NOTHING BUT GREEN: Biggest takeaways from VYPE Pigskin Preview

Jul. 26—Although local sports typically slow to a crawl during the summer months, there are a few holdovers nationally that keep fans sane until August.

Three of the top five sports in the United States see champions crowned with the NBA, NCAA Division I baseball and the NHL concluding their seasons in June. MLB and MLS are picking up steam during that time as well.

Locally, summer was more eventful than normal for the sporting landscape. Rogers State softball kept things spicy with a run to the NCAA Division II national championship, and the PGA Championship was being held down the road in Tulsa at around the same time.

For those with more niche tastes, the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and the World Athletics Championships had plenty of interesting storylines this year.

For me, though, nothing compares to high school sports. Specifically high school football.

That is why I get a little giddy inside when the VYPE Pigskin Preview magazine arrives in my mailbox every July. It is a tradition like no other that gives me my much-needed high school football fix before I start preparing season previews for teams here in Rogers County.

Also known as the "Bible" of Oklahoma football, this year's publication provides information on 335 high school teams and the state's Division I colleges — Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Tulsa — in only 210 pages.

Although the magazine's efforts to rank the top 10 teams of each class while also predicting district standings is ultimately an act of futility because the information used is gathered way before rosters are finalized and full practices begin, the staff's work is admirable and certainly worth the $12.99 price tag ($17.98 including shipping if you preorder it like me).

It is like Christmas in July for me, and I am more than happy to flip through dozens and dozens of pages to dissect the content for you.

Here are some of my takeaways from the 2022 edition:

1. Rogers County has talent

No Rogers County football team has won a state championship since Sequoyah in 2006, but that doesn't mean this area is without talent.

VYPE acknowledged this fact, naming eight RoCo athletes to its Top 100 list.

Granted, a whopping 233 players earned this honor (math is hard), but nonetheless it is an accomplishment worth noting.

Verdigris (Reese Roller and Dylan White) and Oologah (Collin Schrader and AJ Streeter) led the way with two apiece while Claremore (Seth Bell), Foyil (Mason Valliere), Inola (Joseph Burton) and Catoosa (Russel Dugger) also had players make the cut. Seven of those eight also made the All-VYPE team for their respective classes.

Bell (5A), Dugger (4A), Streeter (4A) and White (3A) were listed as athletes on their All-VYPE teams while Schrader (4A) and Valliere (B) made it as defensive linemen and Roller (4A) a linebacker.

2. Claremore returns to playoffs

Despite reportedly returning only three starters on defense, the Zebras are in the good graces of VYPE.

Claremore was picked to finish fourth in District 5A-4, finishing ahead of rival Pryor for the league's final playoff spot. That makes the Oct. 7 meeting between the teams all the more interesting.

Although the decision to make the Zebras a playoff team despite finishing 2-8 in 2021 might seem odd to some, it is important to remember they weren't as bad as their record indicated.

Six of those losses came by seven points or less, including two one-point decisions. The average margin of defeat was 9.7 points per game.

Understandably, VYPE expects Claremore to flip some of those close games in 2022.

My only reservation with this is the Zebras' youthful defense. Those new players will need to grow up quickly, and the offense must improve on its 19.2 points per game from last year.

Development is a key storyline to keep an eye on this fall.

3. Verdigris a favorite in 3A

The past three years have been a golden age for Verdigris football.

From 2019-2021, the Cardinals won 30 games, including a school record 11 in 2021, and made the semifinals twice. With 10 and nine starters returning on offense and defense, respectively, 2022 could be their best year yet.

With that in mind, it is easy to understand why VYPE has Verdigris ranked third in Class 3A and winning District 3A-4.

Owasso (6A-I), Collinsville (5A) and Rejoice Christian (2A) are other title contenders in the area, but Verdigris will undoubtedly draw the most attention among Rogers County fans.

Private schools have dominated the Class 3A championship scene since 2017, but the Cardinals' talented group of seniors and their supporting cast have a great chance to shake things up.

4. No respect for Sequoyah

VYPE never fails to publish what can only be described as "hot takes", and this year is no different.

It predicted Sequoyah to finish seventh of eight teams in District 2A-8, and though this isn't the craziest thing I've seen from VYPE, it is fairly outlandish.

Sure, the Eagles' road to the postseason is going to be more difficult with Pawhuska, Vinita and Caney Valley joining an already loaded group that includes Rejoice Christian, Adair and an improved Salina, but I just don't see them losing six or more games this season.

After all, Sequoyah returns six starters on offense and seven on defense. That includes QB/LB Landon Gilbreath, RB/DB Logan Hattaway and RB/DB Caleb Harwell among an experienced group of linemen on both sides of the ball.

It'll be tough, I'm not denying that. I'm not even saying the Eagles will for sure make the playoffs, but putting them at seventh is shockingly ignorant.

Hopefully Sequoyah won't make me eat those words.

5. Foyil is back?

After a strong finish to the 2021 regular season, Foyil is looking to make the Class B playoffs for a second-consecutive year (technically it's three years, but I don't count 2020 because the team was winless and only had a postseason because of COVID-19).

The Panthers are in an entirely new district in 2022, and VYPE believes the slate is favorable. In fact, the publication has them finishing second in District B-6 behind only Keota.

That is good enough for a home playoff game, ladies and gentlemen.

Foyil will win AT LEAST four games this year if these predictions hold up, which would be its best season since 2018 (8-3). And that isn't counting the three nondistrict games.

If the Panthers can get some success in the opening three weeks against the likes of Claremore Christian, Barnsdall and Copan, we could be looking at what would be only their third winning season since 2011.

In the interest of good football, let's hope Foyil doesn't have its expectations foiled (pun intended).