Kiefer Trojans OK 2023 Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</em></strong></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 into August, we are publishing well over 100 in-depth team previews to get you completely ready for the 2023 football season. This is something that began in 2021 and has continued to get bigger every single year. We're looking forward to diving deep into the top teams across the state. From defending champions, to top contenders and plenty of dark horses, we'll have complete coverage every single day with new teams from Class 6A, all the way down to the addition of 8-man coverage this year with Class B and C. In this post, we take a look at the Kiefer Trojans.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Kiefer Trojans</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #6<br>Preseason Coaches Ranking: #9</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kiefer Trojans suffered several losing seasons in a row after moving up to Class 2A in 2018. But they turned things around in 2021 with a 7-4 mark and that was only the beginning. We'll admit, we didn't see the Trojans being one of the top teams in Class 2A last season but it was hard to deny them when they kept stacking win after win during the regular season. Kiefer would start out the season 9-0 and the only loss the suffered in the regular season was in the week ten showdown with Victory Christian for the district crown. They would win their first two games of the playoffs, including a huge win over 2A perennial powerhouse Vian in the second round. And they would fall short in the quarterfinals against another 2A perennial power in Jones. 2021 was the first step to truly contending. 2022 was the next step, going 11-2 and among the final eight in Class 2A. And as we look ahead to the 2023 season, we anticipate the Trojans will take another step forward as a true state contender in Class 2A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With seven starters returning on offense, including their very productive dual-threat quarterback, the Trojans expect to be one of the better offensive units in Class 2A when this season begins. They will need to find some new guys at the skill positions but the offensive line is mostly intact and the quarterback returns to give the Trojans the majority of their starters back on offense. Then you turn around and see a very hard-hitting defense that brings back seven starters on that side of the ball. Kiefer might have snuck up and surprised us last season but they won't surprise anyone this fall. They will definitely be on everyone's radar as the season begins but we think they have the firepower to take that next step. The district features several tough opponents, who could be considered, and probably will at some point be top ten teams. So the Trojans will be battle-tested once again by the time they reach the playoffs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 RESULTS (11-2 Record - Lost In Class 2A Quarterfinals)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 2 - Beat Adair 44-22<br>Sept. 9 - Beat NOAH 29-20<br>Sept. 16 - Beat Keys 55-0<br>Sept. 23 - Beat Morris 22-12<br>Sept. 30 - Beat Sperry 24-21<br>Oct. 7 - Beat Okmulgee 59-24<br>Oct. 13 - Beat Kansas 52-24<br>Oct. 21 - Beat Beggs 28-14<br>Oct. 28 - Beat Westville 44-16<br>Nov. 4 - Lost To Victory Christian 34-22<br>1st Round - Beat Vinita 42-26<br>2nd Round - Beat Vian 21-12<br>Quarterfinals - Lost To Jones 27-19</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>Brayden Barber - Wide Receiver<br>Nick Byrd - Running Back<br>Tate Rader - Athlete</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":["646348"],"_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_0_evaluation":"The biggest loss for Kiefer on offense is at the wide receiver position as they lose their top four wide receivers. But we think that 2025 wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='646348' first='Brayden' last='Holt'] has the chance to enjoy a breakout season this fall. Holt was a wide receiver standout at our camp back in late April and stood out immediately and often. We watched him go through drills and he has some pretty good bend in his game and can move around a little bit. Once the passes started throwing around, Holt was pretty consistent at looking the ball in and then he really impressed when it was time to go into the one on one competitions. He should be a big target in the Kiefer passing game.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["898373"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Despite losing most of his pass-catchers to graduation, 2024 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='898373' first='Jaxon' last='Worley'] is ready to take the Trojans to new heights this season. With some new skill players around him, we anticipate Worley to have even more of a load on his shoulders in terms of production within the Kiefer offense. Worley finished last season with over 2,200 yards and 26 touchdowns in the air. He also added over 500 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. It's hard to think that Worley won't be one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in Class 2A this season. Worley also doubles as a safety for the Kiefer defense. Although there's no doubt that the biggest impact is on the offensive side of the ball.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["600864"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"2024 hybrid defender [player_tooltip player_id='600864' first='Jentry' last='Pendergraft'] was one of the more disruptive defensive players in Class 2A last season. Pendergraft is listed on the roster as a defensive end or linebacker but he certainly measures out as a linebacker when you talk about him as a prospect. And then you see the production and there's a serious chance for him to end up earning an opportunity to play at the next level. Last season, Pendergraft finished with nearly 125 tackles on the season and had to be one of the state's leaders in tackles for loss with an eye-popping 41 tackles for loss on the year. He also added 12 sacks and will look to be even more disruptive for the Trojans this season.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64a9abdeead63"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>More Names To Know</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1731915' first='Brennan' last='Watkins'] - 2027 Offensive Lineman<br>John Watkins - 2026 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Kendall Lang - 2025 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Lucas Boyles - 2027 Athlete<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1297668' first='Titus' last='Bell'] - 2027 Linebacker</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2023 Schedule/Games To Circle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aug. 25 - AT NOAH</strong><br>- Kiefer will open their 2023 football season on the road against the Tulsa homeschool team known as NOAH. The Trojans got a 29-20 win over the Jaguars last season but this will certainly be a challenging game to open up their 2023 football season. NOAH features the top overall college prospect in the state's 2024 class and they also bring plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. When you look at some of the returning talent that the Jaguars have, that makes this week zero clash a challenge and a marquee match-up early on in the 2023 season. <br>Sept. 1 - Adair<br>Sept. 15 - Keys<br>Sept. 22 - AT Morris<br>Sept. 29 - Sperry<br>Oct. 6 - AT Okmulgee<br>Oct. 12 - AT Kansas<br><strong>Oct. 20 - Beggs</strong><br>- In week eight, the Trojans will host district foe Beggs in a game that will all but certainly have playoff implications. And last year saw Kiefer turn things around against the Demons as they beat them 28-14. These two teams have been district foes since Kiefer moved up to Class 2A in 2018. Kiefer was 0-4 prior to the 2022 meeting and had given up an average of nearly 60 points per game to the Demons during that stretch. In 2022, they completely turned things around, giving up just 14 points to the potent Beggs rushing attack. A win here keeps them alive for the district crown. <br>Oct. 27 - Westville<br><strong>Nov. 3 - AT Victory Christian </strong><br>- With both Kiefer and Victory Christian coming into this season ranked in the top ten of Class 2A, it's safe to say that this week ten clash will have huge playoff implications. There's also a chance that this game could be the head to head match-up that decides the district championship for the second consecutive season. The Conquerors got the best of Kiefer in week ten last season but the Trojans will be ready to make another run at it when they go on the road to Tulsa this fall. After starting 9-0, Victory Christian handed Kiefer their only loss in the regular season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Directly west from Bixby, Kiefer has seen a Bixby-like growth in enrollment over the last decade. 2011 was their last year as an 8-man football program and they've been on the rise in enrollment ever since. They were in Class A from 2012-2017 and have been in Class 2A ever since and the numbers continue to point up. They might be on the move to a new class very soon. But a lot of teams will deal with a new reality in Class 2A. This will be the last season where Class 2A is a 64-team class. Starting in 2024, Class 2A will feature two divisions of 32 teams each. The same will be the case for Class A and Class B. Based on ADM numbers from back in August, Kiefer is trending to being in the top 32 in enrollment for Class 2A, which would put them in the higher division. Even if they aren't in 2024, they are certainly trending that way for the next redistricting cycle in 2026. Either way, there's no doubt that this community is exploding with no signs of slowing down.&nbsp;</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>0 State Championships</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->