POCOLA INDIANS
Coach: JASON PARKER
7-4
OFFENSE
To say that expectations are high for the Indians in 2024 is like saying Santa Claus is synonymous with Christmas as Pocola willseek a fourth straight playoff season with fortunes for the taking.
Without question the biggest prize on the Pocola roster is two-time VYPE Top 100 selection AJ Lyons-Jerrell (6-1, 207, Sr.) who begins his final season well within grasp of totaling more than 6,000 yards total offense for his career after rushing for 1,117 yards a year ago and has already scored 50-plus touchdowns as a running back-receiver combo over the past three years. Head coach Jason Parker has multiple options at quarterback as Braydon Hardwick (5-9, 155, Jr.) offers dual threat talent capable of game changing results and will have an easy to find target with the sure-handed talents at wide receiver of Dakotah Terrell (6-9, 220, Sr.) who recorded over 500 yards receiving plus an additional 300-plus return yards and scored 11 times along with Cash Jerrell (6-3, 155, Jr.) who also delivered clutch receptions last season. Pocola will also have size and strength in the offensive line anchored around tackle Hayden Chaffey (6-4, 240, Sr.) who helped pave the way for Pocola’s offense that accumulated more than 5,200 yards total offense in 2023 and averaged 50 points a game while operating from the spread and their effectively deceptive single-wing offense. “Fear the wing and dread the spread is our offensive game plan,” explained Parker, who begins his seventh season directing the Pocola program. “We believe this gives opposing defenses more to prepare for and frequently creates bad alignmentsthat plays into our hands.”
DEFENSE
The Indians defense more than passes the eye test with their on-field performances that allows their playmakers to win the battle against the opponents’ offensive efforts. Hayden Chaffey will continue to be a wrecking ball on the defensive front after making 28 tackles for loss and 11 sacks last season while Dakotah Terrell anticipates another top-level season after making eight tackles for minus yardage including four sacks and two interceptions from his defensive end position. There’s proof that dynamite comes in small packages when evaluating the 100 tackle performance of linebacker Sean Smith (5-6, 145, Jr.) who will be joined by highly recruited AJ Lyons-Jerrell and Ty Jerrell, who made 55 tackles as a freshman to solidify the linebacker unit. The Indians have added defensive insurance in their secondary revolving around the play of cornerback Braydon Hardwick, who grabbed five interceptions last season to raise his career numbers to 11 takeaways. “There’s a certain air of confidence and determination to make a run in 2024,” said Parker. “Altogether it’s a combination of big-time players and multiple young players with big time potential ready to go to battle every week.”
8-30 – vs. Antlers
9-13 – at Spiro
9-20 – vs. Vian
9-27 – vs. Warner
10-4 – at Rejoice Christian
10-11 – vs. Hulbert
10-17 – at Chouteau-Mazie
10-25 – vs. Hartshorne
11-1 – at Panama
11-8 – vs. Haskell
