Newcastle Racers OK 2026 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 August and we're continuing our preview series! Throughout the month of July and now 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 2026 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 Newcastle Racers!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>RELATED</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://youtu.be/6BPUfqbWFnQ" type="link" id="https://youtu.be/6BPUfqbWFnQ">- Newcastle Video Preview With HC Bo Bradshaw</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Newcastle Racers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #4 In Class 5A</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: Bo Bradshaw - 1st Season</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2025 RESULTS (9-4 Record - Lost In Class 5A Semifinals)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 29th - Beat Bartlesville 51-34<br>Sept. 5th - Lost To Tuttle 35-7<br>Sept. 12th - Beat Blanchard 63-40<br>Sept. 19th - Lost To Elgin 42-24<br>Sept. 26th - Beat Duncan 44-28<br>Oct. 3rd - Beat Midwest City 51-0<br>Oct. 17th - Beat Classen SAS 63-0<br>Oct. 24th - Beat Lawton MacArthur 41-32<br>Oct. 31st - Lost To Bishop McGuinness 24-14<br>Nov. 6th - Beat Southeast 56-7<br>1st Round - Beat Altus 49-14<br>Quarterfinals - Beat Pryor 40-30<br>Semifinals - Lost To Carl Albert 42-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>2025 Offensive Scoring Average: 39.2 Points Per Game</em></strong><br><strong><em>2025 Defensive Scoring Average: 25.2 Points Per Game</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Newcastle Racers are another example of why preseason rankings can be absolutely worthless. The Racers were coming off a trip to the 5A semifinals in 2024. Despite that, we had them ranked #10 heading into the 2025 season and we got this one absolutely wrong. All the Racers did was run it back in 2025, finishing with the same record and making it back to the semifinals for the second consecutive season. The Racers tested themselves in the early part of the season, playing the two finalists in Class 4A in Elgin and Tuttle. They came up short and finished 2-2 in non-district play. But the Racers would win four straight, setting up a Halloween showdown with Bishop McGuinness with the district title on the line for the Racers. They fell 24-14 and would have to settle as the runner up in the district after beating Southeast in week ten. The Racers went into the playoffs with a 7-3 record and would dominate Altus in the first round. That set up a quarterfinal rematch against Pryor. They hosted the Tigers in the 2024 quarterfinals but would have to head east to face Pryor in 2025. The result was the same, as Newcastle prevailed 40-30 and ended Pryor's season for the second consecutive season. That punched their ticket to the semifinals but the Racers had their season come to an end there as they lost to eventual state champion Carl Albert. There is no denying that Newcastle has made a ton of noise since moving up from 4A to 5A in 2024. And the Racers are here to stay but things could look a little different when they take the field in 2026. But one thing is for sure, we aren't going to make the same mistake again with the Racers and their preseason ranking.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2026 OUTLOOK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On one hand, Newcastle comes into this season as a top five team in our 5A preseason rankings. On the other hand, they will have a first year head coach and they need to replace a lot of important pieces from the last two teams that made it to the 5A semifinals. The Racers promoted assistant coach Bo Bradshaw to be their next head coach this offseason. Bradshaw has been on the Newcastle staff for a few years and came to Newcastle from Carl Albert, where he was a coach and before that, had played for the Titans. Bradshaw takes over a Newcastle program that he has become very familiar with. Despite losing some key pieces on both sides of the ball, the Racers do have plenty of solid playmakers and production back on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Racers have a QB battle going on right now but whoever comes out on top of that will have quite a few weapons at the skill positions. Last year, they averaged nearly 40 points per game and could end up matching that production this season. Defensively, the Racers also bring back plenty of production from last year's unit. Specifically, the front seven could end up being very nasty and after getting a chance to watch them in the spring, we came away very impressed with their swarming playing style. It seemed like on every snap, Newcastle had four or five defenders around the ball in the blink of an eye. The Racers will be tested right out of the gate this season. They open up the year against the defending 5A and 4A state champions. Another difficult non-district schedule should prepare the Racers for what will be a competitive district. On paper, the Racers look like they have a team that can go after that district title. And if they are able to do that, they should have a more favorable road when the playoffs roll around.&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>Jace Ledoux - Offensive Lineman<br>Kaden Longman - Athlete (2025 All State Honorable Mention)<br>TJ Bradford - Running Back/Defensive Back (2025 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":["1837351"],"_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-6a4f9b60aad7e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">2027 wide receiver and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1837351' first='Alec' last='Shumard'] returns this season as one of the leading receivers from last year's team. He finished his junior season as Newcastle's second leading receiver with over 30 catches for over 500 yards and four touchdowns. Like we mentioned earlier, the Racers do have a couple guys they could run out there at the quarterback position this season. Whoever ends up being QB1 is going to have a solid weapon in Shumard at the receiver position. We should also expect to see him play on the defensive side of the ball. He was a very solid piece to what Newcastle was able to do in the secondary last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1727291"],"_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-6a4f9b60aae3c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">2027 athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1727291' first='Ashton' last='Shumard'] is one of two guys that is battling for that starting quarterback spot as the Racers head into the fall. Shumard has the benefit of being with Newcastle for the last few years and has some experience at the position. But last year, the Racers mostly used Shumard in a few different spots on both sides of the ball. In fact, Shumard ended up being one of the better tacklers on the team. He finished third on the team in tackles with just over 90 tackles on the season. So even if Newcastle goes with another guy at quarterback, there is no doubt that Shumard will find a way to be an impact player for the Racers when they take the field in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1837353"],"_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-6a4f9b60aaf0b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">2027 running back [player_tooltip player_id='1837353' first='Ben' last='Rogers'] has the potential to take his game to new heights this season. Last year, Rogers was behind a four-year starter at the running back position. That four-year starter had over 200 carries and has now graduated. Rogers still found a way to get nearly 100 carries last season and his workload is about to pick up in a major way. When Newcastle put the ball in his hands, good things usually followed. He finished his junior season with nearly 800 yards and 13 touchdowns. The carries are going to go up and he's going to be the unquestioned guy at the running back position. He could end up being one of the top running backs in Class 5A this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1831123"],"_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-6a4f9b60aafaf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">2027 offensive and defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1831123' first='Cody' last='Nix'] returns for another season on the Newcastle line of scrimmage. Offensively, Nix has the ability to be a steady presence on the offensive line. The Racers will lean on him as they break in some of those new pieces on offense. Defensively, Nix is a productive defensive lineman that can absolutely terrorize the guy in front of him. Nix actually bucks the typical trend with some defensive linemen. Typically, the guys up front can't rack up the tackles but that wasn't the case for Nix last season. Nix is going to set the tone for a Newcastle defense that has the potential to be one of the best units in Class 5A this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1831889"],"_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-6a4f9b60ab04a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">If you're looking for a potential breakout star for Newcastle this season, we're going with 2027 wide receiver and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1831889' first='Montre' last='McGlugritch'] coming into this season. The Newcastle standout had a terrific spring and he was honestly one of the best individuals that we watched when we caught the Racers this spring. McGlugritch was making plays on both sides of the ball and he has the potential to be an absolute two-way star for the Racers. Offensively, he gives Newcastle the ultimate home run threat at the wide receiver position. Defensively, he can be a “centerfielder” at the safety position, turning into an absolute ball hawk in the Newcastle secondary. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1727292"],"_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-6a4f9b60ab0e6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">2027 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1727292' first='Preston' last='Scagnetti'] returns as one of the top defensive players in Class 5A and we're looking forward to seeing what he does this season. At this time last year, Scagnetti was coming off a breakout sophomore season, where he was second on the team in tackles. He followed that up with a junior season where he led the Racers in tackles, finishing with just shy of 100 tackles on the season, including 12 tackles for loss. We mentioned earlier how we really like what Newcastle has coming back on defense, specifically in the front seven. Scagnetti is one of the biggest reasons for that statement. He has been a tackling machine for the Racers in the last two years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1727333"],"_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-6a4f9b60ab1c1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Joining Scagnetti is fellow 2027 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1727333' first='Quinn' last='Housley'] and we're fired up to see what he ends up doing during his senior season. Housley finished his junior season with over 90 tackles on the season and finished with ten tackles behind the line of scrimmage. We went back and looked at some of our notes from around this time last season and we didn't have anything on Housley heading into the 2025 season. So needless to say, he ended up being one of the bigger breakout stars for Newcastle, specifically on the defensive side of the ball. Now, he returns with Scagnetti to make one of the best 1-2 punches at the linebacker position that you'll find in Class 5A. </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>[player_tooltip player_id='1831287' first='Ashton' last='Jay'] - 2027 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Caden Davis - 2027 Running Back/Defensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1837361' first='Damari' last='Morgan'] - 2028 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1829006' first='Duke' last='Berchtold'] - 2028 Quarterback<br>Elyjiah Beamus - 2027 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1164644' first='Graham' last='White'] - 2028 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Marcus Johnson - 2030 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1833776' first='Stockton' last='Herring'] - 2029 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1837352' first='Thomas' last='Barbee'] - 2027 Tight End/Defensive Lineman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2026 SCHEDULE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aug. 28th - AT Carl Albert</strong><br>- Newcastle opens the season with the ultimate measuring stick game in week zero. They will go on the road to face Carl Albert in week zero. The Titans have won 50+ consecutive games and nine of the last ten state titles in Class 5A. The measuring stick doesn't get much bigger than that. It's also a rematch of last year's semifinal loss to the Titans.<br><strong>Sept. 3rd - Tuttle</strong><br>- Following their showdown with the 5A champs, Newcastle will host the defending 4A champs in week one as Tuttle comes to town. The Racers are determined to turn things around in this rivalry that has been one-sided towards the Tigers. Newcastle lost 35-7 last season and that was their 13th consecutive loss to Tuttle in this series.<br><strong>Sept. 11th - AT Blanchard</strong><br>- The Racers go back on the road in week two as they will square off with familiar foe Blanchard. The Lions have been a mainstay on the Newcastle schedule for years, whether it's been in non-district play or district play. The Racers beat the Lions 63-40 last season and that snapped a four-game losing streak to Blanchard in this series.&nbsp;<br><strong>Sept. 18th - Putnam City North</strong><br>- The Racers wrap up non-district play with a home game against Putnam City North in week three. For the third straight year, the Racers will test themselves against a 6A-2 opponent in the non-district slate. The last two years, they faced and beat Bartlesville in the season opener but this will be the first meeting with the Panthers.&nbsp;<br><strong>Sept. 25th - AT Shawnee</strong><br>- District play opens up for the Racers in week four with a trip to Shawnee. The Wolves are a new district opponent for the Racers this season. They have been a team in an east side district in Class 5A but they move back west. Not only is Shawnee a new district opponent for the Racers, they are a new opponent in general as this will be the first meeting.<br><strong>Oct. 2nd - Lawton MacArthur</strong><br>- The first of two make or break games for the Racers begins here with a week five home game against Lawton MacArthur. These two have been district foes since the Racers moved up to Class 5A in 2024. Newcastle has gotten the best of the Highlanders in each of the last two years. But despite beating Lawton Mac last year, the Highlanders won the district title.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 9th - AT Elgin</strong><br>- Following the showdown with Lawton Mac, the Racers hit the road to face Elgin as this game goes from being a non-district match-up to a very important game in district play. Elgin moves back up to Class 5A after being in 4A the last two seasons, which saw them make the state title game both years, winning it all in 2024. A win here will be huge for the district race.<br><strong>Oct. 23rd - Southeast</strong><br>- The Racers get a week off following those games with Lawton Mac and Elgin but then return home in week eight to face Southeast. These two teams have been district opponents for the last two seasons and the Racers are 2-0 against the Spartans. They've won each of the last two meetings by 27 points or more. Southeast will have a first year head coach this fall.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 30th - AT El Reno</strong><br>- Newcastle goes back on the road to square off with El Reno in week nine. The Indians are another new district opponent on the Newcastle schedule this season and they are another new opponent in general. These two teams haven't met on the gridiron before but there's no doubt that this game will have a heavy impact on district standings.<br><strong>Nov. 6th - Altus</strong><br>- The regular season comes to an end in week ten with a home game against Altus. The Bulldogs are not only another new district opponent for the Racers, but this will be a game they have circled on the calendar. Newcastle beat Altus in the first round last season, winning 49-14 but this will be an Altus team with a lot of new faces in 2026.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>NOTABLE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newcastle's rise in Class 5A has been a fun development to watch and the Racers show no signs of slowing down. Before the 2024 season, Newcastle hadn't played in the semifinals in two decades and their last trip to the semifinals came when they were in Class 2A. They erased that drought with a trip to the 2024 semifinals in their first season in Class 5A. They followed that up with another semifinal appearance in 2025, marking the first time that Newcastle had made back to back semifinal appearances since 1992 and 1993. The Racers won their only state championship in program history in 1992. The Racers have been knocking on the door of contending for the state championship since moving up to Class 5A and they are ready to knock that door down and make that trip to Edmond. It would be their first state championship appearance since 1997, when they were in Class 3A. The Racers narrowly missed the state title game in 2024 and they appear to be hungrier than ever to be the first team in Newcastle's history to make it to the semifinals in three straight seasons but they won't be satisfied with just a trip to the final four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>LAST FIVE SEASONS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 - 9-4 - Lost In Class 5A Semifinals<br>2024 - 9-4 - Lost In Class 5A Semifinals<br>2023 - 9-3 - Lost In Class 4A Quarterfinals<br>2022 - 7-4 - Lost In Class 4A 1st Round<br>2021 - 5-6 - Lost In Class 4A 1st 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</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1992 - Beat Marlow 21-11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->