Sand Springs Sandites OK 2026 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 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 reigning 6A-2 state champion Sand Springs Sandites!    RELATED   <a href="https://youtu.be/6rTM1sRcOak" type="link" id="https://youtu.be/6rTM1sRcOak">- Sand Springs Video Preview With HC Bobby Klinck</a>   Sand Springs Sandites   Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #3 In Class 6A-2   Head Coach: Bobby Klinck - 7th Season - 49-24 Record At Sand Springs   2025 RESULTS (11-2 Record - Class 6A-2 State Champions)   Sept. 5th - Lost To Bixby 56-7 Sept. 12th - Lost To Owasso 45-17 Sept. 19th - Beat Bishop Kelley 35-0 Sept. 26th - Beat Bartlesville 51-0 Oct. 3rd - Beat Capitol Hill 70-0 Oct. 10th - Beat Ponca City 29-7 Oct. 16th - Beat Putnam City West 55-0 Oct. 24th - Beat Muskogee 49-28 Oct. 31st - Beat Putnam City North 49-0 Nov. 7th - Beat Sapulpa 35-18 Quarterfinals - Beat Piedmont 35-13 Semifinals - Beat Putnam City 28-27 Championship - Beat Choctaw 32-27   2025 Offensive Scoring Average: 37.8 Points Per Game 2025 Defensive Scoring Average: 17 Points Per Game   It was a season to remember for the Sand Springs Sandites in 2025. For the first time in just shy of six decades, the Sandites climbed to the top of the mountain and were state champions. They came into 2025 ranked #3 in the preseason rankings so expectations were high that they would contend for the state title. They were challenged mightily to start the year, losing to Bixby and Owasso in the first two weeks. Those two teams would go on to play for the 6A-1 state championship. Sand Springs didn't lose again after that. They shut out their next three opponents and then took care of business against Muskogee and Sapulpa late in the season to capture the district championship. The Sandites had all the momentum in the world heading into the playoffs. They won every district game by at least 17 points. They opened up the playoffs with a quarterfinal win over Piedmont for the second straight year. That put them into a semifinal match-up with Putnam City and for the first time in a few months, the Sandites found themselves in an absolute fight. They trailed 27-7 to the Pirates at halftime. Sand Springs would shut out Putnam City in the second half and claw all the way back and they scored with less than a minute to pull within a point. Instead of kicking the point after, they went for the win in regulation and got it. That put them into the state title game against defending champion Choctaw. The Yellowjackets were the team that ended Sand Springs' season in the 2024 semifinals. In a back and forth game, Sand Springs would hold on in the fourth quarter for a 32-27 victory to win the school's first state title since 1966 and the second in program history.    2026 OUTLOOK   How do you back up a season that was nearly six decades in the making? We're about to find out as Sand Springs comes into this season as the hunted instead of the hunter. Head coach Bobby Klinck's message to us was simple about this year's team. “We are looking forward to defending our title,” Klinck said. All eyes are on the Sandites after years of chasing the gold ball. They finally raised it in 2025. But a new group will look to defend it and add another one to the trophy case. The Sandites have to replace the majority of their starters, bringing back only five starters on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they will have a new quarterback for the first time since 2022 as they lost a four-year starter to graduation. But the new QB will benefit from having one of the state's best wide receivers returning for his senior season. Offensively, the Sandites averaged nearly 40 points per game under a first year offensive coordinator. With one season under their belt, they'll look to match that production or even take a step forward. Defensively, they also bring back just five starters but the strength looks like it will be in the secondary but don't overlook some of the names the Sandites will have on the defensive line. The schedule will once again test the Sandites, especially early on. The non-district schedule features three 6A-1 opponents, including the 6A-1 Runner Up and the annual rivalry game with Sapulpa. And once they finally get into district play, the target on their back will be bigger than ever before. That's a target that the Sandites are going to embrace. While others might see the Sandites as the hunted because they are defending that title, they will still have a hunter's mentality.    KEY LOSSES TO GRADUATION   Brock O'Dell - Running Back/Linebacker (2025 All State 2nd Team Selection) Easton Webb - Quarterback (Signed With Texas State - 2025 All State Honorable Mention) Waylon Jeffers - Defensive Lineman (2025 All State Honorable Mention)   PLAYERS TO WATCH    2027 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1511450' first='Cash' last='Koertner'] is stepping into some big shoes as he joins the Sandites for his senior season. He was at Norman last year but he's moved over to Sand Springs and looks to be the guy to replace arguably the school's best quarterback in program history. Not an easy thing to do but Koertner appears to be ready to face that challenge. He played last year for Norman and also started as a sophomore for Del City. He's played against top competition and has shown flashes of being a name to know in the state's 2027 quarterback class. One thing is certain, he's going to have some really talented weapons around him at wide receiver.     We don't even think it's up for debate at this point. 2027 wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1530080' first='Dom' last='Forbes'] is one of the top wide receivers in the state. He's been an All State player in each of the last two seasons. He's already shattered every school record for receiving and still has senior year ahead of him. In the last two seasons, he's caught over 160 passes for over 2,800 yards and 31 touchdowns. He's hungry for more going into his senior season. He's the number one reason why we think the Sandites are going to be just fine on the offensive side of the ball. When you have a weapon and overall playmaker like Forbes returning, you're going to be okay.    (2025 All State 1st Team Selection)     2027 defensive lineman and linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1837047' first='Grady' last='Harris'] is a player that could really blow up this season. Last year, the Sandites were led by several seniors on the defensive side of the ball. And while Harris was productive, he didn't get as much shine as some of the other guys. But look at the production and you see a player that's primed for a breakout season this fall. Harris tied for the lead in sacks with seven on the season. He was also near the top of the list in tackles for loss. It doesn't matter if Harris lines up right on the line of scrimmage or back as a linebacker, he finds a way to get into the backfield and cause havoc.      2027 defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1705385' first='Joseph' last='Farmer'] is another returning starter on this Sandite defense and just like with Harris, we anticipate that Farmer is going to elevate his play to new heights during his senior season. Looking back at last year's team, Farmer is actually the leading returning tackle after finishing fourth on last year's team with nearly 60 tackles on the season. He's a defensive back that has a nose for the football and we're looking forward to seeing how his game looks this season. Sand Springs also needs some new faces to step up in the secondary and we think that Farmer is a guy that can help bring those new guys along.      A lot of attention will be on Forbes this season and that could open things up for 2027 receiver [player_tooltip player_id='2072734' first='Paxton' last='Salazar'] to have a big senior season. Salazar had his best performances last year on one of the biggest stages in the semifinal game. He had 12 catches for over 120 yards. Coming into that semifinal, he had 15 catches all season. Salazar is one of the offensive playmakers that the Sandites are counting on to take another step forward. There's no doubt that Forbes is going to be the go-to target in the passing game. But when defenses start throwing more guys his way, that is going to open things up in a major way for Salazar to make plays.     MORE NAMES TO KNOW   [player_tooltip player_id='1834792' first='Aiden' last='Rhine'] - 2029 Defensive Lineman Brody Shotwell - 2029 Wide Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1828709' first='Casen' last='Webb'] - 2028 Offensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1834791' first='Devin' last='McColloch'] - 2028 Defensive Lineman Gabe Harris - 2027 Running Back [player_tooltip player_id='1833490' first='Gayveon' last='Holmes'] - 2028 Defensive Back [player_tooltip player_id='1828707' first='Jace' last='Smith'] - 2028 Offensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1830802' first='Kaden' last='Pope'] - 2027 Defensive Back Nicco Gutierrez - 2028 Tight End/Defensive Back   2026 SCHEDULE   Aug. 28th - Deer Creek - The defending champs kick off the season at home against Deer Creek in week zero. These two teams used to be 6A-2 foes, meeting in the playoffs in 2020 and 2021. But the Antlers are now up in 6A-1 but this will be a great season opener for both teams. It'll also be the grudge match from those playoff meetings as both teams went 1-1. Sept. 4th - AT Sapulpa - The annual Highway 97 rivalry game between Sand Springs and Sapulpa has gone back to being a non-district clash with Sapulpa dropping back down to Class 5A. The Sandites will head south to face the Chieftains in week one. Last year, Sand Springs prevailed 35-18 and have now won ten straight between these two rivals.  Sept. 11th - AT Norman North - Sand Springs heads to Norman to face the Timberwolves in week two. It's another match-up against a 6A-1 opponent and it's the first time that these two teams have squared off against one another. The Sandites are on top of the 6A-2 mountain and the Timberwolves are looking to climb back up to the 6A-1 mountaintop.  Sept. 18th - Owasso - Non-district play wraps up for Sand Springs at home against the Owasso Rams in week three. The Sandites have met the Rams in each of the last two seasons in non-district play. Things have not gone well. The Rams have won each meeting by 28 points or more. This is the final game of a very competitive non-district slate.  Oct. 9th - AT Bartlesville - After two weeks off, more on that in a bit, Sand Springs will open up district play in week six in Bartlesville. The Sandites shut out the Bruins 51-0 last year but this will be a new look Bartlesville squad with a first year head coach and plenty of new faces. Sand Springs can't afford to look ahead to that week seven match-up.  Oct. 15th - Stillwater - This week seven clash will be one of the best in the state when Sand Springs hosts Stillwater. The Sandites are the defending champs but the Pioneers might come into this match-up as the 6A-2 favorite for 2026. These two teams haven't met since 2023 and since the 6A split, they actually haven't met very often. That changes this fall.  Oct. 23rd - Booker T Washington - Booker T Washington will make the short trip over to Sand Springs to face the Sandites in week eight. The Hornets are back in 6A-2 after spending the last two seasons in Class 5A. The last time these two teams were district foes, the Hornets dominated the series. The Sandites are 2-9 against the Hornets since the 6A split in 2014.  Oct. 30th - AT Ponca City - The Sandites will hit the road to face Ponca City in week nine. These two teams have mostly been district foes for the past two decades but whether they've been in district or not, they find a way to face off with one another. Last year, Sand Springs beat the Wildcats 29-7 and that was their sixth consecutive win in the series.  Nov. 6th - Muskogee - The regular season finale comes in week ten at home against Muskogee. The Sandites finally got over the hump last year against a Rougher team that has had their number over the last few years. Sand Springs won 49-28 and that snapped a three-game losing streak to the Roughers. This game will have serious playoff implications.    NOTABLE   We mentioned the Sandites would have a two-week break following non-district play. As you can see, Sand Springs will only have nine games in the regular season. Capitol Hill, Northwest Classen and U.S. Grant are all 6A-2 teams that will be independent for the next two seasons. Because of that, the west side district only has seven teams while the east side district is left with just six. And as you can see, that means the Sandites will only have five district games this season. The two-week break could end up being a gift or a curse for the Sandites. On one hand, you worry about getting rusty with two weeks off before the district opener. But on the other hand, the non-district slate is a gauntlet and it could offer some much needed time to heal up, identify weaknesses and address them before the district slate opens up. One thing is certain with a district featuring only six teams. The Sandites, and the other five district opponents have already punched their ticket to the playoffs before the season even begins. But the Sandites are looking to defend their crown and won't be satisfied with just making it back to the dance.   LAST FIVE SEASONS   2025 - 11-2 - Class 6A-2 State Champions  2024 - 8-4 - Lost In Class 6A-2 Semifinals 2023 - 8-4 - Lost In Class 6A-2 Quarterfinals 2022 - 7-5 - Lost In Class 6A-2 Quarterfinals 2021 - 8-4 - Lost In Class 6A-2 Semifinals    CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY   2 State Championships   2025 - Beat Choctaw 32-27 1966 - Beat El Reno 14-7

Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!