Putnam City Pirates 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 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 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 Putnam City Pirates!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Putnam City Pirates&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #8 In Class 6A-2</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: Willis Alexander - 4th Season - 21-15 Record At Putnam City</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2025 RESULTS (9-3 Record - Lost In Class 6A-2 Semifinals)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 29th - Lost To Yukon 48-35<br>Sept. 4th - Beat Putnam City West 75-0<br>Sept. 12th - Beat Putnam City North 56-14<br>Sept. 25th - Beat Northwest Classen 54-0<br>Oct. 3rd - Beat Choctaw 28-27<br>Oct. 9th - Beat Lawton Eisenhower 64-0<br>Oct. 16th - Beat U.S. Grant 56-0<br>Oct. 24th - Lost To Stillwater 33-20<br>Oct. 31st - Beat Southmoore 38-25<br>Nov. 7th - Beat Piedmont 20-13<br>Quarterfinals - Beat Muskogee 21-20<br>Semifinals - Lost To Sand Springs 28-27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>2025 Offensive Scoring Average: 41.2 Points Per Game<br>2025 Defensive Scoring Average: 17.3 Points Per Game</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Putnam City Pirates came into the 2025 football season with high expectations. They had firepower on both sides of the ball and were a top five team in 6A-2 at the start of the season. They certainly played like a top five team throughout the 2025 season. They dropped the season opener to Yukon but didn't lose again until week eight. They rattled off six straight wins, including beating Choctaw in early October. In week eight, they lost to Stillwater in a game that was impacted and ultimately called early by weather. They bounced back the last two weeks of the season with wins over Southmoore and Piedmont to finish second in the district. After a week off, they beat Muskogee in the quarterfinals in a game much closer than anticipated. They would then face Sand Springs in the semifinals. The Pirates jumped out early on the Sandites and held on to the lead until the final minute. They gave up a touchdown and then the go-ahead two-point conversion as Sand Springs stunned Putnam City and went on to capture the 6A-2 state championship. There's no doubt that the ending to the 2025 season left a sour taste in the mouths of the Pirates. They were one game shy of playing for the state championship. But as they enter a new season, they will go into it with a massive chip on their shoulder. Despite having one of the better seasons in recent memory, they come into 2026 feeling like they have unfinished business.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2026 OUTLOOK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At this time last year, Putnam City entered the season as a top five team in Class 6A-2. There's no other way to put it, the Pirates were hit hard this offseason by graduation. They lost the majority of their starters from last year's semifinal team and will need some new guys to step up in a major way. Five starters are back on the offensive side of the ball. The strength of this unit will start on the line of scrimmage. Putnam City brings back some strong talent on the offensive line that can help set the Pirates up for success on offense. They'll have a new quarterback and several other skill players will be stepping into expanded roles on the offensive side of the ball. But defensively, the Pirates also took a big hit. They only bring back four starters from last year's team and a ton of individual talent was lost at all three levels of the Putnam City defense. But the Pirates have become a program that can plug and play and quickly get back to winning games on Friday nights. So there's no doubt that things are going to look different for the Pirates this fall but at the same time, they also expect to remain one of the better teams on the west side of 6A-2. The district looks a little different with new hurdles in place. But the Pirates come into this season with a massive chip on their shoulders. Not only did they come up one game shy of playing for a state championship, they come into this season as underdogs and they will have no problem with shocking the world in Class 6A-2, week after week in 2026.&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>CJ Turnbull - Quarterback (2025 All State Honorable Mention)<br>DJ Ackerson - Linebacker (2025 All State Honorable Mention)<br>Tripp Alexander - Defensive Lineman (2025 All State 2nd Team Selection)</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":["1836888"],"_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-6a6a0c6935035"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We mentioned earlier in the preview how Putnam City would rely on their offensive line to help be the foundational piece of the Pirate offense this fall. 2027 offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1836888' first='Braxton' last='Chase'] is a big piece of that as he gets ready for his third year as a starter on the line of scrimmage. Chase checks a lot of boxes from a prospect standpoint, checking in at 6'3 and a little over 300 pounds. While they are breaking in new athletes throughout the offense, the Pirates will rely on Chase and the other guys up front to give them a little more time when the season kicks off this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1836890"],"_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-6a6a152162863"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the defensive side of the ball, the Pirates are going to be led by senior Evan Metoyer at the linebacker position. Last season, Metoyer might have flown under the radar considering the talented players that were on this Putnam City defense. But he was one of their better tacklers on the season. He finished the year with nearly 70 tackles and also had a handful of tackles for loss. As they rebuild the defense and new players emerge this season, don't be surprised if Metoyer emerges as one of their top tacklers and top overall players on this side of the ball in 2026. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":2257880,"_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-6a6a0c6935089"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">On the defensive side of the ball, one of their starters they have returning is 2027 defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='2257880' first='Jonas' last='Stinson-Powers'] in the secondary. This was a defense (and a team really) that was really senior-driven and that group got a lot of the spotlight. But Stinson-Powers emerged as a potential dude on the defensive side of the ball. This offseason, he's emerged as a legitimate 2027 prospect, picking up a handful of offers with no signs of slowing down. Last year, he finished with over 30 tackles and 12 pass breakups and now he enters this fall hungry for more.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1706518"],"_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-6a6a0c69350c4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There might be a lot of talk heading into the season around the new faces throughout the Putnam City offense and in the skill department. 2027 running back [player_tooltip player_id='1706518' first='Kahmi' last='Herrera'] is a name that might be new to the starting lineup but he won't be new to playing on Friday nights. Last season, Herrera-Hawk finished the year with a little over 200 yards and averaged 7.1 yards per carry. Now, it looks like he's going to be the marquee back in this offense. And with a very strong offensive line in front of him, it wouldn't be surprising to see his production explode this fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1830641"],"_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-6a6a0c69350f7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Similar to Herrera-Hawk, 2027 wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='2139040' first='Shawn' last='Jones III'] is one of the playmakers that is expected to take an expanded role on the offensive side of the ball this season for the Pirates. Last season, Jones got into the game and was productive when he got his opportunities. He finished his junior season with 15 catches for just shy of 250 yards and a couple touchdowns. The expectation is that Jones might emerge as Putnam City's top target in the passing game. And if that happens, don't be surprised if he has a year like Herrera-Hawk where his production goes up in a major way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1830904"],"_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-6a6a0c6935129"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">2027 running back and linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1830904' first='Wyatt' last='Keefer'] returns to Putnam City, where he started his high school career and now looks to finish it with the Pirates. Keefer spent last season at Bethany, where he was a running back and linebacker that was incredibly productive when he was on the field. He dealt with some injuries late in the season that kept him from playing for the full year. Now that he's back at Putnam City, there's no doubt that he's going to be able to impact the game in a variety of ways. Earlier this month, he announced his commitment to Sioux Falls.&nbsp;</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='1836891' first='Chris'Shawn' last='Rhodes'] - 2027 Offensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1830642' first='Jarius' last='Polly'] - 2027 Defensive Back<br>Keondre Huffman - 2027 Defensive Back</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 - Yukon</strong><br>- Putnam City opens the season against Yukon at home in week zero. The Pirates have faced the Millers in non-district play in each of the last two seasons. They are 0-2 and have lost four straight in the series. You have to go all the way back to 2007 to find the last time Putnam City knocked off Yukon and that was when they were in the same district.<br><strong>Sept. 4th - AT Ponca City</strong><br>- The Pirates head up to Ponca City in week one for their first road game of the regular season. These two teams used to be district opponents in 2022 and 2023. This was a series that Ponca City had the edge in, winning both meetings. But both games were decided by seven points or less and this year's meeting could be another close one.&nbsp;<br><strong>Sept. 11th - Booker T Washington</strong><br>- Putnam City welcomes Booker T Washington to OKC in week two and it's another east-west showdown in Class 6A-2 as the Hornets are back after two seasons in Class 5A. These two teams don't have very much history against one another. In fact, this will be the first time they've met in the regular season. The last meeting was the 2017 playoffs.&nbsp;<br><strong>Sept. 17th - Midwest City</strong><br>- The Pirates wrap up their non-district schedule at home against Midwest City on a Thursday night in week three. These two teams were consistent district opponents in the early years of Class 6A-2 but the Bombers have been in 5A for a few years now. Midwest City has won eight straight in the series and Putnam City is looking for their first win since 2005.<br><strong>Sept. 25th - AT Piedmont</strong><br>- The district slate opens up in week four with a road game against Piedmont. The Wildcats moved up to Class 6A-2 a few years ago and these teams have been district opponents ever since. Both meetings have been decided by seven points with each team winning one game each. The Pirates knocked off the Wildcats last season.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 2nd - Putnam City North</strong><br>- After two years of not being in the same district, these two are back to meeting in district action. Putnam City has had a complete edge over Putnam City North in this decade. They've won five straight in the series, starting back in 2021. They won 56-14 last year and that was the biggest win for the Pirates in the series in recent memory.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 8th - AT Norman</strong><br>- Putnam City heads south to Norman to face the Tigers on a Thursday night in week six. Norman has dropped down to Class 6A-2 for at least the next two seasons and this year's meeting will be the first between these two teams since they were district foes in the first two years of the 6A split in 2014 and 2015.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 15th - AT Putnam City West</strong><br>- On a Fall Break Thursday night, the Pirates square off with rival Putnam City West in week seven. The Patriots have been in the east side district of 6A-1 for the last several years so this will be the first district meeting between these two teams since 2019. Putnam City has won the last two meetings by a combined score of 118-0.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 23rd - Choctaw</strong><br>- Putnam City hosts Choctaw in week eight and this game will certainly have major playoff implications. Last year, it was the difference between having a first round bye and not. Putnam City beat the Yellowjackets 28-27 in their meeting a year ago. That snapped a five-game losing streak to the Yellowjackets in this series.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 30th - AT Lawton Eisenhower</strong><br>- The regular season actually comes to an end in week nine for Putnam City when they travel to Lawton to face Eisenhower. The Pirates will have a week off before the playoff journey begins. And we were very surprised to see that these two teams have zero history with one another. This will be the first meeting.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>NOTABLE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Putnam City had a season to remember in 2025. Head coach Willis Alexander tends to have that impact on a program. Alexander has been a head coach for five different programs over the last two decades. 15 years ago, Alexander had the Douglass Trojans as one of the OKC Powerhouses, winning a 2010 state championship and nearly 100 games during his time there. Now, he's entering year four as the captain of the Putnam City Pirate ship and he helped lead them to heights last season that we haven't seen in over two decades. After back to back quarterfinal appearances in 2023 and 2024, the Pirates made it to the semifinal round for the first time since 2003. Now, they will look to reload on both sides of the ball and get back in the mix in Class 6A-2. And there's no doubt that 6A-2 has become the class of parity since Bixby moved up to 6A-1 in 2022. We have seen four different schools win state championships in the last four seasons. Perhaps Putnam City will become the fifth in 2026.&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>2025 - 9-3 - Lost In Class 6A-2 Semifinals<br>2024 - 7-5 - Lost In Class 6A-2 Quarterfinals<br>2023 - 5-7 - Lost In Class 6A-2 Quarterfinals<br>2022 - 4-7 - Lost In Class 6A-2 1st Round<br>2021 - 2-7 - Missed Playoffs</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>3 State Championships</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1977 - Beat Putnam City West 21-14<br>1975 - Beat Booker T Washington 24-20<br>1974 - Beat [player_tooltip player_id='2136437' first='John' last='Marshall'] 21-17</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->