Week 0 sees all 4 local teams open season
Week 0 marks the beginning of football season in Oklahoma high school sports and all local schools are taking advantage of the early start.
Kingfisher, Cashion, Crescent and Hennessey kick off their 2022 campaigns this Friday night. (Ed. note: For more on all those teams, see the “Gridiron Guide” tabloid insert in this edition.)
Kingfisher at Clinton
Kingfisher hits the road to begin the season and has a formidable task ahead.
The Jackets will take on defending Class 4A champion Clinton.
They were originally scheduled to open the season against Bridge Creek, but that school made a late change last spring, leaving KHS head coach Jeff Myers scrambling to find a replacement.
Enter Clinton. “It’s not exactly the most desirable way to start a season, but we’ve always said we will play anyone at anytime,” Myers said. “We’ve played tough teams to start the season a lot of times here.
“It makes you a better team in the long run.”
The Jackets will be a more run-heavy offense as they try to discover which skill players are ready to step up on the outside.
That means a stronger workload for quarterback Jax Sternberger and a bevy of running backs. They’ll run behind a bigger, deeper offensive line than what KHS had at its disposal last year.
Few teams - if any have built their traditions on running the ball like Clinton.
“We are trying to prepare our guys for the type of physical ball game they’re about to play in,” Myers said. “But it’s tough to really grasp it until you just get out there and play it.
“We’re hoping our guys respond to it and we really expect them to.”
Clinton has been picked to win District 4A-1 by the district’s coaches. Elk City was tabbed second and Weatherford third. KHS hosts Weatherford in Week 1.
The Jackets were tied for third with Metro Christian in the 3A-1 coaches’ poll. Perkins-Tryon was picked to win and Anadarko was second.
Rejoice Christian at Cashion
Only one team has beaten Cashion the last two years: It was Rejoice Christian, 34-27, to open last season.
That’s it…Cashion’s only loss in its last 31 games.
The Wildcats went on to win their second straight Class A title.
Rejoice finished 11-2 and advanced to the 2A quarterfinals before being bounced by Washington.
The Eagles are among those that figure to factor in the Class 2A race this season, though it’s once again a loaded field. Cashion travels to another one of those potential 2A contenders Pawhuska - in Week 1.
In a preseason poll, coaches picked Rejoice to win District 2A-8 and for Pawhuska to finish second.
The Wildcats are in the midst of replacing multiple linemen as well as a lot of production on both sides of the ball, including quarterback, two receivers, running back and five of the six leading tacklers on defense.
Still, coaches respect Cashion’s prowess as the defending champ has been picked to win District A-3, just ahead of Christian Heritage, Minco and Hinton.
Mooreland at Crescent
Fewteamssufferedmore narrow and/or heartbreaking losses than Crescent a year ago.
The Tigers went from a playoff team in 2020 by finding a way to win close games to one that was winless in district games in 2021.
Back for the Tigers is a long list of experienced upperclassmen, mostly juniors.
Coach J.L. Fisher is banking on that group to learn from last year’s lategame defeats.
Mooreland is coming off a 7-3 season in which it lost to Minco in the first round of the playoffs.
The Bearcats were third in their district behind two very good teams, Fairview and Hooker.
Coaches this season have picked that same order of finish in District A-1.
Crescent and Watonga were tied for fifth in the coaches’ poll for A-3.
Mount St. Mary at Hennessey
The Eagles will begin their quest to get back to the playoffs on their home field against a 3A foe.
Mount St. Mary went 4-5 a year ago and is a member of Kingfisher’s District 3A-1 yet again. The Rockets were 2-5 in the district last season and missed the playoffs.
Coaches are projecting much the same this year as they’ve picked MSM to finish sixth.
It will be the first chance to see Hennessey freshman QB Titan Hix, the son of head coach Paul Hix.
If the youngster can handle the pressures of the position, it should open the door for playmakers like Sebastian Gonzalez, Weston Smith and Seth Simunek.
Another key for Hennessey is staying healthy up front. The Eagles have some size, but no real depth.
The Eagles have been picked to finish fifth in District 2A-1 by its coaches behind OCS, Millwood, Perry and Alva.