Class 3A Preview

<em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em> Today, we continue our class by class previews. For the next two weeks, we’ll take a look at the best teams in each class, along with the best players, best games and some of the storylines that you should pay attention to going into the new season. All of this will lead us right up to the start of the 2021 season in week zero. We continue with a look at Class 3A. As always, stay tuned to the website for more class by class previews. <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>PREP REDZONE PRESEASON RANKINGS</strong></span> <strong>1) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/07/holland-hall-team-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HOLLAND HALL</a> (Coaches Ranking: #2)</strong> <strong>2) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/07/verdigris-team-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VERDIGRIS</a> (Coaches Ranking: #4)</strong> <strong>3) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/07/lincoln-christian-team-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LINCOLN CHRISTIAN</a> (Coaches Ranking: #1)</strong> <strong>4) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/07/plainview-team-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PLAINVIEW</a> (Coaches Ranking: #9)</strong> <strong>5) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/07/heritage-hall-team-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HERITAGE HALL</a> (Coaches Ranking: #3)</strong> <strong>6) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/07/anadarko-team-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ANADARKO</a> (Coaches Ranking: #7)</strong> <strong>7) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/07/berryhill-team-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BERRYHILL</a> (Coaches Ranking: #8)</strong> <strong>8) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/07/seminole-team-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SEMINOLE</a> (Coaches Ranking: UR)</strong> <strong>9) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/07/checotah-team-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CHECOTAH</a> (Coaches Ranking: UR)</strong> <strong>10) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/07/mcloud-team-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McLOUD</a> (Coaches Ranking: UR)</strong> <hr /> <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>ALL 3A TEAM</strong></span> <em><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Offense</strong></span></em> <strong>QB - [player_tooltip player_id="52787" first="Max" last="Brown"] - Senior - Lincoln Christian</strong> <strong>RB - [player_tooltip player_id="48197" first="Chase" last="Burke"] - Senior - Berryhill</strong> <strong>RB - [player_tooltip player_id="38707" first="Dontierre" last="Fisher"] - Senior - Checotah</strong> <strong>RB - [player_tooltip player_id="38678" first="Kyron" last="Downing"] - Senior - Vinita</strong> <strong>WR - [player_tooltip player_id="48668" first="Gavin" last="Freeman"] - Senior - Heritage Hall</strong> <strong>WR - [player_tooltip player_id="38782" first="Morgan" last="Pearson"] - Junior - Plainview</strong> <strong>OL - [player_tooltip player_id="135491" first="Davis" last="Dotson"] - Senior - Berryhill</strong> <strong>OL - [player_tooltip player_id="38756" first="Jordan" last="Nolin"] - Senior - Holland Hall</strong> <strong>OL - [player_tooltip player_id="157510" first="Kenyon" last="Bigbow"] - Junior - Anadarko</strong> <strong>OL - [player_tooltip player_id="157513" first="Levi" last="Lawson"] - Junior - Checotah</strong> <strong>OL - [player_tooltip player_id="38783" first="Tryce" last="Lewis"] - Junior - McLoud</strong> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>Defense</strong></em></span> <strong>DL - [player_tooltip player_id="112478" first="Brycen" last="Ellisor"] - Senior - Kingston</strong> <strong>DL - [player_tooltip player_id="186238" first="Omarion" last="Warrior"] - Senior - Checotah</strong> <strong>DL - [player_tooltip player_id="186241" first="Kayden" last="Churchill"] - Junior - Anadarko</strong> <strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id="38767" first="Caden" last="Pickens"] - Senior - Plainview</strong> <strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id="67237" first="Nick" last="Jones"] - Senior - Holland Hall</strong> <strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id="38813" first="Reese" last="Roller"] - Junior - Verdigris</strong> <strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id="186239" first="Slade" last="Snodgrass"] - Senior - Kingfisher</strong> <strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id="61125" first="NuNu" last="Campbell"] - Senior - Holland Hall</strong> <strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id="38762" first="Reis" last="Taylor"] - Senior - Plainview</strong> <strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id="186240" first="Rylan" last="Hall-Norton"] - Senior - McLoud</strong> <strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id="101402" first="Tre" last="Carter"] - Senior - Holland Hall</strong> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>Kicker/Athletes</strong></em></span> <strong>K - [player_tooltip player_id="186237" first="Luke" last="Butler"] - Senior - Heritage Hall</strong> <strong>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id="99770" first="Clint" last="Campbell"] - Junior - McLoud</strong> <strong>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id="61135" first="Ethan" last="Roush"] - Senior - Holland Hall</strong> <strong>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id="155875" first="River" last="Faulkner"] - Junior - Heritage Hall</strong> <strong>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id="38774" first="Zane" last="Woodham"] - Senior - Holland Hall</strong> <hr /> <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>MARK THE CALENDARS</strong></span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>October 22nd - Checotah AT Lincoln Christian</strong></span> The first of two marquee match-up’s that will be taking place on October 22nd in week eight will feature Checotah traveling to Tulsa to square off with Lincoln Christian. The Wildcats have a really good roster and this might be one of their best teams in recent memory. But this is without a doubt a measuring stick game. Lincoln Christian has been the measuring stick in this district for several years as they’ve absolutely dominated the competition. Checotah wants to go where Lincoln Christian has been the last two years, and that’s the state championship game. They can make quite the statement by getting a win here. It’s not going to be an easy task, but they’ll wake everyone in Class 3A up if they pull the upset. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>October 22nd - Heritage Hall AT Anadarko</strong></span> The more things change, the more they stay the same. About a decade, these two teams were two of the best in Oklahoma. The Chargers have remained as one of the top teams throughout the decade but Anadarko has had some rough seasons in recent memory but they appear to not only be back, but back to contending in Class 3A. Before they can worry about contending for that gold ball, they have to contend for the district crown and that crown has belonged to Heritage Hall for a very long time. Anadarko gets the benefit of having this game at home and they’ll have to find a way to slow down the Chargers and superstar [player_tooltip player_id="48668" first="Gavin" last="Freeman"]. But if they get the win here, I think it’s time to say that Anadarko is back. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>October 29th - Holland Hall AT Verdigris</strong></span> It’s the last game on this section but that’s just because it’s coming in week nine. However, it’s also the main event as well. If the rankings hold all the way until week nine, it will be #1 Holland Hall hosting #2 Verdigris in a showdown that will no doubt decide the district championship. The district that these two teams are in will be very competitive with Berryhill and Vinita also appearing to be very strong. However, these two are the top two teams for a reason and the winner here will more than likely be the district champ. Holland Hall absolutely smashed Verdigris last year in their regular season meeting and you know that the Cardinals have had this date circled on their calendar since last October. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>NOTABLE STORYLINES</strong></span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Public VS Private </strong></span>One of the biggest debates in Oklahoma high school football is the Public VS Private debate where some believe that private schools should only play other private schools. It’s pretty simple, private schools control their enrollment and in that sense, have an advantage over public schools. My opinion, which doesn’t matter much since I’m not a decision-maker, is also pretty simple. I don’t believe this debate would exist if CERTAIN private schools, not all, weren’t so successful. I’m not the biggest fan of changing rules just because of the outcomes. But again, that opinion is just that and I understand both sides of the argument. And arguably no class has been dominated by private schools quite like Class 3A. And it doesn’t appear to change. Three of the top five teams in our preseason rankings are private schools. The teams that won the last three state championships were those same three teams at the top of the rankings. #1 Holland Hall, #3 Lincoln Christian and #5 Heritage Hall. Not only did they win those titles, they dominated. Heritage Hall captured the 2018 gold ball with a 50-14 win. Lincoln Christian won in 2019 with a 42-21 victory and Holland Hall won their first ever title last year with a 35-7 win. Coincidentally, it came over Lincoln Christian. And by the way, with all of the dominance from private schools in Class 3A, there’s a good chance it only continues and goes further starting next year. Two-time defending 2A champion Metro Christian and Cascia Hall will be moving up to Class 3A next fall. Just adding two more potential powers and possibly making the gap in 3A a little bigger. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Young Cardinals Ready For The Spotlight</strong></span> One of the public school teams that could dethrone the private school dominance is Verdigris. This has been a team and specifically a program that has been building something pretty special. They got everyone’s attention in 2019 when they made a run to to the semifinals behind a roster that had several freshmen stepping up and not only playing but starting in those meaningful games that led to their semifinal appearance. Last year, they took another step and had the emergence of a star linebacker in Reece Roller. We have written about this countless times but in case you missed it, Roller had a stretch during the 2020 season when he recorded five sacks in back to back games. Two weeks, ten sacks. Not bad for a sophomore who quickly became one of the top linebackers in the state. Roller is not alone within this special 2023 class that Verdigris has. Quarterback Dylan White, wide receivers [player_tooltip player_id="132296" first="Dalton" last="Person"] and Tyler Mitchell also return. They also have a new face in [player_tooltip player_id="155876" first="Louie" last="Carlson"]. He’s another junior who moved to Oklahoma from Utah and gives the Cardinals yet another weapon within the 2023 class. There’s no doubt that the Cardinals are building something special and they come in at #2 in our preseason rankings. As mentioned above, that showdown with Holland Hall in late October will give us a good idea if they’re ready for the spotlight of being the top dogs in Class 3A. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>RELATED</strong></span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/08/class-6a-d1-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">– Class 6A-D1 Preview</a></strong></span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/08/class-6a-d2-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">– Class 6A-D2 Preview</a></strong></span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/08/class-5a-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">– Class 5A Preview</a></strong></span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/08/class-4a-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>- Class 4A Preview</strong></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/08/class-2a-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>- Class 2A Preview</strong></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/08/class-a-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>- Class A Preview</strong></a></span>