Class A 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 August and we are now less than a month away from the 2022 football season! After a month in July where we were previewing individual teams, we're taking a bigger picture look at the 2022 season. In this post, we take a look at Class A heading into the season. From our preseason rankings to the All A Team and much more, we'll get you ready for everything Class A heading into the season. Which games do you need to know about? What are some of the bigger storylines heading into the year? Get all of the answers right here with our in-depth Class A preview. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong>Class A Preseason Rankings</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/gore-team-preview-2/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/gore-team-preview-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GORE</a></strong><br><strong>2) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/fairview-team-preview/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/fairview-team-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FAIRVIEW</a></strong><br><strong>3) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/cashion-team-preview-2/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/cashion-team-preview-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CASHION</a></strong><br><strong>4) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/woodland-team-preview-2/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/woodland-team-preview-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WOODLAND</a></strong><br><strong>5) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/ringling-team-preview-2/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/ringling-team-preview-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RINGLING</a></strong><br><strong>6) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/pocola-team-preview/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/pocola-team-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">POCOLA</a></strong><br><strong>7) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/christian-heritage-team-preview/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/christian-heritage-team-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CHRISTIAN HERITAGE</a></strong><br><strong>8) <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/hominy-team-preview/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepredzone.com/2022/07/hominy-team-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HOMINY</a></strong><br><strong>9) PAWNEE</strong><br><strong>10) WYNNEWOOD</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong>All A Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>OFFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB - [player_tooltip player_id='38800' first='Kye' last='Davis'] - 2023 - Christian Heritage<br>RB - [player_tooltip player_id='268315' first='AJ' last='Lyons-Jerrell'] - 2025 - Pocola<br>RB - [player_tooltip player_id='189918' first='Gunner' last='Dozier'] - 2023 - Gore <br>RB - [player_tooltip player_id='291971' first='Kaden' last='Barron'] - 2023 - Ringling <br>WR - [player_tooltip player_id='382643' first='Dakotah' last='Terrell'] - 2025 - Pocola<br>TE - [player_tooltip player_id='379234' first='Austin' last='Houk'] - 2023 - Fairview <br>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='412934' first='Eli' last='Kirkes'] - 2024 - Minco<br>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='412935' first='Gabe' last='Dozier'] - 2023 - Gore <br>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='360242' first='Gage' last='Stegall'] - 2024 - Burns Flat<br>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='412937' first='Jon' last='Warren'] - 2024 - Christian Heritage <br>OL - [player_tooltip player_id='189927' first='Parker' last='Payne'] - 2023 - Thomas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>DEFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='189919' first='Garrett' last='Douthit'] - 2023 - Gore <br>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='189936' first='Jackson' last='Vandruff'] - 2023 - Cashion<br>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='412936' first='Kaden' last='Pettus'] - 2023 - Fairview <br>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='189921' first='Dayne' last='Perryman'] - 2023 - Gore <br>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='189939' first='Jackson' last='Rhodes'] - 2024 - Woodland <br>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='380449' first='Nathan' last='Bouchard'] - 2023 - Woodland <br>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='382640' first='Tucker' last='Thompson'] - 2023 - Pocola <br>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='353410' first='Caden' last='Knighten'] - 2025 - Wynnewood<br>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='381567' first='Caleb' last='Taylor'] - 2024 - Ringling <br>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='375967' first='Max' last='Brown'] - 2023 - Cashion <br>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='384062' first='Nate' last='Jines'] - 2023 - Christian Heritage </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>KICKER/ATHLETES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>K - [player_tooltip player_id='403974' first='David' last='Arriaga'] - 2024 - Stratford<br>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='189937' first='Aidan' last='Rhodes'] - 2023 - Woodland<br>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='379235' first='Blake' last='Perez'] - 2023 - Fairview <br>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='189920' first='Jackson' last='Duke'] - 2023 - Gore<br>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='386581' first='Jaxon' last='Woods'] - 2024 - Hominy </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong>Mark Your Calendars</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>September 2nd - Cashion AT Pawhuska</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In week one, we get a renewal of a playoff rivalry that has been outstanding over the last two seasons. Pawhuska will host Cashion and the only reason this isn't a massive game is because Pawhuska has moved up to Class 2A. This will be the only time these two teams face off this fall. Cashion got the best of Pawhuska in back to back semifinal appearances and both games were incredibly entertaining. The Huskies will definitely have a little revenge on their mind and we can only hope that this match-up lives up to the last two meetings. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>October 7th - Gore AT Pocola</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gore comes into this season as the preseason #1 team in Class A and they certainly have a team capable of winning the state championship. But the toughest test for them during the regular season will come in week six when they go on the road and take on Pocola. The Indians are moving down from Class 2A and they have several young prospects that have the chance to be incredibly special. However, the Pirates are the favorites in Class A and will come into this game as the favorite. The district champ will probably be the winner of this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>October 14th - Cashion AT Christian Heritage</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>By the time week seven rolls around and it's Fall Break, we should have a much better idea of what this Cashion team is going to look like. The Wildcats are back to back state champs but they're looking to reload after losing several key pieces from those title teams. And their toughest district test could come in week seven when they travel to Del City to face off with Christian Heritage. The Crusaders have pushed the Wildcats in the past and both teams are the top ranked teams within this district. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>October 21st - Wynnewood AT Ringling</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ringling has been flat out dominant over the last three seasons and it's been a long time since they were tested in the regular season. When they host Wynnewood in week eight, the district championship could end up being decided here. The Blue Devils will certainly be tested by a Wynnewood team that has some young playmakers. One of the bigger question marks heading into this season circles around Ringling and whether or not any team can push them in the regular season. Wynnewood has a great shot of being that team this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>October 28th - Hominy AT Woodland</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Similar to the other notable district match-ups, we wouldn't be surprised at all if the district championship is decided when Woodland hosts Hominy. This match-up also features two of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in Class A. We could end up seeing a shootout in this one as both teams have the ability to light up the scoreboards. Both teams are the top two ranked teams within this district heading into the season. They are in a brutal district and the competition for the district title will be intense every single week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong>Notable Storylines</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>A Split Is Coming...</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Earlier this year, the Oklahoma football coaches suggested and voted on Class 2A and Class A be split into two divisions. Each class would have two divisions consisting of 32 teams instead of one class of 64 teams. This won't happen until the 2024 season as the split will happen during the next redistricting shuffle. Class A is going to look completely different moving forward as the class gets split into two divisions. This does a couple things. The obvious is that it adds another state champion and lowers the amount of playoff games necessary to win a state championship. Another thing is it makes it more possible to see seasons like we've seen in the last decade where one outstanding player can put the team on his back and win a state championship. Most notable in recent memory is Afton in 2017 behind Wil Amos and Hominy in 2016 behind Zaven Collins. We expect to see more championship runs like that happen once the split occurs. Again, we have two more years of Class A in it's current state but that split will be here before we know it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Cashion's Rebuild Begins</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cashion has captured back to back state championships and have played for the gold ball in three consecutive seasons. The Wildcats enter the 2022 season and it appears that they'll be rebuilding. They lose an incredibly talented senior class and the majority of their skill positions will have to be replaced. But Cashion has become a program in Class A that will always be in the mix. Maybe the word "rebuild" isn't correct and we should replace that with "reload" because the Wildcats expect to once again contend, despite having new faces everywhere on both sides of the ball. Do they have enough firepower to make another run to the championship game in Edmond? Only time will tell, but they come into this season in a different position from the last few years. Cashion will still have a target on them as back to back state champions but that target won't be quite as big as it's been over the last few years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Gore Brings Back Everyone...Again</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the second straight year, Gore will come into a season as one of the more experienced teams in the state, not just in Class A. The Pirates bring back 20 starters from last year's playoff team. That's a big reason why they come into the season as the #1 team in the Class A preseason rankings. The Pirates were in a similar position last fall where they brought back all 22 starters but would get tripped up in the playoffs. They're looking to finish the job this fall. Head coach Brandon Tyler has completely turned around this program and turned it into a team to watch year in and year out. Before Tyler took over, Gore went 5-35 in four seasons. Since Tyler took over his alma mater in 2017, the Pirates are 46-9 and are knocking on the door of truly joining the elite teams in Class A. With nearly everyone returning from last year's team, the Pirates have a chance to kick that door down and contend for a state championship this season. They have a great chance to go unbeaten in the regular season once again but it's all about what they can do in November and December. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->