DEL CITY EAGLES
Coach: ROBERT JONES
11-2
OFFENSE
Success has been sustained and good habits have taken hold at Del City under Robert Jones. In his fifth year at head coach, Jones has seen off-season numbers climb from around 20 for workouts to more than triple that number. A winning culture can take you a long way. The Eagles are once again at the top of the list to challenge the historic dominance of Carl Albert in Class 5A. Syncere Overton (6-3, 180, So.) rose to the occasion at quarterback after an injury to Cash Koertner, who has since moved to Norman High, leaving Overton in full control of the offense. He has elite speed and all the skills to succeed at the position. Ricklan Holmes (6-1, 225, Sr.) is a punishing runner. He’s a stud on both sides of the football and is a multiple year starter at running back and linebacker. No doubt, Holmes will be one of the better players in Class 5A. Jones isn’t afraid to utilize his playmakers at a variety of positions. Kaleb Blackwolf (6-0, 200, Jr.) and Ke’Derrius Palmer (5-10, 180, Sr.) can line up at running back or wide receiver. Blackwolf is also a return specialist for the Eagles. Palmer will see most of his time at wide receiver, joining Josiah Chester (6-2, 180, Jr.) who had a breakout sophomore season. There’s a blend of youth and experience on the offensive line. Arrion Daniels (6-1, 285, Sr.) and Arniko Daniels (6-1, 295, Sr.) moved in from Western Heights and won starting positions last year. Arniko is projected to be the center with Arrion at one of the guard spots. Jones is bullish on the prospects for Mark Bolds (6-3, 240, So.). He will step right into the fire at right tackle. Three more underclassmen have an inside track to start on the offensive line. Anthony Mahseet (6-3, 240, So.) is at left tackle with Devin Joseph (6-2, 260, So.) and Ricky Roberge (5-11, 290, So.) in the mix at right guard. The Eagles have speed, strength and size on offense, and that’s just Ricklan Holmes. It’s an apt description for the rest of the lineup on a team that will score in bunches.
DEFENSE
Many of the same players will be called upon to man the defensive front. Bolds will for sure see time on both sides of the ball, operating at end on defense. Arrion Daniels and Ricky Roberge play with their hand on the ground in Del City’s four-man front. Holmes is a wrecking crew at linebacker. A force in the middle of the field, Holmes is just as likely to intercept a pass as he is to deliver a thunderous hit or recover a fumble. The deepest and maybe most talented area of the defense is the secondary. Nick Holmes (6-2, 180, Sr.) is another player who joined the Eagles last season and flourished right away at cornerback. Josiah Chester will play the cornerback position opposite of Holmes, providing what seems like endless years of great coverage skills at the position. The Eagles employ three safeties with Kaleb Blackwolf headlining the unit that will include Millwood move in Kaden Johnson (6-2, 190, Jr.) and Quincy Hill (5-10, 175, Jr.). That trio will simply punish the offense for careless and lazy throws. Jones is 42-8 in his four years at Del City. It’s as good of a sustained run as the program has ever had. They are once again the district favorite and might be considered the top contender to derail the dominance of Carl Albert.
8-29 – at Edmond Memorial
9-5 – vs. Booker T. Washington
9-19 – vs. Midwest City
9-26 – vs. Collinsville
10-3 – at Tulsa Memorial
10-10 – at Tulsa Hale
10-16 – vs. Tulsa Rogers
10-24 – at Tahlequah
10-31 – vs. Claremore
11-7 – at Pryor
