pirate team that will be looking to stun the Pioneers. But Stillwater has owned this series.  Oct. 31st - AT Piedmont - Last year's meeting with Piedmont was the first between these two teams after the Wildcats moved up to Class 6A-2. Stillwater will go to Piedmont this year in week nine. They won last season's meeting 49-7. Their two-headed monster at receiver went off and will look to do the same in 2025.  Nov. 7th - Southmoore - The regular season comes to an end at home against Southmoore in week ten. The Sabercats will have a new head coach but the Pioneers will be looking to take momentum into the playoffs. Stillwater shut out the Sabercats last year with a 58-0 victory. They'll look to roll again in week ten.    NOTABLE   Stillwater has become one of the big dogs of Class 6A-2 but it hasn't always been that way. In the first five seasons since Class 6A was split into two divisions, from 2014-2018, the Pioneers went 37-20 and had one appearance in the state championship game. Since then, in the last six seasons, the Pioneers have a 62-11 record and have played in three state championship games, winning the 2022 gold ball with a perfect 13-0 record. Simply put, the Pioneers have raised the bar as a program and they have become one of the pillar programs in 6A-2. When Bixby moved up to 6A-1 in 2022, the biggest question surrounded who was going to take over the crown as kings of this class. Stillwater won that ‘22 title and since then, Muskogee won in ‘23 and Choctaw won last year. All three of those programs have made two title game appearances each since the start of the 2022 season. But the Pioneers have an incredibly young and talented roster. All signs point to Stillwater continuing to be that pillar program for the next few years. There is no reason to think they are slowing down anytime soon.    LAST FIVE SEASONS   2024 - 9-3 - Lost In 6A-2 Semifinals 2023 - 10-3 - Class 6A-2 Runner Ups 2022 - 13-0 - Class 6A-2 State Champions  2021 - 9-3 - Lost In 6A-2 Semifinals 2020 - 9-1 - Lost In 6A-2 Semifinals   CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY   2 State Championships   2022 - Beat Choctaw 26-21 1967 - Beat Okmulgee 15-7

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