A Way Too Early Look At Class A-1

<!-- 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>Throughout the last month, we recapped the 2024 football season with All State teams, season recaps and many more player awards. But it's now 2025 and it's time to take a far too early look at the 2025 football season and we continue in Class A-1. Now again, it's still early on in the year and we are seven months away from the 2025 season kicking off so there are quite a few things that can change between now and then. For instance, we looked back at our WAY too early rankings at this time last year and a few things stood out. First off, the eventual state champion, Rejoice Christian, was in Class 2A-2 and would drop down to Class A-1 in April, during the emergency redistricting shuffle. While we don't envision seeing a repeat of that again in 2025, that's an example of how much things can change between now and the start of the season. But nevertheless, it's time to take a look ahead and see how 2025 could shape up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>WAY TOO EARLY TOP TEN FOR CLASS A-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1) REJOICE CHRISTIAN<br></strong>- Rejoice Christian captured their first state championship in school history in 2024 and they'll go into the 2025 season with the target squarely on them. The Eagles have to replace [player_tooltip player_id='294265' first='Cale' last='Marley'] but they already know who that guy will be as freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1328118' first='Kamieon' last='Compton-Nero'] got plenty of playing time and excelled. They also return juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1598809' first='Noah' last='Goodwin'] at running back and [player_tooltip player_id='1403519' first='Xavier' last='Okwufulueze'] at wide receiver. Their offense has the potential to be the very best in Class A-1 this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2) HOOKER<br></strong>- Hooker is coming off back to back trips to the state championship game and they are getting real tired of the color silver. Now, the Bulldogs have to replace a very special senior class but we don't expect the Bulldogs to go anywhere with some key pieces returning. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='1084102' first='Justin' last='Palacios'] returns after two outstanding seasons. And standout [player_tooltip player_id='572029' first='Keilan' last='Robinson'] also comes back and he can play just about any position on either side of the ball. They'll still be a contender in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3) CASHION <br></strong>- It was only a few years ago that Cashion was the very best program in Class A as they won back to back state championships. Now, it appears that Cashion is ready to return to contending for the gold ball and it could happen as soon as this season. 2027 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1524930' first='Kellen' last='Smith'] enjoyed a breakout season as a true dual-threat quarterback in the Cashion offense. They find themselves in the same district as Hooker but Cashion appears to be ready to contend this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4) PAWHUSKA<br></strong>- Pawhuska will come into the 2025 football season looking to contend for the district championship and if they're able to do that, they could set themselves up for a possible trip to Edmond in December. The Huskies have to replace quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='968318' first='Canyon' last='Hindman'] and that won't be easy. But [player_tooltip player_id='1325101' first='Vann' last='Wildcat'] returns after an outstanding sophomore season at running back and linebacker. Pawhuska's defense brings back a ton of experience that they can lean on while the offense comes along. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5) POCOLA<br></strong>- Pocola had one of the top offenses in the state, regardless of class and they bring back the core of that firepower for 2025. 2027 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1473214' first='Ja' last='Posey'] returns after a breakout sophomore season and his top wide receiver, [player_tooltip player_id='467141' first='Brayden' last='Hardwick'] will also return, ready to take their games to new heights in 2025. Pocola has been a team and a program that has been knocking on the door over the last few seasons. They'll have an uphill battle as they are in the same district as Rejoice Christian. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6) MINCO<br></strong>- It wouldn't surprise us at all if Minco is a top five team or even higher when the preseason rankings drop in June. The Bulldogs are coming off a 7-4 season but they bring almost everybody back on the defensive side of the ball. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1718963' first='Dason' last='McMurtrey'] also returns along with their leading rusher and some of the top receivers in the passing game. In 2024, Minco finished fourth in the district but actually beat the district champion so they have a lot of momentum going into 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7) CHRISTIAN HERITAGE<br></strong>- Christian Heritage is coming off a roller coaster of a season in 2024 but the Crusaders are going to be a team to know heading into 2025. They began the season with a 1-2 record against a tough non-district schedule and a roster with young players going through growing pains. Those young players grew up in a hurry and they would win the district title and made a run to the Class A-1 semifinals. Christian Heritage will look to take the next step and contend for the gold ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8) PAWNEE<br></strong>- You could definitely make the argument that Pawnee should be significantly higher than #8 on this ranking but to be honest, we're not sure what to think of the Black Bears in 2025. Last season, they played a brutally tough non-district schedule and that resulted in an 0-3 start. They responded by winning the rest of their games in the regular season and made it all the way to the Class A-1 semifinals. In 2025, the schedule is still going to be tough but they'll be ready. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9) FAIRVIEW<br></strong>- Fairview has been one of the more consistent winners over the last four years but things will definitely look different for them in 2025. The Yellowjackets have to find a way to replace quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='379243' first='Jax' last='Bernard'] after his record-breaking career. It's not going to be easy but we're not ready to just completely write off the Yellowjackets moving forward. But another tough hurdle they'll have to face is a district that features two of the top three teams in these rankings. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10) HARTSHORNE<br></strong>- Hartshorne is going to definitely be a team to keep an eye on as we kick off the 2025 football season. At this time last year, the Miners were off our radar and that ended up being a mistake. They would start the season with a 6-0 record and they were absolutely dominating the competition. But the season ended with the Miners going 1-4, including a first round loss to Pawhuska. They'll certainly use it as motivation this offseason to start and finish strong in 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->