Claremore Zebras 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 Claremore Zebras!   RELATED   <a href="https://youtu.be/IAPo94kverA" data-type="link" data-id="https://youtu.be/IAPo94kverA">- Claremore Video Preview With HC Jarrett Hurt</a>   Claremore Zebras   Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: UR In Class 5A   Head Coach: Jarrett Hurt - 11th Season - 67-47 Record At Claremore   2025 RESULTS (8-4 Record - Lost In Class 5A Quarterfinals)   Sept. 5th - Beat Bartlesville 29-20 Sept. 12th - Beat Oologah 46-6 Sept. 19th - Beat Hilldale 39-33 Sept. 26th - Beat Tahlequah 21-17 Oct. 3rd - Beat Nathan Hale 61-25 Oct. 10th - Lost To Pryor 51-20 Oct. 16th - Lost To Collinsville 24-0 Oct. 23rd - Beat Memorial 58-0 Oct. 31st - Lost To Del City 55-10 Nov. 7th - Beat W. Rogers 47-0 1st Round - Beat Coweta 28-26 Quarterfinals - Lost To Bishop McGuinness 42-14   2025 Offensive Scoring Average: 31.1 Points Per Game 2025 Defensive Scoring Average: 24.9 Points Per Game   The Claremore Zebras came into the 2025 football season looking to build off the success from the previous two seasons. They made a semifinal run in 2023 and went 9-3 in 2024. Things looked like the Zebras were on their way to another very successful season in 2025. They opened up with three straight wins in non-district play. That winning streak continued and they reached the halfway point of the regular season with a perfect 5-0 record. But the Zebras would then face the toughest stretch of their district schedule. They lost back to back games to Pryor and Collinsville and then lost to Del City on Halloween night. As it turns out, their 21-17 win over Tahlequah in the district opener in week four would be the deciding factor to the Zebras making it to the playoffs for the fourth straight year. They would have to go on the road and face district champion Coweta in the first round. They didn't back down from a fight and they were one of the rare four seeds to pull off a first round upset over a district champ. They beat the Tigers 28-26 and then had to face Bishop McGuinness in the quarterfinals. The season came to an end there with a 42-14 loss as the Irish went on to play for the state championship. Claremore finished at 8-4 on the year but still had plenty of memorable moments in an absolutely loaded Class 5A. As the Zebras start preparing for the 2026 season, the expectations have not changed as they've reloaded for another playoff run.    2026 OUTLOOK   Claremore enters the 2026 season just outside of the top ten in a very competitive and deep Class 5A. They bring back half of their starters from last year's team. It starts on offense with six starters returning. The Zebras benefit from having their quarterback coming back for an offense that averaged a little over 30 points per game. But more will be on his plate this season as they have to find a way to replace one of the better running backs in Class 5A from a season ago. They did get a major addition to the roster at the wide receiver position that should help this offense not take a step back in 2026. Defensively, the Zebras also bring back six starters from last year's team. Similar to the offense, Claremore will see some new players stepping into roles this fall but they shouldn't take much of a step back, if any. They gave up around 25 points per game last season and it wouldn't be surprising to see them improve on that number this fall. But here's the biggest hurdle for the Zebras going into this season. It's a little further in the preview with the 2026 schedule. We would make the argument that Claremore is about to play the most difficult schedule they've ever played. They play a much more difficult non-district schedule than the last few years. And over the last few years, this district has been one of the tougher districts in the state, not just in Class 5A. Claremore is the perfect example as they were a four seed in the playoffs and upset a district champion. Claremore's three toughest district games will all be on the road, adding to the challenges that the Zebras will face during the 2026 season.   KEY LOSSES TO GRADUATION   Cecil Garrett - Running Back (2025 All State Honorable Mention) Hayden Lee - Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Hudson Lee - Wide Receiver   PLAYERS TO WATCH    2027 wide receiver and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1837293' first='Ayden' last='Gaines'] joined Claremore this offseason after turning into an absolute star at Oologah last season. He was dominant in all three phases of the game last fall. He was the ultimate all purpose weapon in the rushing and receiving game. He also returned kicks and had touchdowns on the defensive side of the ball. Gaines gives Claremore a complete game changer. And when we looked at Claremore this offseason, it was obvious that they needed someone to step into that playmaker role and Gaines has the ability to do just that.     One of the biggest question marks Claremore has coming into this season is at the running back position. They expect to have a couple guys getting carries this fall but don't be surprised if 2028 running back [player_tooltip player_id='2263848' first='Demetrius' last='Cummings'] ends up being the breakout star in the Claremore offense. He's big and showed some explosive traits last year in limited opportunities. He's also going to start for the Zebras as a defensive end. Last season, he was very productive coming off the edge. It's the preseason, but all signs are pointing to Cummings turning into a breakout star.     2027 offensive and defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='2263849' first='Kaden' last='Conley'] joins Cummings as a potential two-way star for the Zebras this season. Conley will start for the Zebras on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Offensively, he's a foundational piece to their offensive line at 6'3 and 270 pounds. Defensively, he's a lineman that can absolutely take a game over. He finished last year with nearly 30 tackles and it seemed like a third of them were behind the line of scrimmage. Simply put, he's a guy that can move bodies with the best of them and could have a massive senior season.     2027 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1836917' first='Kellen' last='Gaede'] returns for year two as QB1 for the Zebras. And there's no doubt that he will have more on his shoulders in this offense with the Zebras losing their 1,500-yard running back to graduation. But there are two things that Gaede has going for him heading into this season. First, he took care of the football last year. His touchdown-interception ratio was very strong for a first year starter at the position. You combine that with some of the weapons that he has at receiver and the strong offensive line and you have the potential for a big senior campaign.     2027 offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1830688' first='Ryne' last='Near'] is a returning starter from last year's team. He's another offensive lineman that's going to have a chance to really impact what the Zebras are doing offensively. Things start with Near as he will return at the center position. Claremore is working in some new faces along the offensive line and Claremore's coaches are expecting Near to have more of a leadership role with this offensive line heading into this season. There is a lot of potential for Claremore to be explosive on offense but it will start with Near and the Claremore offensive line.    MORE NAMES TO KNOW   [player_tooltip player_id='1836335' first='Bo' last='Wolf'] - 2028 Linebacker Evan Jamerson - 2028 Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1830692' first='Graham' last='Williams'] - 2027 Wide Receiver/Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1836935' first='Jahiem' last='Ewen'] - 2027 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back [player_tooltip player_id='1830700' first='Jaxon' last='Burton'] - 2027 Kicker [player_tooltip player_id='1833515' first='Jaxon' last='Heath'] - 2027 Offensive Lineman Kannon Kinnard - 2029 Running Back/Defensive Back [player_tooltip player_id='1833524' first='Preston' last='Hollis'] - 2028 Offensive/Defensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1830675' first='Ryker' last='Drake'] - 2027 Linebacker   2026 SCHEDULE   Aug. 28th - AT Sallisaw - The 2026 season opens up with a trip south to Sallisaw in the first ever week zero game for Claremore. They've never played week zero before but that changes this season. They also haven't played Sallisaw in over 35 years. These two played every year from 1986-1989 but haven't met on the gridiron ever since.  Sept. 4th - Bartlesville - Claremore's home opener comes in week one when they host Bartlesville. The Bruins will have a new head coach and they expect to turn things around immediately, The Zebras have played Bartlesville in each of the last eight seasons. They've won three straight, including last year's 29-20 victory. Each team is 4-4 in the last eight meetings. Sept. 11th - Muskogee - The non-district schedule comes to an end in week two with a home game against Muskogee. The Roughers are on Claremore's schedule for the first time in over a decade. When Claremore was in 6A-2, these two teams were district opponents in 2014 and 2015. The Roughers won both meetings. Both teams are considered dark horses this fall. Sept. 25th - Nathan Hale - After a week off, Claremore opens up district play at home against Nathan Hale in week four. These two teams have been district opponents in each of the last six seasons. The series has been completely one-sided, in favor of the Zebras. Claremore has won all six meetings, including last year's 61-25 victory over the Rangers.  Oct. 2nd - AT Bishop McGuinness - The Zebras go on the road to face Bishop McGuinness in week five. We mentioned earlier how Claremore's three toughest district games will be away from home. This is the first one as the Irish are a new team in Claremore's district, replacing Del City. These two met in the quarterfinals a year ago, with the Irish winning 42-14. Oct. 9th - Tahlequah - Claremore returns home to host Tahlequah in week six. Like we mentioned earlier, this was the game that made Claremore's playoff push possible. They beat the Tigers 21-17 and that was the difference between making the playoffs and starting basketball and wrestling season early. The Zebras have won the last two meetings in the series. Oct. 15th - AT Edison - On a Fall Break Thursday night in week seven, the Zebras head to Tulsa to square off with Edison. The Eagles are back in Claremore's district for the first time since 2023. These two have been district opponents off and on for the last decade. The Zebras have won the last two meetings in the series and it's one where they've had a lot of success. Oct. 23rd - Memorial - Claremore returns home for their final home game during the regular season. They will meet Memorial in week eight and this is the third straight year these two have been in the same district. The Zebras have rolled to easy wins in the last two meetings and expect the same this year. Overall, Claremore has won nine straight in the series. Oct. 30th - AT Pryor - The first of two major road games to end the regular season starts here with Claremore going to Pryor in week nine. These two programs are very familiar with one another. They've met in non-district play or district play for over 15 years. It's been a back and forth series overall but Pryor has had the advantage recently, winning five of the last six. Nov. 6th - AT Collinsville - The regular season comes to an end with Claremore heading over to Collinsville for a week ten showdown against the Cardinals. These two teams have met every year in district play for the last decade. Collinsville shut out the Zebras 24-0 last season and they have an 8-2 record over the Zebras in the last decade.    NOTABLE   There is a very good argument that this group of Claremore seniors entering the 2026 season is the most successful senior class in program history. Based on the numbers, it's hard to argue that any other group has had more success than the 2027 class. They've won 28 games in the last three seasons. It started during their freshman year in 2023 when the Zebras made a run to the 5A semifinals. They would then make back to back trips to the quarterfinals over the last two seasons. Claremore has never made it to the quarterfinal round in three consecutive seasons. Now, they enter a 2026 season where they expect to make another run in the regular season and then continue that success in the playoffs. They would be able to make more history by becoming the first team in program history to go to the quarterfinals in four consecutive years. But there's no doubt that the end goal isn't just another quarterfinal appearance. They want to make a run at the district title and ultimately what would be the school's first state title in program history.   LAST FIVE SEASONS   2025 - 8-4 - Lost In Class 5A Quarterfinals 2024 - 9-3 - Lost In Class 5A Quarterfinals 2023 - 11-2 - Lost In Class 5A Semifinals 2022 - 5-6 - Lost In Class 5A 1st Round 2021 - 2-8 - Missed Playoffs   CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY   0 State Championships

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