2024 quarterback Caden Lesnau Caden Lesnau 5'11" | ATH McAlester | 2024 State OK was a name that we had circled coming into last season as he was arguably one of their best wide receivers during the 2021 season. But in 2022, Lesnau moved over to quarterback and made the transition look easy. He would throw for more than 2,000 yards and also was a threat in the running game as he tucked the ball and took off quite a bit in 2022. Lesnau is going to have a little more on his plate this season as the Buffaloes look to replace Baugh and McCarty at the running back positions. We’re looking forward to seeing what kind of production he can put up this season in the passing game and the running game. He has a strong offensive line in front of him and he’ll be incredibly important to their long term success.

We mentioned McAlester quarterback Caden Lesnau Caden Lesnau 5'11" | ATH McAlester | 2024 State OK as a player to watch coming into the championship game and he did a good job of moving the ball and commanding the huddle for the Buffaloes, even if they came up short on the scoreboard. The wide receiver-turned quarterback was efficient in the pass game as he would go 13-18 for over 100 yards and a touchdown. That last minute touchdown would get the Buffaloes on the scoreboard and avoid McAlester getting shut out on Saturday. Lesnau also added 38 yards on the ground and was the second leading rusher behind Baugh. Just a junior, Lesnau will be someone to watch next season as he was one of the more athletic players on the field Saturday and has shown that he can be an impact player at several different positions.

After spending last season at wide receiver, junior standout Caden Lesnau Caden Lesnau 5'11" | ATH McAlester | 2024 State OK would move over to quarterback this season, replacing Trent Boatright, who had a very successful senior season. Lesnau had a very good understanding of the offense as he moved over and the McAlester has still had plenty of success in the passing game, despite having some very talented running back play in the backfield along with Lesnau. And at the end of the day, Lesnau is still a very good athlete and even though he has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards on the season, he still has to be watched closely in terms of tucking the ball and taking off on the ground. But he’s certainly more valuable to McAlester as a quarterback this season and they will need him to be on top of his game as the Buffaloes look to take down the Titans.

The other offensive player that will have a little more pressure coming into this match-up is junior standout Caden Lesnau Caden Lesnau 5'11" | ATH McAlester | 2024 State OK . The McAlester quarterback has enjoyed a good junior season after moving over to quarterback from his wide receiver position last year. Lesnau has also put up some good numbers this year, but there’s no doubt that McAlester’s offense will look a little different without McCarty in the lineup. But Lesnau and the Buffaloes can lean on experience from this season. There were a few games in the regular season where McCarty either didn’t play or just played defense. If Lesnau and the Buffaloes can control time of possession, that will go a long way to punching their ticket to Edmond.

Last year, one of the more consistent players was quarterback Trent Boatright. The Buffaloes needed to find a replacement coming into this season after Boatright graduated and Caden Lesnau Caden Lesnau 5'11" | ATH McAlester | 2024 State OK has emerged as that player. He was Boatright’s backup last season and saw some playing time but the games were over at that point. This year, Lesnau is the guy and he’s been incredibly accurate with the football as McAlester continues to improve on that side of the ball. He’s completing over 60 percent of his passes with over 500 yards and eight touchdowns on the season. Lesnau has a certified superstar in the backfield with him so that certainly takes some of the pressure off the junior quarterback. But as McAlester’s schedule gets tougher, Lesnau will be asked to make a few more plays in the next two weeks.