Stilwell Indians OK 2026 Team Preview

Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!   Throughout the month of July and now into August, we are publishing 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 Stilwell Indians!   RELATED   <a href="https://youtu.be/64WSKexavfw" data-type="link" data-id="https://youtu.be/64WSKexavfw">- Stilwell Video Preview With HC Jordan Barlow</a>   Stilwell Indians    Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: UR In Class 4A   Head Coach: Jordan Barlow - 2nd Season - 2-8 Record At Stilwell   2025 RESULTS (2-8 Record - Missed Playoffs)   Aug. 29th - Lost To Gentry, AR. 35-12 Sept. 12th - Beat Keys 34-20 Sept. 19th - Lost To Stigler 7-0 Sept. 26th - Lost To Poteau 31-30 Oct. 3rd - Lost To McLain 55-44 Oct. 10th - Lost To Broken Bow 70-36 Oct. 16th - Lost To Ada 49-8 Oct. 24th - Lost To Hilldale 45-32 Oct. 30th - Lost To Sallisaw 42-0 Nov. 7th - Beat Glenpool 34-12   2025 Offensive Scoring Average: 23 Points Per Game 2025 Defensive Scoring Average: 36.6 Points Per Game   The Stilwell Indians began a new era in 2025 as they hired Jordan Barlow to lead the program. He came to Stilwell from Westville and inherited a program that hadn't had a winning season since 2007. But he also took over a program that was not lacking talent and had the opportunity to turn things around. After a tough loss to Gentry in the season opener, Stilwell got their first win of the season when they beat Keys by a couple touchdowns. However, their next two games featured back to back losses to Stigler and Poteau by a combined eight points. They then lost a shootout to McLain in week five. They found themselves at 1-4 at the halfway point of the year and things just snowballed from there in one of the toughest districts in the state. They lost their next four games but they finished off the 2025 season with a win. They beat Glenpool 34-12 in the regular season finale. This was a Stilwell team that was incredibly young on both sides of the ball. That meant they were going to have some struggles and have to endure some growing pains. But as the calendar turns to the 2026 season, there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about Stilwell football heading into the new year. Now, some of the toughest challenges (the district) still remain but this is a program that is trending in the right direction.    2026 OUTLOOK   Stilwell comes into this season with the majority of their starters on both sides of the ball returning and they have some firepower that can make some serious noise in Class 4A this season. First off, ten starters return on offense and they bring back all of their skill players. They have to replace one starter on the offensive line but everyone else is back from an offense that averaged 23 points per game last season. We think that number could go up in a major way this season. The Indians also bring back six starters on the defensive side of the ball. They have next level talent at all three levels of the defense. And the thing that we really like about the Stilwell roster is the depth that they have throughout the classes. They have some very experienced and talented upperclassmen but they also have some up and coming guys in the 2028 and 2029 classes that will make things very interesting for the Indians moving forward. But when it comes down to Stilwell heading into this season, they find themselves once again in one of the toughest districts in the state. Good teams get left out of the playoffs in this district. But when we look at the upcoming season, we believe that the Indians can take a step in the right direction. There is a potential for Stilwell to still be in the playoff mix in the final two weeks of the season. And if that happens, in our opinion, that would make for a positive step in the right direction.   KEY LOSSES TO GRADUATION   Evodio Leon - Offensive/Defensive Lineman Ignasio Guevara - Offensive/Defensive Lineman   PLAYERS TO WATCH    2027 wide receiver and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1530096' first='Brayton' last='Carter'] returns as one of the best and productive two-way players in Class 4A this season. Carter has been an impact player for Stilwell for years and he's back for one more year. Last season, he totaled nearly 1,400 yards and accounted for 12 total touchdowns. Carter did whatever the Indians needed him to do and time after time, he was able to produce in a major way. Defensively, he also added nearly 90 tackles and finished the year with four interceptions. Carter's recruitment has also taken off this offseason and shouldn't slow down this fall.      2027 running back and linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1509037' first='Chase' last='Benham'] is right there in the conversation with Carter as one of the best two-way players in Class 4A football this season. And just like Carter, it feels like Benham has been around for five or six years at this point. He's coming off a terrific junior season. He finished with over 1,000 yards on the ground and accounted for 16 total touchdowns on the season. Defensively, he also added over 100 tackles from the linebacker position. There is no reason to think that Benham won't see his production take another step forward when they take the field this fall.      If you're looking for a breakout star for Stilwell heading into this season, here's our pick on both sides of the ball. 2028 wide receiver and cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='1830151' first='Denver' last='Bruner'] returns after starting during his freshman season. He had to sit out his sophomore season after a knee injury he sustained last summer sidelined him for the 2025 campaign. Talking with Stilwell's coaches, they are very excited to get Bruner back in the fold this season and the versatility that he brings to what they do. He's a solid receiver prospect but there's a chance that he's more impactful on the defensive side of the ball.      2029 defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1839481' first='Jaden' last='Eubanks'] is another hidden gem that has an incredibly high ceiling moving forward. Eubanks has only been playing football for the last two seasons but with his size, strength and overall explosiveness, he is a guy on the line of scrimmage that can absolutely terrorize opposing offensive linemen. Eubanks got his feet wet last season as a freshman and now Stilwell expects him to take a big step forward. Measuring in at 6'2 and 275 pounds, Eubanks' numbers in the weight room are off the charts and his ceiling as a prospect is incredibly high.     Stilwell's quarterback returns as 2027 signal caller [player_tooltip player_id='1837335' first='Jett' last='Kimble'] is back for another season in the Stilwell offense. But as fall camp has opened up this week, Kimble is being pushed by other guys at the position but that competition should only make him stronger heading into the season. It's ironic that Kimble's first name is Jett considering he's one of, if not the fastest kid on the team. And when you look around at what the Indians bring back offensively, Kimble is going to be set up for a lot of success this season. He has plenty of weapons and an experienced offensive line in front of him.     We first watched 2029 athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1828800' first='Mikey' last='Sawney'] this offseason when we got some of his freshman film. Sawney is an absolute animal on the football field and we're fired up to see what kind of production he has with a bigger workload during his sophomore season. Sawney was just a freshman last year and couldn't be denied playing time. He made the most of it, finishing with over 700 yards and four touchdowns. He was also the energizer bunny on the defensive side of the ball. He might be an undersized athlete but he plays with juice you don't see from freshmen very often.     MORE NAMES TO KNOW   Blake Sawney - 2030 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Boston Shewmaker - 2030 Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1839025' first='Darrian' last='Scraper'] - 2030 Tight End [player_tooltip player_id='1839008' first='Derrick' last='Scott'] - 2027 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back [player_tooltip player_id='1830150' first='Elan' last='Teehee'] - 2027 Offensive/Defensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1833574' first='Kason' last='Soap'] - 2029 Tight End/Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1839021' first='Talon' last='Thurber'] - 2028 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Wyatt Lundberg - 2030 Tight End/Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1833575' first='Zadyn' last='Nelson'] - 2029 Offensive Lineman   2026 SCHEDULE   Aug. 28th - AT Miami - The 2026 season kicks off with a trip up to northeastern Oklahoma when Stilwell visits Miami in week zero. These two haven't met on the gridiron in a very long time. They met in back to back seasons in 2000 and 2001 but those were the last two meetings between these two. Miami won both of those match-ups but that was 25 years ago. Sept. 4th - Vinita - Stilwell's home opener comes in week one when they host the Vinita Hornets. And just like the Miami series, it has been even longer since the Indians have played Vinita. You have to go all the way back to 1986 and 1987 to find the last two times these two squared off. Vinita won the 1986 match-up while the Indians won the last one in 1987. Sept. 11th - AT Jay - The Indians head back up to northeastern Oklahoma to face Jay in week two and will wrap up non-district play here. Just like the first two non-district match-ups, it's been over two decades since the Bulldogs and Indians squared off. They met every year from 1998-2003 and it was a series that was one-sided. Jay had a 5-1 advantage during that stretch. Sept. 25th - AT McLain - After a week off to prepare for the district slate, Stilwell opens things up by going to Tulsa to face McLain in week four. These two teams have been district opponents in each of the last two seasons. McLain won a low-scoring game in 2024 and then followed that up with a 55-44 win over the Indians in their meeting last year. Oct. 2nd - Hilldale - After not playing at home in nearly a month, the Indians return home to host Hilldale in week five. These two teams have been district opponents since 2016 and the series has been one-sided, in favor of Hilldale. There has been a close game here and there but Stilwell hasn't beaten Hilldale in over 35 years.  Oct. 9th - AT Sallisaw - Stilwell heads over to Sallisaw in week six and these two teams have met every year for the last three decades. While Sallisaw has the overall advantage, Stilwell has had some success against the Black Diamonds in the last decade. They won back to back meetings in 2021 and 2022. But Sallisaw comes into this year having won the last three meetings. Oct. 15th - Poteau - On a Fall Break Thursday night in week seven, the Indians return home to host Poteau. The Pirates have won 16 straight games in the district series with Stilwell. They also come into this season with a massive chip on their shoulder after going 7-3 last year but missing the playoffs. They are the perfect example of why this district is such a gauntlet. Oct. 23rd - Broken Bow - The Indians host Broken Bow in week eight and this will be the measuring stick game of the season for Stilwell to see where they are compared to some of 4A's best. Broken Bow won the district last year and they come into this season as the preseason number one team. They've also won 12 straight in the series against the Indians.  Oct. 30th - AT Mannford - After back to back home games, the Indians will hit the road twice to end the regular season. Week nine has a visit to Mannford as they are a new opponent in district, moving up from Class 3A. These two have never met on the gridiron. If Stilwell can come into this week with at least two district wins, they'll have a chance for a playoff push. Nov. 6th - AT Ada - The regular season comes to an end with a trip to Ada to face the Cougars in week ten. Depending on where these two teams are in the standings, this could be a “win and you're in” game for the playoffs. This is another district series that the Indians are looking to turn things around. They are 0-6 all time against the Cougars.    NOTABLE   Stilwell finds themselves in one of the tougher districts in the state, regardless of class. Finding a way back to the playoffs is going to be a difficult challenge. But this is a community and a football program that is hungry to do just that. We mentioned earlier in the preview how Stilwell hasn't had a winning record in nearly two decades. 2007 was the last winning record and that was also the last time they reached the playoffs. They have one of the longer playoff droughts in Class 4A football heading into this season. In fact, since 2000, Stilwell has been to the playoffs only two times. 2000 and 2007 were the only playoff years. You have to go back to 1989 to find the last time the Indians won a playoff game. But as we mentioned earlier, we think that this team has the talent on the roster to make a run at ending that drought. Things are definitely trending in the right direction. Now they have to go out and prove that on Friday nights.    LAST FIVE SEASONS   2025 - 2-8 - Missed Playoffs 2024 - 1-9 - Missed Playoffs 2023 - 2-8 - Missed Playoffs 2022 - 5-5 - Missed Playoffs 2021 - 2-7 - Missed Playoffs   CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY   0 State Championships

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