Bristow Pirates OK 2025 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 2025 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 Bristow Pirates!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Bristow Pirates&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: UR In Class 3A</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: Billy Sexton - 1st Season&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2024 RESULTS (7-5 Record - Lost In Class 3A Quarterfinals)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 6th - Lost To Cushing 13-6<br>Sept. 13th - Beat Berryhill 27-13<br>Sept. 20th - Lost To Wagoner 41-7<br>Sept. 27th - Beat Victory Christian 31-20<br>Oct. 4th - Beat Seminole 58-48<br>Oct. 11th - Beat Mannford 49-6<br>Oct. 17th - Lost To Sulphur 41-0<br>Oct. 25th - Beat McLoud 42-14<br>Nov. 1st - Lost To Perkins-Tryon 42-35<br>Nov. 8th - Beat Lone Grove 46-6<br>1st Round - Beat Plainview 25-14<br>Quarterfinals - Lost To Checotah 35-32</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>2024 Offensive Scoring Average: 29.8 Points Per Game<br>2024 Defensive Scoring Average: 24.4 Points Per Game</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bristow Pirates came into the 2024 football season under new leadership. After letting go of longtime head coach Brett Jones, the Pirates introduced Bixby assistant coach Chris Cole as their next head coach. He would switch up how the Pirates would do things offensively but he also faced challenges with a tough non-district schedule. There were growing pains early on for the Pirates. They started 1-2 after losses to 4A top ten teams Cushing and Wagoner. But the Pirates turned things around in district play and started making plenty of noise on the offensive side of the ball. They won three straight games before a week seven loss to Sulphur. They bounced back with two wins in the final three weeks to finish the regular season at 6-4 and they were third in the district. They went on the road and took down Plainview 25-14 in the first round. But after Checotah upset district champion Cascia Hall, Bristow hosted the quarterfinals with a shot to make it to the semifinals. And they led 32-28 in the final minute but the Wildcats (more specifically Elijah Thomas) would stun the Pirates in the final minute to punch their ticket to the semifinals. The season ended with a 7-5 record and a quarterfinal appearance. After back to back first round losses in 2022 and 2023, making it to the quarterfinals and incredibly close to the semifinals was definitely a step in the right direction. But as they turn the page to the 2025 season, they will be under new leadership for the second straight season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2025 OUTLOOK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Following the 2024 season, Cole stepped down as head coach of the Pirates and he returned to Bixby as an assistant coach. In January, Bristow introduced Billy Sexton as their next head coach. He comes to Bristow from Little Axe and has 15 years of experience in coaching. And he inherits a roster that is full of returning experience and overall talent. Eight starters return on the offensive side of the ball. And the strength of this unit definitely starts on the line of scrimmage. Bristow has multiple offensive linemen that have the size and talent to play college football. The quarterback also returns and he'll be one of the more dynamic playmakers in Class 3A this season. Now, the Pirates have to find a way to replace a multi-year starter at the running back position and that won't be an easy thing to do. Right now, it looks like they'll do running back by committee until one player seizes the opportunity to become that workhorse back. Defensively, the Pirates bring back seven starters and just like with the offense, Bristow's coaches are excited about the potential on the play on the line of scrimmage. They certainly have the ability to set the tone and cause problems for opposing offenses. Just like last year, Bristow's non-district schedule will be incredibly challenging. They play three preseason top ten teams in the first three weeks. They also play in a challenging district, featuring two preseason top five teams with Sulphur and Perkins-Tryon. But when we look at Bristow, this is definitely a team that could repeat last year. Going from under the radar heading into the season and then becoming one of the better teams in the class.&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>Darien Dansby - Running Back - All State Honorable Mention<br>Talon Bigpond - Tight End/Linebacker</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":["1689520"],"_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-688bed12eb2ab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sophomore offensive and defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1689520' first='Grahm' last='Streater'] has already emerged as a very serious 2028 prospect to watch moving forward. Streater had a solid freshman season and Bristow's coaches are very high on him as an overall prospect moving forward. Earlier in the preview we mentioned how talented this Bristow offensive line could end up being this season. While Bristow is pretty senior-heavy on both sides of the line of scrimmage, Streater is a young but incredibly talented player to watch. He earned his way onto the field last season and is hungry for more. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1743538"],"_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-688bed12eb329"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Streater isn't the only Bristow sophomore to watch this season. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1743538' first='Mack' last='Powell'] returns after earning significant playing time during his freshman season. And when you look at Bristow's defense heading into this season, Powell is going to be one of the top returning tacklers. He enjoyed a breakout season last fall and now he's looking to lead the team in tackles from his linebacker position. Last season, Powell finished his freshman year with nearly 80 tackles on the season. We're looking forward to seeing what kind of production he has this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1743536"],"_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-688bed12eb38c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Senior offensive and defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1743536' first='Marley' last='Branscum'] is another lineman that Bristow's coaches are very high on. And just like we mentioned with Streater, Branscum represents part of the senior-heavy presence on the Bristow line of scrimmage. Branscum measures in at 6'4 and 280 pounds. When you look at the Bristow roster, the size on the line of scrimmage is pretty strong for a 3A program. There's a chance that Branscum is part of the best offensive line in Class 3A. Branscum is a 2026 prospect that is probably flying under the radar heading into this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1293011"],"_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-688bed12eb3d9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1293011' first='Promised' last='Johnson'] returns for his second season as Bristow's do-it-all quarterback. Last season, he would have a breakout year, throwing for over 600 yards and running for nearly 600 yards. He threw five touchdowns and ran for seven touchdowns. But with Bristow losing Dansby to graduation, it should open the door for Johnson to be a significantly more impactful player from a production standpoint. Johnson was a player that first stood out to us a little over a year ago. He's a unique prospect to watch in the state's 2027 class. We're fired up to see what he does in year two. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1743537"],"_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-688bed12eb42d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We mentioned earlier in the preview how running back is a position to watch this season. Finding someone to replace Dansby and his production won't be an easy thing. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1743537' first='Shane' last='Bethel'] is a player to look out for but the Pirates will more than likely go running back by committee early on. Looking back on last season, Bethel was third on the team in carries and yards behind Dansby and Johnson. So he could end up being the guy with the majority of the carries from the running back position. The Bristow running backs will also benefit from the OL play. </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>Cain Clay - 2026 Tight End/Linebacker<br>Chris Doremus - 2026 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Chris Rolland - 2026 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>DJ Allen - 2026 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Dmarii McGee - 2027 Running Back/Defensive Back<br>Hudson Claggett - 2027 Linebacker<br>Javon Freeman - 2027 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Matt Brown - 2026 Running Back<br>TJ Wilson - 2027 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Will Remington - 2026 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Zain Bigpond - 2027 Tight End/Linebacker<br>Zander Dickson-Reece - 2027 Offensive/Defensive Lineman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2025 SCHEDULE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sept. 5th - Cushing</strong><br>- The annual season opener against Cushing takes place in week one as the Pirates will host the Tigers to kick off the season. Last year, they lost 13-6 and it was their fifth straight loss in the series. Bristow is desperate to turn things around against the Tigers but Cushing is once again a top ten team in 4A.<br><strong>Sept. 12th - AT Berryhill</strong><br>- In week two, Bristow goes on the road for the first of three straight road games. They head to face Berryhill and this will be a match-up of two very strong offensive lines. Last season was their first meeting in recent memory. Bristow took home a 27-13 victory. They'll look to win again this season.&nbsp;<br><strong>Sept. 19th - AT Wagoner</strong><br>- The non-district slate wraps up with a road trip to Wagoner in week three. Bristow lost to the Bulldogs 41-7 last season but both teams will look different this year with first year head coaches. And Wagoner lost a lot to graduation. A Bristow win would give them a ton of momentum.&nbsp;<br><strong>Sept. 26th - AT Victory Christian</strong><br>- District play opens for Bristow in week four with a road trip to Tulsa to face Victory Christian. The Conquerors will also have a first year head coach this season. Last year was the first meeting since 2017 as the entire district slate was full of new district opponents for the Pirates.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 3rd - Seminole</strong><br>- Seminole was another new district opponent for the Pirates as they hadn't faced the Chieftains since the 2013 season. These two played a very fun (defense optional) game last season. Bristow prevailed, winning 58-48. We could see some more fireworks in the match-up this season.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 10th - AT Mannford</strong><br>- After years of playing rival Mannford in non-district play, last season was the first time in recent memory that they met in district play. Bristow has owned this rivalry (and the awesome trophy that goes to the winner) for over ten years. They beat Mannford 49-6 last season and it was their 11th straight win.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 16th - Sulphur</strong><br>- If Bristow wants to capture the district championship, this is a game that they have to win. Sulphur dominated their way to the district championship in 2024 and the Bulldogs plan on doing it again in 2025. Last season, Bristow fell 41-0 and that was the only game they were shut out in 2024.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 24th - McLoud</strong><br>- In week eight, Bristow will host McLoud and yet again, the Redskins were a new district opponent for the Pirates last season. Bristow rolled to a 42-14 victory in their first meeting with McLoud since they were district foes in 2014 and 2015. This is also another match-up with a team that has a first year head coach.&nbsp;<br><strong>Oct. 31st - AT Perkins-Tryon</strong><br>- On a Halloween night in week nine, Bristow will square off with Perkins-Tryon in a critically important district contest. Last season, they met the Demons for the first time in a little over a decade. Perkins-Tryon would squeak out a 42-35 victory over the Pirates for their fifth straight win in the series.&nbsp;<br><strong>Nov. 7th - Lone Grove</strong><br>- The 2025 regular season comes to an end in week ten with a home game against Lone Grove. The Pirates met the Longhorns for the first time in recent memory last season. They dominated that match-up, winning 46-6. That certainly gave them some momentum heading into the playoffs the following week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>NOTABLE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been about four decades since Bristow was one of the best football programs in the state. During the 80's, they made three state championship appearances, winning the 1985 state title. But the Pirates are looking to return to that championship glory four decades later. Last season, Bristow made the playoffs for the tenth consecutive season. That's the longest playoff streak for Bristow since the 80's and into the early 90's. But despite ten consecutive trips to the postseason, they haven't been able to get over the quarterfinal hurdle. Their last semifinal appearance came back in 2000, one year after their last state championship game appearance. And last year's quarterfinal appearance was just the third during this 10-year stretch. When we look at Bristow on paper, this is a team that we could definitely see making a run this season. Between all of the experience and overall talent they have returning, Bristow should make it back to the postseason again this season and once they get there, they'll be looking to take that next step. They were a minute away from making the semifinals last year and they certainly haven't forgotten about how 2024 ended. That will be a major motivator this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>LAST FOUR SEASONS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 - 7-5 - Lost In Class 3A Quarterfinals<br>2023 - 5-6 - Lost In Class 3A 1st Round<br>2022 - 6-5 - Lost In Class 3A 1st Round<br>2021 - 9-3 - Lost In Class 4A Quarterfinals<br>2020 - 8-4 - Lost In Class 4A Quarterfinals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>3 State Championships</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1985 - Beat Vinita 22-7<br>1976 - Beat Vinita 13-10<br>1975 - Beat Clinton 20-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->