Football 2013

10 years after its championshipseason, KHS is still in the title hunt

Inside: Kingfisher • Hennessey • Cashion • Crescent

2B Sunday, September 8, 2013 Kingfisher (Okla.) Times & Free Press

Kingfisher Yellowjackets

2013 Kingfisher YellowjacketsNo. Name Position Grade1 Wendell Prim RB/DB 112 Jace Sternberger TE/DE 113 Brett Smith QB/DB 114 Miguel Ocampo K 115 Manuel Torrez K 107 Hunter Lopez WR/DB 118 Connor Vincent WR/DB 1110 Drew Shults WR/LB 1011 Docker Haub QB/DB 1112 Bradyn Shepherd WR/DB 1114 Tucker Arrington QB/DB 1017 Trey Borelli WR/DB 1018 Trey Woods WR/DB 1120 Tanner Rutledge WR/LB 1121 Landon Nault RB/DB 1222 Brady Smith WR/DB 1124 Shane Soudek WR/DB 1125 Nick Smith RB/DB 1026 Jake Snider WR/LB 1127 Reid Trout RB/LB 1028 Ben Reid RB/LB 1233 Tristan Ransom RB/LB 1234 Alexis Orozco TE/LB 1242 Sampson Woods OL/DE 1243 Dylan Blundell RB/LB 1244 Trey Yeoman RB/LB 1150 Kaden Jackson OL/DL 1152 Gatlin Squires OL/DE 1254 Zac Moore OL/DL 1255 Hunter Barton OL/LB 1158 Dillon Smith OL/DL 1160 Gabe Rednose OL/DL 1064 David Bastida OL/DL 1165 Kolton Mueggenborg OL/DE 1071 Colton Smith OL/DL 1073 Trey Buckner OL/DL 1274 Landon Forman OL/DE 1075 Trevor Jindra OL/DE 1077 Carter Loosen OL/DE 1278 Craig Conover OL/DL 1180 Kris Parker WR/DB 1083 Garrett Sewell WR/DE 12

Jackets have eyes on elusive goldThe 2013 Kingfisher High School foot-

ball season is a year of anniversaries andpotential milestones.

For starters, it marks the 10-year anni-versary of the 2003 team whose picturethe current Yellowjackets see every timethey step foot in the weight room.

That team – featuring the likes of CurtisLofton, Ryan Jech, Casey Lynn, KodyMiller, Kurt Thomas, Brock VanCleaveand others – beat Sulphur 21-18 in theClass 3A championship game to finish a14-0 season.

It remains the only title in the program’shistory.

As for milestones, this is head coachJeff Myers’ 10th year at the helm of theYellowjackets. In each of the previous nineseasons, he’s guided KHS to the playoffsevery year, won at least one playoff gamein those trips and reached the state titlegame four times.

Needless to say, his teams win and hisrecord reflects it.

That brings us to the next potentialmilestone.

Myers enters 2013 with a 96-25 record,meaning he’s just four wins shy of the 100-win mark. His teams have won an averageof 10.7 games a season, yet another re-markable feat.

“Things like that are nice, but that saysa lot more about the kids and coachingstaffs we’ve had here,” Myers said.“They’ve put in a lot of work during theseason and between seasons to accom-plish what we have.”

The next potential milestones belongto Landon Nault, the rare four-year starterfor the Yellowjackets (remember, not evenLofton played all four years).

One of the most revered running backsin the state, Nault has 4,919 rushing yardsin his career, leaving him just 81 yards shyof 5,000.

He’s also got 82 total touchdowns (76rushing, 6 receiving), leaving him 18 awayfrom 100.

“The numbers tell a tremendous storyabout Landon, but they don’t get close totelling the whole story about him,” Myerssaid. “He’s the kind of football player youwish you could have every year, but youknow only comes around once every sooften.”

Despite every yard, every touchdownand every win, there’s one thing bothNault and Myers are lacking in their sto-

ried careers in Kingfisher - the gold ball.Myers has four state runners-up on his

resumé - 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.Nault has been a part of the last two,

both one-touchdown losses on the BoonePickens Stadium turf in Stillwater, includ-ing the 28-21 defeat to Blanchard last sea-son.

“Personally, it’s tough because youwant to get at least one as a coach. It meansyou’ve reached the top, which is what youwork so hard to do,” Myers said. “Butmore than that, you want it for the kids.We’ve seen the pain on their faces whenwe’ve fallen short in the finals.

“We want to see the joy that comes withthe gold.”

The 2013 team will be yet another Myersteam in the state championship discus-sion.

The Jackets enter the season rankedeither No. 1 (Oklahoma High School SportsExpress) or No. 2 (The Oklahoman) inClass 3A.

“We’ve been here before,” said Myers,whose 2004 and 2012 squads were rankedNo. 1 from wire-to-wire until losing in theplayoffs. “And I’ll say what I said then -it’s nice, but it’s more important to be No.1 after the final week.”

The biggest offseason question for King-fisher has been at quarterback, where theJackets are looking to replace an All-Stateselection in Grant Newton.

The preseason race has boiled down tojunior Docker Haub, sophomore TuckerArrington and Brett Smith, a newcomerwho is also a junior.

Playing a big part in making that deci-sion is another newcomer – offensive co-ordinator Micah Nall.

Nall comes from Bixby and replacesTaylor Schwerdtfeger, who left to becomethe head coach at El Reno.

“All three players complement our of-fense very nicely and the battle for ourstarting QB job will continue until wehave a clear-cut start starter,” Nall saidearlier this preseason.

That clear-cut starter likely won’t beevident in Week 1. Maybe not even Week3.

“That may be tomorrow, that may benext week, that may be next month,” Nallsaid.

Benefiting the starter will be a danger-ous backfield led by Nault, who rushedfor 2,057 yards and 31 touchdows last

year.Not just a run threat, Nault caught 47

passes for 467 yards and two more scores.Also back there is talented sophomore

Nick Smith, who added 499 yards rushingand nine TDs as a freshman. He averaged10.4 yards per carry.

The starters up front feature yet an-other newcomer in senior center ZacMoore, who moved here from Newcastlein the spring.

The right side of the line will featureKaden Jackson at guard and Gatlin Squiresat tackle.

The left side will see Trey Buckner atguard and either Gabe Rednose or KoltonMueggenborg at tackle.

Jace Sternberger will be featured at tightend.

A number of talented, but largely un-

[See KHS, Page 13B]

Myers, Nault should add milestones to storied careers

Kingfisher (Okla.) Times & Free Press Sunday, September 8, 2013 3B

Hennessey Eagles

No. Name Position Grade4 Jose Sanchez WR/DB 119 Ireneo Tarango WR/DB 1010 Edgar Fierro WR/DB 1211 Johnathan Suarez WR/DB 1212 Dylan Hatchel QB/LB 1213 Brady Fipps WR/DB 1114 Dakin Fuksa WR/DB 1215 Steven Lott WR/DB 1216 Ashton Rapp QB/DB 918 Tony Mendoza QB/DB 1120 Daniel Rios WR/DB 1021 Anthony Alaniz WR/DB 922 Jaylen Goff WR/DB 923 Stephen Matousek WR/DB 1224 William Arndt RB/LB 1225 Ben Moreno WR/DB 926 Marco Rodriguez WR/DB 930 Taylor Weber WR/DB 933 Tabor Johns TE/DL 1034 Cale Blehm WR/DB 936 Abe Ortega TE/LB 1139 Elizardo Montes WR/DB 11

No. Name Position Grade40 Dayton Wymore RB/LB 944 Sam Driskill RB/LB 1045 Carlos Torres TE/LB 1250 Luis Castanon OL/DL 1052 Javy Renteria OL/DL 1153 Jorge Fierro OL/LB 1154 Danyon Wymore OL/DL 1155 Cesar Pardo OL/DL 1056 Mason Weber OL/DL 1057 Joel Martinez OL/DL 1258 Jorge Ortega OL/DL 1259 Freddy Petrolia OL/DL 1160 Chandler Henderson OL/DL 1161 Micah McKay OL/DL 1163 BG Moore OL/DL 1064 Brooks Leu OL/DL 967 Diego Meza OL/DL 968 Hudson Smith OL/DL 975 Drake Lee OL/DL 1176 Blake Lemmons OL/DL 1182 Esteban Saenz TE/LB 10

2013 Hennessey Eagles

Eagles are hungry again and looking to reclaim goldThere was an unfamiliar feeling for the

Hennessey football program at the end ofthe 2012 season.

The Eagles were onlookers as Okla-homa Christian School hoisted the Class2A championship at Boone Pickens Sta-dium after a thrilling 44-41 win over Davis.

The previous two years, it was theEagles celebrating with the gold as theywon back-to-back crowns.

Hennessey’s bid for a three-peat wasderailed at Vian in the quarterfinal round.

“That was one of the best 2A teams I’veseen in a long time,” Rick Luetjen, about toenter his second season as the Eagles’head coach, said. “I’m not sure what hap-pened to them the next week (a 22-0 loss to

Davis), but the team we played was one ofthe best.

“But we were extremely disappointedwe weren’t back in that championshipgame.”

Sixteen combined starters from lastyear’s 10-3 squad are back to attempt tomake it three titles in four years.

“These kids certainly have that hungeragain,” Luetjen said.

But they also have some gaps to fill.One of the more prominent is running

back as Levi Hill and his 1,851 yards and27 touchdowns have graduated.

Senior William Arndt will now get thebulk of those carries.

Returning, however, is senior QB Dylan

Hatchel, who threw for 1,427 yards and 17TDs in his first year starting as a junior.

“He struggled early on, but you couldtell as the season progressed that he feltmuch more comfortable,” Luetjen said.

Hatchel will have his top target back inEdgar Fierro (41 catches, 612 yards, 7 TDs)as well as Steven Lott and Brady Fipps.

“This might be the best pass-and-catchteam we’ve had since I’ve been here,”Luetjen said.

Javy Renteria will anchor the offensiveline at left tackle while fellow junior FreddyPetrolia is back at left guard.

Renteria is also a beast on the defensivefront, and the lone starter back in thetrenches, although Jorge Ortega is ex-

pected to play a big role.Hennessey should be set at linebacker

with junior Abe Ortega, Carlos Torres andHatchel.

Lott, Fipps and Fierro will patrol thesecondary.

It’s a unit that is not only expected tocontend for the 2A-1 district title (theEagles were 6-0 in winning it last year),but another state championship as well.

“Our expectations are really high. We’rereally disappointed we didn’t make thatrun last year,” Luetjen said. “The kidshave one thing on their minds and that’sto get back to the state championship gameand get that third gold ball.

“I think we have the talent to do it.”

4B Sunday, September 8, 2013 Kingfisher (Okla.) Times & Free Press

2013 Cashion Wildcats

Cashion Wildcats

No. Name Position Grade1 Cashen Nance WR/CB 102 McCaleb Stewart RB/C 93 Hunter Suntken WR/CB 124 Peyton Maroney WR/S 115 Matt Harman QB/S 96 Dylan Kordeliski RB/LB 117 Austin Temple RB/LB 108 Dakota Fink WR/S 129 Caleb Cogburn WR/DE 1210 Ryan Harrel QB/S 1011 Joe Neece WR/S 1216 William McClendon QB/S 917 William Hermes WR/CB 918 Trae Cochran WR/LB 920 Dustin Beutler WR/CB 923 Parker Payahsape WR/LB 925 Tanner Eakins WR/CB 1126 Austin Bryant TE/DE 1228 Kaleb George TE/DE 1130 Jesse Lyon FB/DE 1232 Jack Suntken RB/C 944 Logan Ikerd RB/LB 1250 Quinton Thorpe OT/DT 1151 Jon Pope OG/DT 1255 Beau Beaman OG/DT 1156 Brett Wilson C/DT 1157 Dillon Dean OG/DT 966 Kyle Robinson FB/LB 1171 Patrick Hoffman OT/DT 976 Jeremy Moore OG/DE 1278 Brixton Grey OG/DE 1079 Devron Tiller OG/DT 1180 Braden Schenk WR/DE 1083 Peyton Wilson WR/CB 9

A year ago at this time, Cashion wasbanking on a roster full of experiencedupperclassmen to give the Wildcats a seri-ous push toward a state championship.

That group did just that as Cashionwent through its regular season unde-feated and reached the Class A semifinalsbefore eventually falling short againstWynnewood.

A quick glance at this year’s rostershows that not only are All-State quarter-back Ty Reasnor and lineman DextonRobertson gone, but so are a host of otherswho helped in that 13-1 record. In fact,nearly one-third (11) of this year’s 34 Wild-cats are freshmen.

“With so many two- and three-yearstarters back last year, you can’t help buthave high expectations and we did,” headcoach Lynn Shackelford said. “This year,we’re more focused on short-term goals.”

That’s not to say expectations are lowin Cashion.

“We’ve set our goals to win all ourhome games, win our district and get tothe playoffs,” Shackelford said. “Once youdo that, you take your chances for a deeprun in the playoffs.”

This year’s squad still has the talent todo it.

Although Reasnor and his 3,239 pass-ing yards and 45 touchdowns can’t bereplaced, Shackelford is calling on fresh-man Matt Harman to fill that role.

“He’s a talented young man with thetools to do the job,” Shackelford said. “Andalthough he’s a freshman, we can’t havehim play like one and I don’t think hewill.”

Benefiting Harman will be three expe-rienced wide receivers in Joe Neece,

Hunter Suntken and Peyton Maroney.Neece led all of Class A last year with

65 catches for 1,280 yards and 20 touch-downs. Maroney added 783 yards and 11scores while Suntken had nearly 200 yards.Caleb Cogburn will also see his share ofcatches.

Once he’s fully recovered from a con-cussion, Dylan Kordeliski will get the bulkof the carries at running back. He rushedfor 590 yards and averaged 6.4 yards acarry last year.

Up front, Brett Wilson will start at cen-ter, Jon Pope and Kyle Robinson at guardand Devron Tiller and Quinton Thorpe atthe tackle spots.

On defense, the Wildcats will rotate thelikes of Kaleb Goerge, Jesse Lyon, Thorpe,Beau Beaman and Tiller.

Austin Temple, Pope and Robinson willrotate two linebacker spots. Suntken,Maroney, Ryan Harrel and Neece will allsee time in the defensive backfield.

It’s a team coaches have picked to re-peat as District A-3 champs, edging outMinco, whom the Wildcats play in Week4.

“For us to compete for the district, wehave to stay healthy,” Shackelford said.“We don’t have the depth we did a yearago.

“But, if we can stay healthy, we have asgood a chance as anyone to win it.”

Beyond that, Shackelford’s expectationsare guarded.

“We expect to win and we’ll prepare todo that,” he said. “We just have to putourselves in position to make the playoffs.Once you do that, you never know whatcan happen.”

Younger Wildcats still aiming high