HASKELL HAYMAKERS

Coach: PHIL MCWILLIAMS

5-6

OFFENSE

A change in personnel will mean a change in offense this year for third-year head coach Phil McWilliams and the Haskell Haymakers. “We’ll be moving to an offensive air raid attack while looking to pass the ball up to 75 percent of the time,” said McWilliams. Dylan Ozinga (6-3, 170, Sr.) will move from a wide receiver spot to take over the quarterbacking duties this season where he saw some limited action last season. His 4.6-40 speed will make him a running and scrambling threat as well. Making grabs at the other end of those passes from Ozinga will be Lucas King (5-9, 150, Sr.), a VYPE Top 100 nominee, who had 56 catches for 765 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022. “Lucas is versatile and can play any receiver spot as well as returning kicks and punts,” said McWilliams. Experience in the line will be a plus for Haskell with the return of Blast Salazar (6-2, 225, So.), Ryker Porter (6-4, 270, So.) and Briar Payne (6-3, 285, Sr.). “Briar is a four-year starter who leads on the field, in the weight room and in the classroom. He’s a two-time state qualifier in powerlifting and is being recruited by several schools. The running game in the new offense will be in the hands of Romal Bernal (5-11, 190, Sr.).

DEFENSE

In 2022 the Haymakers had 184 tackles for loss, 48 sacks and 23 forced turnovers setting a high bar for this year’s young crew. “We’ll have to utilize speed over size in our attacking 3-4 defense with lots of blitz packages,” said McWilliams. Payne and Porter will be the bookends in the defensive front with a combined 62 tackles last year, 25 tackles for loss and five sacks. Ozinga, who charted 52 tackles plus a pair of interceptions will return to a safety spot along with Logan Sanders (5-10, 130, Jr.). PJ Faul (6-2, 170, So.) and JJ Bonebrake (5-11, 172, So.) return with the most, though limited, experience, at linebacker with sophomores Isaac Foster (5-7, 150), Cooper Votaw (5-6, 145), and Mason Londagin (5-10, 180) also in the mix.

SCHEDULE

9-1 – at Caney Valley

9-8 – at Checotah

9-15 – vs. Morris

9-22 – vs. Central Sallisaw

9-29 – at Porter

10-6 – vs. Talihina

10-12 – at Canadian

10-19 – vs. Pocola

10-27 – at Gore

11-3 – vs. Panama